The following are some of the Kingdom roles and tasks for which we are being prepared. It is well to think of these as needs and desires that the Lord has, not exalted positions we are fortunate enough to attain. It does not matter whether or not we desire them, the point is that God has prepared them for us to fulfill and expects us to submit ourselves so God's needs and desires can be met.

A part of the Bride of the Lamb.

A living stone in the Temple of God.

A member of the Body of Christ.

A vehicle for the end-time revival.

A restorer of Paradise on earth.

A member of the royal priesthood.

A witness of God.

A son of God.

A brother of Christ.

An overcomer of the accuser.

A governor of the nations.

A judge of men and angels.

A wall of defense around the Glory of God.

A revelation of Himself—God in Christ in the saint.

A full, mature exercise of each of these Kingdom roles requires that we be brought to the stature of the fullness of Christ and into untroubled rest in God's will for our life.

Can you see how totally different the above goal of salvation is from the traditional "make our eternal home in Heaven"? Salvation is not pointed toward our being in Heaven or on the earth. It is not a case of location but of what we are in personality and behavior. This is one of the major understandings of the Scripture that must be pursued in our day if we are going to develop the strength required to stand throughout the age of moral horrors that is upon us.

You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (I Peter 2:5—NIV)

Grace and Faith Versus the Law of Moses, not Versus Righteous Behavior

But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. (Romans 3:21—NIV)

A second revolutionary though scriptural concept is that when the Apostle Paul contrasted faith and works, he was not speaking of a profession of doctrinal belief versus godly behavior. Yet this interpretation of Paul has persisted mightily since the Reformation.

First of all, by "faith" Paul means a life lived in dependence on God, not a doctrinal position. The righteous shall live by faith means by humble dependence on God rather than by independence of thought and action (the American ideal).

By "works" Paul means the works of the Law of Moses, such as circumcision. He is not referring to honesty, faithfulness, and truthfulness.

We are justified by placing our faith in Christ and living in Him rather than by obeying the statutes of the Law of Moses. This misunderstanding of Paul has destroyed the moral strength of the Christian churches.

To be continued.