How Lukewarm Can a Christian Be and Still Be Saved?

Every Christian I know well has confessed to asking themselves this question occasionally, “How much is enough? How good do I have to be, to be assured I’m saved?”

Let’s face it – obedience is hard! And as righteous as we all aspire to be, there are times all of us just give up the struggle with certain sins and do what we know if morally wrong, and just “trust Christ” to forgive us. Why is it good, faithful Christians presume on God’s grace to forgive us, rather than simply obey?