There is a basic meaning of saved, which is, "authorized to be spared destruction in the Day of the Lord." However, this is only the negative side of salvation. The positive side, which is absolutely required of the members of the royal priesthood, is as we have stated in the previous essay.

The truly saved (in the fullest sense) individual will be restored to the Presence of God because his transformed personality makes him fit for the Presence of God. His goal is not primarily residence in Heaven, it is to please God. He is a righteous person who loves and fears God, and to him, pleasing God is an end in itself.

The goal of the Gentile Christian is to go to Heaven when he is so unfortunate as to die; not necessarily that he may be in the Presence of God but in order to escape Hell. He is seeking to get to Heaven by using "grace" as a ticket for admittance, not by using the Divine grace as the means of transforming his personality and thus making him fit for the Presence of God and the elect angels. Instead, he is looking for a fire escape, not for fellowship with God in righteousness and holiness.

Rightly understood, to be established in grace means God has forgiven the individual and now is helping him overcome the evil in his personality.

To the Gentile believer, to be established in grace means God has forgiven all of his actions of the past, present, and future, and although he ought to try to please the Lord, there is no serious penalty if he does not. He will escape Hell and go to Heaven when he dies because the "grace of God" is an eternal amnesty that cannot be affected by his behavior.

Every time he reads the dire warnings of the Epistles concerning the consequences of walking in the flesh, he relaxes. He believes that none of them should be taken seriously, at least not that seriously! In fact, it is taught commonly that the warnings of loss of inheritance found in the New Testament are directed toward the non-Christians—so abysmal is the ignorance prevalent in our day. Through his Christian teachers, Satan has whispered to the believer, "You shall not surely die." The nominal Christian continues his carefree way until he meets the Lord Jesus.

There are seeds of spiritual death in Christian teaching. The Gentile Christian churches are in doctrinal confusion. The day is upon us when God will restore the Gospel of the Kingdom to the Jews, to the rightful recipients. When that takes place, the remnant of Gentile believers who truly know the Lord will rejoice and do all in their power to assist the reconciliation of Christ and His brothers.

The majority of Gentile Christians, including the historic denominations, will rise up in satanic fury when they see the Jews claiming their own bread and not joining the Gentile organizations. These Gentile "believers" will join together in one huge Babylon (man-directed Christianity). They will turn in their rage on the Jews and on the Gentile remnant that are assisting the Jews.

But the Jews and the elect Gentiles are not to fear. The Holy One of Israel, Christ, will cover us under His almighty hand until His glorious appearing. Then God's chosen people will rejoice in His Glory, but the wicked will be brought into judgment.

To be continued.