Because Evangelical traditions are preached in place of the text of the New Testament the American Christians of today, in numerous instances, do not grow in the strength and power of Christ. They see no need to do so. Why should they trouble themselves to mature to the stature of the fullness of Christ when they are just about to fly home where everything will be taken care of? The current unscriptural traditions have destroyed the moral strength of the believers.

Every time the congregation is told their sins have been forgiven and the Lord is coming again they should be told they have been crucified with Christ, resurrected with Christ, and now are at the right hand of God in Heaven. They are to set their minds in Heaven constantly.

When they do this, what is the next step? Let's see what Paul says about the expected and necessary behavior that must result from putting our attention where Christ and we are at the right hand of God in Heaven.

When Christ, who is your  life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices And have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. (Colossians 3:4-10—NIV)

What are we to do when we realize our new born-again spiritual life is hidden with Christ in God?

We are to put to death whatever belongs to our earthly nature.

We are to put to death sexual immorality.

We are to put to death impurity.

We are to put to death lust.

We are to put to death evil desires.

We are to put to death greed, which is idolatry.

We are to rid ourselves of anger.

We are to rid ourselves of rage.

We are to rid ourselves of malice.

We are to rid ourselves of slander.

We are to rid ourselves of filthy language from our lips.

We are to cease lying to each other, since we have taken off our old self with its practices.

We are to put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.

We are to put to death whatever belongs to our earthly nature. We are to rid ourselves of them. We are to put off the old self and put on the new self. We are to stop lying.

Do you see any indication whatever, in the above passage, that Christ will do this for us without any effort on our part? Do you see any indication whatever that God sees us through Christ so it does not matter whether we do these things or not?

To be continued.