In several of our writings we have emphasized what we believe to be an important understanding of the new covenant, concerning the relationship of works to grace and faith.

In many instances Paul pointed out that we cannot be declared righteous by our own works, only by placing our faith in God's righteousness that is found in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Many devout, distinguished teachers of the Scriptures over the past one hundred years have preached and taught that an individual cannot save himself by behaving according to Christian principles. He must receive God's righteousness through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

There is no human being who can go through life without sinning on numerous occasions. The Scripture declares that the soul that sins shall die. If a human sins one time he shall die. The Divine scales of righteousness will register an imbalance. Sin has been committed. The inviolable Word declares that death must follow. There is no waiving of this law.

Only through the blood of Christ can our sins be forgiven, can the scales of Divine righteousness be brought back into balance. This is why no person can please God apart from receiving the Lord Jesus Christ. We cannot redeem ourselves. Only the blood of Christ can cancel the guilt of the sins that we have committed. This is the teaching of the holy Scriptures. It is the foundation of the Gospel of Christ. Let God be true and every man a liar.

But a serious problem has arisen. The teachers of the Scriptures have misapplied this foundational truth by overemphasizing it, by not balancing it with the greater part of the writings of the New Testament. The greater part of the writings of the New Testament do not emphasize the forgiveness of sins that comes to us through the blood of our Lord Jesus. Also, the four Gospel accounts have little to say about salvation by grace.

What, then, is the substance of the four Gospel accounts and the writings of the New Testament?

One of the main topics—perhaps the main topic—is righteous behavior along with holiness toward God. The Kingdom of God is revealed in righteous, holy, and obedient behavior. Apart from such behavior there is no Kingdom of God.

We are of the opinion that one of the main reasons for the current neglect of the many passages of the New Testament that set forth the role of righteous behavior in the Christian discipleship is a misunderstanding of such verses as Galatians 2:16. Notice the opening clause:

Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, . . . .

There are several such statements, particularly in the early chapters of Romans. Not enough attention has been paid to the meaning of these statements, that is, to the manner in which they are related to the New Testament emphasis on holy and righteous personality and behavior.

As a result of our simplified interpretation, there has arisen an overemphasis on the doctrine that "we are not saved by works but by grace." This statement is scripturally correct. The problem is what we mean by works; for what we mean by works and what Paul meant by it are very different. The difference is affecting adversely the manner in which Christian people are behaving in our day.

To be continued.