Christian scholars have overemphasized imputed (ascribed) righteousness until the doctrine has become error. It is not true that "Jesus did it all." The Lord Jesus made it possible, and still makes it possible, for us to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. The Lord has a part to play and we have a part to play. If we do not do our part we will not be found worthy of the Kingdom of God regardless of "grace and mercy." It is time for the Christian people to wake up and cease their sinning.

Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame. (I Corinthians 15:34)

The Lord Jesus stands ready to receive, forgive, and bless all who come to Him no matter how sinful they may have been. This is Divine love and grace. The problem today is that God's love and mercy are being used as an alternative to, a substitute for, faithful discipleship rather than the means of making it possible for us to begin to live righteously.

When considering the resurrection of the body to eternal life, particularly the first resurrection, the resurrection of the royal priesthood, we spoke of God's invitation to us and the provisions He has made for our success.

Now we are thinking about our response to God's invitation and the manner in which we must appropriate God's provisions if we would be successful in attaining the out-resurrection.

We have noted that the Scriptures show us plainly we must be accounted worthy of the resurrection. God always is able to deliver us from Satan and his works and to bring us to the fullness of eternal life in spirit, in soul, and in body. But we must be judged worthy of such resurrection life. We are judged worthy of eternal life in terms of the following factors:

Our works: we always are judged according to our works.

The exercise of our will: our decisions—great and small.

Our faith that causes us to follow the Lord in strict obedience.

Our patient and cheerful confidence in the Lord through prolonged periods of suffering.

The intercession of others on our behalf.

Our works: we always are judged according to our works. We can see that all but the last (the intercession of others) come under the category of our works.

It is what we do that determines our eternal destiny.

We have stated previously that there are two different judgments. One judgment is of Satan, of the lusts that dwell in our flesh. The second judgment is of us as an individual. When our ways please the Lord, His judgment falls on the evil that resides in our flesh. The evil is handed over for sentencing. We go free.

When our ways please the Lord we are judged worthy of salvation, of deliverance. But we must understand that worthiness from the standpoint of God requires a far more diligent discipleship than that to which we are accustomed.

To be continued.