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)

Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:14)

And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. (Ephesians 4:30)

For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; (Hebrews 3:14)

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)

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

Notice, in the above passages, the emphasis on the salvation (deliverance from sin) that is to come in the future. Salvation (deliverance from sin) is coming in the last days. Even today there is a process of salvation that is preparing us for the day of redemption. We are being revealed at the Judgment Seat now in preparation for a final revealing and sentencing, whether to glorious deliverance and resurrection life or to punishment of one kind or another. We are to be working out our own salvation (deliverance from sin) with fear and trembling today. If we do not we will reap corruption in the day of redemption.

We have been commanded to put to death the deeds of our body (Romans 8:13). Sometimes we receive complete deliverance at the time we confess and renounce our sin vigorously. On other occasions the sinful nature is weakened but enough of it remains that we must constantly remain watchful in prayer so the wickedness in us is not expressed in behavior.

God has a purpose in not delivering us totally at this time. One reason is that there must be an opportunity for Christ to be formed in the area vacated by sin. We cast out the enemy and then occupy the land. This happens again and again and again.

Another reason is that we grow in Christ, in the power to govern, as we resist sin. This resistance is becoming a wall, a rod of iron, being created in us. It will be used by the Lord during the Battle of Armageddon, during the thousand-year Kingdom Age, and then for eternity. People and angels always will be able to sin if they choose to do so. The sons of God will stand guard throughout the creation of God. They compose the army of the Kingdom, always ready to judge and destroy sin wherever it is found.

In the Day of the Lord, Christ will come to us and remove every vestige of sin. This is our long-awaited salvation. The house that clothes our resurrected mortal frame will be a chariot of God, a vehicle that loves righteousness and hates iniquity. If we have suffered for the Gospel's sake we also will be given a crown of eternal life and righteousness. The eternal life is the power that will enable us to compel righteousness, to govern in righteousness, throughout the universe of God.

To be continued.