[HOME] [INDEX OF ARTICLES ] [ COPYRIGHT INFORMATION ] [ ABOUT US ] [CONTACT ]
|
FLIGHT FROM BABYLON
The Coming Salvation From The Works Of Collective
Society
INTRODUCTION
The next and final
degree of salvation by grace to be restored to the Church before earthly
appearance of Christ's kingdom is salvation from the works of collective human
society--specifically, human economy and social community. God's salvation has
always been by grace through faith, from dead works--into a new way of life
governed and empowered by the Spirit. What has been less readily perceived is
that salvation has various degrees (not just one), and that salvation is
accomplished after initial conversion by a process of development out of various
dimensions of dead works - individually and corporately. In this article we are
addressing the final degree of salvation to be obtained by the Church to make
Her ready for the Lord's return.
Some preliminary
historical review is helpful to illustrate the degrees of salvation as God has
already restored them to the Church. The first and most received phase of
restored salvation occurred in the 16th century through the movement now
commonly called the Reformation. Spearheaded by Martin Luther, this movement saw
God restore the first and most basic degree of salvation from dead works, the
"works of the devil". The believer is translated out of the kingdom of
darkness1 and into the kingdom of Light through
basic faith in Jesus Christ.
Yet there was more to
be restored. A couple of centuries later, God began implementing a further phase
of His corporate salvation. Through the efforts of 18th and 19th century
evangelists like John Wesley, God recovered the next degree of salvation:
salvation from the "works of the flesh" through crucifying indwelling
sin2 by the power of the Spirit.3 The central message of this movement was the "work of the
Cross".4 At the heart of this movement was a
reintroduction to the New Testament experience known as the "baptism of the Holy
Spirit",5 though at that time it was not clearly
understood by that phrase. Some called it a "deeper life", others
"sanctification", and still others, "second blessing". A few called it the
"baptism of the Holy Spirit". But however it was called, it was universally
recognized by those who encountered it as a further, distinct work of God in the
believer's life to give him a hitherto unknown resource for defeating the "power
of canceled sin". Later, in the 20th century, this dimension of salvation was
expanded to include recovery of the other supernatural gifts, manifestations,
and anointings of the Holy Spirit.6 This was known as the Pentecostal
Movement, and still later, the Charismatic Movement. All these Spirit
manifestations were given to complement salvation from the "works of the flesh."
But there yet remains
for the Church one last degree of salvation to be restored, and its time is at
hand. While this coming phase has been somewhat anticipated in some of God's
latest activities in the Church, it has not fully come in and we yet await its
arrival. We speak now of salvation from the dead works of human economy and
social community - the "works of the world".7 This coming
dimension of salvation is difficult to comprehend, especially in the Western
world. Nevertheless, it is clearly revealed through the Scriptures. Let us turn
there for a prophetic look at the remaining degree of salvation to be brought to
us, culminating in our physical translation to new bodies and the visible return
of our Lord Jesus Christ to establish His manifest kingdom on
earth.
_______________________________
Chris Anderson
Hunter River, Prince Edward Island
Canada
First Love Ministry
- a ministry of Anglemar Fellowship
http://www.firstloveministry.org8/87
Webmaster littleflock@netzero.net
Page updated February 3, 2011