The teaching of grace has in some instances left the believers with the impression there are not ultimately joyous rewards for following the Lord and not ultimately serious punishments for not following the Lord. Being "saved by fire" is presented as receiving a two-story in place of a three-story mansion, instead of being the terrifying stripping and loss in the Kingdom it will prove to be.

We say Christians should do this and should do that. Should walks in big boots. But it is fear and joy that move most people, the prospect of pain and the prospect of pleasure. The Bible presents both in no uncertain terms.

"But we are not to fear God because God is love." The people who talk most about love and mercy are often those who want to make room for their sin, as we have noticed. Satan spoke through Peter in loving terms to the Lord. Satan would have prevented the atonement on the basis of love. Jesus spotted him instantly.

So it is that Satan will speak lovingly to you that you must not suffer. Satan understands that God's saving power will issue through you only to the extent you are willing to stay on the cross with Jesus. Satan has no reason to fear you until you are ready to lay down your life, take up your cross, and follow the Master.

Satan is not afraid of you or me or our church programs. Satan fears only the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. As long as Satan can "lovingly" keep church people alive in the flesh, he and his kingdom are safe.

The current teaching of grace has in many instances removed the hope of glory and the fear of being cut off from Christ. Being cut off from Christ is the warning of the Gospels as well as the Epistles to Christians who do not bear the fruit God is looking for.

We simply do not understand what grace is! Neither do we understand what salvation is!

Salvation is our change from the image of Satan to the image of God. Salvation is not referenced to eternal residence in Heaven but to eternal life in Christ, as a hasty review of the Scriptures will reveal.

Grace is not an alternative to our change from the image of Satan to the image of God. Grace is the Divine means in Jesus Christ to forgive us and then enable us to change from the image of Satan to the image of God.

I do not think any sincere Christian would dispute the fact that the purpose of salvation is to bring forth a new righteous creation in us. Even the unsaved know (or used to know) that the Bible is the "good book," meaning it tells us how to live in a way that pleases God.

If we are correct in maintaining that salvation is our change from the image of Satan to the image of God, and if we are accurate in stating that Divine grace is the Divine means in Jesus Christ to forgive us and enable us to change from the image of Satan to the image of God, then to state we stand in grace apart from our change into a new, righteous creation is not a defensible position.

If salvation is our change into godly behavior, then to say we are saved by grace even through we are not serving the Lord is to claim we are saved even though we are not being saved.

To be continued.