We are obeying Christ when we pray, "lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one." God sends strong delusion on people who take pleasure in unrighteousness and who imagine that God takes pleasure in their unrighteousness.

Salvation results from our being set apart by the Spirit of God to holy behavior as we obey the truth set forth by the Apostles of the Lamb. Salvation is not restricted to a momentary experience in which we acknowledge the truth of Christ's atoning death, triumphant resurrection, and Divine Lordship, but a day by day living in Christ. The Lord Jesus is not a ticket to Heaven. He is the Way of holiness and of eternal life.

A balanced concept of grace.

It is very misleading to define grace as meaning only a forgiveness of sins apart from the converted moral behavior of the Christian disciple.

Paul argued that man is saved apart from obeying the laws and statutes of Moses. A careful study of Paul's writings will show that man cannot achieve righteousness in himself apart from Christ and thus earn the favor of God. This concept is altogether different from the idea that the Christian salvation has little to do with righteous and holy behavior—which is the conclusion of the argument that grace means only forgiveness of sins apart from holiness of deed, word, motive, and imagination.

Paul never intended that his letters be used to teach that Divine grace releases the believer from having to account for his sins of word and deed while the unbelievers are to be brought into judgment for every sin. Paul understood from the Scripture that Jerusalem always receives "double for all her sins" (Isaiah 40:2).

The next passage gives a more balanced concept of grace than that which often is presented. Paul helps us understand that grace is much more than a blanket forgiveness of the sins that we commit, although such forgiveness is included as part of the atonement when we first receive Christ and holds true as we learn to walk in the Spirit of God.

For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people [people for God's own possession], zealous of good works. (Titus 2:11-14)

"Denying ungodliness and worldly lusts."

"We should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world."

"Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ."

"Purify unto himself a peculiar people [people for God's own possession], zealous of good works."

To be continued.