The rich man was sent to the flames of Hades because he neglected to share his abundance with Lazarus.

A man was put into outer darkness because he had neglected to dress himself properly.

Then the king told the attendants, "Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (Matthew 22:13—NIV)

The true Christian, he who lives by faith, is the one who presents his body a living sacrifice to God at all times and in every circumstance; who always is living in God's Presence; who always is seeking first the Kingdom; who always is abiding consciously in Christ. God is in all his thoughts.

To not always be pressing toward God is to commit the sin of neglect.

What we have today is an ineffective and unacceptable manmade scheme that we are preaching and teaching in place of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God. Hundreds of thousands of Christian believers are living in the delusion that they can say Jesus is Savior and Lord and then trust in money, commit sin, and follow their own heart. They think it does not matter how they behave in this world because "accepting Christ" is their ticket to another world.

Compatible with the viewing of grace as a substitute for godly living (which is an ancient heresy) is the modern "revelation" of the pre-tribulation rapture of the saints. The idea that any moment we will escape the tribulations of this world has destroyed the scriptural doctrine of the spiritual—and resulting physical—resurrection that results from pressing into Christ's Life and sufferings. The Resurrection and the Life are Jesus, not belief about Jesus.

It is our conviction that the neglect of the vigorous pursuit of God coupled with belief in the unscriptural doctrine of the pre-tribulation rapture of the believers has undermined the Christian testimony and destroyed the "light" of righteous works.

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 5:16)

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Romans 12:1,2)

The Lord God of Heaven requires much more of His elect than commonly is being taught in the Christian churches. God has given us grace that never before, under any other covenant, has been available to mankind. In return He is asking for more than He ever before has asked of people. God is requiring that we present our body a living sacrifice, a "whole burnt offering" to Himself.

To be continued.