But only if we're open to that grace and commit ourselves to accepting Jesus and living out what he taught.
IOW, belief alone simply won't cut it according to the gospels and epistles. Christianity is not a rocking-chair religion, whereas all that's needed is to have p.c. beliefs, as it needs to be a life-style-- thus "the narrow path [gate]".
I'm sure you believe the scriptures, so let's see what they say on the matter.
Heb 10:14,
For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
Rom 3:22,
Even the righteousness of God [which is] by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
Eph 2:10,
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
There are many more, but these should suffice to see the true greatness of Jesus' work. He did a complete work. He does not need us to finish it up. We were saved by grace, not of works.
Eph 2:8,
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God:
After salvation, do we revert back to works? That's what the Galatians thought and God called them foolish for thinking that way.
Gal 3:1-3,
1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
We are not dammed by our sins. It's the sin nature we inherited from Adam that is the problem. We commit sins because of that sin nature.
Rom 5:12,
Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
Jesus solved the sin problem by making it available for us to get a whole new nature. That is the gift of holy spirit that was first given on the day of Pentecost. We still have a sin nature which is dwells in the flesh. God never gave us an "improved" flesh. Jesus said there is no profit in the flesh, that it is the spirit that gives life.
John 6:63,
It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, [they] are spirit, and [they] are life.
Paul said much the same thing.
Rom 7:18,
For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but [how] to perform that which is good I find not.
He goes on to give the solution.
Rom 7:25,
I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
When you keep your mind on Jesus Christ you are walking in the spirit. Keeping your mind on yourself and your own actions is walking by the flesh
Rom 8:5,
For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
The word mind is the Greek word phroneo. Here is Strong's definition of phroneo:
1. to exercise the mind, i.e. entertain or have a sentiment or opinion.
2. (by implication, mentally) to be disposed (more or less earnestly in a certain direction).
3. (intensively) to interest oneself in (with concern or obedience).
Rom 8:1,
[There is] therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Gal 5:25,
If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
The best way, the only way, to minimize your sinning is by walking in the spirit. Trying to control your flesh is fruitless, it will never bring profit to your life.
Gal 5:16,
[This] I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
To state it plainly, you become what you look at. Look at your flesh and you fulfill the lusts of the flesh. Look at Jesus Christ (the scriptures) and you become more Christlike.
If you want to follow the law remember this:
Gal 5:3-6,
3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised (follows law), that he is a debtor to do the whole law.
4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
The upshot is that your walk is determined by what you think about, not by controlling your flesh, which you can't do anyway. If you don't believe me perhaps you will believe the Apostle Paul. See what he said in Romans chapter 7. I think if you take an honest look you will see I am absolutely aligned with the scriptures.
I know the Epistles of Paul are at odds with the things Jesus said in the Gospels because when Jesus was here the new birth was not available. It was not available until the day of Pentecost as recorded in Acts 2. That is the first time God gave anybody the perfect gift of holy spirit wherein lies our perfection.
I may have asked you this before, but if not I'll ask again, if it is possible to undo God's workmanship and loose our salvation, how many sins do you get before loosing that salvation? Just how closely do we have to follow what he taught? Remember, he taught that there is no profit in the flesh and that merely thinking about that gorgeous, scantly clad woman is as good as committing adultery with her.
We all sin every day. If you don't think that is true, God calls you a liar.
1John 1:10,
If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
What to do when you sin? Real simple:
1John 1:9,
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
To confess our sins is to simply admit you sinned. Simply admit you sinned to God and He will forgive you and cleanse you from all unrighteousness. Don't read anything into this verse that's not there. There is no limit as to severity or amount. Whether you sin one time or a million times, as long as you confess them to God He will forgive you. You are his dearly beloved son, born of His seed.
1Pet 1:23,
Being born again, not of corruptible seed (your first birth), but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
Incorruptible means just that, there is nothing you can do that will make it corrupt.