In the previous two postings concerning life’s “race,” “walk” along the path leading to the Kingdom of God we find Him telling us through His prophets and apostles that, even though all church people are running and walking in the general direction of the kingdom, only the one who runs or walks according to His race/walk rules will win the “prize.” He tells us that many will travel along various religious paths in search of His kingdom, only the “few” who “find” the correct “gate” (God’s church), “strive” to enter it, and, upon doing so, then travel along the correct “way” (God’s Word) will be allowed to enter the kingdom (Mat. 7:13,14). One must walk/run the race according to God’s rules until the end of life or Christ’s return (Mat. 10:22/Rev. 2:26,27). With this in mind, let us return to the distant past to the man who exemplifies the very term “exact” relative to obedience to God. This is the man against whom we all can measure ourselves when it comes to faith in and obedience to the Word of God. This spiritual giant’s name was Abraham–the “father of the faithful.” Abraham simply believed what God said, and for this reason God characterized him as “righteous.” It is at this point one must not stop reading, close the Book and declare “I know the truth.” The “truth” is the “fact” that all Abraham was required only to believe God to be labeled “righteous.” False prophets have perpetuated this “truth” for some 2000 years. How many times has the following scenario or one similar to it taken place following an “alter call.” A lost soul is standing with the preacher in front of the congregation, under conviction and in desperate need of Jesus Christ. Preacher: “Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God Who came to earth to save men’s souls?” Supplicant: “Yes.” Preacher: “Do you take Jesus into your heart as your personal Savior?” Supplicant: “Yes.” Preacher: “You are now saved and born again.” In other words: HIS FAITH HAS SAVED AND REBIRTHED HIM. However, the entire Bible shouts out to anyone with ears to hear the voice of God that faith neither saves nor rebirths. As God tells us in James 2:14, faith without “works” (obedience to the Word upon which faith is built–Rom. 10:17) cannot save the sinner. In fact, such faith is as “dead” (Jam. 2:17,20), as is the one who possesses it. It is imperative that we continue to study God’s Word in order to be approved of Him (2 Tim. 2:15). In so doing we will learn “all the Word of God” as Paul tells us to do in Acts 20:27. Then we must be “doers of the Word/Law and not merely hearers, thereby deceiving ourselves” (Jam. 1:22/Rom. 2:13). IN GOD’S EYES, FAITH=WORKS. Without the prescribed works (obedience to His Word/Law) faith is dead. ABRAHAM WAS RIGHTEOUS BECAUSE HE ACTED (WORKED) ON HIS FAITH. Without the action, his faith would have been dead, as would he. OBEYING CHURCH DOCTRINE DOES NOT =BIBLICAL “WORKS.” OBEDIENCE TO GOD’S WORD/LAW=BIBLICAL “WORKS.” OBEYING CHURCH DOCTRINE (SEE INTRODUCTION) =FALSE CHRISTIANITY. Do not take my word for this; study God’s Word with an open, honest heart. There is no other way to “… know the Truth and be set free” of error (Jn. 8:32). God’s Word is His Truth (Jn. 17:17). EVERYTHING COMES BACK TO THE WORD. If a church doctrine or custom is not backed up by Scripture, it is not of God. Which is why we are to speak (and think about and act on) the Word/Law “when we sit in our house and when we walk along the way, when we rise up and when we lie down, when we come in and when we go out” (Deut. 6:7;11:19). Nothing else is worth thinking and speaking about.  L.J.