If a human being understands perfectly that Christ died and rose again from the dead, but he remains as evil, as unclean, as rebellious, as wicked, as covetous as ever, the Apostle James would ask: "Though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? Can faith save him?"

Escape from the Lake of Fire and entrance through the gates of the new Jerusalem do not proceed from belief in and assent to the facts of the Christian redemption. Escape from the Lake of Fire and entrance through the gates of the new Jerusalem are the direct consequence of faith that lays hold on God to such an extent the Holy Spirit is enabled to produce a new creation in the personality.

It is the new creation, Christ formed in us, that escapes the Lake of Fire and enters through the gates into the city.

Since we all agree that "sin can never enter there," at what point, how, when, where, by what means, is the human being released from the sinful personality? Sometime, somewhere, somehow, if we are to be saved, God will have to change us so we will not bring our lusts and self-seeking into the new heaven and earth. If we are not changed, the new heaven and earth soon will be characterized by the corruption that is destroying the present world. We shall be back where we started from.

No doubt those who know the Scriptures would agree we shall be released from every vestige of wickedness and rebellion at the time of the Day of Redemption that will come with the return of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Which is the earnest [pledge] of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:14)

And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. (Ephesians 4:30)

So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. (Hebrews 9:28)

Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (I Peter 1:5)

It is clear that complete redemption from sin and death will come to the saints when the Lord Jesus appears from Heaven.

We have stated that we cannot continue sinful behavior in the new world, and also that there is a Day of Redemption coming. During the Day of Redemption Christ will reward the faithful with robes of righteousness—the robes of righteous conduct.

In addition, we have stressed that the Scriptures teach a true faith results in godly works, and if godly works are not forthcoming the "faith" is dead.

If these things are so, what we must determine is our present responsibility for godly behavior. To what extent are we obligated to live a godly life in this world if we are to be candidates for the redemption that is coming to the saints at the return of the Lord from Heaven?

To be continued.