One does not have to be a prude to conclude that our country is suffering a serious moral decline. Our rulers and law enforcement agencies seem powerless to cope with it. But what most people fail to realize is that behind this moral decline there is a spiritual decline. America has departed from God and His Word.

The Apostle Paul's letter to the Romans tells us how the heathen got that way.

Rom. 1:21,22 says: "When they knew God they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful, but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise they became fools," and the verses that follow tell how God finally had to "give them up" to "uncleanness" and "vile affections"–all because "they did not like [wish] to retain God in their knowledge" (Ver. 28).

Paul further describes them in Eph. 4:17-19, as walking "in the vanity of their mind, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; who being past feeling [conscience] have given themselves over to lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness." This, sad to say, is an accurate description of increasing numbers in America today. They are throwing off restraint and going after uncleanness "with greediness."

Today, they ignorantly call this 'liberty.' But this is not 'liberty,' it is enslavement. It is not a sign of strength, but of weakness. It does not indicate superior intelligence, but grossest ignorance, and is the result of their alienation from God.

But, how much better off are we have come to know God through Christ! Of such 'knowers' and 'believers' the Apostle Paul says:

"And you, who were once alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet NOW hath He reconciled (to God), in the body of His (Christ's) flesh, through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreprovable in His sight" (Col. 1:21,22).

Being immersed "into Christ" the moment we believed... we are counted righteous before God, NOT based upon our pitiful righteousness... BUT on Christ's righteousness imputed or counted to us. This truth powerfully defines God's "GRACE" extended toward all men who would simply trust in Jesus Christ as their Savior!