Those who believe that it is possible to 'fall out of grace' and lose salvation will hold strictly that sin requires action. Otherwise, we'd all lose our salvation on a ~daily basis.
I believe most in protestant christendom would say that a 'thought' isn't sin, but a dwelling in it can be a sin.
Example: You notice a pretty girl in a short skirt. That isn't sin ... you are a guy and guys are wired to be attracted to women. But, you proceed to fantasize about her, you let lustful thoughts fill your mind and you enjoy dwelling in them. Somewhere in there a line is crossed and you are 'in sin.'
Those who believe that it is possible to 'fall out of grace' and lose salvation will hold strictly that sin requires action.
I listen to Christian preachers sometimes. One of the things they like to say is, "Once saved, always saved." It's the most ridiculous doctrine I've ever heard.
Do they actually believe that a man who finds Jesus, or at least thinks he finds Jesus, and then goes out five years later and rapes and murders a small child, is going to heaven? It sound to me as if they do believe that. For the sake of discussion I'm presuming there is such a thing as "heaven" here, and such a state as "being saved."
My take on things is that, if you sin, you are a sinner. It doesn't matter what you may have said, or even believed, prior to your sins. You are an evil person doing evil things, and if there is divine punishment, you are going to receive it.
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