We find, in the above passage, the concept of God punishing us in order to save us from the wrath that is to fall on the world:

The Divine chastening may include sickness, and death in some instances.

For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. (I Corinthians 11:30)

What do we conclude from the words of this article? We conclude that the evangelical teaching of today, while it holds forth the truths of the atoning death of the Lord and His triumphant bodily resurrection, has added a host of traditions and fables that have produced immoral, silly believers who are hoping for an unscriptural "rapture" to save them from the troubles that are rapidly approaching the nations of the earth, the same persecutions and pressures that the saints of all ages have experienced—and are experiencing today in many countries.

Let us look once again at the three central errors:

We are saved by believing and confessing the theological facts concerning the Lord Jesus, His atoning death and bodily resurrection, whether or not we obey the numerous commandments of the New Testament. This is Christian Gnosticism.

To be saved is to go to Paradise after we die and live there forever. Heaven is our "eternal home."

Any moment there will be a "rapture" in which all who have made a confession of faith in the Lord Jesus will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air and return with Him to Heaven, to their mansion in Paradise.

The "ticket to Heaven" doctrine, while it appears to be supported by a few verses taken out of context, is totally opposed to the righteous behavior that is the objective of the new covenant. The evangelical spirit that fills the minds of the majority of the blood-washed contains much error.

I think many Christian people would agree the Holy Spirit is calling the believers in America to repentance. But our doctrine works against repentance and makes it an exercise in futility.

Of what are we to repent? If God sees us through Jesus (an unscriptural expression and concept), if we always are covered with the robe of righteousness no matter how we behave, of what are we to repent? Would we try to improve on the perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ?

If once having accepted Christ as our Savior we have our ticket to Heaven, and from this point forward God does not see our behavior much less judge it since He regards us as perfect in righteousness through Jesus Christ, then what sense does it make for us to repent? To repent of what—the righteousness of Christ that supposedly conceals our behavior from God?

Isn't it time for Evangelical scholars to look at this contradiction? The pastors and evangelists are calling us to turn from our wicked ways, as indeed they should. Then in the next breath they assure us that no matter how we behave our eternal salvation cannot by any means be jeopardized. We have been saved from wrath unconditionally.

To be continued.