Salvation is moral change.
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This is what salvation is. Union with God through Christ increases as deliverance from sin takes place and Christ is formed in us.
The scriptural work of salvation requires that the believer enter death to Satan, to the world, to the believer’s bodily and soulish lusts, and to his self-love, self-centeredness, and self-will.
The scriptural concept of salvation is being rejected by many because our age is one of man-centeredness, of humanism, of the attempt to use God to accomplish man’s will, of emphasis on "the rights of people."
The humanistic Christian gospel avoids an emphasis on judgment, condemnation, and sin and stresses man’s release from all bondages of personality that would prevent the full enjoyment of his life on the earth. The humanistic salvation does not stress the crucifixion of our adamic nature or the penalties that increase when the Christian chooses to be a servant of sin rather than a servant of righteousness.
The concept of the humanistic Christian message is that because we are in Christ there is no need to be concerned with a struggle against sin. We are complete in Christ in the sense His righteousness covers us so that our behavior is relatively unimportant. The emphasis is on the peace and joy of the individual rather than on the fulfillment of God’s desire that people act righteously and obey God. This message definitely is people oriented rather than Kingdom, or God oriented.
God’s plan for His universe can be accomplished only as Christ is brought forth. Because our adamic nature must be crucified, and God’s purpose is to bring forth Christ in us, the emphasis of the Gospel is on our experiencing denial and other forms of suffering. We must deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Christ.
The emphasis of the Gospel is not on the pleasure and satisfaction of the human being but on the bringing forth of Christ. Paul said that it didn’t matter if he lived or died as long as Christ was magnified.
Because the contemporary humanistic Christian gospel, with its stress on the release of the adamic personality from every sickness and bondage—from all that would prevent a prosperous and happy sojourn on earth, does not emphasize the bringing forth of Christ at the expense of human peace and happiness, it is "another gospel." It is an extremely artful work of Satan, the object of which is to prevent the one important product of all of God’s working—the enlarging of Christ throughout the creation.
The scriptural salvation stresses the restoring of the personality of fallen man and the return of immortality and Paradise to the earth, but it works to this end by bringing down the adamic nature and increasing the Presence of Christ.
The central goal of the scriptural redemption is change into the moral image of God, union with God through Christ, and the attainment to immortality, Paradise, and all the other Virtues and blessings that proceed naturally from fellowship with God.
By comparing the two concepts of salvation we can observe the principal difference between them. The current definition of salvation is the forgiving of man so he can go to live forever in a place of joy. The scriptural definition of salvation is the transformation of man so he can find joy by walking with God and doing God’s will. The scriptural concept is God oriented and Kingdom oriented.
Forgiveness leading to a place of joy as distinguished fromtransformation leading to fellowship with God.
Of course, we Christians mention there is to be a new creation in Christ and we ought to follow Paul. Then we imply or explicitly declare that no matter what we do, how we behave, God will receive us anyway "by unconditional grace."
Because of the enormous spiritual pressures on us to sin, our theory of "grace" becomes the line of least resistance. We succumb to temptation because in our mind is the concept we are saved by grace, and righteous, holy character and behavior are not a necessary part of salvation.
The average believer will not resist sin unless he is convinced that if he sins he will be punished severely. He must be persuaded that even if he should repent and seek God’s forgiveness later there still may be exceedingly painful consequences, both spiritual and physical. This principle of cause and effect must be emphasized today.
The Gospel of the Kingdom includes the warning to flee from the wrath to come.
The righteous are saved with difficulty, having to endure fiery trials (I Peter, Chapter Four).
The concept of the repentant believer suffering painful consequences, and possible loss of inheritance, may not fit our current concept of salvation. The backslider who is attempting to regain his former joy knows of what we are speaking. Our theories do not always correspond to the realities of the spiritual and material realms, to the manner in which the Lord works.
There is coming an "hour of temptation" on the whole earth. Only the strongest of the saints will be able to survive spiritually throughout this era. Those who do continue to walk with the Lord will become convinced of the direct relationship between how we behave, and the Presence of the Lord. It is not true that we can live a careless Christian discipleship and not reap numerous problems and much suffering. God’s people of the present generation must understand this clearly.
God is pleased to welcome at the foot of the cross the unsaved individual who repents of his former way of life, places his reliance on the blood atonement made by the Lord’s Lamb, and is baptized in water. However, God hasfellowship with him only as he is purged of his sin and filled with the righteous behavior that results from living in the Life of Jesus.
We do not gain fellowship with God by imputed (ascribed) righteousness but by actual righteousness and holiness of behavior. This is the meaning of the following verses, which are addressed to Christ’s servants.
Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. (II Corinthians 6:17,18)
Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. (John 14:23)
Notice that in order to enter fellowship and union with God we must separate ourselves from the ways of sin. We must keep the Words of the Lord Jesus. Numerous Christians call Jesus "Lord" but do not do what He says. Their "faith" is futile. It is dead because there are no accompanying works of righteousness.
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