Perhaps because of the widespread practice of deductive reasoning in the interpretation of the New Testament we tend to select one aspect of Divine truth and reject the other. One glaring example of this slicing up of truth is today's stress on grace and faith to the virtual exclusion of the vital role in the Christian redemption played by righteous, holy, obedient behavior.

As we are willing to approach the New Testament without wearing the glasses of preconceived axioms we notice from the Gospels to Revelation that righteous, holy, obedient behavior is emphasized to a far greater extent than is true of grace and faith.

God is calling in our day for a return to righteous, holy, obedient living, but many believers are not going to repent until they understand the necessity for righteous behavior. The Apostle Paul, in the second chapter of the Book of Galatians, presents the scriptural resolution to the seeming contradiction of the conflict, in the Divine program of redemption, between the roles of faith and godly behavior.

There are a few passages in the New Testament that speak of Divine grace, of salvation by grace. The remainder of the text, from the Gospels to Revelation, emphasizes godly behavior. Since this is undeniably the case, it is clear the Holy Spirit is teaching us that both grace and godly behavior are essential to the Christian salvation.

How did Evangelical teaching get so far off base? Is it because the love of man for himself desires to make grace the only essential aspect of salvation so in case he desires to sin a little, or is afraid he may fall, the individual may rest secure he will never have to suffer for his behavior? Is this why we have such an unscriptural imbalance?

Or is it because we picture God as a good-natured Santa Claus who smiles at the moral behavior of the American Christians and says, "Boys will be boys!?" We just can't picture good ol' Jesus taking away our talent and sending us into outer darkness. Such passages must have to do with those Jews or with someone else somewhere.

We of today have little concept of the severity of God.

Or is it because Satan is attempting to convince the creation that those who sin will not surely die, hoping somehow this will be applied to himself?

Whatever the reason, Evangelical teaching and preaching has become very unscriptural in its overemphasis on grace to the neglect of the role righteousness, holiness, and stern obedience to the Father play in the Christian salvation.

Paul says we are justified by faith. James says we are justified by works. Is the Book of James actually in the New Testament canon? If it really and truly is, why are his words ignored? To go further, why are the numerous warnings ignored that were issued by the Lord Jesus and the Apostle Paul concerning the dreadful fate of the Lord's servants who do not serve Him diligently? who continue in the lusts and appetites of the flesh?

To be continued.