It is time now for another giant step forward in the Divine plan of redemption. The emphasis is shifting from the removal of the guilt of our sin to the destruction of the compulsive force of sin.

Logic informs us that redemption certainly must include more than the forgiveness of our sins and a favorable attitude of God toward us. Salvation must include deliverance from the presence of sin and the effects of sin. If this were not the case, think of the consequences! The new world of righteousness would be one of ascribed (imputed) righteousness while the madness of the sinful nature continued to be exercised.

I suppose all Christians understand that at some point, sin must be removed from people if we are to have any kind of happy future. But we have not been certain how, when, and where such deliverance will take place.

Throughout the years there have been various doctrines that point toward the removal of sin from us "root and branch." But the reality is that we believers have problems with worldliness, lust, and self-will even when we supposedly have had sin removed from us root and branch.

It may be true that the two most commonly expressed viewpoints concerning the removal of sin from God's people are that we are freed from sin by physical death, or the Lord Jesus will remove sin from us when He appears at His second coming. It seems neither of these solutions is scriptural or logical.

There is no passage of Scripture that states we are freed from sin by dying. Sin began in the spirit realm in the very Presence of God, as Satan decided to set his own will against that of the Father. To this day we wrestle against wicked spirits in the heavenlies. So leaving the physical realm and entering the spirit realm does not save us from worldliness, lust, or self-will. These three areas of sin came from and are maintained by personages in the spirit realm.

This leaves us with the hope sin will cease to be a problem when the Lord comes in the clouds of glory. But then we think of the man who wasted the talent that had been given to him. The Lord did not come and remove his laziness, rather He removed the talent from the wicked servant and sent him into the outer darkness. The coming of the Lord will reveal what we are, not transform indifferent believers into kings and priests clothed in Divine Glory.

When the Lord returns with the shout and the trumpet of God, He will bring the deceased saints with Him. The deceased saints will take up their bodies from the place of interment and clothe them with glory. The living saints will be transformed and clothed with their robe from Heaven. Then together the entire company of those who are abiding in Christ will be caught up from the earth and meet the Lord in the air.

After this they shall be with the Lord forever.

To be continued.