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Definition from Greek of “Perfect”: complete, wholeness.

 

In James repeatedly faith goes with good works but we are not saved by good works. Good works because of our faith in God deepens our relationship with God. It doesn’t save us nor equip us for the rapture. The only thing we are asked to do for the rapture is to “watch” - Luke 21, Matt. 24, Mark 13. And there is a crown that those who “watch” are given. Those that do not watch are not given a crown. It’s the reward.

 

2 Tim. 4:8 - in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.

 

Matt. 24:42 - Watch therefore: for you do not know what hour your Lord will come. (Verses 42-51 are about watching.)

 

Mark 13:33-37 - Be on guard! Be alert! It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with their assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch. 35. Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back- whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. 36 If He comes suddenly, do not let Him find you sleeping. 37 What I say to you, I say to everyone: Watch!

 

1 Corinthians 1:7- So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:

 

Luke 21:34-36 - Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will come upon you suddenly like a trap (because they are not watching). 35 For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. 36 Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.

One of my favorite scriptures that has really helped me is: 1 John 2:28 - Four different translations:

New International Version - 

"And now, dear children, continue in Him, so that when He appears we may be confident and unashamed before Him at His coming."

 

New Living Translation
"And now, dear children, remain in fellowship with Christ so that when He returns, you will be full of courage and not shrink back from Him in shame."

 

English Standard Version
"And now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears we may have confidence and not shrink from Him in shame at his coming."

 

Berean Standard Bible
"And now, little children, remain in Christ, so that when He appears, we may be confident and unashamed before Him at His coming."

 

Given that, cross reference other scrip’s:

Ephesians 3:12 - In Him and through faith in Him we may enter God's presence with boldness and confidence.

 

The bottom line is to abide, continue our relationship with Him. If we do not, it doesn't mean we aren't saved. What it will mean is we are open to attacks from the enemy, we will be extremely unhappy in this life and there won't be rewards in heaven at the Beama Judgement Seat, 2 Cor. 5:10 - "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad."

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When we are doing what He said to do out of heart because we love Him, not from “works”, we can be bold and confident at His coming and receive a crown of righteousness.

 

If we do not, and are going our own way, for whatever reasoning we have...we will be ashamed at His coming because we knew what He wanted us to do but refused to. Jesus is Truth, (the Way, the Truth, and the Life) and Truth is instantly revealed when He is on the scene.

 

Matthew 16:27 - For the Son of Man will come in His Father's glory with His angels, and then He will repay each one according to what he has done.

 

There are scriptures that refer to the judgment seat or what is called the Baema (Greek) seat at the rapture. This is the reward ceremony for what we did that the Lord gave us to do. We get rewards for following out His plan, His calling on our lives. If we don’t do it we don’t get rewards. We are not “kicked out” of heaven. We are saved for good works, in our calling. We don’t have to do them but when we do it pleases the Father.

 

Here’s another scripture that stings a bit...again, it doesn’t say we will be kicked out of heaven. But it does say the Lord won’t be pleased with what we did if we disobeyed. And if we “didn’t please Him” it means what we did was not in faith, because “faith pleases God”:

Mark 8:38 - If anyone is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in His Father's glory with the holy angels.

Jesus doesn’t come in His own glory, but in His Father’s. Beautiful. Jesus said, in Me I can do nothing. It is the Father in Me that does the work. Same with us!

 

Notice in scriptures never sections out parts of the Body of Christ for the rapture. Never. He speaks of “you”, "we" or “our” - which means “all”. On the other hand for the rewards, yes - what did we do with what we were given. 

Colossians 3:4 - When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

 

1 Thessalonians 2:19 - After all, who is our hope, our joy, our crown of boasting, if it is not you yourselves in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming?

 

We see in 1 John we will be transformed just like 1 Cor. 15:51-52. It’s God who does this in us, not us:

1 John 3:2 - Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.

 

Colossians 3:4 - When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall you also appear with Him in glory.

 

Again, scripture says “our” and “you” - never makes a differentiation between believers. We are theBody of Christ. Jesus wouldn't return for just one or two body parts.

 

But wait...there’s more...I love that the Lord keeps putting these things in His Word for us!!

 

1 John 3:21 - Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.

 

If our heart condemns us simply ask for forgiveness. It doesn't necessarily mean you will miss the rapture. But it does leave you open to attacks and troubles, and some that can cause death. Get the sin out to keep your relationship right with the Lord. Sin causes us to not hear properly. We want to keep our spiritual ears clean.

 

Why do we have confidence? Because we are made right with Him because of Him. All we had to do is simply receive Him. He has made us in right standing with God the Father!! (2 Cor. 5:21 - “righteousness” means “right staining”. ) All we had to do was receive Him. He took our sin so we could receive His righteousness. We can never be right with God on our own. It takes Jesus!!

 

1 John 4:17 - Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as He is, so are we in this world.

 

Isaiah 25:9 - And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for Him, we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.

 

Let’s address the “being holy” issue. Do you think you can do anything to “make yourself holy”? That is what the Pharisees were doing. They thought following the law to the last detail would make them holy before a HOLY God. Never going to happen. We cannot make ourselves holy by our behavior. We are in a sin fallen state on this earth. We have flesh (body) and a soul that needs to be renewed. The body will not be renewed until the transformation (1 Cor 15:51-52; 1 John 4:17; 3:2). The Lord has told us to renew our minds. We are to start this here per Romans 12. Holiness comes from the Lord. The more time you spend with Him in the Word and in prayer the more of Him "rubs off" on you. He is holy. Like Moses on Mt. Sinai who spend 40 days and nights with God, he had the holiness of God on him! God is who makes you holy. 

 

1 Thess. 3:13 - May He strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all His holy ones.
 

Definition of Holy:  to be set apart or separate from sin and evil. 

 

Deep within each of us is the Holy Spirit leading us. When we listen and obey we are living in holiness. But when we do not we are heeding the voice of sin and greivgin the Spirit of God. Get back on track by asking the Lord for forgiveness and changing your thoughts and actions about the thing that has been a problem. Always ask the Holy Spirit to help you. He is our Helper. 

 

1 Peter 1:13-16 with Romans 15:16 Passion Translation:

 

13 So then, prepare your hearts and minds for action!
(*Note: we should prepare our hearts and minds for action. Doesn’t mean all believers will.) Stay alert and fix your hope firmly on the marvelous grace that is coming to you. For when Jesus Christ is unveiled (rapture), a greater measure of grace will be released to you (‘cause our bodies will be transformed). 14. As God’s obedient children, never again shape your lives by the desire that you followed when you didn't know better. 15 Instead, shape your lives to become like the Holy One who called you. 16 For Scripture says: "You are to be holy, because I am holy."

 

*Let’s take a look at the word: “obedient”. In KJV verse 14 says As obedient children, do not be comforted to the passions of your former ignorance. 

 

Not all children are obedient. All parents can testify to that. Same with the Lord.

 

We see “knowledge” is a part of “obedience” and what we do with that knowledge. We have a choice. Always. Ignorance means you do not know consciously - not willfully.

 

Let’s look at Romans 1:5 - Through Him we received grace and apostleship to call all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith for His Name’s sake.

 

“Obedience” comes from faith. Not by “doing” but by “believing”. When you receive Jesus you automatically want to do what is right. The Holy Spirit is there telling you right from wrong, and when we grieve Him we know it...maybe not instantly but we know something isn’t right. 

 

Where do we get faith from? The Word (Romans 10:17) and more than that faith comes from the Lord. He put it there from His word. We had nothing to do with it. All we had to do was believe. Ephesians 6:23 Faith from God and 1 Tim 1:14 faith and love are found in Christ Jesus. We are in Him and He is in us. WE have holiness in us because He is in us. But how much do we let His holiness be exhibited in our lives is up to us. It’s like the Eph. 3 prayer - according to the Power at work in you. How much of His power do we allow to work and bubble up from our Spirit through our soul (minds) through our bodies....that is up to us. How much do we cherish the Lord and do what He says? That is what get’s us the reward if we obey.

 

I’m not saying that we don’t have to be obedient. We should. We are told all over 1 John to follow His commands. His commands are not grievous, they are to love the Lord your God with all your heart and to love your neighbor as yourself.

Those are His commands. Do we do that? 

 

I’m sure you’ve noticed it’s hard to actually “hate” another believer. You don’t have it in you. Because He is in you. We may behave incorrectly because of stupid - soulish ways of thinking but it’s not in our spirit-man because the Holy Spirit is there. We are not the same as we were before we received Jesus. He is who makes us Holy. The Holy Spirit in us. A little leaven.... And the Spirit is called “Holy” - His Holiness is in us.

 

Back to verse 13 So then, prepare your hearts and minds for action! Stay alert snd fix your hope firmly on the marvelous grace that is coming to you. For when Jesus Christ is unveiled, a great measure of grace will be released to you. 14 As God’s obedient children, never again shape your lives by the desires that you followed when you didn’t know better. 15 Instead, shape your lives to become like the Holy One who called you. 16 For scripture says: “You are to be holy, because I am Holy."

 

Let’s add on to verse 17 - Since you call on Him as your Heavenly Father, the impartial Judge who judges according to each one’s word, live each day with holy awe and reverence through your time on earth.

 

This again talks of the Beama Seat judgment. Okay....let’s unpack that.

The Aramaic (notes from the Passion) can be translated: “no one will put on a face mask before Him.” Believers in Jesus will not be judged for their sins, since that happened once and for all when Jesus was crucified to redeem us. We will be judged, however, for our works in order to determine the reward (or lack of reward) that God gives to those who believe in Christ. See Isa. 53:4-5; Romans 14:10-12; 1 Cor. 3:12-16; 1 Peter 2:24.

 

You’ll notice Romans and 1 Cor are about this Judgment Seat.

 

Here are other scriptures that are part of all of this:

Matt. 24:33

Hebrews 11:6; 10:39; 9:14

Rev. 1:5

Titus 2:13-14

2 Tim. 1:9

2 These. 1:10 - says “His saints”, doesn’t say a certain group. #40 Greek - to be a child by the Holy Spirit; set apart by and for God, holy, sacred.

 

If we are set apart...what are we set apart for? We do know we are saved from wrath. Could be the rapture is before or could be we will be preserved like Israel in Egypt in the land of Goshen during the first Passover. I don't know. We do know the Church gets judged first according to 1 Peter 4:17. Which is happening now.  We are set-apart for God and set apart for the rapture. I'm not speaking to "when" the rapture is. But the rapture is a catching away, escape, set apart - harpazo in Greek. (Rev. 12:5.) Whether that means a pre-trib rapture, or kept safe like Israel in Egypt, or like Noah and kept in safety, I don't know. I do know that no matter what, God has us! If God be for us, who can be against us!