The idea that we can just "believe" without turning away from wickedness is unscriptural. As in the passage above, we have to prove our repentance by our deeds. We have to do works that show our genuine desire to please God.

Such preaching is largely absent today. The "grace" mystique is so deeply entrenched in Christian thinking that, unless the Holy Spirit does a sovereign work, it will be years before a dent is made in this error.

The "grace" mystique underlies most of our preaching! Apart from it the notion of the "pre-tribulation rapture" would fall apart, because the "rapture" error is based on the idea that the carnal church members of today are ready to be caught up to Heaven and stand in the Presence of God apart from moral transformation. (What a disaster that would be for God, for the saints in Heaven, and for the spiritual infants who suddenly appeared in Paradise!)

Today there are outstanding revivals (if this is what they are—I am not totally convinced because of some of the weird things that have taken place) that are stressing repentance. This is a scriptural emphasis, and hopefully there are numerous believers who have turned away from their alcohol and drugs, their marital infidelity, their gossip and slander, their unforgiveness, their witchcraft, their lying, their pornography, their profanity. Such repentance is an integral part of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

But when they return to their home churches they will be taught they are saved by "grace," meaning they are forgiven continually even though they are living in the lusts of the flesh. Thus the good work that was done in the revival center is undone in a short time and the believers are back into their marital infidelity and pornography.

There will be no lasting revival in America or anywhere else until the false doctrine of the "state of grace," the dispensation of grace, has been perceived for the monstrous lie it is and the new covenant is understood to be a continuing moral transformation conducted by the Spirit of God.

And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. (II Corinthians 3:18—NIV)

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! (II Corinthians 5:17—NIV)

If the new covenant does not make a new moral character it is less profitable than the old, because the old covenant at least required righteous conduct. In spite of the claims to the contrary of modern Christian teaching, there were numerous righteous people under the old covenant, according to many verses in the Book of Psalms.

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. (Psalms 1:1,2—NIV)

To be continued.