This means that if a believer is immoral, unclean, or covetous, he will not inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. None of these behaviors are permitted in the Kingdom. This is not a suggestion that the believer try to show his gratitude for a Divine amnesty, accompanied by the assurance that eternal life in the Kingdom of God already has been guaranteed regardless of whether or not the believer persists in covetous behavior.

We could add many other passages, but these should be sufficient to give the reader a starting point from which to familiarize himself with the injunctions of the New Testament concerning sinful behavior on the part of Christian believers.

No! It is not true that eternal bliss is guaranteed upon our profession of Christ as Savior or that it is sufficient we make an attempt to act righteously in appreciation of God's love toward us. The gratitude model is an incorrect concept of the Christian salvation and will lead (and is leading multitudes) to moral chaos.

Can you imagine the Lord saying to us, "You could do better if you tried, but it really doesn't matter because I am going to take you to Heaven to be with Me forever whether or not you live a life of victory over sin?"

What does the Lord actually say, when speaking to a Christian assembly?

And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works. (Revelation 2:23)

There is a phrase common to the Lord's Word to the seven churches of Asia: "I know thy works."

The Lord never rebuked His servants for their doctrine, neither in the Gospel accounts nor in the Book of Revelation. His concern is with our works. This would not be the case if current Christian doctrine came from the Spirit of God.

But what about the thief on the cross? Did not the Lord admit him to Paradise apart from godly behavior?

First of all, we know nothing about the events of the thief's life that led to his request to be admitted to Christ's kingdom.

Second, the Holy Spirit did not place this incident in the Scripture in order to undermine and refute the commandments of the Apostles of the Lamb.

The story of the thief on the cross reminds us that Christ is willing to rescue the perishing when they call on him. Its purpose is not to comfort careless, lukewarm believers with the idea they will be "saved anyway."

So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. (Revelation 3:16)

Being spit out of the Lord's mouth is not an illustration of the Divine redemption.

In any case, the Lord Jesus did not bring the thief into the Kingdom of God but into Paradise. The issue of the New Testament is not Paradise but the Kingdom of God.

To be continued.