It is not possible for a sinful, self-centered "believer" to provide a light for mankind. The current overemphasis on imputed (ascribed) righteousness has destroyed the Lord's lampstands. The nations cannot behold imputed (ascribed) righteousness. They can only see righteous conduct, righteous works—the Personality of Christ in His saints.

It is the new creation, not the forgiven believer, who is the light of the world.

It is obvious, therefore, that a process must be consistent with the goal. The goal of God is reflected in the nine Kingdom purposes set forth above (see previous essays). Forgiveness is only the first step in the direction of reaching the goal. Forgiveness must be accompanied by a transformation of the personality and conduct of the believer. Apart from such transformation it is impossible for the goal to be attained.

We think the new covenant, the Christian salvation, has been misunderstood. Hopefully, the Lord will bring to His people the truth of the Scriptures. For none of the Kingdom purposes of God can be accomplished until we "come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ" (Ephesians 4:13).

God is carrying out a plan that will bring into being the kind of people and world that is pleasing to Himself.

The Lord Jesus Christ is the firstfruits of the new creation, of the Kingdom of God.

After Christ will come the purified remnant of whom the Scripture speaks (Isaiah 4:3, Zechariah 13:9). The purified remnant, which will include Jews and Gentiles, is a "firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb" (Revelation 14:4).

After the purified remnant has been brought to Christ, Christ and His brothers will return to the nation of Israel and deliver the Jews from all the works of Satan (Micah 5:3, Romans 11:26).

Under the new covenant, every member of true Israel will come to know the Lord for himself (Jeremiah 31:34, Hebrews 8:11).

Christ and His firstfruits will bring every member of true Israel (God's elect) to the fullness of stature as a "tree of righteousness" (Isaiah 61:3).

As soon as the members of the true Israel of God have become "trees of righteousness" they will rebuild and restore all that has been destroyed by sinners (Isaiah 61:4). As all Israel is being brought to the fullness of the Glory of the Lord, the nations of saved peoples of the earth will know the righteous ways of the Lord and will partake of the eternal Life that is in the Lord Jesus Christ and His Body (Isaiah 2:3, Revelation 22:2).

The final result of the Divine grace that comes to us under the new covenant will be a new earth in which dwells righteousness. There will be nations of the saved on the new earth. They will be governed by the saints.

The saints will have been greatly transformed by this time for they will have been permitted to behold the Face of God (Revelation 22:3,4).

The saints will continue to be transformed throughout eternity because they are dwelling in the Fullness of God and the Fullness of God is dwelling in them. The nations of the saved whom the saints govern will also be transformed because of their exposure to the glorified saints.

The race of saved mankind will continue to grow forever in the image of the Lord Jesus Christ who is the material Expression of the invisible God. This is the true nature of the new covenant.

Those of us who are living on the earth now have the privilege and pleasure of being among the first to enter the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God is the bringing into the earth, through Christ, the Person and will of the invisible God.

God intends to become All in all in His creation. He will accomplish this through the Lord Jesus Christ. Many who are last in time will be among the first to experience the full glory of the redemption and Kingdom that are in Christ.

The new covenant is a better covenant established on better promises. Let each of us without delay press into the fullness of Christ who Himself Is the new Covenant that God has made with the house of Israel. (from The True Nature of the New Covenant)