Trumpet Ministries The Goal of Salvation
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We already have mentioned the somewhat revolutionary, yet totally scriptural, concept that the goal of salvation is not eternal residence in the spirit Paradise. Although the idea of "making our home in Heaven" has been part of the Christian tradition for centuries, this objective is not found in the Old or New Testaments.
The Bible presents our future destiny as that of having an inheritance in the Kingdom of God, the rule of God that will come to the earth at the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ from Heaven with His holy angels.
Obviously, many of our definitions and ideas are in need of review.
We are not saved to go to Heaven; we are saved to participate in the installation of the Kingdom of God on the earth. In order to participate in the installation of the Kingdom on the earth we have to be changed into the moral image of Jesus Christ and also brought into untroubled rest in the center of God's Person and will.
This is what the Christian salvation does for us—it changes us into the image of Christ and brings us into union with God through Christ. When we are in Christ's image and our will has become one with God's will we then are able to participate in the several Kingdom roles God has prepared for us.
The following are some of the Kingdom roles and tasks for which we are being prepared. It is well to think of these as needs and desires that the Lord has, not exalted positions we are fortunate enough to attain to. It does not matter whether or not we desire them, the point is that God has prepared them for us to fulfill and expects us to submit ourselves so God's needs and desires can be met.
A part of the Bride of the Lamb.
A living stone in the Temple of God.
A member of the Body of Christ.
A vehicle for the end-time revival.
A restorer of Paradise on earth.
A member of the royal priesthood.
A witness of God.
A son of God.
A brother of Christ.
An overcomer of the accuser.
A governor of the nations.
A judge of men and angels.
A wall of defense around the Glory of God.
A revelation of Himself—God in Christ in the saint.
A full, mature exercise of each of these Kingdom roles requires that we be brought to the stature of the fullness of Christ and into untroubled rest in God's will for our life.
Can you see how totally different the above goal of salvation is from the traditional "make our eternal home in Heaven"? Salvation is not pointed toward our being in Heaven or on the earth. It is not a case of location but of what we are in personality and behavior. This is one of the major understandings of the Scripture that must be pursued in our day if we are going to develop the strength required to stand throughout the age of moral horrors that is upon us.
For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. (Romans 8:29)
That all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so the world may believe you have sent me. (John 17:21)
You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (I Peter 2:5)
Do you not know the saints will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? (I Corinthians 6:2)
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