It is at the time of the resurrection of our body that we reap either eternal life or corruption.

God is calling today for repentance and renewed consecration. It is the inner nature of God's people that is being called to further salvation. We must turn once more to the Lord, humble ourselves, repent of our worldliness, sin, and disobedience, and obtain the moral deliverance that is being offered to us as we enter the spiritual fulfillment of the Old Testament Day of Atonement.

It is vain to look toward an external Kingdom and Paradise when the internal kingdom is not moving toward the fullness of God.

Paul says that we of the Church have the "firstfruits of the Spirit." From the context we know Paul is explaining that the sons of God have a beginning portion of that which one day will be theirs in much greater measure, and by which they will be able to install the Kingdom of God on the earth.

Our inner nature has been born of God. Our outward form must be adopted. It is adopted by being redeemed from physical death. It is redeemed from physical death by being filled with the Spirit of God, that is, by eating of the Tree of Life, Christ.

But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken [make alive] your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. (Romans 8:11)

Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. (John 6:54)

The reason we of the Church do not groan for our adoption as sons of God, that is, for the redemption of our body from physical death, is that we are immature in our inner nature. We are immature in our inner nature because we have been occupied with external blessings, such as being carried to Paradise to live forever.

We need to understand that if we were fortunate enough to be carried to Paradise it would not accomplish that for which we are hoping. Physical death and movement to the spiritual Paradise cannot change our personality. Until our inner personality has become a new creature through Christ we will continue as a self-willed, rebellious creature. Sin and self-will began around the throne of God in Heaven, so going to Heaven will not solve the problem of spiritual uncleanness in our personality.

Notice that the creation is waiting for the revealing of the sons of God. The common teaching of the Church is that when the Lord returns we shall be changed from what we are into mighty rulers of the universe. It is supposed that we shall be entrusted with great power and glory in the Day of the Lord.

The truth is, the Day of the Lord will bring a revealing of what we are in our inner nature. Our outer form will reflect that which is true of our inner nature. All will be transparent in that Day!

To occupy ourselves with externals, even with ministry, and not to cultivate the growth of our inner nature, is to prevent our entrance into the Kingdom of God.

This is what the Spirit is saying to the churches in the present hour.

To be continued.