We put the love of the world to death by asking God's help as we choose to present our body a living sacrifice, not being conformed to the ways of the world but being transformed by the renewing of our mind.

We put the sins of our flesh and soul to death by confessing them, receiving the forgiveness and cleansing, and then drawing near to God and resisting the devil.

We put our self-will to death by remaining patiently in the prison where God permits Satan to place us and not attempting to break out. Sometimes these confining situations in which our most fervent desires are set aside last for many years—long enough to destroy our self-will and perfect our obedience to Christ.

Such reconciliation to God in these three areas operates as we through faith and patience wait in hope for the removal of sin from us.

We have God's promise that He eventually will crush Satan under our feet.

The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you. (Romans 16:20—NIV)

The above verse signals the final removal of the presence of sin from us.

But what about the believers who do not grasp the promises by faith; who do not gain victory over the world; who do not bring the lusts of their body and soul under subjection; who do not remain in the confining situation where they have been placed, choosing instead to save their life on their own terms? What does the New Testament state concerning them (and there are numerous such today)?

The New Testament states with utmost clarity that they will reap what they are sowing. The iron Kingdom law of cause and effect governs them. Paul says those who live according to the flesh, not coming under the discipline of the law of the new covenant, which is the Holy Spirit Himself, will reap corruption. Paul warns they will not inherit the Kingdom of God. The Lord Jesus informs us that the foolish virgins will be denied entrance to the Kingdom; the servant who buried his talent will be sent to the outer darkness.

The Lord Jesus warns us also that at the end of the age the messengers of God will first gather out of His Kingdom the things that offend. After that those who offend will be cast into the fire. I believe the messengers already have come and are beginning to remove from Christ's Kingdom, from those who will cooperate, the things that offend. Those who do not cooperate, who choose to remain associated with the works of Satan, will be thrown into the fires of Divine judgment. God will not permit sin to remain in His Presence!

There is no scriptural evidence whatever that at the coming of the Lord the lukewarm, disobedient Gentiles of Christianity will be carried up to Heaven in a rapture. There is an abundance of scriptural evidence that those who are lukewarm will be spit from the mouth of Christ.

To be continued.