By stressing the forgiveness included in the Divine redemption, while not emphasizing a change of behavior to the same extent as the accepting of forgiveness, the Gospel message of today has destroyed the Divine testimony, the testimony of righteous works. It is the righteous behavior of individuals whom the Gospel has transformed that is the moral light, and the only possible moral light, of the secular nations.

By emphasizing eternal residence in Heaven as the goal of redemption, and adding to this the pretribulation "rapture" doctrine, the role of the churches has been changed from that of the moral light of the world to a Heaven-oriented special kingdom which, as we have stated, either rages against the moral abominations of today's large nations or else looks with hope toward an immediate evacuation of the believers (in their untransformed state) to the spirit realm.

We might add that the contemporary "Reconstruction" movement is an expression of outraged Christians who hope to tear down the secular government and replace it with a government more in line with Christian moral values. While the frustration of believers is understandable, this movement is doomed to failure because it depends on the efforts of the sinful, self-willed adamic nature to accomplish that which only the Spirit of God can bring to pass. It attempts to use carnal rather than spiritual weapons. The efforts of adamic flesh to force Christian moral values on unregenerate people may result in the persecution of all Christians.

God's royal priesthood of today is bound with the chains of involvement in the world system, the lusts of the flesh, and self-will. The Holy Spirit of God is ready to judge the churches and the nations for their abominable practices, and also is calling out from the churches a warlike remnant and is judging and removing the chains of worldliness, sin, and self-will from the members of this remnant. The holy remnant will play an important role during the age of moral horrors that is appearing on the horizon.

God's remnant of today (as has been true of the godly Christian remnants throughout history) understand the absolute necessity for seeking God's Kingdom and His righteousness. They realize that repentance and righteous behavior play an equal role with forgiveness of sins, in the Christian salvation.

The bulk of Paul's teaching has to do with righteous behavior, not imputed (ascribed) righteousness. This is true of all the books of the New Testament. The Divine redemption includes forgiveness as the first step toward transformation into the image of Christ and toward union with Christ. But to present Divine grace as an abstract, eternal amnesty unrelated to behavior is to abort the entire program of salvation. The Divine salvation is infinitely more than forgiveness of sins. Its main products are deliverance from sin and the forming of Christ in us.

By the grace of the atonement we obtain forgiveness. By the grace of deliverance and the formation of Christ in our inner nature we enter the Kingdom of God.

But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you. (Luke 11:20)

To be continued.