The Daily Word of Righteousness

The Sovereignty of God in the Plan of Salvation, #8

The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; (Matthew 13:41)

Even now the wicked are being separated from us so it may be understood that they are not of us and have no part with us. They are robbers of widows. They are adulterers and belong to the world even though they profess Christ and speak in tongues.

Jude, the brother of the Lord, speaks his mind:

For there are certain men crept in [to the assemblings of the saints] unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness [immorality] and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. (Jude 1:4)

"Who were before of old ordained to this condemnation."

It can become discouraging to the Lord's little flock to behold the unrepentant attitude of so many who profess to be Christians but who show in themselves the personality of Satan rather than the personality of the Lord Jesus. In their self-exaltation they behave like the people of the world.

As Jude stated, these wicked "Christians" turn the grace of God into an excuse for sin. So it is today. The covetous are accepted rather than being shunned by the saints. Adultery, fornication, hatred, robbery, partying and so forth are practiced by people who claim they are "saved by grace." Their works reveal that they are children of the devil, not children of God.

We who love the Lord Jesus in sincerity are not to fight against them, defiling our own spirit. We are to keep our eyes on the Lord Jesus, understanding that in the last days the Lord's angels will separate out from the Kingdom of God those who are practicing wickedness.

Then the Bride of the Lamb will be pure and undefiled, shining as the light of the world.

What, then, is our conclusion? It is that in the present hour the Kingdom of God contains both "wheat" and "tares." The wheat are people who have been added to the Church by the Lord. They love God in truth, and through the virtue of Christ they are bringing forth in themselves a new creation that practices the righteous and holy works the Lord loves.

The tares are children of Satan. They claim to be of the Lord's people but are of the congregation of Satan. They speak and act as though they are Christians, claiming to be born again. They preach the Gospel and sometimes they speak in tongues, prophesy, and work miracles. But Christ has never known them—never!

Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. (Revelation 3:9)

At the time of the Lord's return to earth His angels will remove the devil's children from among the saints. Then the righteous character and deeds of the saints will be witnessed by Heaven and earth.

The seed of Satan will be cast into the flames.

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind: Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away. So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 13:47-50)

Let us state in conclusion that we reveal who our father is by how we behave. If our Father is God we will do the works of God. If our Father is Satan we will do the works of Satan.

If it is obvious to us that our works are wicked, and we want to be a child of God, then let us without delay begin to do the works of God.

If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work. Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. (II Timothy 2:21,22) (from The Sovereignty of God in the Plan of Salvation; from John, Chapter Seventeen)