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The Daily Word of Righteousness
The True Nature of the New Covenant, #15
For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. (Hebrews 2:10)
Let us list some of God's Kingdom purposes that are to be brought to pass in us:
To provide a bride for the Lamb (Revelation 19:7; 21:9).
To construct an eternal temple for God (Ephesians 2:22).
To bring to maturity many sons of God (Hebrews 2:10).
To change into the family image many brothers of Christ (Romans 8:29).
To train righteous judges who will bring justice to the nations of the earth (Revelation 20:4).
To develop able kings who will rule the nations in righteousness (Revelation 2:26,27).
To prepare holy, compassionate priests who will serve as mediators between Christ and the nations of saved peoples of the earth (Revelation 20:6).
To equip warriors who will crush Satan and all his works under their feet (Revelation 19:14).
To provide an eternal spiritual light so the nations of saved peoples of the earth may perceive truth and reality and not walk in spiritual darkness and bondage as they do today (Revelation 21:24).
Now, let us observe the relationship between the process of salvation and the goal of salvation.
If it were true that the goal of salvation is our eligibility to make our eternal home in the spirit Paradise so we may enjoy eternal bliss, a salvation that provides eternal forgiveness would be adequate.
It is difficult to picture the entrance into Paradise of believers who never have grown in Christ, who never have presented their bodies a living sacrifice, who have disobeyed God and have persisted in doing everything the Lord Jesus, Peter, Paul, and John have warned will result in destruction.
They have sown to their flesh consistently. Are they now to reap peace and joy in God's Presence? Will they reap what they did not sow?
Even if it were scriptural that sinful, rebellious, self-centered believers are to be admitted to Paradise on their physical death, it is difficult to envision how God would work under these conditions. Would God touch the lukewarm believers so they suddenly became followers of Christ? During their lifetime on the earth they called Jesus "Lord" but did not practice what He taught.
If God is to transform them instantly after they die, as is erroneously taught, why doesn't He do it now so they can serve as true witnesses of the Lord Jesus?
Modern Christian thinking insists the believers' conduct and spiritual growth have little or no bearing on their salvation because they are saved by grace and not by works (a complete misunderstanding arising from a misapplication of Paul's arguments against the Judaizers).
To believe God will receive careless believers, saying, "Well done, good and faithful servants," is truly a grievous misunderstanding of the covenant. God intends the new covenant to be the means of creating a righteous nation, a holy Jerusalem.
To be continued.