#372 Kingdom: Fulness Of Salvation
For the past few weeks we have been sharing in the pastor’s meeting about experiencing every foundation that God has provided for the preparation of the “elect” to fulfill His Eternal Purpose. Each foundation is especially designed to solve at least one or more specific problems that each person will face who is called to the high calling and to God’s Kingdom Government. Man has MANY more eternal needs than forgiveness of sins which we will define in this study. In the past we have shared on the difference between the “SINS” problem that we have and the “SIN” problem we were ALL born into. “Sins” are what we have done that offend God and “Sin” is the nature we were born into. Both problems must be solved very quickly as we begin the process and the journey into so great a salvation. Too many in the visible church are still struggling with these two problems. God’s “salvation process” intends to solve these two problems immediately Because There Are Many, Many Other Problems Waiting To Be Solved.
The “sins” problem is solved primarily by forgiveness through the shed blood of Jesus. The “sin” problem is solved primarily through death and burial and resurrection into a completely different kind of Life and within a new nature. Forgiveness of “sins” doesn’t deal with the root cause of the “sins” which is “sin.” In the church system that we inherited from the Catholic Church we need to continually seek for forgiveness of “sins” because they are a reoccurring part of our natural existence. This is what is known as being forgiven {“saved”} but continuing in “sin.”
Rom 6:1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? 2 May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.
Rom 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.
“Sins” are dealt with by the blood. The “SINNER” himself is dealt with by death and burial.
Rom 5:10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
Rom 5:12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned-- 13 for until the Law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law.
Our purpose in this study is not to focus upon “sins” OR “sin” but to look at the many, many other problems that we have that prevent us from fulfilling God’s purpose. Most all these problems came into the world system through the “one man”, Adam, along with “SIN”that has spread to ALL men. Our point is this; forgiveness of “SINS” will not solve all the OTHER problems that we have inherited from first Adam. In addition to the “SINS” problem there are multitudes of other problems related to our attitudes, disposition, character defects, along with the thoughts and fallen motivations of our heart. Then there is the big ego problem and the self-centered, man centered religious concepts and systems inherent within the natural man and promoted by the world system which dominates the earth.
The reason this is essential to understand and put into proper perspective is because the “visible church” has focused upon “eternal life” as the end of our journey. If you have received “eternal life” what more is there? Much of the church has focused upon what it has determined to be “the essentials” of the Christian life. Then they re-focus upon the “non-essentials” of the Christian life. The “essentials” are defined as those things that provide our salvation. For example; Forgiveness through faith in the shed blood of Jesus. After that most things are “non-essential” including baptism in water and the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Presenting our body to God as a living sacrifice and to do the whole will of God is considered as “non-essential” to our salvation.
This is exactly the same as saying; Put the blood upon the lintels and door posts in Egypt because that is essential, but the rest of the trip is non-essential! If we ask “essential to what” the answer is always “To salvation.” If we ask why, the answer is because the whole Bible is about salvation. Really? What about all the foundations for the Christian life? What about the Kingdom of God? What about the priesthood and the manifested sons of God? What about going on to perfection? What about Christian maturity and being conformed to the image of Jesus? What about fatally dealing with the anti-Christ within? Shall we continue in “SIN” that grace may increase? Certainly NOT! Both the “SIN” problem and the “SINS” problem must be solved but God uses a different method for each. Which one is “non-essential?”
If we just look at the natural, it helps the spiritual and eternal to be clarified. A baby is born with natural life but that life will go on forever even though the body dies. It is eternal in its nature. But following this birth the little one require feeding, growth, discipline, education, work, career, clothing, success or failure, and maybe college. Is the “birth” the “essential” and everything else “non-essential?”
The “foundational experiences” are designed to deal with ALL these other problems and their solutions which we are also calling “the essentials.”. Why? Because in the Kingdom Government of God these fallen characteristics are just not acceptable. Therefore, we want to define a few of these fallen characteristics that must be solved within the process of salvation! These Experiences are “essential” if we are going to participate in the Kingdom of God.
Rom 1:20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. 21 For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures. 24 Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. 25 For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. 26 For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, 27 and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error. 28 And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; 32 and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.
These are the things that are attributed to all men from God’s viewpoint. This is God’s evaluation of fallen man. Gen 6:5 Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. The Bible says all these things AND us were the enemies of God.
A few of the evangelical churches try to say that all these problems with homosexuality and these fallen characteristics are “forgiven by the blood” and that ALL these problems are reconciled to God through Christ. In other words; we are saved by grace through faith which covers ALL problems of fallen man and the doctrine of reconciliation covers “everything” because God is not counting their trespasses against them.
2Co 5:18 Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
Rom 5:9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.
Israel was “saved from the wrath of God” by the blood upon the door posts in Egypt but they were still a long way from Canaan and God’s purpose for Israel. Israel was dealt with by God in many and diverse ways from Egypt through the wilderness to Canaan but they were never changed from what they were to what they needed to become to enter Canaan! For that reason, they died in the wilderness. Therefore, to always “comfort” the sinner that he is “saved from the wrath of God” by the blood of Jesus or to persuade him that these are non-essential things, doesn’t really solve man’s basic fallen condition, his rebellion, lawlessness and his rottenness within. Thank God for forgiveness of sins but I must be an entirely new creation to participate in the Kingdom of God OR to be joined to Jesus Christ as a member of His body. Gal 5:19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, :20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
1Co 6:8 On the contrary, you yourselves wrong and defraud. You do this even to your brethren. 9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, 10 nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.
Just in these two lists there are 28 things that will keep us OUT of the Kingdom of God. Paul was addressing “saved people” (brethren) so solving these problems is not a matter of forgiveness but is a matter of serious change and transformation within. It is clear that the “unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God.”
To just name “being in the flesh” as a “non-essential” is ignorant! The way the visible church has interpreted this is that “we are ALL righteous through faith in Jesus Christ.” Since I am in Christ, I am clothed with Christ, and Christ has become my righteousness. When God looks upon me all He sees is Christ and His Righteousness. Therefore, it doesn’t matter how I live or how rotten I am, God ONLY sees Christ as my righteousness. It is said that “my righteousness is as filthy rags” in God’s eyes but, thank God, He doesn’t see me, He only sees Christ. This is called “Imputed Righteousness.” It means that God “imputes the Righteousness of Christ” to ALL who believe. Of course some of this is true but that is not the whole purpose of God in preparing us for the Kingdom and His Eternal Purpose. Those who are practicing these things of the flesh shall NOT inherit the Kingdom of God EVEN if they have “imputed righteousness.” The “bride’s garments” are experiential righteousness. [Revelation 19.] The basic error is in NOT seeing the difference between “heaven” and the Kingdom of God. When the present heaven passes away God will make a New Heaven AND a New Earth. At that time He will assemble those who have “inherited the Kingdom” into the Eternal City Of God, the New Jerusalem and Mount Zion.
The point is this; If all we need to stand before God is “imputed righteousness” then we will ALL go to the highest heaven and Paul was pressing into “the high calling” ignorantly out of some misinformed human works as some say. Paul was NOT preparing believers for the New Earth OR for the New Heaven but for the high calling of the Kingdom of God.
In this study we want to point out a few ways that God deals with these fallen characteristics of man to prepare man for eternity and for His purpose. It is surely true that God will certainly deal with our “sins” through faith in the shed blood freely given in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on Calvary. The many other of our fallen characteristics are dealt with within the “death of Jesus Christ” and some other things through the Resurrection Life of Christ. Other aspects of our salvation is through the impartation of His Zoe Life. Other aspects of our deliverance and salvation are dealt with by the inner conflicts of the Holy Spirit warring against the flesh. Some things are just dealt with by faith through the grace of God. Some are handled by repentance and by God working IN US causing us to BOTH will and do His will. Many things are dealt with by suffering and by learning obedience. He imparts the resurrection Life of Christ to deal with the issues of death. The Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus is designed to set us free from the Law of Sin and Death. God deals with some fallen characteristics by giving us the Revelation of Christ. { Beholding HIM as in a mirror} By revelation God reveals the anti-Christ within each of us. God begins to reveal to us the 7 nations [strongholds] and the 31 kings [ areas of our person that we permit “self”or other things {kings} to rule ]. All these must be utterly destroyed within us if God’s King and His Kingdom are going to have total dominion within us. Then there are the many fallen characteristics that are dealt with by the personal cross.
1Jo 2:29 If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone also who practices righteousness is born of Him.
1Jo 3:7 Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous;
A few years ago I got some pictures of some garbage dumps or land fills that are mountains of garbage. Then I showed the reclamation when they covered over the garbage with several inches of dirt. They planted trees, grass and flowers and the garbage could no longer be seen. It really looked quite nice! Many people who see that mountain don’t know there is a mountain of garbage underneath. The outward cover is what we call “imputed righteousness” because it is a covering over. Still, even though the “sins” are forgiven, the garbage remains. Transforming the garbage to nothingness by fire is the “process” we are calling “salvation.” Our consecration is designed to deal fatally with all the garbage. That is the negative side of consecration. The positive side of consecration is experiencing and living in holiness and “practicing righteousness.”
During the great depression there was no money to even buy food so there was no money to buy new furniture. Soon the furniture became soiled and stained and big holes appeared in the fabric. The springs in the seats began to show through and the furniture look very bad. However, a new industry was birthed of fixing the springs and putting shredded rages in the holes. Then they put a layer of cotton batten or an old quilt on top and made a slip cover to cover the entire piece of furniture. If they did a good job the piece of furniture looked new on the outside. However, very little was changed on the inside and the dirt and stains and holes were still there. The “slip cover” is a picture of “imputed righteousness.” It works for the outside but the inside is still full of dead men’s bones, garbage and many fallen characteristics.
Rom 4:20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; 21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. 22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. 23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; 24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; 25 Who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification.
Abraham’s faith was “counted to him as righteousness”by God . This “righteousness” was by faith and NOT by God’s dealings which result in “experiential righteousness.” God “counts” us as “righteous”by our faith until He can make us righteous by experience. In other words, if we are willing, within a full consecration, God can remove from us everything that is not Christ and through discipline and correction He will work His attributes into us so that we can share His holiness.
Obviously, this will not be a pleasant experience for the natural, undisciplined, carnal and immature believer. Unless the new believer is brought up in the faith to understand God’s Eternal Purpose and His Kingdom Government, he will never understand or welcome the discipline and correction of God. Unless everyone in the church is aware that it is the new born inner man that must be grown up to maturity so he can fulfill the eternal purpose of God, the believers will continue seeking some outward life and ministry. They will use some “doctrine” to remain unchanged on the inside.
Rom 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Trying to reconcile “having peace with God” to experiencing “so great a salvation” or fulness of salvation or the “final salvation”is quite a leap of faith.
Rom 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
There is quite a leap of faith to jump from “being justified by His blood” and being “saved from the wrath of God” to what Jesus accomplished for us at Calvary which is the “fulness of salvation.” In other words they put the blood upon the lintels and door posts BUT THEN they were required to eat the Passover Lamb and keep the rest of Passover. Was the “rest of Passover” just the non-essentials?
IF “so great a salvation” is designed to rid us of everything that is anti-Christ in us, then growing up into Christ must deal with all these things.
Heb 2:3 how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?
This question in Hebrews 2 speaks about neglecting any of the things that add up to so great a salvation. In other words there are not a lot of non-essentials within so great a salvation. Since the five fold ministries in Ephesians 4:11 are considered as the non-essentials exactly what does that mean concerning the ascension ministries that Christ has set in the church for its maturity. It appears to mean that the maturity of the church is “not essential” as long as we have forgiveness of sins, which is the only “essential” experience. This ignorance is part of a fallen system we call “church.”
Now IF we have settled the “non-essential” issue we can proceed to how God deals with the “essential issues of the flesh.” There is also the essential issues of being dead in trespasses and “sins” and the whole problem of the “sin” issue. Beyond all these things there are all the attitude problems, the lawlessness, the rebellion, the character defects and doing the whole will of God.
Mat 7:21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven.
Is “doing the will of God” just another “non-essential” that we can do if we want to but it
is not essential to our so great a salvation? All we have to do is totally ignore the new dispensation of the Kingdom and everything becomes “non-essential” EXCEPT forgiveness of sins. The groups that teach the “non-essentials” just substitute the term “grace” for the term “Kingdom” and ignore the demands of the Kingdom. Overcoming these “fallen doctrines” that have infiltrated the church is not easy because the vast majority of the visible church have embraced these doctrines as valid. Therefore, it seems best to begin our FIRST evangelism class by establishing the gospel of the Kingdom as the only valid gospel and get the new believers started with the Kingdom of God in full view INSTEAD of forgiveness of sins and the goal of just receiving eternal life, which is included in but falls far short of the Kingdom of God and His Eternal Purpose.
If the first thing they hear is the provision of the New Covenant and the first 6 foundational experiences, that are necessary to build the inner Life, they will not stop at forgiveness of sins. Why is there so much resistance to the Gospel of The Kingdom and the pressing on to maturity? Because a substitute gospel has been preached as the “standard for the church” in this dispensation. This “bargain gospel” is called the “gospel of grace!” This “bargain gospel” which many preach is a gospel that requires absolutely nothing from man except that he believe something about Jesus.
This substitute gospel has about destroyed the church that “man” is trying to build! It has emasculated the church and made any understanding about the demand or the requirements of the Kingdom irrelevant. Still, all this perversion of truth has not affected the Church that Christ is building. He is still building His Church within the restricting walls {called salvation} of the City of God which is the functioning Kingdom. The “visible church that man is building” has been vaccinated AGAINST the Kingdom message with the gospel of the half-priced sale and the gospel of the give-a-ways.
The evangelical church is so certain that the “gospel of grace” has replaced the Gospel of the Kingdom in this dispensation because the demands of the Kingdom are too difficult for the church under grace. This “error” is the result of not understanding that God’s grace has been given AS the ability to fulfill the demands of the Kingdom. The Evangelical Church has assumed that the natural man cannot meet the demands of the Kingdom. This IS TRUE. However, the provision of the New Covenant, within God’s grace, is able to equip the church so she is well able to fulfill the Kingdom demands BY THE GRACE OF GOD.
The Grace of God was never given to provide “an excuse for man to remain unchanged and lukewarm.”
Titus 2:11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, 12 instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus; 14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.
The grace of God is a Person whom was not given to excuse our inner rottenness but to teach us how to live for God. The “grace” that is taught by “super grace churches” is what we call “greasy grace” that we use to slide into heaven, forgiven but unchanged.
Romans 5:1 Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
We come into the Christian experience with many defects and fallen characteristics. God deals with each one by His own methods that will be effective to build our inner life. Tribulation, trials, suffering and the failure of human effort all are used for our transformation into the fulness of Christ. Because of the ignorance of God’s Kingdom demands, all these “tribulations” were thought to be the conflict with principalities and powers in heavenly place and was resisted by “spiritual warfare.” Because “forgiveness of sins and eternal life” was presented as the goal, what possible benefit could such negative things like tribulation and suffering provide? All conflict and suffering was thought to be from the devil. The big doctrine in the faith churches and the Full Gospel Business Men’s groups was that Jesus suffered so I would not have to. He became poor so I could become rich. He was bound so I could go free. This was called “the exchange at the cross.” Jesus carried His cross so I wouldn’t have to. This became part of the “positive confession” PRINCIPLE of “you get what you confess.” If you confess sickness, that is what you get. We are the King’s kids and we need to begin to live in His palace under that wonderful privilege of the King’s abundance. Bob Mumford told of a time he was going through terrible times and it felt like a bulldozer was running up and down his back. He turned to rebuke the devil and saw the Holy Spirit was driving.
In every generation there are those whom God has taught His ways and His purpose to fulfill His Divine plan for the ages. Instead of recognizing the Book Of Revelation as only valid for the very last generation, some have seen the unfolding of God’s plan within our inner life and in the church He is building. Even though there may be a literal fulfillment on earth there is also the personal fulfillment in every generation. This understanding exposes the false prophet and anti-Christ within each of us. We realize that everyone after the order of Adam took the mark of the beast in Genesis 3. Getting rid of the mark is the theme of this paper. THEN Don’t take the mark again!!!
Luke 9:23 And He was saying to them all, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. 24 "For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it.
God has a personal cross designed to deal with “self” and the old life. Jesus took up the cross daily BEFORE He took it up following the LAST PASSOVER. The “literal Cross and Calvary” provided the metamorphosis into a new dispensation of GRACE. I am speculating that the “personal cross” will be the predominate instrument God uses for this next metamorphosis into The Holy Place Life and Ministry. Following the Cross, Calvary, and the Resurrection, Jesus passed through the heavens to take His seat at the right hand of the Majesty in the heavens.
`Luke 1:68 "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited us and
accomplished redemption for His people, 69 And has raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of David His servant-- 70 As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from of old-- 71 Salvation FROM OUR ENEMIES, And FROM THE HAND OF ALL WHO HATE US; 72 To show mercy toward our fathers, And to remember His holy covenant, 73 The oath which He swore to Abraham our father, 74 To grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, Might serve Him without fear, 75 In holiness and righteousness before Him all our days.
Recognizing the enemies within and the abominations that are permitted right in the
temple of God is the beginning of hating these enemies that hate us. As long as they insist on remaining within like the Jebusites or if we ignorantly make covenant with the Gibeonites like Joshua did in Canaan, we will never be free to serve God without fear all the rest of our days.
God instructed Israel to completely conquer every nation and to utterly destroy every king in Canaan. Every Canaanite that Israel permitted to remain in the Land of Promise were ALWAYS the enemy within their borders. God’s way was really the best plan.
Trying to use these fallen characteristics within for our advantage or to help us serve God or to rule and exercise authority like the Nicolaitans will surely fail. God hates these enemies and we must hate them also. It is AFTER we recognize these fallen attributes and declare our hatred for each one that God will deliver us ONE ENEMY AT A TIME. HE WILL DRIVE THEM ALL OUT IN ONE DAY!!!
Exo 23:29 "I will not drive them out before you in a single year, that the land may not become desolate, and the beasts of the field become too numerous for you.
Exo 23:30 "I will drive them out before you little by little, until you become fruitful and take possession of the land.
Full Cooperation with God in ridding us from these enemies will result in fruitfulness.