Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: PURE (09/06/24)
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TITLE: The Purification Process | Previous Challenge Entry
By Doug Laird
09/11/24 -
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The first thing to be understood is what “this hope” of 1John 3: 3 is all about.
This hope, explained in the preceding verse, speaks of the instantaneous transformation that takes place at the Rapture (1).
Just as we clean up and dress appropriately for important earthly appointments, advancing disciples will want to present themselves clean and clothed in the righteousness of Christ when they find themselves in the Lord’s company.
At the Rapture, the departed Church Age believers, who had been in interim bodies (2) in Heaven, come with the Lord, gathering around Him in the sky above the Earth.
Their bodily remains (or dust) are raised in the form of a resurrected body, replacing the interim body in which they had dwelt since their arrival in Heaven.
Then, the natural bodies of Church Age, born-again believers, who are alive on the Earth when the Rapture takes place, are instantaneously transformed into ressurected bodies, as well.
They gather together with my those already with the Lord in the air.
The completed Church, gathered around the Lord, then goes to Heaven, but will return with the Lord at the Second Advent.
The objective of being prepared (purified/sanctified) is directed towards believers presently here on Earth and those who will be alive on the Earth at the time of the Rapture.
The window of opportunity, for those who had already passed away, closed on the day of their individual departure.
The Rapture takes place instantaneously, in the twinkling of an eye (3), leaving those left behind speculating as to what became of millions of departed individuals that seemed to have vanished.
Then, within a few short years, the worst period of human history will take place. This period will be so horrific, that if it were not cut short by the Second Advent, no one on Earth would survive (4).
The believers’ hope is based on the knowledge that they will be a part of the glorified group from Heaven that gathers around the Lord in the air, or among the believers who will be taken away, should the Rapture take place in our lifetime here on Earth.
Note that when the Rapture takes place, those who “died in their sin (5) remain in the Torments of Hades until the Rev. 20. 13-15 event takes place at the appointed time in the future.
The Rapture benefits born-again, Church Age believers.
The majority of them will consist of those who had already departed and are presently in Heaven in interim bodies.
The minority of them will be among the last generations of the Church Age, who will be alive on the Earth, when the Rapture takes place.
With the issue of one’s salvation and deliverance from the impending wrath of God already having been resolved (6), what is this “making oneself pure” business spoken of in 1John 3: 3 all about?
The answer is found in the Doctrine of Sanctification.
To be sanctified means to be set apart as a result of, or for the purpose of, reaching a divine objective.
There are two types of sanctification. One is positional, the other is experiential.
Positional sanctification has to do with salvation that is immediately secured, complete, and irreversible, as it involves the regenerating (7) and sealing (8) work of God the Holy Spirit.
A saved soul has a-l-r-e-a-d-y passed from spiritual death, and has received eternal life (9).
God will not take back His gift of eternal life.
Experiential sanctification has to do with post (after) salvation discipleship.
It involves an o-n-g-o-i-n-g process of learning (10) and applying (11) the principles of the Word of God to all that the advancing disciple thinks, says, and does.
Experiential sanctification often begins with enforced humility and compliance, but will become the automatic way of our thinking and behaving as we spiritually mature, bringing glory to God.
Our part in the self-purification process is to learn and to apply the principles of the Word of God to all that we think, say, and do.
Our part in the purification process in other people is to be an example, and to convey accurate spiritual information so that they can make informed decisions for themselves.
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(1) 1Thess. 4: 16, 17 (2) 2Cor. 5: 1 (3) 1Cor. 15: 52 (4) Matt. 24: 22 (5) John 8: 24 (6) Rom. 8: 1 (7) Titus 3: 5 (8) Eph. 4: 30 (9) John 5: 24 (10) 2Pet 3:18 (11) James 1: 22 (12) (13)(14) (15)
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