Growth

"And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments.  Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him" (1 John 2:3-4).  
 
Those who follow God will live differently.  Obedience to God’s commands is confirmation of fellowship with God.  John even goes so far as to say, “whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked” (2:6).  God’s commands are not made less important because forgiveness is possible.  We are still called to “be perfect as he is perfect.”  Yet John also stresses that we must never presume that we are without sin (1:10).  We must obey God, yet we must never offer God our obedience as payment for our sins.  “...the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin (1:7).  Salvation through perfect obedience was never God’s way.  His way was, and is, always mercy and grace.  He provides a way despite our sin and shortfalls.  Even in the OT, God made provisions for the sin of the people.  God gets all the glory for salvation.  There is no room for boasting, only worshiping.  

Yet this does not mean we can make light of the call for obedience and godliness.  While our identity, worth, and salvation are not based on our performance (Jesus died for us while we were still sinners), we must "work out (our) salvation with fear and trembling."  As John says, if we claim to know Him but live unchanged lives, we are, at best, deceived.  Salvation results in changed lives.  We are not simply saved to go to heaven.  We are saved to live for God's glory here and now; to get wrapped up in HIS story and let go of writing our own independent story.  He is the hero, not us.  This does not mean we will all grow in godliness at the same speed.  This does not mean that we won't still struggle with sin.  This does not mean that we won't fail miserably.  It just means that there must be growth over time.  As Dallas Willard says, “Grace is not opposed to effort; it is opposed to earning.  Earning is an attitude.  Effort is an action.”