It is clear from the above that there is a sense in which our gaining of Christ is possible only as we steadfastly continue in joyous confidence until we have attained the rest of God. The concept of enduring to the end needs to be stressed in our day. This stress is needed in order to balance the current emphasis on "accept Christ now and you can never be in danger of losing your salvation."

It is true that the Lord Jesus is able and willing to lead us to total victory of spirit, soul, and body. But it is true also that several passages of the New Testament inform us that the Christian salvation will come in its fullness in the last days and that if we would partake of it we must continue faithfully throughout our pilgrimage on the earth.

There is altogether too much lightness in the Christian churches of our day. There is a false assurance. The doctrines of the "rapture," of "Jesus did it all," of "God loves you so much you will never suffer," are not coming from the Lord but are "another gospel." Let us flee from the false assurance, the froth, the entertainment that are filling our churches and begin to earnestly seek the Holy One of Israel.

The Lord Jesus is calling the Christians in America to repentance. If we do not repent we can look for fierce wrath, persecution, violent upheavals of nature, and other calamities to fall upon us in the near future. It is not a day for lightness but for the most serious heart-searching and repentance.

But let us continue with our examination of the passages that point to the salvation that is coming in the future.

And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. (Romans 13:11)

By the term "salvation" Paul is referring to the making alive of the mortal body. This was Paul's hope—that he might be released from the corruptible body of sin and death.

In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. (I Corinthians 15:52)

The Book of Ephesians speaks of the day of redemption, that is, the redemption of the body that is coming in the future.

In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest [guarantee] of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:13,14)

The sealing of the Holy Spirit is God's pledge to us that He will redeem our body in the last days.

And again:

And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. (Ephesians 4:30)

We are to live a holy life in view of the promised redemption of our body.

To be continued.