Many people think that the only difference between a man of the world and a Christian is what the man of the world will do that the Christian will not do. In other words, they walk by a negative standard rather than a positive standard. Christianity is a positive as well as a negative religion. We are to walk by what has been called "the golden rule." You will remember that Jesus said, "Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets" (Matt. 7:12). Our Lord talked about our doing as well as not doing. Some have the concept that just so long as a person does not kill, steal, commit adultery, etc., he is a Christian, but such is not the case at all. In fact, there a many people who live a good moral life who do not even claim to be Christians.

Under the old law given to Israel, there were a number of "thou shalt not" statements made. May I emphasize that this law was given to Israel, and never was intended for us today. Please read the following passages and this will be clear: (Deut. 5:1-3; 9:9-11; 4:12-13; Ex. 34; 1 Kings 8:9; 21; 2 Chron. 6:11; Jer. 31:31-34 with Heb. 8:6-12; Heb. 10:9; Rom. 7:4; Gal. 5:4; 18). Many other passages could be given, but these should suffice.

Christ's law for us today is different in a number of ways from the law given to Israel through Moses, but one thing that really stands out is the fact that one does not have to commit the very act in order to be guilty of sin. For example, read Matthew 5:27-28. In this passage Jesus said, "Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart."

Under Christ's law there are things that we must do as well as things that we must not do. I have heard people say that so and so is really a good person because he or she does not do certain things. Yes, that person can be a good person morally, but that does not make them a Christian. In fact, we can commit sins of omission as well as sins of commission. I am convinced that more of us will be lost because of our failure to do good, than will be lost because of the sinful acts that we have committed. It seems to me that our Lord made this plain in Matthew, chapter 25, where he pictured the judgment scene. In Luke 15, Jesus spoke of the "joy" in heaven when a sinner repents (verse 7), but He also showed that one must do something after repenting (v. 18). The "prodigal son" said, "I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee" and we are told that he put this into action. Verse 20 tells us: "And he arose and came to his father."

The "rich young ruler" of Luke 18:18-24 was not justified because of what he had done in the past. There was something that he needed to do that he was not willing to do. Sometimes it is easier to refrain from doing sinful things than it is to obey commands that are given. I want us to look at some passages that make obedience (doing) absolutely essential.

1. We must do the will of the Father in order to have heaven as our eternal home (Matt. 7:21; Jno. 3:5; 2 Pet. 1:10-11). 2. It is useless to call Jesus our Lord if we do not obey Him (Lk. 6:46). 3. We must hear and do (Matt. 7:24-27). 4. We are blessed if we do (Lk. 12:43). 5. We must do as well as teach (Matt. 23:3; Acts 1:1). 6. We must love God and man (Matt. 23:37-40). a. If we love God we will obey Him . (Jno. 12:15; 15:14; 1 Jno. 2:3-5). b. If we love man we will do good to him. (Lk. 10:25-37; Matt. 25; 1 Jno. 3:14; 4:7; 5:2-3; 1 Jno. 3:18) 7. Faith must work by love (Gal. 5:6). 8. A forgetful hearer does not do (Jas. 1:22-25). 9. One must cease to do evil and learn to do good (2 Tim. 2:22; 1 Pet. 3:10-11). 10. Works make faith perfect (Jas. 2:14-26).

There are many passages of Scripture that are positive and negative. Let us look at a few of these. Paul wrote, "Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine: I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head" (Rom. 12:19-20). Please observe that we are told what not to do (negative) and what we are to do (positive).

Again we read, "Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him" (Col. 3:9-10). Again, we are told what to put off (the negative) and what we are to put on (the positive.)

Our Lord taught, "...If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me" (Matt. 6:24). The Lord was negative and positive in this statement. One must be willing to deny self (negative) and take up his cross and follow the Lord (positive).

One other passage that we will look at just now is Titus 2:11-12 where Paul wrote, "The grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared unto all me. Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world." How can anyone reading these verses fail to see that we have the negative and the positive in this text? When people say, "I don't want anything but positive preaching," in reality they are saying I don't want Bible preaching. God's word is both positive and negative. Christianity is both positive and negative. Remember--we cannot go to heaven on just what we do not do that is wrong, but we must keep in mind that we can be lost because of what we fail to do, as well.

...Virgil L. Hale