To be accused of preaching righteous behavior is a serious charge in our day. But I confess to it. Me and Noah. We both plead guilty!

I'd better quit being cute. Sinful behavior is a serious problem in the churches of Jesus Christ in America.

Through the years I have been accused of preaching works. I say accused because it is an accusation, a charge as serious as adultery or stealing.

"You, Brother, are preaching works! You are claiming that a Christian must act, speak, think, and look like a Christian! What is the matter with you? "Can't you understand that God sees you through Christ and no matter how you cheat, lie, steal, fornicate, swear, betray your family, God sees only the holiness and faithfulness of Christ? You are a legalist, a Pharisee, and have a religious spirit. You are hereby excommunicated."

This must be in the Book of Hezekiah.

When I appear before Jesus Christ I am going to have to answer for the charge of telling people that if they are to please Him they have to keep His commandments. I wonder if Jesus will call me a Pharisee. Do you think so? I don't recall He ever accused the Pharisees of keeping His commandments.

Oh well!

I have tried to explain that faith without works is dead, that works of righteousness always proceed from true faith, that the New Testament has far more to say about righteous behavior than it does ascribed righteousness, that there are very serious warnings to the Christian who continues to live in sin.

But to no avail. A mental concept has been formulated that creates an abstract state of grace, a schizophrenic bubble shielding the believer from all accountability for his or her behavior.

In many instances I have not been able to penetrate the bubble although I present ever so many passages from the New Testament—clear passages, not warped, contrived explanations that often is the case with my opponents. I have pointed out the many passages that warn the believer of the dreadful consequences of continuing in sin, such as removal to the outer darkness, the possibility of having one's name blotted from the Book of Life, the loss of all reward in the Kingdom, punishment by many lashes.

To no avail. I am met with "It's for the Jews!" "It's for the unsaved!" "It's a hypothetical statement!" "I am saved by grace so it can't possibly apply to me!" "The Greek verbs reveal that the English conveys a false impression!" and so forth.

But this morning, as I was in the kitchen pouring orange juice in my coffee and trying to come to consciousness, a thought came to me. Aha! I have it. So I wiped the jam off my fingers (always a good idea when approaching the computer), removed the bungee cord that protects my 17-inch monitor (in case of an earthquake), and with you as the victim prepared to try again.

The reason we preach works is that deliverance from sin is part of the Divine redemption. There you have it—jam and all!

To be continued.