Numerous scriptures indicate that the child of God can fall from grace and be eternally separated from God: Jesus indicated such in the parable of the sower (Matthew 13:3-8, 18-23), and the parable of the talents, (Matthew 25:14-30). The apostle Paul warned the Christians of Galatia of the danger, (Galatians 5:1-4), and Peter warned brethren, when he said, “For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein and overcome, the last state is become worse with them than the first. For it were better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after knowing it, to turn back from the holy commandment delivered unto them. It has happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog turning to his own vomit again, and the sow that had washed to wallowing in the mire” (2 Peter 2:20-22). Such being the case, what conditions arise in the Christian’s life that leads to drifting and falling away?

            Materialism: The Lord said, “Take heed, and keep yourselves from all covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: and he reasoned within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have not where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, be merry. But God said unto him, Thou foolish one, this night is thy soul required of thee; and the things which thou hast prepared, whose shall they be? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God” (Luke 12:15-21). Materialism is a result of a worldly attitude. We can often get so wrapped up in day-to-day living that we are willing to sacrifice the eternal on the altar of the immediate. The lusts of the flesh want to be satisfied and we acquiesce. When that happens, the material things become more important, and we drift away from God.

            Evil Companionship: The apostle Paul was plain when he said that avoiding the fornicators, covetous and extortioners of this world would require going “out of the world” (1 Corinthians 5:9-10) to do so. Therefore, the godly must be aware of the environment they are in. Paul said, “Be not deceived: Evil companionships corrupt good morals” (1 Corinthians 15:33). Paul wrote this warning to Christians. Dealing with, and being in the world, is a necessary part of life, but becoming companions with them is a totally different matter. Paul warned, “Be not unequally yoked with unbelievers: for what fellowship have righteousness and iniquity? or what communion hath light with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14).

            Marital problems: The husband/wife relationship is the first physical institution established by God. Throughout the scriptures there is mention of problems that existed between men and women as they endeavored to serve God and fulfill their various duties. When Job was being tried, his wife counseled him, “Dost thou still hold fast thine integrity? Renounce God, and die.” To this, Job responded, “Thou speaketh as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?” (Job 2:9-10). God warned husbands that their conduct toward their wives will affect their condition in the sight of God. Peter said, “Ye husbands, in like manner, dwell with your wives according to knowledge, giving honor unto the woman, as unto the weaker vessel, as being also joint-heirs of the grace of Life; to the end that your prayers be not hindered” (1 Peter 3:7). When a husband and wife do not share a unity in religious matters, difficulties arise. Many a young man and woman have thought to change their spouse’s mind in regard to religious beliefs. In some cases it actually works, but not in most. Concerning the nations of Canaan, Jehovah told Israel, “Ye shall not go among them, neither shall they come among you; for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods” (1 Kings 11:2). The danger was so great, it is said, “Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? yet among many nations was there no king like him… nevertheless even him did foreign women cause to sin” (Nehemiah 13:26). This should be a solemn warning that marital problems can result in falling from grace.

            Numerous reasons can be attributed to the falling away of many. The responsibility of the godly is to be aware of the avenues Satan will utilize to draw them back to perdition (Hebrews 10:39), and resist it.

            What type of influence are you having on society? Influence is defined as: “the act or power of producing an effect without apparent exertion of force or direct exercise of command…the power or capacity of causing an effect in indirect or intangible ways” (Webster’s). Statements such as “he/she is a good influence” or “he/she is a bad influence” or others, indicated the ability of one person to influence the attitude or conduct of someone else, even without direct contact. Adults and children alike are influenced by the media, whether it be in written or visual format.

            The term “influence” is not utilized in the scriptures. It is, however, a well established principle. Of Solomon, king of Israel, God said, “I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there hath been none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee” (1 Kings 3:12). Even though Solomon was the possessor of such great wisdom, “his wives turned away his heart after other gods” (1 Kings 11:4). The power of influence is very strong.

            Influence is seen in two avenues: The outside influence that others have upon us, and the influence we have on others. In either capacity, we can readily see that no man is an island; what we do has an effect upon the outcome of our lives: our influence is either for good, or for evil. You’ve heard the rationale of “as long as it doesn’t affect others, we should be able to do what we please.” The error in that premise is that there is nothing we do that does not affect others; either by “apparent exertion of force or direct exercise of command, or the power or capacity of causing an effect in indirect or intangible ways” (Ibid.).

            Influence is not inherently good or evil. But influence that does not lend itself to the physical and spiritual good of mankind is destructive. Evil influence can destroy individuals, homes, and nations. The apostle Paul wrote, “Evil companionships corrupt good morals” (1 Corinthians 15:33). When Solomon was instructing his son, he said, “My son, if sinners entice thee, Consent thou not. If they say, Come with us (companionship, ret), Let us lay wait for blood…walk not thou in the way of them; Refrain thy foot from their path: For their feet run to evil, And they make haste to shed blood” (Proverbs 1:10-11, 15-16). Individuals want, so very much, to be accepted by their peers. They know certain conduct is wrong, illegal, or immoral. Yet, they do not want to be rejected by their friends, thus, they are influenced to do evil. An individual would be hard pressed to find one person that has not been influenced by others to do something they did not later regret.

            The other influence exerted in life is that which we have on others. That’s one influence we have control over. When Jesus was asked, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law? And he said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second like unto it is this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments the whole law hangeth, and the prophets” (Matthew 22:36-40). When man is motivated by the principle to “love thy neighbor as thyself” (Ibid.), there will be a conscious effort to be aware of actions. The apostle Paul told Timothy, “be thou an ensample to them that believe, in word, in manner of life, in love, in faith, in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12). Should not that be the desire of all men? Think about the influence we have upon the people close to us: Husbands and wives influence each other every day. Parents influence their children to either good or evil. It has been said that actions speak louder than words. It’s not what parents tell their children, as much as it is what the children see in their parents. Have you ever met a parent that wanted their child to reach maturity, only to be incarcerated for violating the law? Yet, parents will often show a disregard for authority in their own lives, and the children learn the lesson well. Parents that say, “you shouldn’t do that,” yet, they do the very thing they tell their children not to do. By what influence do you think the children will be affected, the verbal admonition, or the physical action of the parents?

            Regardless of a separatist attitude that we may support, the fact is, we are all in this together. We will either be a good influence on those around us, or we will allow those around us to corrupt the good morals we desire to achieve. It’s true that there are wicked people in the world, determined to do their very best to destroy others; but as a rule, most people do not consciously set out to destroy, they are just unaware of the influence they exert.

            Mankind can be an influence for righteousness, when following righteousness. And in that vein, the only righteousness that will accomplish good is the righteousness of God: God’s standard of good (Romans 10:2-3). What type of influence are you having on your family, friends and nation?

“If the foundations be destroyed, What can the righteous do?” (Psalms 11:3). Foundations consist of those things that give support. Houses are placed upon foundations to give them strength and stability. Relationships must have a good foundation in order to meet hard times. It matters not what the topic is: if the matter under discussion is worthy, it must be built upon something solid for it to last. When thinking about our society, our homes, our government, what can the righteous do if the foundations are destroyed? When you move into a new home, you assume the foundation is secure. You begin with a preconceived idea that the foundation that supports the house will always remain the same, and take little thought to the fact that shifts in the earth can change the stability of the foundation. What would you do, if the foundations be destroyed? Now, let’s apply that question to the home.

            When God created man, He said, “It is not good that the man should be alone: I will make him a help meet for him…And Jehovah God…made he a woman, and brought her unto the man…Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh” (Genesis 2:18, 22, 24). Marriage was God’s answer to the question of man’s loneliness. The marriage relationship was second only to man’s relationship to God, and the home was the first institution God established between mankind. This relationship was included in the statement, “And God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good” (Genesis 1:31).

            The perfection God saw with the husband/wife relationship was tainted by the work of Satan. When Eve yielded to the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the vain glory of life, and subsequently Adam did also, the devastation of sin began to affect every relationship of man. Every sin of man is a result of selfishness: Eve “saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise” (Genesis 3:6). It was because of what Eve wanted that ultimately resulted in all the heartache, death, and spiritual separation that exist in the world today. In regard to the marriage relationship, the scriptures reveal a potential for problems: Paul warned husbands to “love you wives, and be not bitter against them” (Colossians 3:19). This indicates a potential for bitterness: a tendency to treat the wife in an inappropriate manner. Peter warned husbands to “dwell with your wives according to knowledge, giving honor unto the woman, as unto the weaker vessel, as being also joint-heirs of the grace of life; to the end that your prayers be not hindered” (1 Peter 3:7). When these factors are not adhered to, then problems arise in the marriage. The reasons marriages fail cannot be limited to one factor: there are usually an array of reasons. A lack of communication; incompatibility in social and religious convictions; wrong expectations; a lack of commitment or a conflict in spiritual goals and values. When all of these factors are taken into consideration, selfishness will raise its ugly head and destroy what could have otherwise been “very good.”

            What can we do to achieve a godly home? Respect and fulfill our God-given role in the marriage relationship: “Wives be in subjection unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord…in everything. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself up for it.” (Ephesians 5:22, 24-25). When confronted with problems and difficulties, utilize God’s word to know which way to turn: “Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness: that the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

            God created the man and the woman. He knows what we need and has given us laws to govern our lives. When we stay within the boundaries prescribed, apply the scriptures in a proper manner, and build upon God’s foundation, then we will have a home that is a haven of rest and peace.

What would you do if the biblical foundation of a God-authorized marriage was destroyed? What would you do if the godly foundation was destroyed and what remained were unions spawned by the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the vainglory of life? “If the foundations be destroyed, What can the righteous do?”

A couple of years back a former governor of Connecticut pleaded guilty to a charge of stealing honest service, or some such. It appears he was/is being charged with misusing his office for personal gain. The Associated Press indicated that the governor told reporters, “Obviously mistakes have been made throughout the last few years, and I accept responsibility for those.” This acceptance of responsibility for wrong doing was followed by a plea of, “But I also ask the people of this state to appreciate and understand what we have tried to do over the past 25 years in public service” (Ibid.).

            It’s always interesting the way we word things when we get caught with our fingers in the cookie jar. We use phrases such as “mistakes” or “I accept responsibility for those,” after we get caught, and understand that it cannot be covered up. Webster’s, defines “mistake” as, “to blunder in the choice of,” “to misunderstand the meaning or intention of,” “to make a wrong judgment of the character or ability of,” “to identify wrongly: confuse with another.” This type of “mistake” is referred to in the scriptures as “unwittingly.” Simply, the individual did not know what they were doing, or the error involved in what they were doing. In reference to rulers, the law required, “When a ruler sinneth, and doeth unwittingly any one of all the things which Jehovah his God hath commanded not to be done, and is guilty; ²³if his sin, wherein he hath sinned, be made known to him, he shall bring for his oblation…” (Leviticus 4:22). In contrast to the commission of a sin “unwittingly,” God said, “But the soul that doeth aught with a high hand…, the same blasphemeth Jehovah; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Because he hath despised the word of Jehovah, and hath broken his commandment, that soul shall utterly be cut off; his iniquity shall be upon him” (Numbers 15:30-31). Law, as well as society, measures penalty, in some regard, based upon the transgressor’s knowledge during the commission of the act. And to “accept responsibility for” something, after all avenues of covering it up have failed, sounds noble but is, in most cases, an endeavor to present ourselves in a better light. It’s not my intention to make a judgment in regard to the guilt or innocence of the violator. My intention is to shine some light on the thought processes of man, in regard to sin. When an individual is incarcerated for crimes committed, they are not accepting responsibility: they are being forced to suffer the consequences of their actions: big difference! The ex-governor also asked “the people of the state to appreciate and understand what we have tried to do over the past 25 years in public service.” No one wants to be branded with being no good at all. Sure, we say, “I did this or that, but I’m not a bad person.” Even in one notorious crime of the year, and appeal was apparently made to a jury that was considering the death penalty, that the individual convicted of the crime was fun-loving, innocent, compassionate, and all sorts of descriptive terms that revealed his good characteristics. In addition, the media and the police department were accused of twisting and turning things to portray the defendant as a devil. The maxim, “there are no guilty people in prison” is true, as far as the guilty and their families are concerned. There are probably very few that escape the reality of trials, a family member being charged with a crime, even if it’s on some court TV show. The fact is, there’s not one of us that hasn’t violated the law in some fashion: whether we get caught or not. The fact is, we’re not real good people. We have our good sides and our bad. We want to be remembered for what we do well (as in the case of the ex-governor), and we do not want to be remembered by what we did badly. With both of these factors in mind, let’s see what the scriptures tell us about the reality of sin, and how God and man view it. In reference to the nation of Israel, God said, “When the righteous man turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and dieth therein; in his iniquity that he hath done shall he die. Again, when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive. Because he considereth, and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die… Return ye, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin. Cast away from you all your transgressions, wherein ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord Jehovah: wherefore turn yourselves, and live.” (Ezekiel 18:26-32). Once an individual has been “caught,” any avenues to turn so as not to die are exhausted. God would have us to turn from our iniquities before they get to that point. In essence, penitence shall be rewarded. On the other hand, “when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? None of his righteous deeds that he hath done shall be remembered: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die.” (Ezekiel 18:24). Man is indeed remembered for his last bad decision, deed, action or sin. Out of all the good that king David did, from the slaying of Goliath of Gath, to God’s statement concerning him, “a man after my heart, who shall do all my will” (Acts 13:22), David is equally, if not more so, remembered for taking another man’s wife and ultimately having him put to death. The only way to avoid such is to “accept the responsibility” and turn from transgression. Otherwise, we stand in danger of “enduring the consequences” resulting from the sin.

Another year! My time in the flesh has amounted to fifty-nine years, today. To some it is young, to others it is old; to those of my own age it is perhaps middle age. It’s difficult to figure out exactly what middle age is. If an individual is middle age at fifty, shouldn’t they live to be a hundred? Determining life expectancy has been a matter of public record over the years. According to the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, life expectancy in 1900 was 48.2 for a male and 51.1 for a female. That number gradually climbed over the years and by 1960 it reached a whooping 66.6 and 71.1, respectfully. Then, by 1996 the number had grown to 73.0 and 79.0. By 2000 the numbers had risen to 74.1 for males and 79.5 for females. 286,196,812 individuals lived in the U.S. according to the 2000 census. The 2010 census has raised it slightly. Will we make the average?

Whether it is the U. S. Census, or the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, keeping a close eye on life expectancy, we can see that, though it has fluctuated from time to time, it hasn’t changed much for thousands of years. In the book of Psalms (90:10), a psalm attributed to "Moses the man of God", says, "The days of our years are threescore years and ten, or even by reason of strength fourscore years." A score is 20 years, thus the days of our years are sixty years and ten, or even by reason of strength eighty years. Hasn’t changed much, has it?

All that being said, it is evident that life is short. Whether we live eighty years or eighty seconds, the same comes to us all, "And inasmuch as it is appointed unto men once to die, and after this cometh judgment" (Hebrews 9:27). David, King of Israel, petitioned Jehovah, and said, "Jehovah, make me know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; let me know how frail I am. Behold, thou hast made my days as handbreadths; and my life-time is as nothing before thee: surely every man at his best estate is altogether vanity" (Psalms 39:4-5). We all live with knowledge that we will one day die, yet we all live with the hope that we have one more day. The day of death is a day over which no man has power. Neither wealth, fame, power nor ingenuity will be able to overcome the day of death. Solomon, King of Israel, said, "There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit: neither hath he power over the day of death…" (Ecclesiastes 8:8). The truth of that statement is reiterated on a daily basis.

There are only two approaches we can have to life: we either view our existence as purely mortal, or we view our existence as being physical and spiritual. If you choose the mortal option, one, you better be right then, as the apostle Paul said, "If the dead are not raised, let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die." (1 Corinthians 15:32). If, on the other hand, you choose the dual nature of man, then the words of Job ring loud, when he said, "And after my skin, even this body, is destroyed, then without my flesh shall I see God" (Job 19:26). Choosing the latter should bring us to the point of asking ourselves, "Where will I be in relation to my condition before God?" Job was confident that he would be well received, for he said, "Whom I, even I, shall see, on my side, and mine eyes shall behold, and not as a stranger" (Ibid., vs. 27). On the other hand, Jesus revealed that "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 7:21). The basic criteria is pretty simple, "And Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: but in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is acceptable to him" (Acts 10:34-35). Righteousness is a standard by which an individual lives. But it is not just any standard. As the apostle of Jesus Christ, Paul identified the condition of his countrymen when, he said, "For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God" (Romans 10:2-3). If we are ignorant of God’s righteousness, we will not be able to affirm the position that we are acceptable to Him. Jesus "said to those Jews that had believed him, If you abide in my word, then are ye truly my disciples; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:31-32). There is no freedom without truth. Truth is found in Jesus and accomplishes its work when we abide in it. In addition, the apostle Peter said, "And in none other is there salvation: for neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men, wherein we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). Jehovah has warned us that the earth has "been stored up for fire, being reserved against the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men" and that day "will come as a thief" (2 Peter 3:7, 10). Even if we beat the average, we will one day die. So, what do we do? That question is also answered in the scriptures: "And Peter said unto them, Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38). That gift is salvation. Those therefore, who have "turned unto God from idols, to serve a living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, who delivereth us from the wrath to come" (1 Thessalonians 1:9-10), will be found acceptable to God. What provisions have you made for life and eternity?

As the apostle Paul was approaching the end of life, he said, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give to me at that day; and not to me only, but also to all them that have loved his appearing" (2 Timothy 4:7). Paul was a man of conviction and had a definite goal in life. He boldly proclaimed his goal, when he said, "Yea verily, and I count all things to be loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but refuse, that I may gain Christ, and be found in him, not having a righteousness of mine own, even that which is of the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith: that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, becoming conformed unto his death; if by any means I may attain unto the resurrection from the dead" (Philippians 3:8-11). The goal Paul chose is one that Jesus said would only be achieved by a few (Matthew 7:13-14), and thus Paul understood it required discipline (1 Corinthians 9:27). A discipline he achieved and was thus able to say he had fought the fight, and he had finished the course. What a marvelous way to end one’s life. How would you like to be able to say that, at the end of your days?

There are two aspects of Paul’s life that will help us achieve the same goal. The first of which is, "If I want to die like Paul died, I must live like Paul lived." Paul affirmed this truth, when he said, "Brethren, be ye imitators together of me, and mark them that so walk even as ye have us for an ensample" (Philippians 3:17). Paul further affirmed the necessity of obedience, when he said, "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31). We can go through life, do what we want, and live as we wish, but if we want to stand at death’s door with the same hope as Paul, then we must live as he lived. The second aspect affirms that, "If I want to live like Paul lived, I must die like Paul died." One of the reasons Paul had confidence in his preparedness is because his life was not his own. Paul said, "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I that live, but Christ living in me: and that life which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, the faith which is in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me" (Galatians 2:20). Every aspect of Paul’s being was devoted to God, in Christ. Paul said, "Yea verily, and I count all things to be loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but refuse, that I may gain Christ" (Philippians 3:8). The concept of dying in this life so we can live, is one that Paul repeatedly expressed. To the Colossians, he said, "If then ye were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are upon the earth. For ye died, and your life is hid with Christ in God." To Timothy, he said, "For if we died with him, we shall also live with him" (2 Timothy 2:11), and to the Romans, he said, "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. We who died to sin, how shall we any longer live therein? Or are ye ignorant that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him through baptism unto death: that like as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life. For if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection; knowing this, that our old man was crucified with him, that the body of sin might be done away, that so we should no longer be in bondage to sin; for he that hath died is justified from sin. But if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him; knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death no more hath dominion over him. For the death that he died, he died unto sin once: but the life that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Even so reckon ye also yourselves to be dead unto sin, but alive unto God in Christ Jesus. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey the lusts thereof: neither present your members unto sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves unto God, as alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under law, but under grace" (Romans 6:1-14). If we fail to die as Paul died, we cannot hope to live as he lived. If we fail to live as he lived, then we will not be prepared to die as he died.

Jesus once said, "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy by thy name, and by thy name cast out demons, and by thy name do many mighty works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity" (Matthew 7:21-23). This admonition definitely emphasizes the requirements of obedience. Many attempt to remove the necessity of obedience by saying, all that’s necessary to salvation is faith. But they fail to heed the words of James, which says, "Wherefore putting away all filthiness and overflowing of wickedness, receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deluding your own self…But he that looketh into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and so continueth, being not a hearer that forgetteth but a doer that worketh, this man shall be blessed in his doing" (James 1:21-22, 25). And again, James says, "Yea, a man will say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith apart from thy works, and I by my works will show thee my faith. Thou believest that God is one; thou doest well: the demons also believe, and shudder. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith apart from works is barren? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, in that he offered up Isaac his son upon the altar? Thou seest that faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect" (James 2:18-22). Warnings are too numerous for a successful contradiction of these facts. If we hope to "die the death of the righteous" (Numbers 23:10), and our "last end be like his!" we must "Put to death therefore your members which are upon the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry; ⁶for which things’ sake cometh the wrath of God upon the sons of disobedience" (Colossians 3:5-6), and "walk worthily of the calling wherewith ye were called" (Ephesians 4:1).

Have you died like Paul died, that you might live as Paul lived? If not, you are encouraged to heed the words of the Holy Spirit and be "buried therefore with him through baptism unto death: that like as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life. For if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection; knowing this, that our old man was crucified with him, that the body of sin might be done away, that so we should no longer be in bondage to sin; for he that hath died is justified from sin…Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey the lusts thereof: neither present your members unto sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves unto God, as alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God" (Romans 6:4-7, 12-13).

I am often queried about the subject of water baptism and what the scriptures have to say concerning it. Over the centuries, the battle lines have been drawn and sides have been taken in defense or rejection of the necessity of water baptism as it relates to salvation. As you drive about town, you may see the signs of various religious groups that claim to use "Just the Bible." A very noble position, indeed. And, if it is so, they are to be commended. If not, then it is simply a ploy to either dupe the members of their own number or to present themselves as something they are not. I am not making a judgment on whether a particular "group" is doing this or that, simply stating a fact revealed in the scripture that "even Satan fashioneth himself into an angel of light. It is no great thing therefore if his ministers also fashion themselves as ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works" (2 Corinthians 11:14-15). There are too many warnings such as, "I know that after my departing grievous wolves shall enter in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves shall men arise speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them" (Acts 20:29) and "believe not every spirit, but prove the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out in the world" (1 John 4:1), for individuals to scoff at the possibility that their leaders are teaching error.

When considering mankind’s position before God, many make the mistake of believing they have the freedom of determining the conditions of reconciliation. They look for a "church" that meets their personal physical or emotional needs. Whether it is the laws of the land or the laws of God, it is the violated and not the violator that determines the conditions of reconciliation. We may live in a country ruled by democratic principles and enjoy certain freedoms, but God’s rule is not a democracy. It is a theocracy.

Since the people of God follow the divine standard, God’s righteousness, it is axiomatic that God’s conditions of pardon are accepted as the only means of obtaining reconciliation. So, what does God say concerning the conditions of reconciliation? The scriptures say, "But all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and gave unto us the ministry of reconciliation; to wit, that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not reckoning unto them their trespasses, and having committed unto us the word of reconciliation. We are ambassadors therefore on behalf of Christ, as though God were entreated by us: we beseech you on behalf of Christ, be ye reconciled to God" (2 Corinthians 5:18-20). God committed unto the apostles the right to reveal the conditions of reconciliation. The words they spoke came from God, through the Son, delivered to the apostles by the Holy Spirit. When the apostles spoke, it was by divine influence. Therefore, when we read what they wrote, we are reading the conditions of reconciliation set forth from God, who said He, "reconciled us to himself through Christ" (Ibid.). Therefore, we can be "alive unto God in Christ Jesus" (Romans 6:11) because there is "no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1). The question is how do we get "in Christ Jesus"? Again, the scriptures say, "For ye are all sons of God, through faith, in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ did put on Christ." (Galatians 3:26-27). When an individual is "baptized into Christ" they "put on Christ." Mankind has access to the forgiveness of sins through the blood of Christ. But God has placed baptism as the mechanism through which that access is acquired. Thus, Jesus told his apostles, "Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28:19). In the fulfillment of this charge the apostles, in making disciples, "commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ" (Acts 10:48), and "they then that received his word were baptized" (Acts 2:41). Two things are accomplished when an individual submits to the waters of baptism. Saul of Tarsus was told, "And now why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on his name" (Acts 22:16). Peter says, concerning "water" it "doth now save you, even baptism, not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the interrogation of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 3:21). In whom will you put your trust: A man that tells you to "say the sinners prayer," that cannot be found in the sacred scriptures; or in submission to the waters of baptism that is commanded by the Lord and his apostles for the purpose of obtaining the remission of sins and thereby a good conscience before God?

The term resurrection is defined as, "a standing up again, that is, (literally) a resurrection from death" (Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries). Teachings concerning the resurrection of the dead are, and have been, various. The scriptures tell us, "For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit; but the Pharisees confess both (Acts 23:8). The Sadducees were a prominent sect of the Jewish nation: the high priests were from the Sadducees, in the Lord’s day. This difference in doctrine is still a prominent conflict: some believe that there will be a resurrection, while others believe the body is purely physical in nature and once buried, to never be alive again. Christianity is a doctrine that teaches a "hope that all people, good and bad, will surely be raised from the dead" (Acts 24:15). Belief in the resurrection is of such importance that God said, "if thou shalt confess with thy mouth Jesus as Lord, and shalt believe in thy heart that God raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved" (Romans 10:9). Not only is belief in the resurrection taught in the sacred writings, but it is a foundational doctrine because Jesus "was declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead" (Romans 1:4). The sacred writings further emphasize the importance of the resurrection, by revealing that, "if there is no resurrection of the dead, neither hath Christ been raised: and if Christ hath not been raised, then is our preaching vain, your faith also is vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we witnessed of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, neither hath Christ been raised: and if Christ hath not been raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins" (1 Corinthians 15:13-17). Thus, the hope of a Christian resides in the evidence that Jesus of Nazareth was raised from the dead, and "Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him" (Romans 6:9) gives the Christian hope that he too, may become dead unto sin and alive unto God. The doctrine of the resurrection is one of faith. Faith being an "assurance of things hoped for and a conviction of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1). No individual today was present when Jesus was raised from the dead. Yet, a lack of empirical knowledge does not remove the ability to believe that he was. Mankind believes many things through faith. By faith, we believe that George Washington was the first president. Not because we were there, but because reliable witnesses have recorded events substantiating the facts of the matter. The same is true in regard to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Today, we have records, both secular and sacred, substantiating the facts surrounding the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. The facts are so overwhelming that a rejection of them is not only futile, but also foolish, because a denial of those facts has eternal consequences. The sacred writings affirm that Jesus of Nazareth was raised from the dead, to die no more. His resurrection is mentioned some 84 times in the scriptures. Of the eight writers of the New Testament, six of them mention the resurrection. Of the twenty-seven divisions of the New Testament, nineteen mention the resurrection of Jesus. Mankind has a tendency to rationalize things in a way that eliminates the consequences of the truth: called denial. Some individuals deny that Jesus ever lived. Such denial doesn’t change the facts of history. In most cases denial is a means by which an individual is not required to deal with the consequences of the truth. An individual is diagnosed as having a drug or alcohol problem. They may deny it, but it doesn’t change the truth. Accepting the truth would necessitate an action, if the individual desires to be freed from the addiction. The same is true with religion. Many deny that they have a problem. If they accept their problem, then they also must accept the fact that they can, in and of themselves, do nothing to correct it. Once they recognize they need help, they must turn to the only source God has provided to save them, "And in none other is salvation: for neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men, wherein we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). That name, is "Jesus Christ of Nazareth" (Vs. 10). Accepting Jesus as the only source provided by God necessitates obedience to Him in all things. Jesus said, "if any man hear my sayings, and keep them not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my sayings, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I spake, the same shall judge him in the last day. For I spake not from myself; but the Father that sent me, he hath given me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that his commandment is life eternal" (John 12:47-50). Jesus is not saying there will not be a judgment, quite to the contrary. For he also said, "Not every one that saith unto me Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy by thy name, and by thy name cast out demons, and by thy name do many mighty works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity" (Matthew 7:21-23). When individuals deny the facts concerning the resurrection, they often do so because they are not willing to accept the consequences of the resurrection, i.e., a responsibility to turn away from their sins and "serve a living and true God" (1 Thessalonians 1:9). What they need to come to grips with is the fact that denial will not change the facts.

Included in the sacred revelation of the resurrection of Jesus is the secular evidence. Josephus, a highly regarded secular historian, said, ""Now there was about this time Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man, for he was a doer of wonderful works,—a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure…He was [the] Christ; and when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men among us, had condemned him to the cross, those that loved him at the first did not forsake him, for he appeared to them alive again the third day" (Antiquities of the Jews, pg. 548).

Both secular and sacred writers affirm that Jesus of Nazareth was raised from the dead. "By the resurrection from the dead" Jesus of Nazareth was "declared to be the Son of God with power" (Romans 1:4). God affirms that if you believe that, and thereby respond to the provision God has made, "thou shalt be saved" (Romans 10:9).

In the last post we considered the benefits of the Old Testament, in obedience to God. One of the benefits was that "whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that through patience and through comfort of the scriptures we might have hope" (Romans 15:4). The scriptures lay bare the lives of the champions of faith, good and bad. Among them is Abraham, the father of the Jewish nation. The apostle Paul revealed concerning Abraham, "For Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned unto him for righteousness…For not through the law was the promise to Abraham or to his seed that he should be heir of the world, but through the righteousness of faith. For if they that are of the law are heirs, faith is made void, and the promise is made of none effect: for the law worketh wrath; but where there is no law, neither is there transgression. For this cause it is of faith, that it may be according to grace; to the end that the promise may be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all" (Romans 4:3, 13-16). Abraham is set forth as an example of faith, yet he was a man and had his own set of difficulties.

One event in particular involved Abimelech, king of Gerar. Though Sarah was about ninety years of age, she was apparently still a fair woman to look upon (Genesis 12:11). As Abraham journeyed into the realm of Abimelech he feared because of Sarah his wife. Abraham thought, "Surely the fear of God is not in this place. And they will slay me for my wife’s sake" (Genesis 20:11). Therefore, Abraham said, "She is my sister" (20:2). Believing that Sarah was the sister of Abraham, "Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah" (20:2). As a result of this action, "God came to Abimelech in a dream of the night, and said to him, Behold, thou art but a dead man, because of the woman whom thou hast taken. For she is a man’s wife." (20:3). Abimelech having not come near Sarah, said unto God, "Lord, wilt thou slay even a righteous nation? Said he not himself unto me, She is my sister? And she, even she herself said, He is my brother. In the integrity of my heart and the innocency of my hands have I done this" (20:4-5). God said, therefore, "I know that in the integrity of thy heart thou has done this, and I also withheld thee from sinning against me. Therefore suffered I thee not to touch her. Now therefore restore the man’s wife. For he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live. And if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine" (20:6-7).

There are many interesting aspects concerning this event. Even though Abraham is the father of faith, even though he was willing to offer up his own son Isaac, he was still man and had moments where he did those things that were not right. Now, what Abraham said was not a "lie," as we find that Abraham ultimately tells Abimelech, "moreover she is indeed my sister, the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife" (20:12). Though his actions are not to be taken as authorization to act in the same manner, they do nonetheless provide us with hope. The scriptures do not give all the details concerning this event but it is interesting to note Abraham’s reasoning: "Abraham said, Because I thought, Surely the fear of God is not in this place. And they will slay me for my wife’s sake" (20:11). One question that arises in my mind is the attitude of Abraham’s society regarding adultery. Adultery is defined as, "sexual intercourse of a man, whether married or unmarried, with a married woman" (International Standard Bible Encyclopedia). Hundreds of years before God gave the law to Israel, in which He said, "Thou shalt not commit adultery" (Exodus 20:14), the laws of the land recognized adultery as a violation of God’s laws. The book of Job, believed by some to reveal events that took place during the patriarchal age, had this to say about adultery: "If my heart hath been enticed unto a woman, And I have laid wait at my neighbor’s door; Then let my wife grind unto another, And let others bow down upon her. For that were a heinous crime; Yea, it were an iniquity to be punished by the judges." (31:9). What’s interesting about the case of Abraham and Abimelech is that Abraham believed the king would take his life in order to obtain his wife. Our society puts a high moral value on life, and rightly so, but not on adultery. Abraham’s society appears to put a higher moral value on adultery than murder.

Whatever the situation, God’s laws have not changed from the time of Abraham to the present. During the time of the Jewish kings, the scriptures reveal, "Can a man take fire in his bosom, And his clothes not be burned? Or can one walk upon hot coals, And his feet not be scorched? So he that goeth in to his neighbor’s wife; Whosoever toucheth her shall not be unpunished." (Proverbs 6:27-29). And so, during our own era, Jehovah says, "Or know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with men…shall inherit the kingdom of God" (1 Corinthians 6:9-10).

But all is not lost because God, being desirous to save the lost has made provision, through the gospel to those that have a "love of the truth, that they might be saved" (1 Thessalonians 2:10), and have applied to them, that which was also applied to the Corinthians, saying, "And such were some of you: but ye were washed, but ye were sanctified, but ye were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God" (6:11).

When an individual is introduced to the Bible, they are immediately faced with two major divisions: The "Old Testament," containing the Law of Moses, the Psalms and the Prophets, (Luke 24:44) and the "New Testament," containing the Gospels, Acts of the Apostles and various letters sent to a number of churches, and/or Christians.

The various writings often gender questions concerning what is intended for the godly in our day and age. For instance, if the Law of Moses is the "Old Testament," what benefit does it have? We often hear of some reference made to the Ten Commandments, as a body of laws given by God and binding upon humanity. One of the Apostles of Jesus Christ, Paul by name, revealed "Ye are severed from Christ, ye who would be justified by the law; ye are fallen away from grace" (Galatians 5:4). In Romans 7:1-11, Paul uses the analogy of the marriage relationship to reveal the binding and loosing of the law. He revealed, "Or are ye ignorant, brethren (for I speak to men who know the law), that the law hath dominion over a man for so long time as he liveth? For the woman that hath a husband is bound by law to the husband while he liveth; but if the husband die, she is discharged from the law of the husband. So then if, while the husband liveth, she be joined to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if the husband die, she is free from the law, so that she is no adulteress, though she be joined to another man. Wherefore, my brethren, ye also were made dead to the law through the body of Christ; that ye should be joined to another, even to him who was raised from the dead, that we might bring forth fruit unto God. For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were through the law, wrought in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. But now we have been discharged from the law, having died to that wherein we were held; so that we serve in newness of the spirit, and not in oldness of the letter." Therefore, the question arises, "If our era is dead to the law, what benefit does it serve?"

There is much benefit to be derived from the Old Testament, though it is not in force as a body of laws to be observed. An analogy can be seen in the fact that the citizens of one state are not bound by the laws of another state, though both states may contain the same laws concerning the same set of issues. Individuals who live in Nevada cannot appeal to some other state’s laws for justification in action. In a court of law, an attorney may refer to another state’s laws in regard to verdicts that have been rendered in those states, concerning similar laws. So it is with the Old and New Testament. The Old Testament tells us many things about Jehovah, His attitude toward certain ethical questions and gives us hope for the road set before us. Paul revealed three important characteristics of the Old law: 1. "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that through patience and through comfort of the scriptures we might have hope" (Romans 15:4). 2. "For I would not, brethren, have you ignorant, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and did all eat the same spiritual food; and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of a spiritual rock that followed them: and the rock was Christ. Howbeit with most of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. Neither let us make trial of the Lord, as some of them made trial, and perished by the serpents. Neither murmur ye, as some of them murmured, and perished by the destroyer. Now these things happened unto them by way of example; and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages are come (emph. mine, ret). Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall" (1 Corinthians 10:1-12). 3. "But before faith came, we were kept in ward under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. So that the law is become our tutor to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith is come, we are no longer under a tutor. For ye are all sons of God, through faith, in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ did put on Christ. There can be neither Jew nor Greek, there can be neither bond nor free, there can be no male and female; for ye all are one man in Christ Jesus. And if ye are Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, heirs according to promise." (Galatians 3:23-29).

It is evident that the law, although not a body of laws to be observed in our era, is necessary to bringing us to Christ, revealing to us ethical standards acceptable to and punishable by God, and "that through patience and comfort of the scriptures" we might have hope.