The Daily Word of Righteousness

Removing the Presence of Sin, #10

I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds. (Revelation 2:23—NIV)

There is not one verse in the entire New Testament that so much as suggests when the Lord returns to establish His Kingdom, at the time of the resurrection from the dead, He will receive to Himself believers who have been forgiven through imputed righteousness but who never have been transformed through the operations of new-covenant grace.

No aspect of salvation occurs through a sudden, sovereign action of God that operates independently of our behavior.

The Divine redemption is portrayed in the seven feasts of the Lord, as well as in the other three major types of salvation—the Tabernacle of the Congregation, the journey of Israel from Egypt to Canaan, and the six days of creation and the seventh day of rest.

The first feast, Passover, a type of initial salvation, was instituted by the Lord and then had to be carried out by the obedience and faith of the Israelites.

The second feast, Unleavened Bread, a type of repentance, was instituted by the Lord and then had to be carried out by the obedience and faith of the Israelites.

The third feast, Firstfruits, a type of the born-again experience, our entrance into the resurrection life of Christ, was instituted by the Lord and then had to be carried out by the obedience and faith of the Israelites.

The fourth feast, Pentecost, a type of the work of the Spirit in the Church, was instituted by the Lord and then had to be carried out by the obedience and faith of the Israelites.

The fifth feast, the Blowing of Trumpets, a type of the Lord of Hosts coming to declare war against His enemies, was instituted by the Lord and then had to be carried out by the obedience and faith of the Israelites.

The sixth feast, the Day of Atonement, a type of the two aspects of the removing of sins from God's elect, first by forgiveness and then by the actual removing of the sin-laden scapegoat from the camp, was instituted by the Lord and then had to be carried out by the obedience and faith of the Israelites.

The seventh feast, the feast of Tabernacles, a type of the Father and the Son making Their eternal resting place in us, was instituted by the Lord and then had to be carried out by the obedience and faith of the Israelites.

Christ has performed His part of the Day of Atonement by shedding His blood for our sins and then by descending into Hell, carrying our sins upon Himself. In so doing Christ completely destroyed the authority of Satan over us.

Yet, the enemies of Christ abound in the Christian churches. It is obvious the presence of sin has never been removed from us.

How, then, are we to gain the full benefit of the Day of Atonement?

The three areas of sin in us are the love of the world, the passions of the flesh and soul, and self-will.

To be continued.