Our Greatest Need Ron Spear - The Eternal Gospel Church

CONFUSION AT THE END 51where they remain to our account until they are blotted out at the closeof probation.Here we are told that repentant man will be restored to a sinlessstate at Christ’s second coming. In reality, Christ is presently ministeringenabling grace to enable His true followers to overcome sin in thispresent life.This subtle distortion of the gospel—downgrading of the sanctuarymessage—was portrayed on page 68 of the regular edition of the sameStudy Guide.Nevertheless, think about this; Of all the things we canknow, what is the most important? Of course, that Jesus Christdied for our sins and that through faith in what He has donefor us at the Cross, we have the promise of eternal life. Afterall, in contrast to that, what else really matters? (Matthew16:26).The above page closes with a statement that all will agree with: “ . .. the most crucial of all human questions to human existence [is]: Howare we saved?”No mention is made of the role of the heavenly sanctuary or ofChrist’s atoning ministry there. As is frequently the case, what is notsaid is what causes the greatest distortion. Partial truth—the presentationof one aspect of Christ’s salvational work for man to the neglect ofthe other—results in serious error.Missed OpportunitiesThe subject title for the above quoted Study Guide was “The Forgiven.”During the quarter’s study, obedience and victory over sin werepresented as important but they were never ranked in importance withbeing forgiven. Forgiveness and transformation were never presentedas equally important in one’s salvation. The imbalanced confusion waspresented for Wednesday, April 30, 2003, in the following words:Of course, as Christians we are called to a high standard,the highest possible standard (Matt. 5:48). Yet, before seekingto reach that standard, we must be sure we understandthat the foundation of our salvation rests not in how close wecome to that standard (because we can never get close