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

What we have in the present hour is a pledge, a deposit on the salvation that is to come. The salvation that is to come is the removal of sin from our personality.

The Lamb of God shall not only forgive but also take away the sin of the world.

He shall be called Jesus because He shall save His people from their sins, not in their sins.

Jesus will save us from the hand of the enemy so we may live in righteousness.

That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life. (Luke 1:74,75)

The Lord Jesus came so we might walk in holiness and righteousness before Him. To those who would claim that Luke 1:74,75 is addressed to the Jews, our response would be that in this case God has reserved a salvation for the Jews that is greater than His provision for the Gentiles.

God is ready to deliver the Jews so they may walk in holiness and righteousness before Him. However, the best He can do for Gentiles is to impute righteousness to them and carry them to Heaven to live in a mansion of gold where they never will be tempted again. This is what is taught today. Do you actually believe such an unscriptural, illogical fairy tale?

Notice how the Lord can remove sin from our personality.

And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment. (Zechariah 3:4)

The Lord has in mind to remove the sin from the Jewish people.

First the Lord will come to those in Zion, in the Church, who turn away from sin.

And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the Lord. (Isaiah 59:20)

Then those to whom the Lord has come shall themselves go to the Jewish people and deliver them from all sin.

And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: (Romans 11:26)

There are two illustrations in the Old Testament that portray the killing, and then the removal of sin.

The Cave of Makkedah. Joshua was in a battle with the Amorites. Before long he had captured their five kings. He locked them up in the Cave of Makkedah.

And it was told Joshua, saying, The five kings are found hid in a cave at Makkedah. And Joshua said, Roll great stones upon the mouth of the cave, and set men by it for to keep them: And stay ye not, but pursue after your enemies, and smite the hindmost of them; suffer them not to enter into their cities: for the Lord your God hath delivered them into your hand. (Joshua 10:17-19)

This represents the killing, the rendering powerless, of sin.

Finally Joshua returned to the Cave of Makkedah and made a final end of the kings of the Amorites.

And they did so, and brought forth those five kings unto him out of the cave, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon. And it came to pass, when they brought out those kings unto Joshua, that Joshua called for all the men of Israel, and said unto the captains of the men of war which went with him, Come near, put your feet upon the necks of these kings. And they came near, and put their feet upon the necks of them. And Joshua said unto them, Fear not, nor be dismayed, be strong and of good courage: for thus shall the Lord do to all your enemies against whom ye fight. And afterward Joshua smote them, and slew them, and hanged them on five trees: and they were hanging upon the trees until the evening. (Joshua 10:23-26)

When the Lord Jesus returns He will show us that we never again have reason to fear or serve the lords of darkness.

To be continued.