The "more sure word of prophecy," which at the time Peter was writing consisted of the Old Testament and perhaps Paul's Epistles, is more certain than the voice of God that was heard on the Mount of Transfiguration. Peter commands us to take heed to obey the commandments of the Scriptures. This is the third aspect of the four we have mentioned.

As we take heed to the Scriptures the day dawns. That day is the Day of the Lord, the period when the Lord alone is exalted in our personality. The Day of the Lord will begin in the hearts of those who are obeying the Lord, those in whom the Lord alone is exalted.

The "day star" (the morning star) rises in the heart of each believer who keeps the commandments of the Lord. Physically the day star is the planet Venus. This bright planet announces the coming of the new day.

Spiritually the day star, or morning star, is the Lord Jesus.

I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. (Revelation 22:16)

As we keep the commandments of the Lord the Day of the Lord dawns in our heart and the King, the Lord Jesus, ascends to the throne. Only then are we eligible and competent to govern the nations of the earth.

And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. And I will give him the morning star. (Revelation 2:26-28)

The goal of every Divine covenant is righteous people who can have fellowship with God and successfully perform all the roles for which man was created.

The method of attaining God's goal is to have Christ formed and dwelling in us.

Christ is formed in us only as we keep God's commandments.

Divine grace is given to us so we may keep all of God's commandments while we yet are overcoming through Christ our fallen adamic nature.

This is the way in which the new covenant operates.

The Scriptures do not present a "sovereign, unconditional grace" that gives the "believer" a pass from Hell to Heaven. The product of this deception is unrighteous people who hope by the sole means of their profession of belief in Christ to have fellowship with the fiery God of Israel, to be members of the Bride of the Lamb, the Body of Christ, and to be living stones in the eternal Temple of God.

In this instance our salvation has become (for those who are acquainted with computer terminology) a sort of virtual reality. It is a dream world, fabricated to appear real. But when the power shuts off we are back in the cold gray light of Monday morning.

So it shall be for the believers who have trusted in a sovereign, unconditional grace that operates only in their mind (and supposedly in God's mind) and is separate from actual transformation of personality. They will come forth in the day of resurrection to discover that no new creation has been formed in them. Theirs has been a virtual reality, not spiritual reality.

The concept of a sovereign, unconditional grace that operates independently of our behavior is unscriptural. An overgrown justification wipes out the critical need for the Holy Spirit's work of sanctification.

Our common sense tells us that the Christian salvation ought to make us better men and women, that we ought to be growing in God's image. If this is not taking place, are we actually being saved from death to eternal life? Are we actually experiencing a better covenant? (from How the New Covenant Operates)