Paul means the Christian will die spiritually if he or she lives according to the appetites and passions of his or her body.

The parable of the sower teaches us we can bear some fruit and then have the Life of Christ choked out of us.

Please don't wait until you face your Lord to find out if I am correct. Right now I could easily present twenty passages from the New Testament that state clearly in context that if you do not begin to bring forth a new righteous creation in your personality you are in clear danger of losing your inheritance in the Kingdom of God, one passage suggesting even the possibility of being blotted from the Book of Life.

What is being taught today is a monumental lie, it is not the Christian salvation at all. Our common sense should tell us Christ demands a change in behavior from those He is saving.

In fact, the Christian saves himself by his righteous conduct.

Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers. (I Timothy 4:16—NIV)

But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned. (Hebrews 6:8—NIV)

In the verse above, the writer of the Book of Hebrews is not speaking of real estate but of the believer who does not bring forth the change in behavior God expects from the Christian. Cursing and burning do not imply salvation.

But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."  (I Peter 1:15,16—NIV)

Righteousness has to do with our relationship with other people.

Holiness has to do with our relationship with God.

The commandments of Christ and His Apostles set forth in the New Testament constitute the law that will go forth from Zion. They are binding on all who will live on the new earth, all who are saved. God will not permit rage, jealousy, bitterness, or slander in His new world, in His Kingdom. All such behaviors belong in the Lake of Fire and there they shall be confined.

Holiness is a different matter, although righteousness and holiness sometimes overlap in behavior. For example, adultery is an unrighteous practice and the spirit of adultery is unclean, that is, not holy.

Holiness, however, goes far beyond righteousness. The apostolic command that we present our body a living sacrifice to God is not a commandment to righteous behavior but to holy personality and behavior.

Holiness has to do with the priesthood. Holiness is by Divine calling.

If you think of concentric circles going out with God as the center, then the nearer to God the circle is the holier it is.

The Holy of Holies was more holy than the Holy Place, which was more holy than the courtyard, which was more holy than the places where Israel was camped outside the courtyard.

To be continued.