Our Goal Is a Transformation of Personality

Adam and Eve perished because of their sin. Christ came that we should not perish but have eternal life, especially including immortality in the body.

Our Evangelical tradition has corrupted this verse to read: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not go to Hell but go to Heaven."

But isn't this the same thing? Not at all! If that is what God meant, that is what God would have said.

There is a Hell and there is a Heaven, make no mistake. But salvation has to do with the restoration of what was lost in Eden. The concept of Hell and Heaven may seem suitable but it actually has a deadly effect when applied as the goal of redemption. For the believers are under the impression that even if they are not changed morally they still will go to Heaven by grace. Therefore many of them lead mediocre Christian lives.

But if they realized the goal of their salvation is not residence in Heaven but the transformation of what they are; and that wherever they are, they are going to be in personality that which they have sown while living on the earth, they would not be so careless.

If they have continued to live in the flesh while a Christian, they are going to reap corruption in the day of resurrection. Should they be admitted to the new world of righteousness, they will be there in their corrupt state. I don't think this is what they are envisioning.

Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever. (Daniel 12:2,3—NIV)

Can you see from the above passage that what is important is not where you are but what you are?

Some will rise to everlasting life—a state of being, not a place.

Some will rise to shame and everlasting contempt—a state of being, not a place.

Some will rise to incredible glory—a state of being not a place.

Our goal as a Christian is not to go to another place but to be transformed in spirit, in soul, and finally—at the Lord's return—in body.

Two Aspects of Resurrection

Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out—those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned. (John 5:28,29—NIV)

But those who are considered worthy of taking part in that age and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage, And they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God's children, since they are children of the resurrection. (Luke 20:35,36—NIV)

Look carefully at the above two passages. Do you see the incongruity here? The same incongruity appears elsewhere also.

To be continued.