The resurrection of the righteous must be attained. It cannot be imputed (ascribed) to us. The resurrection of the physical body to righteousness, immortality and glory, which is the central goal of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God, the conquering of the last enemy, is an area of misunderstanding in the present hour.

God does all the fighting when we come out of Egypt. But when we cross over Jordan to resurrection ground, the fighting is done by us with the Lord's guidance and help.

The program of "saving" us, making us fit for God's Presence, requires our cooperation. If we insist on saving our life, retaining the behaviors that are comfortable and familiar but condemned by God's Word (such as fearfulness, unbelief, fornication, covetousness), we run a risk, according to the written Word, of being rejected by the Lord.

But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned. (Hebrews 6:8)

Some Christian teachers are explaining that salvation is an unconditional amnesty and no behavior on our part can place our salvation in jeopardy. From their point of view we are forgiven our sins past, present, and future whether or not we serve the Lord.

The Scriptures teach that the works of the flesh cannot enter the Kingdom of God. But Satan is whispering, "Thou shalt not surely die."

Such teachers are picturing the goal of the Christian salvation as eternal residence in the spirit Paradise. "If God has forgiven us through grace, why can we not be admitted to live forever in the spirit Paradise?"

The goal of the Christian salvation is not to live forever in the spirit Paradise. The goal of the Christian salvation is the restoration of what was lost in the garden of Eden: eternal bodily life lived in a material Paradise in which God is present.

Even more glorious than this, God is seeking to dwell in us. This is the Kingdom of God—the eternal oneness of the Divine and the human, the holy spiritual and the holy material, the restoration of Paradise to the earth. We may discover that those who have died are longing for the Day of Resurrection—for the time when they gain back the material world.

And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we will reign on the earth. (Revelation 5:10)

"On the earth"!

The role of Divine grace is not to bring unchanged people to Paradise, thus perpetuating the problem of Eden. Rather, the role of Divine grace is to forgive the sons of men, through the atonement made by Christ on the cross of Calvary, and then to impart Divine Life to them so they may cast off the chains of darkness and death and become fit once again to enjoy the Presence of God in the garden.

The father did not come to the prodigal son while he was sitting in the pigpen and say, "If you will accept my forgiveness I will make you lord over my household." He did not promise, "If you will just raise your hand as a token of acceptance you can continue with your drunkenness, your fornication, your gambling, your riotous living. By my grace you will rule over all I possess."

Yet, this is what is sometimes presented as the Gospel of the Kingdom of God.

To be continued.