Dying will not change what we are, rather it will bring us to the court of judgment.

The environment of Heaven is beautiful, but were we permitted to enter in our untransformed state we would bring our trouble with us. Will an improved environment actually change what we are in personality?

Let us look at the second assumption—that at His coming the Lord will banish our sinful disposition by the Word of His power.

Do you remember the man who buried his talent? When the Lord came, did the Lord say, "Don't worry about it. You have been lazy and wicked but I have come to remove your laziness and wickedness?"

When the Lord came, did He say to the foolish virgins, "I have come to remove your foolishness and carelessness?"

No, the Lord took away the talent of the one and sent him to the outer darkness. He shut the door in the face of the others.

You may say to me, "The Lord was not talking about those who are saved by grace."

He most certainly was speaking to all of us. The belief that the Words of Jesus in the Gospels do not apply to Christians is an error. Of course they apply to Christians! If not, then His words about being born again do not apply to Christians. Then the Great Commission does not apply to Christians. Then "preach the Gospel to every creature" does not apply to Christians.

We are dreadfully wrong in our teaching of grace. We have perverted the doctrine of the Apostle Paul. Grace is not an alternative to obeying the Words of Jesus Christ and His Apostles.

We must pass at some point, at some time, in some place, by some means, from imputed righteousness to actual righteousness of personality and behavior. If we do not, then the future ages will be grim indeed. They will be like the churches of today, filled with slander, lust, covetousness, anger, spite, malice, jealousy, witchcraft, drunkenness, and every other evil work.

But the Book of Revelation states that such behavior will be put in the Lake of Fire.

We know physical death will not transform us. This concept is both unscriptural and illogical.

We know the Lord will not change what we basically are, when He returns, but will reward us according to our behavior. This is what the New Testament teaches clearly.

We may ask, "Does God indeed have a specific plan to change His Church from imputed righteousness to actual righteousness of behavior?"

Yes, He most certainly does. He knows the end from the beginning.

As I understand the program, the Lord's plan to change His Church from ascribed righteousness to actual righteousness of behavior will be worked out in two stages. The first stage is the calling out from the Church a firstfruits— "mighty men," to use an expression from the rule of King David. This godly, warlike remnant will be guided by the Holy Spirit to put to death the deeds of their body.

To be continued.