"The just shall live by faith." What does this mean? Has this expression caused us to totally misunderstand the salvation that is in Jesus Christ? Has our emphasis on "faith alone" produced the moral desolation that is destroying America?

Is it actually true that Christians can keep on sinning and never lose their salvation? We do not think so.

"The just shall live by faith" is the battle cry of the Protestant Reformation. This expression means those who are accepted of God live each day in humble dependence on the Lord, looking to Him constantly for every decision of life.

Today the definition appears to be, "State that you believe Jesus is the Christ and you want Him to save you, and from then on wait to die until you go to your mansion in Heaven."

Instead of faith being a way in which we live it now is a mental assent to theological facts, the embracing of which guarantees entrance to Paradise independently of our behavior—just the opposite of the Divine intention.

Two steamrollers are approaching each other in the days in which we live. One is scriptural. The other is not. The first is the Gospel of the Kingdom of God. The second is the current teaching of salvation by faith alone. The two plans of salvation are fatally different. They have been kept compartmentalized in our minds but this no longer is possible. One or the other must give way.

God is calling for repentance today, for righteous behavior. People who are hearing the call of the Spirit are responding. God's preachers are teaching the need for repentance, for turning away from the ungodliness present in America. The Spirit is warning God's people that if we do not start keeping God's commandments our nation will be destroyed.

As soon as the preachers stress the need for a change in behavior, however, the perturbed theorists rise up: "We must remember we are saved by grace, by faith alone." The theorists of the sovereign grace position recognize that the preaching of repentance, of actual righteousness of behavior, is inconsistent with their concepts. "It is nice to teach repentance and godly behavior but we must remember God's love and that He has saved us by His grace."

Such unscriptural blather, such intellectually corrupt inconsistency, will not be accepted by intelligent people who mean business with God. "Are we saved by a sovereign grace alone or are we required to keep the commandments of Christ and His Apostles?"

Well, which is it? Let's fish or cut bait! How long will we halt between two opinions, fudging, willing to continue in this confusing, dishonest, debilitating mental state?

Are we willing to say a Christian can fornicate, lie, steal, covet, refuse to forgive people, be a drunkard and violent, and still hear Christ say, "Well done, good and faithful servant; your behavior makes My grace shine all the brighter"?

Can we actually damage our salvation by such conduct? Yes or no?

What does the New Testament say?

If it is true we can "make a decision for Christ" (an unscriptural phrase) and then live in the mouth of Satan without losing our soul, then numerous passages of the New Testament, the commandments and teachings of Christ and His Apostles, are vain, useless, superfluous.

To be continued.