Our Christian Pilgrimage 3
That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk notafter the flesh, but after the Spirit. (Romans 8:4)
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship onewith another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from allsin. (I John 1:7)
God's grace given to us through Christ is a temporary suspension of theKingdom principle that sin results in death. Because of our faith in theblood of Christ, God chooses not to see our rebellious nature and sinfulacts during the period of time in which Christ is changing us.
God's grace is a suspension of the law of sowing and reaping. This does notmean God's forgiveness of our sins is temporary, for our forgiveness iseternal provided we abide in Jesus. However, it is not an eternal amnestyif we do not perform our part of the contract, which is to follow the LordJesus in diligent discipleship.
The problem today is that God's forgiveness through Christ is being viewedas a permanent, unconditional waiving of the Kingdom principle that sinresults in death. Grace is seen as an alternative to righteous behavior.This would be a change in God, a new manner in which God relates to Hiscreatures. If such were the case it would be the worst disasterconceivable.
God's grace is not only a forgiveness of our past sins, a suspension of thelaw of sowing and reaping, and an eternal forgiveness for those who abidein Christ, but it includes also the giving of Divine Virtue to us thatchanges us until our personality and behavior are worthy of eternal life;until that which we are and do result normally and naturally in eternallife.
The concept that we never will be anything but rebellious sinners who aresaved by God's mercy, and that our eternal life, sonship, participation inthe new Jerusalem, and overcoming status are eternally imputed (ascribed)to us independently of any change of what we are and do, comes from Satan, notfrom God.
Satan's intention is to keep us rebelling and sinning, to hide from us theactual deliverance from sin that is possible to us through Christ. For thedestruction of Satan's kingdom comes, not when we are forgiven but when weare delivered from spiritual darkness.
God has no intention of changing the Kingdom principle of cause and effect,of sowing and reaping. Rather, God is changing us so we begin sowing insuch a manner that we are reaping life.
God is not altering the Divine law of sin and death, of obedience andlife. Rather, God is altering us until what we are and do brings lifeinstead of death.
A suspension of the Kingdom principle of sowing and reaping is necessary ifwe are to have the opportunity to be redeemed, to become a new creature. Apermanent revocation of the Kingdom principle, however, would represent achange in the Nature of God Himself and would bring chaos into thecreation.
Salvation is not the bringing of us into another land where no demands ofany kind are made on our ability to reject sin and choose righteousness. Italways will be possible to sin in the new world of righteousness that iscoming. God wants to change us now through Christ so that we always willchoose not to sin.