There is only one passage in the New Testament (in the King James Version) in which the term imputed is used to contrast righteousness with works. Whenever we see critical portions of an important doctrine—one that is discussed much in Scripture—based on a single brief passage, it may be to our advantage to carefully consider the evidences and rethink the doctrine.

Mankind became wicked. The sons of God compromised with sinners. Evil filled the earth. God decided to pour out His wrath upon the wickedness. And “the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished” (2 Peter 3:6).

What may have been an advanced civilization was eliminated. An entire world full of plants, animals, and men was destroyed. The face of the earth was reshaped. But astride the waves that pummeled the world into oblivion, a great box—an “ark”—carried the forebears of new life on a new earth.

The President today wouldn’t have to ride in a limousine; after all, he can’t fill all the seats at once! Nor would he have to live in a huge mansion. Nor would leaders of other countries have to sit on thrones. While some of the luxury and display that rulers show is perhaps caused by pride and vanity, there could actually be a useful motive behind some of this pomp and show—impressing those who might harm the ruler’s (or his country’s) interests, showing them the ruler’s authority, and perhaps frightening them into controlling their antagonistic impulses.

“And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.” (Genesis 6:1-2) Thus the Biblical narrative leaves the genealogy of chapter 5 and sets the stage for God’s dramatic judgment of the earth in the next few chapters. “And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.” (Genesis 6:3)

Think for a moment about the state of Christianity in the roughly seventy year period between the Ascension and the close of the first century. Although Christianity experienced rapid growth, most Gentiles were probably still surrounded by paganism. Their employers, their rulers, their acquaintances could have often been pagans, and the world would continually pull at them from that quarter. Some pagans went beyond persuasion and actively persecuted the church.

In Psalms 38:9, David gives us an unusual perspective on desires that may help us to understand better why we need to be content: “Lord, all my desire is before thee; and my groaning is not hid from thee.” We desire things. I doubt there’s one of us who hasn’t wanted something at some point. And David shows us that God knows the things we desire. He sees what things attract us. They are spread out before Him, every one of them, and we can’t hide them.

Paul exhorts us, “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves.” (II Corinthians 13:5) After we’re saved, studying the issue of salvation may not always be the top thing on our minds. But if we don’t think back to it occasionally, and know what the Bible says about salvation, how will we be able to examine ourselves? How will we be able to know whether we are indeed in the faith? How will we be able to bring others to the faith? Thus it is good for us—even if we are saved—to study the Scripture and know what it says about salvation.

Recently we’ve received calls to political action from several different organizations with religious ties, urging us to become involved in the political battle for “freedom.” As this call is likely to intensify, and we will be pressured more and more to involve ourselves in politics, it may be good for us to study the Scripture, specifically the New Testament, to see what plan God has for His church regarding politics.

“Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.” (Philippians 4:5) Moderation seems to have been quite lost in our society today. We can see it as we drive down the road at the maximum legal speed of 55mph and watch cars fly past us and down the road. A little while ago, we were traveling on a fairly well-filled four-lane highway, when someone who was parked at the end of a driveway on the other side of the road apparently decided that he had to cross at any cost. He successfully crossed two lanes before colliding with the car directly ahead of us.

Genesis 1 tells the story of how God created the world. This, the first chapter in the Bible, lays a foundation for what will come after. If we take God’s creation out of our doctrine, we have opened ourselves to doubts about the authority of the Bible, because this truth is stated clearly in Scripture, and if it can’t be understood, it’s probably impossible to understand many other important truths which are not stated in clearer language. When we try to build a house without a foundation, we are making an awful mistake.