We are to cooperate with the Holy Spirit as He guides and empowers us to put to death the deeds of our sinful flesh. These are graveclothes that must be removed after we are raised from the dead, just as in the case of Lazarus. Anything less than this is not the Christian salvation.

We must pray every day and read the Bible. As we do the Lord will speak to us concerning the commandments found therein. These are to be obeyed. They are not too hard! They are not too strict! They are to be obeyed by us while we still have an adamic nature.

There are hundreds of commandments in the New Testament but we only keep them one at a time. There is no commandment or invitation in the New Testament that we cannot keep with the help of the Lord. Absolutely none!

Satan has run a huge bluff on the Christians, telling them God is too hard! God is too strict!

Read the New Testament and find a commandment that you cannot keep with the Lord's help. Immediately you will find, "Be perfect as your Father in Heaven is perfect." Do you think Jesus would command such a thing if it were not possible? Jesus does not mean we are to attain our own standard of perfection, He means we are to do each moment what we know to do and what God enables us to do.

Is our Father in Heaven so unwise and unloving that He is ready to saddle us with a number of frustrating commandments? If you think so you do not know your Father.

Some of the commandments of the New Testament are comprehensive, such as "present your body a living sacrifice." Most are simple and direct, such as "if you have a gift of teaching, then use it."

God does not expect you to do what He says in your own strength. He is always ready to give you the wisdom and strength, guiding you every step of the way, so you can keep the words of the New Testament.

You must keep your eyes on Jesus.

You must obey the Spirit when He speaks to you.

You must read the Scriptures and find out what you are supposed to do.

You must attend a local congregation and submit to the leadership, as God guides you.

These commands are not too strict or too hard. They are the normal Christian experience. Whoever is saying you do not have to live like this is the unfaithful steward who told the customers to cut their bill in half. He is unfaithful to his Master and currying favor with you. He and you will spend eternity together.

These are serious words I have written to you. But then, these are serious times in which we live. The conflict of the ages is at hand. God is ready to shake earth and Heaven so all who have the tiniest bit of rebellion and disobedience in them will be shaken down from the place of power. The Divine Throne is being purified. The Kingdom of God is at hand and will drive all sin and rebellion from the creation.

To be continued.