When we do what the Lord has commanded our sins are covered by His blood and so we live without condemnation. Also, our change into His image is assured. In addition we shall be brought into total, untroubled union with the Father. Our preservation from destruction in the Day of the Lord is guaranteed.

Perhaps the individual may say, "I don't want to turn away from the world to this extent. I will accept the forgiveness that comes through the blood of the cross. I will attend church as long as it does not interfere with my job and vacations. I hope that when the Lord returns He will consider my profession of faith and trust in His atoning blood to keep me from destruction."

Is this person saved?

The unerring Word of God states we shall be saved provided we endure to the end, that is, to the end of our assigned course. Suppose we do not endure to the end of our assigned course, will we be saved from destruction in any case? Will our sins be forgiven? Will we be changed into the image of the Lord Jesus? Will we be brought into untroubled union with the Father?

Contemporary teaching sometimes states we shall be saved whether or not we endure to the end because grace is unconditional.

The Scriptures thunder, "No! We shall receive corruption in the day of resurrection."

The deceiver behind the pulpit croons, "You shall not surely die."

Scripture states, "If you as a Christian live in the flesh you shall die spiritually. If you sow to your flesh you shall reap corruption. If you turn from the way of righteousness it would be better for you had you never begun the race."

For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify [put to death] the deeds of the body, ye shall live. (Romans 8:13)

For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. (Galatians 6:8)

For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. (II Peter 2:21)

Truly we are in desperate need of a reformation of Christian thinking.

The Bible teaches clearly we will partake of Christ provided we continue in Him.

But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end. (Hebrews 3:6)

For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; (Hebrews 3:14)

The contemporary response to the numerous warnings in the New Testament that inform us we will partake of Christ only on the condition that we abide in Him and bear the fruit of righteousness, that we endure to the end, is that all such warnings are addressed to the Jewish people or to the unsaved.

There is no scriptural basis for such a viewpoint.

Deception abounds in the Christian churches, particularly in the United States of America. Because of false teaching the moral strength of the believers has been weakened or destroyed altogether. The light of the testimony of good works has been extinguished. The television evangelist with his plea for money has become a national symbol of the corruption of the churches.

To be continued.