The coming of the Lord will not change what we are, it will reveal what we have become during our lifetime on the earth.

Consider: When the Lord appeared He did not transform the foolish virgins. Rather He denied them entrance into His Presence.

Consider: When the Lord appeared He did not transform the servant who had buried the talent given to Him. Rather Christ took away the talent from His servant and sent him into the outer darkness.

Unless we are willing to continue with the current Christian mythical vision of a bubble of abstract grace that surrounds Gentile believers, a totally unscriptural vision, we are faced with the fact that at some point and in some manner the Lord must undertake to deliver His people from their sins. He must then transform them by being formed in them and come to dwell in that which has been formed in them.

What Does the Scripture Say About Removing the Sins of Christians?

For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace. (Romans 6:14—NIV)

Now, in light of the other verses in the sixth chapter of the Book of Romans, precisely what does the above statement mean—"sin shall not be your master"?

We know the Lord said, "Whoever practices sin is the slave of sin." How do we escape slavery to sin?

It is implied in the above verse that if we were under the Law of Moses sin would be our master. Why is this? It is because the Law of Moses points out the sin in our life but it does not provide a method of deliverance from slavery to the sin.

The other implication is that because we are under grace sin shall not master us; sin cannot keep us in bondage.

Now, how does grace set about to deliver us from the bondage of sin?

First, new-covenant grace forgives us on the basis of the blood atonement made by the Lord on the cross of Calvary. Now we have a clear conscience and can serve God without being under condemnation.

Second, new-covenant grace enables us to be born again. Being born again means Christ has been conceived in us. Christ continues to be formed in us by the many experiences through which the Spirit brings us; by the body and blood of Christ that are fed to us as we choose to turn away from the desires of our adamic nature and adopt the way of righteousness; and through the various gifts and ministries of the Holy Spirit as they bring the Divine Nature, power, and wisdom to us. There is an inward transformation—a change from the ungodly adamic nature to the Nature of Christ.

Third, when we pray and avail ourselves of the grace of God we are able to keep the commandments of Christ and His Apostles.

Fourth, the Holy Spirit provides us with wisdom and strength so we can add to our faith goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, and godliness.

Fifth, as we follow the Spirit of God He will enable us to put to death the sinful actions of our body.

To be continued.