The current understanding that there is no difference between basic salvation and being part of the Wife of the Lamb, has caused the multitude of New Testament passages that have to do with the perfecting of the Church to lose their force, their urgency, their necessity.

The requirements for basic salvation from wrath are minimal. The requirements for being a member of the Body of Christ, the Bride of the Lamb, are extraordinary requiring our total, complete consecration.

If, therefore, we consider salvation and membership in the Body of Christ to be the same work of redemption, then we, because of our fleshly lusts and self-centeredness, will adhere only to the minimal requirements for salvation; and if we have been elected to be in the Bride we will be punished because of our lack of diligent attention to the increased demands made on those who must be without spot or wrinkle (Hebrews 2:3).

The thoughtful reader will perceive immediately that if it actually is true that membership in the Body of Christ is a different issue from that of salvation there needs to be substantial changes in what is being preached and practiced today. Those who have been elected to be part of the Church, the Body of Christ, are not permitted to select only the few requirements of salvation.

Being saved from wrath requires an act of faith on our part in accepting the blood atonement made by Christ on the cross of Calvary. Essential to our acceptance of the atonement is our genuine repentance from the ways of the present world system and baptism in water into the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Such is the command of Christ to and through His Apostles.

If we truly place our faith in Christ, confessing Him as Savior and Lord, and are baptized in water in obedience to God, we will be saved from the Lake of Fire. This is the Good News of salvation and the first step in the coming of the Kingdom of God to the earth.

However, the bulk of the writings of the Apostles are not concerned with the gift of salvation but with the perfecting of the Church.

In order to observe the difference between the concept of salvation from wrath, and the participation of the elect in the Church, let us look at statements made by the Apostle Paul:

Concerning the obtaining of righteousness, the remission of sins:

Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation [appeasement] through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; (Romans 3:24,25)

Concerning the perfecting of one's position in the Church, the Church being the called-out kingdom of priests whose destiny is to rule the works of God's hands forever;

Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. (I Corinthians 9:24,25)

Compare:

"Being justified freely by his grace."

"So run, that ye may obtain."

Let us compare two other statements:

But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. (Romans 4:5)

If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection [Greek, out-resurrection] of the dead. (Philippians 3:11)

Compare:

"To him that worketh not."

"If by any means I might attain."

It seems there are two separate issues here. The first issue is that of the remission of sins, of deliverance from the wrath of God. The second issue has to do with our becoming an eternal part of Christ in the supremely desirable union referred to as "the marriage of the Lamb."

To be continued.