The above verse tells us we must have the mind of the Lord when we are dealing with weak Christians, for some are to be treated differently from others. It reveals also that the current teaching of a sovereignly instituted grace that ignores our behavior has no place in the Bible. The Bible deals with the conduct of people, with their growth in righteousness.

Some are snatched from the burning when we warn them of the consequences of their behavior.

Others are to be treated more gently. Yet we must be cautious, for the immorality and idolatry that are binding them have permeated even their clothing and are contagious.

Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. (Jude 1:24,25)

It is unquestionably true that Christ is able to keep us from falling and to present us before His glorious Presence without fault and with great joy.

The only problem is our unbelief and disobedience. Such verses as the above have been used to prove that once we "accept" Christ we cannot fall away. If this were the case, then what Jude said earlier in his epistle about leaving Egypt and then dying in the wilderness would be meaningless.

Of course Christ has the power to keep us from falling. Of course Christ is willing and desires to keep us from falling.

But we are warned, warned, and warned in the New Testament about not inheriting the Kingdom, about losing our crown, about being ushered into the outer darkness because we did not use our talent, about reaping destruction.

These warnings are not often preached today. Instead, the verses such as the above that are "positive" are employed over and over again to comfort lukewarm American believers who have no intention of taking up their cross and following Jesus.

It surely is time for a reformation of Christian thinking, especially in America; for God wants a pure Word of the Kingdom to be coming forth from our country instead of the immorality and violence produced in Hollywood.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord we ascribe to God Almighty, glory, majesty, power, and authority. Such incomprehensible glory was true of God before time existed, is true now, and shall be true forever.

We need to understand fully that when we are serving Christ as we should there is no power in Heaven above, on the earth beneath, or in the dark regions below the earth's surface, that can possibly harm us.

During the coming age of moral horrors, Satan and his demons shall become increasingly manifest in the earth. The Christians will be tempted to spend their time and energy "rebuking Satan." We are not to do this.

We shall stand in the darkness if we will press into Jesus each day and follow the Holy Spirit in righteous, holy, sternly obedient behavior. If the Spirit leads us to pray and bind evil spirits, then we should do this. But ordinarily we shall conquer, not by confronting Satan but by learning the difference between good and evil, and rejecting the evil and embracing the good.

To be continued.