In many instances the believers view righteous, holy behavior as desirable but not the necessary outcome of the Christian salvation, and sometimes consider attempts to live righteously as pharisaism.

We Christians have suffered and the world has suffered because of our lack of righteous behavior.

The Russians, the Arabs, the Jews, the Chinese, and other governments and races have rejected the Christian salvation, not because such nations do not desire the approval of God but because of the foolish, immoral, self- seeking behavior of the Christians and the competition among their denominations.

Yet the Lord Jesus Christ and His Apostles stressed righteous behavior and commanded us to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.

Let us think for a moment about what has gone wrong with the mainspring of the Christian religion, what has paralyzed and destroyed the Christian witness in so many instances.

Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. (Acts 2:36)

Peter's words proclaim the foundation of the Christian faith. God has made Jesus, whom men crucified, both Lord and Christ. This is the foundation of our faith and other aspects of our theology are built on this rock.

Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. (Acts 5:31)

God's plan of redemption includes forgiveness of sins for whoever will believe and receive the blood atonement made on the cross of Calvary. Forgiveness of sins through Christ is part of the provisions and truths of the Christian faith and is a major message of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God.

Forgiveness depends on repentance, on a change of behavior, as we notice in the above verse.

The provisions and truths of the Christian faith are the only means of converting sinful man into the moral image of Christ so that he will behave righteously. While the Divine provisions and truths offered in the Christian faith, such as forgiveness through the blood atonement, are not the Kingdom laws of righteous behavior, they must result in righteous behavior or else God's intention in providing them is aborted.

And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee. (Acts 24:25)

Paul did not discuss with Governor Felix going to Heaven and the "rapture," as would be done today. Paul reasoned of righteousness (righteous behavior), temperance (self-control), and the Divine judgment that will fall on all who practice wickedness.

The Christian churches, when their advice is sought, should reason with the leaders of government concerning righteous behavior, self-control, and the Day of Judgment, and not offer a cheap grace that requires no change of behavior.

But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance [appropriate to repentance]. (Acts 26:20)

"Repent and turn to God, and do works." "And do works."

To be continued.