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The Daily Word of Righteousness
Removing the Presence of Sin, #9
For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, (Romans 8:13—NIV) Through the Spirit of God we are enabled to put to death the deeds of our body that proceed from the sinful nature. If we live by the Spirit of God instead of according to our fleshly life, if we pray each day, meditate in God's Word, deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Jesus, present our body a living sacrifice, assemble with fervent saints, covet the gifts of the Spirit, and do all else we have been commanded, we will not be compelled to gratify the desires of our sinful nature.
Second, the New Testament promises us the ultimate removal of sin. If we have been faithful in the lesser, that is, if we have pursued the life of the Spirit of God in overcoming the sinful desires of our flesh, then the Lord finally will bring the greater salvation to us, meaning He will remove the presence of sin from us.
Notice carefully:
Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool, Because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. (Hebrews 10:11-14—NIV)
Jesus made one sacrifice for sins. Thereby He has made perfect forever those who are being made holy (not those who just take "the four steps of salvation" and then live their life as before).
Now think. Have we actually been made perfect? Yes, and No. Yes in the timeless vision of God in which we also have been glorified. No in the actual state of our personality.
But what has God said? Christ is waiting for His enemies to be made His footstool. Where will they first be made His footstool if not in those closest to Him?
At what point will God crush under our feet His enemies that are in us? Not at His coming (except for our human enemies in the world) or after His coming but at some point before His coming. Otherwise there would be tremendous spiritual confusion at the coming of the Lord. He could not descend with His saints and judge the wicked if the saints themselves, the members of His army of judges, had wickedness in them.
The current teaching of the pre-tribulation "rapture" is completely misleading. Would Christ come and carry up to Himself the present Christian churches in which lust, hatred, and slander abound? It cannot happen. The Bible says throughout the Gospels that when the King returns He will reward His servants according to their behavior, separating the righteous from the wicked. The Bible does not say when He returns He will transform the moral nature of His servants, but judge them and give rewards or punishments to them according to their deeds.
Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. (Revelation 22:12—NIV)
To be continued.