How will God deal with each person in the hour when he is judged?

According to what he has done.

There is an important truth here, a truth that sometimes has been eclipsed by an incorrect understanding of how the grace of God operates under the new covenant.

Paul is the Apostle and teacher of the grace of God in Christ. Paul carefully and ably shows we are saved by the righteousness of God in Christ and that we cannot add to this righteousness by striving to keep the Law of Moses.

Paul teaches that we are saved by grace and not by works. By "works" he means the works of the Jewish Law.

Gentile Bible teachers have interpreted the word "works" to mean righteousness, holiness, and obedience to God.

Gentiles, not being familiar with or pressed by the Law of Moses, have interpreted Paul's statements concerning works to mean godly behavior is not an essential aspect of salvation. We Gentiles believe we are saved by faith in Christ apart from godly behavior. Salvation independent of godly behavior is an error in Protestant theology and represents an erroneous application of Paul's thesis.

This error in understanding has perverted beyond recognition the Gospel of grace taught by the Apostle Paul.

Being saved "by grace" has come to mean the necessary aspect of Christianity is that we make a correct statement of faith concerning Christ. Whether or not we practice righteousness, holiness, and obedience to God is not essential to our entrance into the Kingdom of God because we have been "saved by grace."

Any person who studies carefully the writings of Paul, as well as those of the other Apostles, can observe instantly that far more emphasis is placed on righteous behavior that on a correct statement of faith concerning Christ.

Jesus commanded us to let our light shine. Many Christian churches have interpreted this to mean we should tell others about the way of salvation in Christ. Is this what Jesus meant?

Or did He mean when men witness our righteous conduct they will glorify God?

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven (Matthew 5:16).

"Your good works."

Are Christians identified by a statement of faith in Christ or by righteous conduct?

What does the saying mean, "Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them" (Matthew 7:20)?

If "by their fruits ye shall know them" means the prophets of the Lord can be identified by their statement of faith concerning Christ, then the Christian churches are true to the Scripture.

If "by their fruits ye shall know them" means the prophets of Christ are identified, not by their statement of faith but by their righteous behavior, holiness, and obedience to God, then the doctrine of Divine grace is being taught incorrectly in our day.

If the question during the Day of the Lord is whether we have made the right kind of statement about Christ, then Christians have understood Paul's teaching concerning the grace of God.

If the question during the Day of the Lord is whether or not we have lived in righteous behavior holiness, and obedience to God, then Christians have not understood Paul's teaching concerning the grace of God in Christ.

We will leave it to the reader to search the four Gospel accounts and determine for himself or herself what issues will be raised at the return of the Lord Jesus from Heaven.

To be continued.