"Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ"   I Corinthians 11:1)

There are four books in the New Testament that comprise only a single chapter. One of them is the book of Jude. Jude thought he would write some encouraging and positive words about our wonderful salvation in Jesus. Instead, he wrote one of the greatest warnings to the Church.

Already in the infant Church false disciples, false teachers and false teaching were infecting the body of Messiah. These false teachers were attempting to turn God's grace into an excuse to continue in sin. Jude's rebuke was strong and terrible. There would be no compromise with sin. God's grace was not an excuse to sin. Instead it was His divine favor to bring salvation and, through the Holy Spirit, to change men and women into new creations.

Today's Church is also infected with "false grace" compromise. We need to take our stand for "true grace" where we "know them by their fruits (actions)", not merely their words. Let's continue with our study on this important subject. This study takes in the books of Philippians and Colossians.

PHILIPPIANS

1:11 "Fruits of righteousness" certainly equals "By their fruits ye shall know them."

"Being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God."

1:27 "Let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ" equals godly living-and includes our share of suffering, for Jesus' sake. (see verse 29)

"Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel."

2:12, 13 True salvation results in works of righteousness-and since God is doing the work within us, He gets the glory.

"Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure."

3:15 Paul's godly behavior becomes an example to each of us who follow Christ.

"Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you."

4:8 False grace allows a mind to live in the gutter. True grace gives us the incentive to think pure and true thoughts that glorify God.

"Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy-meditate on these things."

COLOSSIANS

1:10 God's plan for us is not a life of excuses.

"That you may have a walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God."

2:6 "Receiving Christ" is receiving a new heart that wants to please Him.

"As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him."

3:5-7 None of us are perfect. When we sin, our lawyer is Christ and His blood is the cleanser for sin that is confessed. But beware of those who make easy excuses for sin. They may never have really been born again.

"Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth; fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you also once walked when you lived in them."

(TO BE CONTINUED)