Salvation is past, present, and future. There is a decisive moment in time when we look to God for salvation through Jesus Christ. Then throughout our lifetime we must work out our salvation with fear and trembling. Also we are kept by the power of God unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. We are saved by hope—hope that when the Lord comes we will be completely free from sin and joyously alive in His Presence.

To overemphasize one of these three aspects at the expense of the others is to bring confusion into our thinking.

No, grace is not an unconditional amnesty. No, grace is not a safety net that protects us whether or not we serve God faithfully. Numerous New Testament passages expose the lie within this concept.

Many believers of our day are expecting to hear the Lord say, Well done, good and faithful servant. Yet they have been neither good nor faithful. Why this illogical belief? Because they have been taught that Divine grace is an alternative to a new, righteous creation.

The churches are in danger! Judgment is hovering over the Western nations. The Gentile holocaust is at hand. Why? Because we are not teaching the Bible but our traditions concerning unconditional grace.

The fire is burning. How many are willing to turn again to the New Testament and count the verses that warn us we are going to receive the good and the bad we have practiced in our body.

How many are willing to believe Christ when He says "I will give to every one of you according to your works?"

The modern response is, "this does not apply to me because I am saved by grace."

How many are willing to believe if the believer does not do what the Lord commanded he is building his house on the sand?

The modern response is, "this does not apply to me because I am saved by grace."

How many are willing to believe we show our love to Christ by keeping His commandments?

The modern response is, "this does not apply to me because I am saved by grace."

How many believe if we know the way of righteousness—the way of righteousness! —and then turn from it we are as a dog returning to his vomit?

The modern response is, "even though the Scripture portrays this individual as having known the way of righteousness he must never have been saved in the first place because we are saved by grace."

How many understand if we do not bear the fruit of righteousness we will be cut out of the Vine, out of Christ?

The modern response is, "the individual never was in the Vine in the first place because we never could be cut out of Christ. We are saved by grace."

How many understand that the Christian who continues in the deeds of the flesh will die? —he or she cannot enter the Kingdom of God?

"Paul could not have been speaking to the Christians of Galatia. They were saved by grace."

To be continued.