"Now is our salvation nearer than when we believed."

Paul is speaking here of the salvation that is deliverance from sin, the salvation of the second goat of the Day of Atonement.

Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (I Peter 1:5)

"Salvation ready to be revealed in the last time."

We are being kept today by God's power in view of a salvation (deliverance from sin) that is to be revealed in the "last time."

What is this last-day salvation? It is none other than the spiritual fulfillment of the second goat, that is, the removing of sin from God's people.

So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. (Hebrews 9:28)

"So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many." This is the first goat of the Day of Atonement.

"Without sin unto salvation." This is the second goat.

"Unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time."

This is when the deliverance will take place. It will take place at a second appearing to those that look for Christ. We know that Hebrews 9:28 is not referring to the second coming of the Lord because at His second coming every eye shall see Him, not just those who are looking for Him.

Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. (Revelation 1:7)

We know from the Scriptures that part of the sin offering is the removal of sin from God's elect, that this "salvation" will take place in the last days, that it is an appearing of the Lord, and that it will come to those who are looking for Christ. Does the Old Testament teach that sin will be removed from God's people? If so, under what circumstances?

When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning. (Isaiah 4:4)

The above passage describes an actual removal of sin from the Lord's people—not just a forgiveness but an actual removal.

The removal is accomplished "by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning."

Other passages say much the same thing.

And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God. (Zechariah 13:9)

But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fuller's [a launderer's] soap: And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness. (Malachi 3:2,3)

To be continued.