Speaking as an Christian, I wonder sometimes if we understand all that is included in the Divine salvation. We have set as our primary goal preaching the Gospel to every person. We have set as our secondary goal doing what good we can in the world to relieve human suffering.

As scriptural and commendable as these goals certainly are and shall continue to be, they are not the first priority of the Divine salvation. The first goal of the Divine salvation (a goal scarcely mentioned nowadays) is to draw from mankind a firstfruits to God, a royal priesthood who walk in iron righteousness, fiery holiness, and stern obedience to God. These are God's possession in the earth; and some are called to be even closer to God. The destiny of the firstfruits is to be especially close to God. The existence of such makes everything else possible.

If your calling, dear reader, is to be one of God's firstfruits, your heart will leap within you when you read this essay. When you begin to realize not all people have the same calling—to be especially close to God—you may have compassion on those who do not enjoy prayer and being alone with the Lord as much as you do.

If this is not your calling, perhaps it will be easier for you to understand why some people seem to be so absorbed in the Lord they are not as conscious of the needs of the world as we might think appropriate and proper.

It is the responsibility of each Christian church to hold forth the Word of life. Also, it is the responsibility of those whose calling is evangelism to preach the Gospel to every creature.

In addition, we all are to be zealous of good works, such as visiting orphans and widows in their poverty. It is clear some believers are called in a special way to the task of assisting the needy.

When we preach the Gospel to every creature, those who believe and are baptized shall be saved. This means in the Day of God's wrath they shall not be destroyed but permitted to enter His Kingdom.

All of this we know and has the clear support of the Scriptures.

But there is an aspect of salvation other than being spared in the Day of Wrath, other than doing the work of helping the needy of society. I am referring to the call to be a member of the royal priesthood.

While the New Testament, perhaps for practical reasons, does not make a clear distinction between being saved from wrath, and coming to the stature of the fullness of Christ, it is obvious there is a difference.

He who believes and is baptized shall be saved. He shall be saved from destruction in the Day of Wrath. Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

But then we find another aspect of salvation, an aspect not being emphasized today in proportion to its emphasis in the New Testament. This neglected emphasis is the coming to maturity of the royal priesthood.

To be continued.