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The Daily Word of Righteousness
The Marriage of the Lamb, #18
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:19-21)
Paul is saying to believers in Christ of the churches of Galatia, as he wrote also to the believers in the other churches, that if they continue in sin they will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
"But," our fellow Christians may protest, "those who live a sinful life never were saved in the first place."
This is their argument. What they are saying when they respond in this manner is a true Christian is identified by a righteous, holy, and obedient life and that apart from godliness there is no salvation.
No matter how we turn and twist, the Divine truth is facing us: those who practice sin will reap death, whether or not they believe in Christ. They shall not inherit the Kingdom of God!
The current Christian teaching that the Gospel of Christ is the covering of men's sins so they can enter the glories of the Kingdom of God apart from any transformation of their personalities, any ceasing from sin, any conversion into the image of Christ, is false. It is destructive of the Kingdom of God in men.
Grace is not a waiving of the Divine requirement of righteous behavior. There is a grace period to be sure, but after that the necessary obligations must be assumed. This is true of any business transaction.
Faith from which no righteous works proceed is a dead faith. Righteous works are the life of true faith. Where Christ is there is righteous behavior. If Christ indeed is in us a new creation is coming into view. The true Christian keeps Christ's commandments (I John 2:4).
The Lord Jesus said the same thing to the members of the church in Thyatira:
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)
To maintain the above verse is not referring to "Gentiles who are saved by grace" is to fumble about ineptly in doctrinal chaos. The truth is, this verse does away with the current teaching that Christianity primarily is imputed (assigned) righteousness.
There is another consideration. The Spirit warned us not to tamper with the Book of Revelation (Revelation 22:18,19). The contemporary doctrine makes the words of Christ of no effect. Why should any "saved Gentile" take heed to Revelation 2:23 if he is covered eternally with Christ's righteousness and God cannot see his deeds? It makes the clear warnings of the Book of Revelation of no effect.
The doctrine that salvation is only a covering is expanded to include the idea that all Christians will receive the same reward, our behavior being of no consequence. This is in opposition to the words of the Lord Jesus Christ.
To be continued.