Be converted from your sinful behavior so your sins may be blotted out.

Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities. (Acts 3:26)

The Gospel is not merely fire insurance but an exhortation to turn away from sin.

Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead. (Acts 4:2)

The doctrine of the resurrection was a very important aspect of apostolic preaching and teaching. The doctrine of the resurrection has been obscured today by the unscriptural emphasis on the "rapture" of the believers into Heaven.

Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. (Acts 5:31)

Do you see how the emphasis is on repentance, that is, on turning away from sin and embracing righteous behavior? Do you see that forgiveness of sins always must be accompanied by a change in behavior? Do you see that no stress is laid on escaping Hell but rather on the resurrection of the dead?

The reason no emphasis is laid on escaping Hell is that sinners always belong in Hell. The Christian salvation does not change the fact that sinners belong in Hell.

Whenever the New Testament speaks of Hell, it has to do with conduct, never with receiving the Lord Jesus.

But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. (Matthew 5:22)

And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire. (Matthew 18:9)

And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. (Luke 16:23)

The rich man was not in Hell because he rejected Christ but because of his selfishness.

When we preach Christian grace as escape from Hell, and Christian grace as an alternative to righteous behavior, then we have completely perverted and destroyed God's plan to make new creations through Christ.

It is true rather that Christian grace is the Divinely given alternative to the Law of Moses (not to righteous behavior) and the Christian salvation is the Divine plan for changing sinners into righteous people so they do not belong in Hell.

Can you see, therefore, the great error in presenting the Gospel as a way of avoiding Hell? This would be to change the Gospel into a method of getting around God's righteous judgment. It is the enemy who is encouraging people to seek to find a way around God's judgment.

Satan defines grace as a substitute for righteous behavior, as a way of being acceptable to God without turning away from the world, sin, and self-will.

Satan rejoices at the thought of a grace that would enable him to enjoy all the blessings of God and eternal life and yet preserve his own way of behaving. Is this what you want? If you do, there is little love for God in your heart. Salvation is to you a plan whereby you can live your own life apart from Christ and still escape the torment of Hell. This is the antichrist spirit.

To be continued.