When the Apostle Paul states that the Body of Christ will be a "glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish," he is not speaking of the righteousness that God assigns to those who put their faith in Jesus. The holiness of the Church is not imputed (ascribed) by Christ but performed by Christ. An imputed righteousness cannot shine for people to see. Only righteous character as evidenced in good works is a visible witness of God's Glory (Isaiah 62:2; Matthew 5:16).

Men do not glorify God when God imputes righteousness to His Church. Rather, men glorify God when they behold the good behavior that results from the work of redemption performed by Christ in the members of His Body.

The new Jerusalem is not made up of sinning Christians to whom righteousness has been imputed. The new Jerusalem is the Throne of God and of the Lamb. It is not a collection of sinning people who are being forgiven by grace. Its stupendous radiance is the Glory of God shining through human beings who have been made one in the Godhead (John 17:21-23).

The emphasis of the present age is on the creation of the Church, the Body of Christ. In order to become a member of the Body of Christ, which is the Wife of the Lamb, we first must be saved from wrath.

The Holy Spirit will continue to work until the Church has been made perfect in Christ.

Till we [the elect, the members of the Body of Christ] all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: (Ephesians 4:13)

When the Church has been made perfect in the Head, the world will believe God indeed has sent Christ, and believing, shall be saved.

That they [the elect, the members of the Church] all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe thou hast sent me. (John 17:21)

A parallel passage:

And the Gentiles [nations] shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. (Isaiah 60:3)

The Church is the Wife of the Lamb, the Body of Christ, the new Jerusalem. The Church is the royal priesthood of the Kingdom of God. The Church is destined to rule the nations of saved peoples of the earth forever.

And there shall be no night there; and they [the saints] need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever. (Revelation 22:5)

The important act of the present age is the creating of the Church and the perfecting of the firstfruits of the Church. When the firstfruits of the Church, the godly, warlike remnant, are revealed together with Christ at His coming, the multitude of earth's peoples will come to the Church in order to be released from spiritual bondage and to learn about and be blessed by the Lord. The material creation itself will be released into the liberty of the glory of the children of God (Isaiah 60:2-5, Romans 8:21).

We have discussed the concept of salvation, using the term to refer to our being accepted by the Lord. We are received of the Lord Jesus when we place our faith in Him. He washes us in His blood and puts His Spirit in us. Now we are qualified to enter the process of redemption, the process that is able to make us a new righteous creation in Christ.

To be continued.