Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. (Revelation 3:4)

We are not teaching that we can save ourselves by striving to behave correctly. The worldliness, lust, and self-will that are in us cannot be overcome by our efforts. Only the Presence of God in Christ can deliver us from worldliness, lust, and self-will.

Rather, we are teaching that the right kind of works, the works that lead to the victorious resurrection of the saints, are the only proof of salvation.

We are not to struggle hopelessly against our sin and self-centeredness. Rather, we are to follow the Lord Jesus into perfect victory in His Kingdom.

We cannot possibly save or deliver ourselves by our own works. But we indeed can, through the Holy Spirit, do those things that lead to our deliverance. To deny this is to deny the teaching of the entire New Testament.

The right kind of works in Christ bring us to a place of worthiness and eligibility for deliverance.

God does not judge us concerning what we cannot do but what we can do. God judges us concerning the decisions we make. If we continue to make godly decisions, God will deliver us from all of our bondages. Meanwhile we suffer because of the chains of sin and rebellion in our personality that have not as yet been broken.

We find the Lord when we seek Him with all our heart.

It is the Spirit of God who leads us in battle against the enemy.

People today are seeking deliverance from their problems but God is seeking worthiness of behavior. When we do what God has commanded, God will deliver us.

God always is able to lift the curse from the earth, and sin and death from man.

The Day of Atonement results in the deliverance illustrated by the Levitical Year of Jubilee. The deliverance comes to those who demonstrate worthiness by pressing forward with the Lord.

This is the process of redemption by grace.

The opposite, or a process of redemption by works, would be impossible. Salvation by works would be the attempt to gain the resurrection of the body by following a dead code of religion apart from the atoning blood of Christ, apart from the Spirit of God, apart from having Christ conceived and formed in us.

Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight. Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth. (Hosea 6:1-3)

Our part is to turn away from the present world, to take up our cross, and to press on after Christ with all the diligence and steadfastness at our command. God's part is to raise us up and cause us to live in His sight. (from Judgment, Redemption, and the First Resurrection)