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====The Goal of Salvation====

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 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 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 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.

Primary Scriptures

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 that the world may believe that 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 that 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)

Essential Points of Emphasis

There are 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. 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 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.