So there is no contradiction at all. While we are walking in the Light of God through Christ, Christ Himself assumes all our obligations. The judgments He sends on us are for our redemption and eternal life. Our chastenings are a welcome visitation of the grace of God to us.

The "believer" who makes a profession of faith in Christ and then continues to live in the world, in the sins of his flesh and in his self-centeredness and pride, is ignorant of the plan of salvation. He supposes he is holding a ticket to Heaven and that when he dies the Lord Jesus will protect him from the wrath of God. The truth is, he is dead while he is alive physically even though he professes belief in Christ.

He is fleshly. He is confusing eternal life with where he goes when he dies physically. Shall he be judged according to his deeds? He certainly shall be! Every human being will give an account of his conduct to God, either as one who is part of Christ if he continues in Christ, or as one who is not part of Christ if in this life he chooses not to abide in Christ.

Whether or not we allow ourselves to be deceived, God will not be mocked. We all shall reap what we sow. If we sow to the Holy Spirit we will have a fine harvest of eternal life in the Presence of God. If we choose to sow to the flesh we will reap the flesh, and the flesh is corruption and death—it profits nothing. The flesh cannot enter the Kingdom of God.

We asked the Lord to give us a simple illustration that would clarify the manner in which the many New Testament passages setting forth the need for righteous living are reconciled with John 3:18 and John 5:24. Two illustrations came to mind.

Let us suppose a young lady was living with her father and mother. When both of her parents died she was left with many unpaid bills and was deeply in debt.

At this point she met a wealthy young man who took an interest in her. One thing led to another and he proposed marriage. During their talks together she brought up the fact she was responsible for some ten thousand dollars worth of obligations and she felt responsible to work and pay off these bills before she was free to be married.

Her suitor said, "Do not worry at all about your debts. I will pay them all. You can forget about them."

What did the young man have in mind? Was he just taking pity on a young lady and doing a work of charity? Not at all. He was viewing her as his future wife and was paying off her obligations because she now would be part of himself.

This corresponds to Romans 7:4, which teaches that Christ has paid our debt to the Law of Moses; not so we can go on our way and live carelessly according to our whims and lusts but so we are free to marry Him. There is an enormous difference between just being free from Moses, and being free from Moses so we may marry Christ.

To be continued.