I suppose it is not uncommon for people to believe if they do good now they will be rewarded in the next life, and if they are wicked they will be punished. This seems to be the general feeling on the part of ordinary folk. They are correct. They have Bible to support their view.

Since Evangelical teaching leaves the impression that there is little or no relationship between how we live now and our situation in the next world, one group or the other is in error in their thinking. Maybe we better look at what the Bible says about how our behavior today affects what we will face in the future.

"Those who have done good will rise to live."

"Those who have done evil will rise to be condemned."

Think about it. If we do good works we will be resurrected to eternal life. If we practice evil works we will face condemnation when we are raised from the dead.

Now, where does the Gospel of Jesus Christ fit into this picture?

Does this mean we can reject Christ when He is presented to us and save ourselves by trying to do good?

Absolutely not.

Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. (John 3:18—NIV)

Does this mean we can believe in Jesus, practice evil, and be raised to eternal life? Absolutely not! This is the primary error of current Evangelical thinking.

Current Evangelical teaching, which actually is a form of an ancient philosophy called Gnosticism, teaches that the behavior of Christians does not affect their salvation; and adds that if we are not a Christian there is nothing we can do that God will honor. All our efforts toward righteousness are as filthy rags in God's sight.

Once we become a Christian, however, everything we do is righteous because God sees us through Jesus Christ. Our lie is the truth. Our immorality is moral cleanliness. Our rage is love, joy, and peace. This is because God "sees us through Christ" (an unscriptural expression). Such is the prevailing Evangelical schizophrenia.

There are three kinds of righteousness, three forms of "doing good," three aspects of human behavior that are acceptable to God within their designated boundaries and circumstances.

Adamic righteousness. One of the great errors of Evangelical teaching is that God does not honor adamic integrity, the effort of an honorable man or woman to do what is right.

Granted the human heart is deceitful and wicked. Granted we were born in sin and formed in lawlessness. Granted flesh and blood cannot enter the Kingdom of God. Nevertheless, the Bible has much to say about human righteousness.

Consider the following verse.

Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism But accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right." (Acts 10:34,35—NIV)

God accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right. This verse alone ought to warn us that the Evangelical axiom stating no righteous person has ever lived is incomplete at best, misleading and destructive at worst.

To be continued.