As we follow the Holy Spirit He leads us to confess and turn away from our sin and to keep the commandments of Christ and His Apostles. The New Testament, beginning with the Gospels, is full of commandments, some given by Christ in the Gospels and some given by Christ through His Apostles in the Epistles. There are numerous things we are to do, and God helps us do them when we come boldly before His Throne to gain His assistance.

If we faithfully follow the Spirit of God in confessing and turning away from our sins, and in keeping the commandments of Christ and His Apostles, the atoning blood of Jesus keeps us free from condemnation. But if we do not faithfully follow the Spirit of God in confessing and turning away from our sins, do not keep the commandments of Christ and His Apostles, then the atoning blood of Jesus does not keep us free from condemnation. Rather we are under Divine condemnation and can expect severe chastening.

This is what the Bible teaches. I have no idea how the "state of grace" doctrine got started. But I am here to tell you that if you do not live close to Jesus, if you do not confess your sins and turn away from them with His help, do not grow each day in the commandments of Christ and His Apostles, there is no state of grace that can keep you from condemnation. The New Testament condemns you.

I am not bringing you under condemnation but I hope I am bringing you under conviction. If you will turn to the Lord with all your heart He will prepare you to stand during the age of moral horrors that is at hand. If you do not turn to the Lord with all your heart, do not press into Him, do not pray for strength to keep His commandments, and those of His Apostles, then He will not keep you during the age of moral horrors. You have not kept your part of the covenant.

The things I am writing to you are so obvious to anyone who knows the New Testament that to repeat them seems superfluous. But I know the lie of the "state of grace" has been taught for hundreds of years and is deeply rooted in the thinking of Christian people. They did not get this lie from the Bible but from the traditions of men. If we are wise we will search the New Testament for ourselves. The Lord Jesus is not going to excuse us in that Day because we believed a religious leader who taught us error.

Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. (I Corinthians 15:1,2—NIV)

To be continued.