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The Daily Word of Righteousness
The Marriage of the Lamb, #17
I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, (Ephesians 4:1)
That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; (Colossians 1:10)
That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory. (I Thessalonians 2:12)
The prevalent and unscriptural thinking that underlies much of the current Christian preaching and teaching is that Christ alone is worthy and we are clothed with that worthiness, that we need not be overly concerned with our behavior or with the Judgment Seat of Christ because we are "saved by grace through faith."
"Saved by grace through faith" is interpreted to mean that God, in His love and mercy, having decided that man is hopelessly corrupt, has extended to him an eternal amnesty. God forgives man because of Christ's substitutionary death on the cross, with the intention of bringing man to Heaven where he never again will have to choose between good and evil.
This is the basis of Christian theology and it is largely erroneous and destructive of the Kingdom of God. It is not, by any means, the original Gospel of the Kingdom of God. The current thinking is that there are no rewards for our works because God does not regard our works. Once we are "saved" we cannot be lost because God does not see what we are or what we do. This in spite of clear scriptural teaching to the contrary.
Let us consider for a moment the concept that our behavior is not critical to our salvation because we are covered with the righteousness and worthiness of Christ.
In his writings the Apostle Paul warned the saints that those who persist in sinning will not inherit the Kingdom of God. These warnings are inconsistent with the teaching that God does not regard the behavior of Christians.
After enumerating the sinful practices of the flesh, Paul says to "the churches of Galatia":
. . . they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:21)
"Do such things."
"Shall not inherit the Kingdom of God"!
Why will they not inherit the Kingdom of God? Because they have practiced adultery and the other works of the flesh.
If they continue in the works of the flesh they cannot inherit the Kingdom of God, whether or not they are professing Christians. Thus the purpose of redemption is not only, or even primarily, to cover people with the righteousness of Christ, it is to change them so they have both the desire and the ability to do good works.
One of two things is true: either current doctrine is incorrect, or Paul is not speaking to people who have been saved, who have believed in Christ.
It is obvious that the fifth chapter of the Book of Galatians is speaking to Christians. By no means is Paul teaching that if the unsaved commit adultery they will not inherit the Kingdom of God. The converse of this would be that if the unsaved ceased from the works of the flesh they would inherit the Kingdom of God.
To be continued.