It appears that in numerous instances initial justification is as far as contemporary teaching takes us. The Christian Gospel has been changed from the coming of the Kingdom of God to establish God's will on the earth to a "grace" of forgiveness that insures the sinner's entrance into the spiritual Paradise upon his death.

If this were the true Gospel of the Kingdom of God, the new covenant would not be as effective as the old in terms of God's desire for righteous people, because the old covenant included the forgiveness of sins and also insisted upon righteous behavior. By removing the requirement for righteous behavior we have created a salvation that is ineffective in view of God's stated purpose to conform the elect to the image of Christ.

The second goat. We have spoken of the goat that was offered for the sins of the people on the Day of Atonement.

There was a second goat that was offered as an inseparable part of the sin offering.

And he shall take of the congregation of the children of Israel two kids of the goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering. (Leviticus 16:5)

"Two kids of the goats for a sin offering."

The fact that there was a second goat invalidates the current concept of the Divine atonement for sin, the concept that there is little or no deliverance, only forgiveness.

The blood of the second goat was not shed; therefore the goat was not used to appease the wrath of God. However, it was part of the sin offering. The use of the second goat as a sin offering was made authentic by the offering of the blood of the first goat.

And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness: (Leviticus 16:21)

Little imagination is required to see that while the first goat portrayed the appeasing of Divine wrath by innocent blood, the second goat spoke of the removal of the presence of sin itself; that is, of deliverance from sin.

Forgiveness by the first goat; deliverance by the second goat.

It is of the greatest importance to remember that the Christian redemption consists of both forgiveness of sin and deliverance from sin, and the deliverance is made possible by the forgiveness. Both are absolutely necessary in the Kingdom of God. Both are absolutely necessary if we are to fulfill God's purpose that we be changed into the image of Christ. Both are absolutely necessary if we are to be glorified.

Deliverance from sin. If the Christian salvation includes deliverance from sin, as well as forgiveness, when and how does such deliverance take place?

Deliverance from sin is the salvation promised for the last days. We think that we are in the last days now and that the promised redemption is beginning.

Notice carefully the following passages in terms of the preceding paragraph:

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)

To be continued.