The Apostle Paul noted the bad attitude of the believers in Corinth, particularly during the Communion service. He warned them that to take the Communion without a proper attitude toward God and people would make them guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.

Paul brought up to the saints in Corinth the subject of judgment, admonishing the believers to examine themselves. If they did not judge themselves, Paul warned, God would judge them and chasten them accordingly. This judgment would be a fiery discipline that on occasion could result in sickness or even premature death.

For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. (I Corinthians 11:30)

God's purpose in chastening those who took the Communion with a wrong attitude was that their spirit might be saved in the Day of the Lord Jesus, that they not be condemned with the world.

For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. (I Corinthians 11:31,32)

And notice:

In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, to deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. (I Corinthians 5:4,5)

The above passage reveals clearly that the present teaching of grace is way out of line. If it were true that all believers are without condemnation in the sight of God, what would Paul be doing delivering a believer to Satan for the destruction of his flesh? Only fiery chastening can get the sin out of us so our spirit may be saved when the Lord returns.

Do you see what Peter meant when he stated that the righteous are saved with difficulty? Salvation is not a ticket to Heaven, it is the transformation of our moral nature. Although such transformation was paid for on the cross, the actual working out of it is a difficult, dangerous business—dangerous because we may be deceived into drawing back from the Lord.

To be lost means God has given up on us. We no longer are eligible to participate in the process of transformation, of redemption from the hand of the devil.

While speaking of this, let us mention a point over which there is confusion.

Wrath and tribulation are not the same thing. Wrath is non-redemptive. The sufferings the wicked experience do not lead them to redemption. The Lake of Fire is not redemptive. The wicked will still be wicked at the end of a million years.

God has not appointed His children to wrath.

Tribulation is a different matter altogether. Tribulation is redemptive. It is a chastening with a view to our perfecting. Tribulation works patience. We enter the Kingdom of God through much tribulation.

The great tribulation of the last days will serve to separate the true church from Babylon, from Laodicea, and from the False Prophet. The great tribulation will see a Bride come forth who is utterly dependent on the Lord for all aspects of personality and behavior. Some of the members of the Bride will be prepared spiritually for translation into glory while they yet are alive.

To be continued.