The Daily Word of Righteousness

The Veil Over Evangelical Thinking, continued

Put to death therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, lust, evil desires, and covetousness, which is idolatry: for which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: (Colossians 3:5,6)

Slander, gossip, bitterness, unforgiveness, strife, anger, party loyalties, are found in the Christian churches—perhaps even your church. Right?

Other than that everything is swell. You can ask your Pastor.

And somehow First John, which was written to believers so they would keep God's commandments, has as its theme "to give the readers assurance of salvation"? Give me space!

Up is down, crooked is straight, square is round.

Oh well, I became excited when God first spoke to me. Then I became angry because people did not understand, which did no good at all. Now I sit at the computer. Later I will go to be with the Lord and find out if I was really hearing from Him.

Back to our topic.

Our purpose in writing this essay is to prove to God's people that we have to keep the commandments of Christ and His Apostles; that if we do not we will reap destruction in the Day of Christ. We will not be "saved anyway by grace and go to a mansion in Paradise," at least not according to the Scripture.

We will mention a verse or two from the sixth chapter of the Book of Romans, then a passage from First John, and conclude with Paul's exhortation to the saints in Ephesus.

Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. (Romans 6:6)

How many can see Romans 6:6 means that now you are a Christian it does not matter whether you sin because you are saved by grace? Raise your hand. Yikes!—the whole church.

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. (Romans 6:12)

How many can see Romans 6:12 means you don't have to worry about sin because you are saved by grace? If Christ wants you to stop sinning He will do it in you without your help. Again, the whole church.

Mother, you never said it would be like this!

Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. (Romans 6:13)

Romans 6:13 means you are saved by grace through faith apart from any effort on your part. If you try to live righteously you are a legalist and a Pharisee.

I'd better leave the sixth chapter of Romans. There is no end to this.

Who needs to be logical? I have a friend, Mark Overton, who maintains that a hundred thousand lemmings can't be wrong. If you can't lick 'em why not join 'em?

To be continued.