Putting self-will to death requires the special help of the Lord. In order to kill the self-will and rebellion in us the Lord brings us into suffering. Our task is to be patient in our tribulation, waiting continually on the Lord for the strength to get through each day. Sometimes we are in the Lord's prison for many years.

We have to do what we do not want to do. We do not receive what we wish to receive. And so on for decades. The patient waiting on the Lord during times of suffering kills the self-will and rebellion in us.

The Christian is never to walk in known sin. Because we are under grace and not under the Law of Moses, sin cannot gain dominion over us unless we permit it to do so. There is ample grace in the blood of the Lord Jesus and the Spirit of God to enable us to gain victory over every evil that tempts us.

For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. (Romans 6:14)

Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify [put to death] the deeds of the body, ye shall live. (Romans 8:12,13)

Removing sin: When the Lord returns He will remove from our personality that which we through the Spirit have put to death. Jesus will remove the last traces of worldliness, the lusts of our flesh, and our self-will and rebellion. This is the salvation that is to come in the last days.

Of special importance to our redemption is the giving to us of our robe of righteousness, our house from Heaven. Our robe is woven from our daily conduct as we overcome sin through the Spirit of God. Each time we wash our robe in the blood of the Lamb an increment of righteousness is added to our house from Heaven. In the Day of the Lord we will be clothed in our own Christ-filled righteous works.

And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness [righteous works] of saints. (Revelation 19:8)

Does the Scripture speak of such a redemption, such a deliverance to come? Indeed it does. The removal of sin from the personality of the victorious saints is mentioned several times in the New Testament.

And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. (Luke 21:28)

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 [guarantee] 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)

To be continued.