I think the program of releasing the firstfruits of the Church, the godly remnant, from the bondages of sin has begun already. In fact, you, the reader, may notice that the Holy Spirit is pointing out parts of your personality and behavior that are not scriptural. It is your place to confess these as sin and to turn away from them. It is God's place to forgive your sins and to cleanse you from all unrighteousness.

The second stage will occur as the firstfruits, having been released from the bondages of sin, assists the remainder of the Church until the entire Bride of the Lamb is without blemish.

After the whole Church has been changed into the moral image of the Lord, the Church will bring deliverance, eternal life, and healing to the people who are saved but who are not part of the Church. Such people are referred to as the "sheep nations," in the Book of Matthew; and then as the nations who bring their glory and honor into the new Jerusalem, in the Book of Revelation.

Much is said in the Book of Isaiah, particularly Chapters 60 and 61, concerning the nations of people who are saved but not part of the Church. There is not much understanding in Christian circles concerning the sheep nations, perhaps due at least in part to the philosophy of Dispensationalism that views such passages as having to do with physical Israel and not with the Church which, according to this philosophy, will be in Heaven.

I am not aware of a philosophy more destructive of biblical understanding than that of Dispensationalism, unless it is the philosophy of Gnosticism.

I will not pursue the topic of the saved nations further. The purpose of the present essay is to present the Divine plan, as we view it, to move the Church from imputed righteousness to actual righteousness of personality and behavior.

Once the Church has been made perfect, the Church (the new Jerusalem) will govern the saved nations of the earth for eternity. All sinful personalities will be confined in the Lake of Fire. Thus God will put an end to sin once and for all, and the new world will be one of actual righteousness, not imputed righteousness.

Seventy "sevens" are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy.  (Daniel 9:24—NIV)

But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. (II Peter 3:13—NIV)

As I mentioned before, I understand that the program, the move from imputed to actual righteousness, will take place in two stages. The first stage will consist of a firstfruits of the Church who will be able, through the Holy Spirit, to gain victory over sinful behavior. I think this stage has begun now.

To be continued.