The context of the above verse shows it is pointed at believers, challenging them to behave righteously. It reveals clearly that Christ did not come primarily to forgive the works of the devil in us but to destroy them from us.

The New Testament tells us about the need for righteous behavior and God's grace that enables righteous behavior. It most assuredly does not present us with a "grace" that enables us to avoid righteous behavior. Read it and see for yourself.

But first ask God to remove all deception from your mind. The present teaching about grace is not grace at all but a delusion. It is a spiritual phenomenon and must be treated as spiritual deception and opposition to the Kingdom of God.

One doctrinal point at issue has to do with suffering. Basilea Schlink teaches, as I do, that Divine grace is conditional, depending on our response. A good part of our response involves obedience and suffering.

I have taught for years that the Charismatic move will be divided on the issue of suffering.

The "faith" teaching, a horse out of the deception corral, can create enormous error. One of its proponents made the abominable comment to a missionary of our acquaintance that there was no need for her to suffer; that if the Apostle Paul had had faith he would not have suffered. Can you imagine such error? And yet Charismatic people receive this garbage because they are not praying, not carrying their cross after Jesus. They are in deception.

Audrey told me that some of the people she met in Germany were saying the Evangelicals are in trouble because of the "unconditional grace" business. This is the truth! I'm not the only one who sees it, thank God.

Then I was up at a retreat where the speaker was a pastor who goes every year to a country where it is against the law to worship Christ. He spoke several times there to the underground church. He preached eight hours a day to fervent disciples who are ready to suffer and carry their cross behind Jesus.

But he said the only literature they had was the faith-prosperity error. The faith-prosperity doctrine, along with the super-grace, Jesus did it all, Calvinism in some instances, unconditional grace, are horses from the same corral. They have undercut God's wishes that His people keep His commandments.

I mean, all of this bombarded my mind until I began to be oppressed with the horror of it all.

Look at our opening verses:

Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. (I John 3:6,7)

I could talk all night and not say it any clearer than this.

The Christian who is walking in sin has not seen Christ. He does not know Christ. Whoever thinks a person can sin and know Christ is deceived. The truly righteous person walks in righteousness just as Christ eternally walks in righteousness.

To be continued.