Working Out Our Salvation
Working Out Our Salvation
Following are some of the concepts that have emerged as the burden of "Christ in you" and the removal of sin through the process of judgment began to unfold in my heart and mind. Each of these concepts is elaborated in the books and booklets I have written.
Perhaps the main theme of our message is, "Christ in you, the hope of glory." The vision of the eternal Temple of God, the spiritual fulfillment of the Old Testament feast of Tabernacles, has always been at the forefront of our thinking.
Born of God. The first concept we will present is that of being born of God. The necessity for being born of God is one of the major areas of our doctrine. If we have been born of God we truly are sons of God and brothers of Christ. The new life that has been born in us is from God and over the untold eons of eternity will bring forth the likeness of the Parent from whom it came.
The parables of the Kingdom that the Lord Jesus taught us, such as the parable of the sower, have to do with planting the Divine Seed in human beings. It is Christ who has been born in us who is the Kingdom of God.
One of the central misunderstandings of the Christian faith is the idea that salvation is the bringing of the adamic man to Heaven. We want to be "saved" as we are and brought up to Paradise. However, the destiny of the adamic nature is the cross, not Paradise.
It is our new inner nature that is saved and is the Kingdom of God. The new man who has been born in us finds his way at once to the right hand of the Father in Christ.
The concept that the old nature is not saved but assigned to the cross of Christ, while it is the new nature, Christ formed in us, that itself is salvation, that itself is the Kingdom of God, is one of the bases of all of our writings.
For in Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. (Galatians 6:15)
The Bride of the Lamb. The Bride of the Lamb is the eternal complement of Christ, being made one with Him by eating His flesh and drinking His blood, and living by Him as He lives by the Father. There is no more important event in the mind of God than the joining of the Bride to His Divine Son.
The Bride must be as the Lord Jesus is: born of Divinity and born of humanity. Like must be united with like in the Kingdom of God.
The concept that there are two brides, a Gentile bride in Heaven and a Jewish bride on earth, is part of the set of Evangelical mythical errors.
The concept that the Bride of the Lamb is a wife but not a "queen" must become clear to the victorious saint as he or she climbs the "secret place of the stairs." The Bride of the Lamb is fashioned from the Lamb but is never equal in authority to the Lamb. She is not a "queen" but an addition to His Personality.
For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: (Ephesians 5:29)
Brothers of Christ. The elect are destined to be brothers of Christ. We truly are brothers in that we have been born of the same Father. There are several such promises that have to do with the impartation of Divinity and glory to God's family. We are not to stagger at these but to recognize fully, and certainly without any sense of grasping or self-glorifying, that the Lord Jesus—the Lord of Glory—is the Firstborn among many brothers, many sons of God.
For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate {to be} conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. (Romans 8:29)
Christ, Head and Body. Christ is the Servant of the Lord whose task it is to bring justice to the nations of the earth.
Most Jewish and Christian scholars understand that Christ is to come to the world. What is not as commonly realized is that Christ consists of the great Head, the Lord Jesus, and also a Body composed of the saints.
The Church, the Bride of the Lamb, the sons of God, are terms that speak of the several relationships that exist between God and His saints, His elect, His Israel.
The eternal Servant of the Lord, described in the Book of Isaiah, is Christ—Head and Body. To the Apostle Paul was given the revelation that Christ, the Anointed One of God, consists of the exalted Head, the Lord Jesus, and also of a Body made up of those who are called, chosen, and proven faithful. Christ is the perfect Deliverer who is being fashioned by the ministries given by the ascended Lord.
The churches are the raw material from which the members of the Body of Christ are drawn. Christian organizations often assign leaders to the churches who have been trained by the denomination and voted in by a majority of people. However, because of the Divine Nature and purposes of the Body of Christ, only the Holy Spirit of God can correctly assign and direct the gifts and ministries needed to build the Body to the perfection required if it is to serve the Head adequately.
For this reason the churches of today must begin to emphasize ministry by the Spirit of God rather than by organizational assignment. The Christian organizations must become very much more sensitive to the mind of the Spirit.
Bible schools and seminaries cannot create apostles, prophets, or gifts of healing. They can inform the mind and create an environment that is holy and set apart from the world. But the leaders of the churches must look to the Holy Spirit to establish the ministries of the Body. When they do they will discover the riches latent in the local assemblies.
Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, {in whom} my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. (Isaiah 42:1)
For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also {is} Christ. (I Corinthians 12:12)
The Coming of the Lord. The concept that there will be a secret pre-tribulation coming of the Lord to "catch away a Gentile bride" is an error. There is no "Gentile bride," only the one new Man, who consists of all Jews and Gentiles who are part of Christ. There will be no Jewish kingdom on earth. There is but one second coming.
Great confusion exists concerning the Lord's coming. Satan has impressed the Church that the Lord's coming means our going to Paradise to reside forever in a golden mansion. Satan may desire that we leave to go to Heaven, but such will not take place. The Lord's coming is just that—His coming . The Lord Jesus Christ is coming with His saints as King of all kings and Lord of all lords. The kingdoms of this world are to become the Kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ—Head and Body.
And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. (Matthew 24:30)
The Continuity of the Covenants. God's work from the beginning of time has been one progressive movement toward the new world of righteousness that is to come. The present heavens and earth are temporary.
Dispensational teaching, the concept that God keeps changing His method of dealing with man, including the teachings that accompany Dispensationalism such as the pre-tribulation rapture of the Church and the division between the Jewish elect and the Gentile elect, has made logical, clear, straightforward Bible interpretation impossible.
It is difficult to imagine a model of interpretation more destructive to the Kingdom of God than Dispensationalism. It has succeeded in destroying the moral strength of the believers and preventing the Christian people from understanding God's purposes in the physical land and people of Israel.
Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;(Ephesians 2:19,20)
The Day of Atonement. The Levitical Day of Atonement (Leviticus, Chapter 16) portrays both forgiveness of sin and deliverance from sin. We are forgiven our sin through the blood of atonement shed on the cross of Calvary. We are delivered from sin as God judges the works of the enemy found in our personality.
The Church of the twentieth century has come as far as Pentecost. Before the Church can attain the rest of God it must pass through the work of reconciliation portrayed by the Day of Atonement.
The trumpet of the Jubilee was blown on the Day of Atonement revealing the relationship between restoration, and forgiveness and deliverance from sin.
The coming thousand-year Kingdom Age will be the kingdom-wide fulfillment of the Day of Atonement.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us {our} sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (I John 1:9)
The Day of the Lord. The Day of the Lord will be characterized by war: God against Satan; the Holy Spirit against the False Prophet; Christ against Antichrist. The wisdom and power of human beings is as nothing compared with these gigantic spiritual forces.
The Day of the Lord will dawn in fire. Everything that can be shaken will be shaken. The heavens and the earth will be shaken. Here is God's answer to the great rebellion that took place before the world was created.
Only that which is established in Christ will stand the shaking of the Day of the Lord. Numerous so-called "believers" in the Lord Jesus will be terrified, being tossed about as straw in a hurricane. All their works and most of their personality will be burned away, if the Lord judges them worthy of salvation.
The churches are hoping for a "rapture" that will carry them into the Presence of the Lord in their worldliness, sin, and self-seeking. To be brought into the Presence of God in their condition would result in unbearable torment.
The Day of the Lord is characterized by a large, powerful army of holy people—the saints of all ages. The judgment of God will be administered through them, resulting in the cleansing of the heavens and the earth and the filling of the whole earth with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord.
And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: (II Thessalonians 1:7,8)
The Disciple. There is a difference in kind between the average church attender of today and a true disciple. Multitudes of believers attend church. Of these believers only a handful, it appears, are disciples. A disciple is someone who has laid down his life, taken up his cross, and is following the Lord Jesus each day. Only the disciple is a true Christian.
If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:26,27)
Eagles' Wings. God carries us until we learn to walk uprightly. Much is given to us when we are spiritual babies. As we mature in the Lord, Christ is able to assign more difficult tasks to us. The Lord does all the fighting when we come out of Egypt, but we must participate in the battle when we enter the land of promise.
Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and {how} I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself. (Exodus 19:4)
I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able {to bear it}, neither yet now are ye able. (I Corinthians 3:2)
But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, {even} those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. (Hebrews 5:14)
The End-time. Babylon, Laodicea, the False Prophet, and Antichrist are four areas of deception of which the saint of the last days must be aware.
Babylon is the great Christian organization and may finally be located on the bank of the Euphrates River at the site of ancient Babylon. There are some who believe the Christian and the Muslim religions will become one.
Laodicea speaks of Christians who have been overcome by a government that speaks comfortably to them and supports them but is not itself governed by the Lord Jesus. The Laodicean believers are occupied with their "rights."
The False Prophet is the attempt of believers to use the power of Christ before they have been crucified with Him. I think that Dominionism and the New Apostolic Reformation are examples of the False Prophet.
Antichrist is the striving of man to be his own God. He represents the worship of money and political power.
The False Prophet is man-centeredness in the spirit realm. Antichrist is man-centeredness in the political realm. Babylon is man-centeredness in the organizational realm. Laodicea is man-centeredness in the church realm.
Power will be given to Antichrist to overcome the saints in the last days and he then will be free to bring forth the fullness of lawlessness in the earth.
And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. (Revelation 13:7)
Eternal Life. Eternal life is a kind of life. Biologic life is the life of the animal. Eternal life is the Life of God. Until a human being is given a portion of eternal life from the Lord he or she is little more than an intelligent animal. All flesh is as grass, destined to perish with time.
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have {it} more abundantly. (John 10:10)
Faith . Scriptural faith is that which depends on God for all things. "The just shall live by faith" has little to do with the acknowledgment of theological facts concerning Christ. The just shall live by faith means righteous people live by depending on God rather than on their own resources.
True faith is neither belief in doctrine nor the effort of the soul to manage the spiritual realm by believing what the Scriptures declare.
There is, however, a true militant faith that includes the bold declaration of that which God has stated. However, this is not an attempt to work miracles by attempting to believe. It is a call to the Lord for help. There is a total difference between attempting to use the Scriptures to work magic, and calling upon the Lord Jesus in faith. One is of the False Prophet. The other is the faith of the prophets and apostles.
But without faith {it is} impossible to please {him}: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and {that} he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Hebrews 11:6)
The Feast of Tabernacles. The feast of Tabernacles is the last and greatest of the seven feasts of the Lord. During one week of each year the people of Israel are to celebrate the feast of Tabernacles by living in a booth constructed outside of their house or apartment.
The spiritual fulfillment of the feast of Tabernacles is the climax of the work of redemption. After all of the graces and provisions of God have operated in our life, the Father and the Son will come through the Holy Spirit and make Their eternal abode in us. This is the Kingdom of God and the goal of all our efforts in Christ.
Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month {shall be} the feast of tabernacles {for} seven days unto the Lord. (Leviticus 23:34)
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)
The Feasts of the Lord. The seven feasts of Israel, found in Leviticus, Chapter 23, are an excellent set of types which a believer can study and thereby gain some concept of the beginning, the program, and the goal of salvation. Many Christians think of salvation as something that took place in their life years ago, which they remember, and on the basis of which they hope to be taken to Paradise when they die. That the Divine redemption is a process that must be taking place every day of the disciple's life has never been made clear to them.
With the exception of the Tabernacle of the Congregation, the seven feasts of the Lord well may be the most important scriptural picture of the Lord Jesus Christ, the growth of the Christian from birth to maturity, the development of the Church into the Bride of the Lamb, and the creation of the Kingdom of God.
Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, {Concerning} the feasts of the Lord, which ye shall proclaim {to be} holy convocations, {even} these {are} my feasts. (Leviticus 23:2)
The First Resurrection. Although the expression, "the first resurrection," is found in the Scriptures its implications have not always been pursued. The expression indicates there is no resurrection of believers prior to the one described in Revelation 20:4-6.
It appears there are to be two main resurrections, one at the beginning of the thousand-year period and one at the end. The first resurrection must be attained to by the believer (Philippians 3:11) and is reserved for the blessed and holy members of the royal priesthood. The second resurrection is the general resurrection of the dead in which all persons will participate, with the exception of those were called up by the Lord at the beginning of the thousand-year Kingdom Age.
But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This {is} the first resurrection. Blessed and holy {is} he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. (Revelation 20:5,6)
The Firstfruits of the Bride. The Bride of the Lamb includes all of God's elect—the whole family of God from the time of Abel. There is a firstfruits of the Bride, a specially dedicated, warlike remnant of people who will, as we understand it, be raised when the Lord appears. We think that the balance of the Bride will not appear until the end of the thousand-year period.
There are major scriptural types that portray the firstfruits of the Bride meeting the Lord when He appears. One type is Gideon's three hundred. Another major portrayal is the separation of the Ark of the Covenant from the remainder of the Tabernacle of the Congregation. A third major portrayal of the firstfruits is the rule of David over Judah prior to His rulership over all Israel.
Our understanding is that the entire Church will not be united until the holy city descends from Heaven and is established upon the new earth.
And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. (Revelation 21:2,3)
The Four Aspects of the Divine Decree. God always understands the full significance and aspects of all He does. In the beginning God gave four decrees concerning man: man is to be in the image of God; man is to be male and female; man is to be fruitful; and man is to exercise dominion. These decrees shall never be altered. They constitute what man is.
Adam and Eve were a prototype, a preview of what man is destined to be. The fullness that God has in mind concerning man is as follows:
The Lord Jesus and those who are like Him and part of Him are true "man."
The Lord Jesus and His Bride are what God means by male and female.
The spreading of the Divine Vine, the Olive Tree, the Seed of Abraham throughout the universe fulfills the edict concerning fruitfulness.
The Lord Jesus and His victorious saints, the sons of God, shall be seated forever upon the Throne of almighty God, governing all the works of God's hands. Man was created to be the throne of God.
Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and {that} your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. (John 15:16)
To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. (Revelation 3:21)
The Four Great Types. There are four great types in the Old Testament:
The Tabernacle of the Congregation.
Next Part The Feasts of the Lord.''