dead faith, [Jas. 2:26+] and cannot save. The Christian dare not live in
sin. [Rom. 6:2+] He has become a new creature; for he is born again: and
consequently he leads a new life. We shall, indeed, never become sinless
in this world, but we must honestly and earnestly _try_ to do God's will
in all things. [Phil. 3:12-14, Matt. 5:16+] We should grow more and more
holy every day. [Eph. 4:22-24, Rom. 12:2, I Thess. 4:1] We cannot do
this by our own power, but we can by the help of God. We should,
therefore, be diligent and faithful in the use of the Word of God and
the Sacraments; for these are the means which the Holy Ghost uses for
our sanctification.[4]

[Footnote 4: Faith in Christ does not at once make us perfectly holy and
sinless, as some persons maintain; but it takes away the guilt of our
sin. We are completely justified and forgiven as soon as we believe; but
we are not completely sanctified. Sanctification is a gradual process,
which will be completed only when we are transformed and glorified in
heaven.]

PRESERVED ME IN THE TRUE FAITH. As it is the Holy Ghost who brings us to
faith, so it is He who preserves us in it. [Phil. 1:6+] The world, the
flesh, and the devil are enemies who seek to destroy our faith and to
rob us of our salvation. We should constantly pray for strength to
resist these enemies, [Matt. 26:41+, Rev. 2:10] and should obey the
promptings of the Holy Spirit. We must avoid wilful, intentional sin,
[Eph. 4:30+] and live a life of daily repentance. If we sin wilfully, we
fall from grace and are lost, unless we come to true and lasting
repentance. If we faithfully use the Means of Grace, and earnestly
strive to lead a Christian life, the Holy Spirit will preserve us in the
faith to the end. [Phil. 2:12, 13+]