The unsaved individual is an example of the first man—the living soul.

The Lord Jesus Christ is the supreme Example of the second man—the life-giving spirit.

Every human being who has been born again of Christ is somewhere between the two extremes, between a pure living soul and a pure life-giving spirit.

It is the second man, the life-giving spirit, who is the Kingdom of God, the Body of Christ.

The first man can be blessed by the Kingdom of God and can walk in the light of the Kingdom. The Kingdom of God can be born in the personality of the first man. But the first man, having in himself a "body of sin," never can be a part of the Kingdom of God. The first man is to go to the cross with Jesus, die there, and then be raised into newness of life.

Some believers reap the Kingdom of God thirtyfold, some sixtyfold, and some a hundredfold. The extent to which we reap the Kingdom of God depends on the diligence with which we approach God, and on our willingness to be pruned—our willingness to die to our first personality.

The most limited definition of the term "salvation" is, escape from residence in the Lake of Fire. The most comprehensive definition of the term is, the perfect, complete transition from a living soul to a life-giving spirit coupled with perfect rest in the Presence of God.

Thus, each true Christian is, to a lesser or greater degree, of Christ, of the Kingdom of God. The remainder of his personality is still of Adam, of the first creation.

The first creation, that to which the first man, the living soul belongs, was brought into existence to give initial form and substance to what God is seeking. The first creation serves as a beginning and a support while the second, eternal creation is being developed.

The first creation always must decrease while the second creation always must increase. Adam, the corruptible, animal creation, always must decrease while Christ, the incorruptible Spirit, always must increase. This is the coming of the Kingdom of God, the Divinely ordained salvation.

Notice once again that the entire first creation is destined to be abolished. It was finished when the Lord said on the cross, "It has been finished." It has been finished in the mind of God, and what we are witnessing is the bringing to pass of the completed Divine vision.

And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands: They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail. (Hebrews 1:10-12)

Our religious customs and practices, which involve the first man, are serving as a scaffolding while Christ is creating the second man. As the second man is perfected the scaffolding is removed.

This does not mean we no longer attend the assembling of the saints because we think we have become "spiritual." The true Bride of the Lamb knows His voice and does not behave herself foolishly.

To be continued.