Singapore Moses Messenger of God, CEO in IT industry, Astronaut, Scientist

"Rapture ready" is understood in the New Testament as growth and maturity. Apostle Paul speaks of personal perfection as well as corporate perfection as an ongoing process. "Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on" (Phil 3:12-15). "Till we all come... to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ... may grow up in all things" (Eph 4:13-15).

The New Testament speaks about the "standing" as well as the "state" of God's children. Our standing is our position in Christ; our state refers to our practice. Here are a few examples: By standing "all" believers are saints before God (Rom 1:7; 1 Cor 1:2; Eph 1:1; etc). At the same time, we are called to be holy and walk holy (1 Pet 1:15,16). According to our standing, we are already complete in Christ (Col 2:10; but we are to "be made complete" in our state (2 Cor 13:9).

Our life in Christ can be divided into three experiences. The first one is Justification or Salvation or Rebirth, which is a crisis experience. Next is Sanctification, which is an ongoing process. Finally, there is Glorification, which will again be a crisis experience. Now we are between the crisis experiences, one past and the other future. We can further understand sanctification by looking at its three aspects. First, positional sanctification (1 Cor 1:30); second, progressive sanctification (2 Cor 3:18; Phil 1:6); third, prospective sanctification (1 Thess 5:23). Thus our sanctification will be complete at the Second Coming of Christ. At that time, our standing and state will perfectly agree. They will become one.

We do not reach a state of sinless perfection now. The saintly Apostle John wrote, "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us" (1 Jn 1:8). As God's children with His seed in us, we will not practice sin, though at times we may yield to temptations (1 Jn 2:29; 3:5-10). We are to at once confess our sin to God, be cleansed and walk in victory claiming the promises and power of God (1 Jn 1:9; 1 Pet 2:3,4; Rom 6:14).

In the light of the New Testament, the perfect Christian is just a growing and mature Christian. Some of his marks are—

✿ Love for the unlovables (Mt 5:43-45)
✿ Detachment from materialism (Mt 19:20,21)
✿ Control of the tongue (Js 3:2)
✿ Patience in suffering (Heb 2:10) 
✿ Spiritual discernment (1 Cor 2:6; 13-15) 
✿ Oneness with believers (Eph 4:11-13) 
✿ Christlikeness in character (Lk 6:40)

Getting ready for the rapture means growing from holiness to holiness, righteousness to righteousness, and victory to victory, by looking to Jesus (Rev 22:11b). When we finally meet Him, "we shall be like Him!" (1 Jn 3:2).

September 22 2016 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

S. Michael Houdmann Supporter Got Questions Ministries

The rapture is coming, and we should all make sure we are ready for it. Being ready for the rapture is much simpler than you may think. In short, you must receive Jesus Christ as your Savior. The r...

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October 20 2015 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report