of words brings up to the mind far more than the actual wording may appear to

intend, and is to be shunned by all who have put off `the lie'.

The words that should cause every child of God to stop and consider are

that none that do such things:

`Hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God'

(Eph. 5:5).

There is no question but that one phase at least of the inheritance is in the

nature of a reward, and consequently may be forfeited.  This is clearly

expressed in Colossians 3:24 in a passage that exactly corresponds with

Ephesians 5:5 :

`Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance:

for ye serve the Lord Christ'.

Romans 8:17 seems to observe the distinction between `heirs of God'

because children of God, and `joint-heirs with Christ' if so be that these

children walk as Christ walked, which must of necessity involve suffering and

The inheritance, which is a matter of predestination and redemption (Eph.

1:11,14), is one thing; the inheritance that is in the kingdom of Christ and of

God is another, and it may be forfeited.  Men may emphasize grace, they may call

such teaching `legal', they may seek to throw out the idea of reward from the

epistles of the Mystery, but the apostle concludes his words of warning by

`Let no man deceive you with vain words' (Eph. 5:6).

The parallel in Colossians but endorses and enforces this:

`Beware lest any man spoil you through ... vain deceit ... Let no man

beguile you of your reward' (Col. 2:8-18).

Because of these things the wrath of God is coming on the children of

disobedience, and the members of the church are not to be partakers with such.

There must be an outward expression of the inward change.  Once they too were

darkness and walked in darkness, producing the unfruitful works of darkness.

Now, however, they are light in the Lord and so the exhortation comes, `Walk as

children of light'.  Love leads to sacrifice, and repudiates lust which is but

the expression of selfishness.  Light leads to fruitfulness and reproves the

unfruitful works of darkness.  Where the Authorized Version reads:

`For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and

truth' (Eph. 5:9),

the revised text reads, `the fruit of the light'.

This reading contains a truth which is everywhere confirmed in the works

of God around us.  The student of horticulture is early impressed with the

essential place that light has in plant growth.  The bulk of the food upon our

tables daily is carbohydrates or starchy foods, such as bread and all cereals,