Now, why were we created in Christ Jesus?

We were created in Christ Jesus to do good works. What if we do not do good works?

Then we are as a branch of the Vine that is not bearing the fruit the Farmer intended.

What happens to branches that do not bear the fruit of the moral image of Jesus Christ?

They are cut from the Vine, from Christ.

Can we, after God has opened our eyes to the Lamb of God and given us of His Spirit, then be cut from Christ?

Apparently so, if the Scripture is to be believed.

What can we say to all this?

We can state clearly and scripturally that it is not enough to be elected to salvation. We must activate our election by faith and obedience. We must work out our Divinely given redemption with fear and trembling until we bear the fruit of righteousness for which the Farmer is looking.

Fearing what? Trembling because of what? Fearing we will not be found worthy of the Kingdom of God.

Is it scriptural that we must be found worthy of the Kingdom of God?

All this is evidence that God's judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering. (II Thessalonians 1:5—NIV)

Is it actually scriptural that we must be found worthy of the Kingdom of God?

What is your opinion?

So we see that Christian teaching is sorely in need of a midcourse correction. Our nation, America, is heading toward Divine judgment. Why is this? It is because the Christians are not keeping God's commandments.

Why are they not keeping God's commandments?

Because they have been taught only one of the two critically important aspects of the Divine salvation. They have been taught that God reaches down and saves us. They have not always been taught that this salvation is not a ticket that gains entrance to Heaven but the authority to pursue the path that leads to eternal life.

The teaching of today is so lopsided! Numerous verses are seldom or never preached, or if they are preached they are taken out of context and forced into the popular mold.

Romans 6:23, the wages of sin is death, is preached regularly to the unbelievers to prove to them they must accept Christ so they can go to Heaven.

But Romans 6:23 is addressed to Christians who have been baptized in water, telling them that if they choose, after becoming a Christian, to be the slave of sin they will die spiritually; but if they choose to be the slave of righteousness they will receive the gift of eternal life. And it has nothing to do with Heaven!

Have you ever heard the sixth chapter of Romans interpreted in this manner? Perhaps not. Yet this is what is being taught in the chapter.

Sinners are told they will not escape if they neglect God's great salvation. Yet this verse in the Book of Hebrews is directed toward seasoned Christians who had grown cold.

Sinners are told that Christ is standing at the door of their heart and asking for admittance. Yet this verse in the Book of Revelation is speaking of self-willed Christians who are keeping Christ out of their activities.

To be continued.