What are we to do? We are to read again the New Testament, noticing that it does not support a grace that does not produce moral transformation.

The Law was given by Moses but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. This scriptural statement reveals that the grace and truth that came through Jesus Christ take the place of the Law of Moses, not the place of righteous behavior. We have made grace an alternative to righteous behavior. Think of it! Divine grace, the intention of which is to produce righteous behavior, has become an alternative to righteous behavior. Can you think of anything more horrid than this?—more destructive of God's intention?

We notice in the Book of Acts that whenever the forgiveness of sins was preached, repentance also was preached. Repentance is not merely sorrow, it is a change of behavior.

Today we are preaching forgiveness apart from thorough repentance. This change is deadly as to the impression it leaves concerning the nature of the Christian salvation.

The first recipients of the Gospel were Jews. They knew God demands righteousness. They understood that God had forgiven their sins through Jesus Christ but He expected that they would turn away from their sins and practice righteousness.

In fact, the members of the first church, who were all Jews, were keeping the Law of Moses. Paul wrote much in Romans and Galatians concerning the problem of attempting to mix the Law of Moses with the grace of Jesus Christ. Paul showed us that the new covenant is a better covenant and that the first covenant no longer is needed. God wants us to look up from the Law and place our faith in Christ in order to obtain God's righteousness.

But we have made a terrible error. We Gentiles, not understanding that Paul was reasoning with Jews concerning the Law of Moses, think Paul meant we should cease behaving uprightly and just believe in Jesus. This error completely wipes out what God is seeking to accomplish.

We still have Christian ministers crying "faith alone," meaning whether we take up our cross and follow Jesus or continue to live according to the lusts of our flesh, we will go to Heaven if we believe in Jesus. Do they maintain that the Book of James is the Word of God? Did James say "faith without works is dead"? Are they trying to be saved by a dead faith?

But back to the exhortation to repentance being preached in the Book of Acts.

Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2:38—NIV)

Repent, then, and turn to God, so your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, (Acts 3:19—NIV)

First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles also, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds. (Acts 26:20—NIV)

To be continued.