View source for Read carefully, and think about the following:

==Read carefully, and think about the following:==
<p><em>That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (Romans 8:4) </em></p>
<p>The righteousness of the Law of Moses is not fulfilled in every person who makes a profession of belief in Christ. The righteousness of the law is fulfilled only in those "who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." </p>
<p>I do not believe many Christian believers walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit. </p>
<p>Let us think about what it means to walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. </p>
<p><em>For if you live according to [the dictates of] the flesh, you will surely die. But if through the power of the [Holy] Spirit you are [habitually] putting to death (making extinct, deadening) the [evil] deeds prompted by the body, you shall [really and genuinely] live forever. (Romans 8:13—AMP) </em></p>
<p>Now the man above who molested the little girl received Christ and was forgiven. </p>
<p>But when he was tempted again, he did not drive out the lust dwelling his members. He did not walk after the Spirit but after the flesh. Therefore, he did not receive the righteousness that Christ had purchased for him on the cross of Calvary. </p>
<p>According to the Apostle Paul, did he or did he not remain guiltless. </p>
<p>Would God see the man through Christ in the subsequent molestations, as it taught today? </p>
<p>If you are willing to claim that the molester would remain guiltless even though he had gone on to molest ten girls because Christ has taken away his sins forever, then do not waste your time reading further about the "third day." You would see no need for the work of the third day. </p>
<p>The point is, even though sin is widespread among Christian people, the Christian teaching concerning the way God views sin is not scriptural and has destroyed the moral strength of the Christian churches of our day. </p>
<p>God's program of redemption may be viewed as three great days. Two of them are devoted to the selection and training of God's elect. The third day will see the program of redemption brought to a successful conclusion. </p>
<p>The beginning of the first "day" of redemption occurred when God called Abraham out of Ur. The end of the third "day" of redemption will occur at the conclusion of the final resurrection when the earth and sky disappear with a loud noise. </p>
<p>It is my point of view that the third day has begun. Calvary and Pentecost have done their work. What will occur during the third day will be built on the foundation of Calvary and Pentecost. </p>
<p>It may be true that God's emphasis during the third day of redemption will be on the development of His Kingdom in His children rather than on bringing them to Heaven. </p>
<p>During the first two days of redemption the accent was on the forgiveness of sin, whereas on the third day the emphasis is on conquering the urges of sin. </p>
<p><em>Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the <strong>forgiveness </strong>of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2:38) </em></p>
<p>"For the forgiveness of your sins,"---the keynote of the Gospel message. </p>
<p>The "forgiveness" aspect of redemption is necessary while we are serving God during the salvation of the first "two days." But the grace of forgiveness may distract us while we are conquering sin during the redemption of the third day. </p>
<p>The Kingdom of God is not one of forgiving people but the work of creating people in God's image while they are living in God's perfect will. The grace of forgiveness is not an alternative to the work of the Kingdom. </p>
<p>The issue of the Kingdom is righteousness and holiness of behavior, and stern obedience to Christ. Going to Paradise and abiding there does not make people righteous, holy, and obedient to God. If it did, there would have been no need for Christ to learn obedience to God through suffering while He was here on the earth. </p>
<p><em>"Come, let us return to the Lord. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds. After two days <strong>he will revive us </strong>; on the third day <strong>he will restore us </strong>, that we may live in his presence. Let us acknowledge the Lord; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth." (Hosea 6:1-3) </em></p>
<p>We might think of the two thousand years of the Church Age as two days. During that period the Christian people at certain times have been "torn to pieces." The Jewish people can say the same. </p>
<p>The promise of God is that at the end of the two thousand years, to speak symbolically, and perhaps literally, God will restore us—both Jews and Gentiles. On the "third day" God will restore us. We shall live in His Presence. </p>
<p>No more will the world regard us as worthless, as an impediment to the advance of civilization. </p>
<p>Our day is coming! </p>
<p><em>Instead of your shame you will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace you will rejoice in your inheritance. And so you will inherit a double portion in your land, and everlasting joy will be yours. (Isaiah 61:7) </em></p>
<p>God will deliver a firstfruits of the Christians from the bondages of sin. When the firstfruits have been set free according to God's standards, then the firstfruits will turn to the Jews; and the elect among the Jews, at the hand of the Christians, will be delivered from the bondages of sin and idolatry. </p>
<p>In this manner, all of true, eternal Israel, consisting of Jews and Gentiles, the one Seed of Abraham, shall be saved. The whole house of true, eternal Israel shall be saved from the bondages of Satan. This is the promise of the one true God, working through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, the Seed of Abraham. </p>
<p><em>They will no longer defile themselves with their idols and vile images or with any of their offenses, for I will save them from all their sinful backsliding, and I will cleanse them. They will be my people, and I will be their God. (Ezekiel 37:23) </em></p>
<p>God is going to deliver the elect of Israel from the chains of sin. </p>
<p>With this hope in mind, let us press forward to acknowledge God. He will appear. He will come to us in the Rain of the Spirit of God. </p>
<p>The appearing of this revelation of Divinity is more certain than the rising of the sun in the morning. </p>
<p><em>I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. (John 14:18,19) </em></p>
<p>There is another passage that in my opinion brings us the same message as Hosea 6:1-3: </p>
<p><em>And He said to them, Go and tell that fox [sly and crafty, skulking and cowardly], Behold, I drive out demons and perform healings today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish (complete) My course. (Luke 13:32—AMP) </em></p>
<p>It appears that the Divine redemption that God has instituted through the Lord Jesus will continue for two thousand years. Then the work that God has sent Jesus to perform will be completed during the third thousand-year period. This is the way I view what Jesus said here. </p>
<p>Will we ever be finished with sin and unrighteousness? Will the Divine redemption ever be completed? Will we ever live in God's sight? </p>
<p>The following passage gives us solid hope. </p>
<p><em>Seventy "sevens" are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the Most Holy Place. (Daniel 9:24) </em></p>
<p>You know, the Christian people present dying and going to Heaven as their primary hope. This is misguided. It is bringing an end to evil and rebellion against God that should be our greatest hope. After all, the rebellion against God began in Heaven with Satan and the angels. </p>
<p>So Heaven itself is not completely safe until rebellion against God's will, which I am afraid is common among us church people, has been dealt with successfully. This is why the third day, the completion of the work of redemption, is utterly important for us. </p>
<p>The three platforms of the Divine redemption are portrayed in the pattern of the festivals of Israel: </p>
<p><em>Three times a year all your men must appear before the Lord your God at the place he will choose: at the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the Festival of Weeks and the Festival of Tabernacles. No one should appear before the Lord empty-handed: (Deuteronomy 16:16) </em></p>
<p>In this case, perhaps the Festival of Tabernacles would represent the "third day." Let us think about this for a moment. </p>
<p>The Festival of Tabernacles included three important sub-festivals: </p>
<p>The Blowing of Trumpets. </p>
<p>The Day of Atonement. </p>
<p>The festival of Tabernacles as a sub-festival, part of the main Festival. </p>
<p>When we consider carefully the meaning of these three sub-festivals, we can see how they portray putting an end to sin and bringing in everlasting righteousness. </p>
<p>The Blowing of Trumpets on the first of the month of <em>Tishri, </em>marks New Year's Day of the business year, in contrast to <em>Abib </em>, which begins the religious year. </p>
<p><em>Say to the Israelites: "On the first day of the seventh month [Tishri—the seventh month of the religious year] you are to have a day of sabbath rest, a sacred assembly commemorated with trumpet blasts." (Leviticus 23:24) </em></p>
<p>The festival of Trumpets, while it is the first day of the seventh month of the religious year, is the beginning of the "Third Day" of the three great days of redemption. </p>
<p>It is my firm conviction that we are on the threshold of the "Third Day" of the Divine plan of redemption. Also, we discover that God is not only the God of Heaven but the God of the earth as well. </p>
<p>"The earth is the Lord's, and all of its inhabitants and resources." </p>
Next Part [[Just think of that!]]

[[Sermons WOR]]