The very nature of the new covenant is that of an operation that will continue until all of God's family have been brought to the knowledge of the Lord.

The above verse reminds us of the statement in the fourth chapter of Ephesians that the ministries and gifts of the Body of Christ will continue until all the family of God have been brought to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God.

How do you feel about this?

So we see that the Scripture does give us a vision of a Church without blemish of any kind. This perfection shall be accomplished by the authority and power of God just as our forgiveness was accomplished on the cross by the authority and power of God.

The Church, the new Jerusalem, the holy city, shall be perfect. The saved nations shall walk in its light. The result will be the putting away of sin from God's creatures for eternity. All sin will be confined in the Lake of Fire.

Whoever through Jesus Christ puts away his or her sin will be saved to the new heaven and earth rule of Christ. Whoever refuses to put away his or her sin will be thrown into the Lake of Fire with Satan and his angels. For the Father has given the Lake of Fire authority over all sin. As long as we have sin in us the Lake of Fire can harm us. Christ will deliver from sin whoever calls on Him for help. This is the unchangeable Word of almighty God who is willing that all turn away from sin.

Conclusion

We understand from the Scriptures that it is God's intention to put an end to sin; not just to forgive sin but to remove it from all of His creatures.

We believe the program of removing sin will begin with the Church and then extend through the Church to the saved nations.

It appears from some of the major types of the Bible that there will come a time when the Church is divided into two camps, one a smaller, warlike remnant of witnesses, and the other the main body of God's family, God's Israel.

It is our point of view that the purpose of the division is to put an end to sin, beginning with the remnant, the firstfruits of the Church, then extending to the remainder of the Church, and from the perfected Church flowing out to all the saved inhabitants of the earth.

We are of the opinion that our redemption from the hand of the enemy, which is the spiritual fulfillment of the Day of Atonement, the baptism of fire of which John the Baptist spoke, has begun now with those to whom the Lord is speaking.

John answered them all, "I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire." (Luke 3:16—NIV)

To be continued.