Articles

A Special People unto the Lord

“A Special People unto the Lord”

The special people unto the Lord are His own people, the ones He has chosen and called to be a holy and blessed people.

Deu 7:6  For thou art an holy people [obedient] unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special [peculiar] people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. 

Deu 7:7  The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: 

Deu 7:8  But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. 

To be holy one must be blessed of the Lord and given the Spirit of God and then endure through the suffering and fiery experience that delivers us from spiritual death and raises Christ in us [the First Resurrection].  This is how we are caused to obey the Lord (Eze 36:27) and become obedient children unto our Father.

Deu 26:18  And the LORD hath avouched thee this day to be his peculiar people, as he hath promised thee, and that thou shouldest keep all his commandments; 

1Pe 2:9  But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

1Pe 2:10  Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. 

The Favor of the Lord

It is the chastening, scourging grace of God that appears to all men that is the favor of the Lord that first comes to His people in this age.  This is the blessing of grace that is teaching us righteousness and purifying us into the special people the Lord promised in His covenant.

Heb 12:10  For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he [the Lord] for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. 

The favor that brings forth the new man is also destroying the old man brings forth the peculiar people who make of the Lord’s people.

Tit 2:11  For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 

Tit 2:12  Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 

Tit 2:13  Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing [within] of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 

Tit 2:14  Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. 

As we have seen in recent studies since the sharpening of our sword, there is no difference in the experience and events all men will live by in coming to know the Lord.  Only the timing of our judgment and harvest to life is different.

Rom 10:12  For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 

Rom 10:13  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 

Act 15:11  But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we [the Elect, chosen of God now] shall be saved, even as they. 

One of the first orthodox lies we come out of is regarding the flesh Jews and knowing who the Israel of God and the Jews in our bible are actually referring to.  With ears to ear, we quickly learn that is not the physical nation of Israel nor are the physical Jews throughout history who are the true people of God.

Rom 2:28  For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: 

Rom 2:29  But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God. 

For those new to the faith and the doctrines of Christ, here is an article focused on distinguishing between the true Jews and Israel after the flesh.  Such basic truths are needed to come out of the bondage of orthodoxy and the “other jesus” that is preached there.   Who is the Israel of God?

The carnal minds of men [of our father the devil] will have us perverting the timing differences of the second and third harvest and twisting the Scriptures into different sets of rewards and punishments. The recent studies on Rewards and Resurrections have revealed these errors and corrected them expunging any darkness about God’s plans and processes for all mankind.  The Lord is making ONE of two [twain].  ALL mankind will be ONE with Him and that by living by every word which is the one event for all.

Eph 2:16  And that he might reconcile both [Jew and Gentile] unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 

Eph 2:17  And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. 

Eph 2:18  For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

Ezekiel’s prophecy of the valley of dry bones and the two sticks becoming one in the hands of Christ is an OT witness of this immutable truth of God.

Eze 37:16  Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions: 

Eze 37:17  And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand. 

The stick of Joseph and all his companions becomes one with the stick of Judah and all of his companions.  This gathering together of all in ONE is by the fire words that the Elect speak (Jer 5:19) which converts those prepared to hear the words of Truth and transforms them into the Israel of God.

Eze 37:21  And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land: 

Eze 37:22  And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all: [all one, no Jew vs Gentile]

Eze 37:24  And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them. 

The doctrine regarding the Elect (chosen few) has been corrupted by carnal minds that lusted after rewards and was led astray by pride and gain seeking as the Scriptures warn everywhere (Balaam, Cain, Core, Jezebel, etc).  The Scriptures teach one class of men, all receiving the same rewards and same blessings by the very same process.

Ecc 9:2  All things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous, and to the wicked; to the good and to the clean, and to the unclean; to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not: as is the good, so is the sinner; and he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath. 

The Lord is going to make Himself known to ALL men in the appointed times, to the Jews first and then the Gentiles.  All men will be the people of God as the Lord makes known the riches of His glory [His Word] in every man in the times declared from the beginning.

Rom 9:25  As he saith also in Hosea, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved

Rom 9:26  And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God. 

A remnant is being saved now in this age, yet all men will come in before the ages are consummated.  Lord willing, we can completely purge from our heavens any prideful self-exalting spirit that we are somehow better than or superior to other men not chosen (elected) of God now in this age.  Any such thoughts are of the flesh and the pride of life that have ensnared many who forgot in their heart that all blessings and gifts are from the Lord given freely and not based on any merit.

1Co 4:7  For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it? 

Jas 1:17  Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights …..

We should never deny or acknowledge the great blessing that has befallen us.  Let the redeemed of the Lord say so!.  Yet our election of the Lord and being given faith is a gift of God that is 100% the Lord’s work in us.  We have nothing to boast, the law of faith precludes it and our speaking down to others thinking we are better.

Rom 3:27  Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith

All Men Will be God’s Peculiar People in the End

There is an Elect or a chosen remnant in every generation that is called out of the world which becomes the church of the Lord.  Nothing in this study takes away from that pivotal truth.  The called out ones are the church and IS the Body of Christ in ever age and generation as His Word is always at work and will never pass away.  In each generation of man those elected of the Lord is a very small number.

Mat 22:14  For many are called, but few are Elect [chosen – Elecktos G1588]

Deu 7:7  The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: 

The chosen few, the Elect are the church of God and in due time that will extend to all mankind.  All men will be in the Holy City, will be with the Lord and be His Church and His chosen ones.  Yet the Lord is only working with the few in this age and is not now working with those not yet brought into the faith.

Rom 9:6  Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: 

All men are Israel in the Lord’s eyes who declares (Isa 46:10) and sees the end from the very beginning (Rom 4:17).  This is how Christ can say He is every man we help or did not help that He put into our path (Mat 25).  Only the new man, the younger, the second Adam in every man is being saved.

Rom 9:13  As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. 

The sum of the word depicts the salvation of all in the three harvests of the Lord, hence we know that the timing (i.e. “the when) is the only difference between the chosen (elect) of today and the chosen (elect) of tomorrow.

Rom 11:26  And so all Israel shall be saved [made alive]: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: 

1Co 15:22  For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 

Our flesh so badly wants to take some credit and some glory for its salvation, even abusing the doctrines of the Elect and the Body of Christ by creating a special class of people contrary to so many other doctrines and attributes of the Lord.  No man, who is mere clay in the Lord’s hands has any part of saving Himself so there is no place for anything SELF in the discussion.

Rom 10:20  But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me. 

Psa 3:8  Salvation belongeth unto the LORD: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah. 

Our outward enemies and persecutors who reject us (Christ) were made that way by the Lord.  Yet they are beloved for the Father’s sake of them being the Election of God, part of all men being saved and part of the Israel of God in the end.

Rom 11:27  NKJV FOR THIS IS MY COVENANT WITH THEM, WHEN I TAKE AWAY THEIR SINS.” [the enemies, the heathen, the Gentiles – the rest of mankind]

Rom 11:28  NKJV Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they [the rest of mankind] are beloved for the sake of the fathers.

They are beloved of God concerning the election because they are Elect in the Lord’s eyes.  Thus, we have commands to see every man as Jesus Christ Mat 25) and follow the example the Lord gave in ministering to ALL MEN that came across His path.

Mat 5:44  But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 

Mat 5:45  That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

Mat 10:36  And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household [because all men are Israel and Christ, His Body and His chosen ones in the end]

Who do we think we are to be worthy of special rewards and elite status with the Lord when all of it was the Lord’s work without any merit on our part?  Such carnal thinking is the opposite of humility and thinking above what is written and more highly of ourselves than we should.  The only reason we have been given faith is because of the unbelief of the rest of mankind.

Rom 11:30  For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: 

Rom 11:31  Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. 

Our sins are blotted and forgiven first because He loved us first.  But the Lord loves all men and came to save all men and He will via he same one process.

1Jn 2:2  And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. 

Joh 3:16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

We need to reexamine how we look at those unbelieving heathen out there in the world, even our worst enemies and persecutors.  All things are in the vine of Christ and are growing exactly on His schedule.  All will partake of eternal life which is to know the Lord (Joh 17:3).  We need to see Christ and a holy root when we look at our fellow man.

Rom 11:15  For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead? 

Rom 11:16  For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches. 

We are warned not to have a high minded attitude with us being elected now in advance of our fellow man.

Rom 11:18  Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. 

Rom 11:21  For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. 

Seeing all men as Christ is a Walk [Game] Changer

Seeing the big picture and the Elect (all Israel) as being all men in the end; it becomes easier to walk humbly before the Lord.  Our Election is a gift from God that will come alike to all men in their appointed time as well. We are nobody special, God is truly not a respecter of any person, race, or nation.

Rom 2:11  For there is no respect of persons with God. 

Knowing these truths, we will be more circumspect in NOT looking down on our fellow man whether they be in the faith or not.  We know that all will be saved, they even as us and no man of themselves can do anything (Joh 15:5). A more humbler spirit devoid of pride will begin to take root within us.

Jas 4:6  But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace [that saves us] unto the humble. 

Mic 6:8  He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? 

Doctrines that have the Elect ruling outwardly over men, having dominion and lordship is false.  Getting this vision corrected will help us see that we are unworthy servants, working out of duty to God (Rom 12:1) who has redeemed us from our sins.  As ministers of the gospel, we bring the grace of God to all prepared to receive it and do not lord not over the Lord’s flock.

Isa 45:13  I have raised him up in righteousness, and I will direct all his ways: he shall build my city, and he shall let go my captives, not for price nor reward, saith the LORD of hosts. 

1Pe 5:2  Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, [carnal gain, exaltation among men] but of a ready mind; 

1Pe 5:3  Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.

Seeking after rewards and dominion over men is expressly forbidden for the people of God.  That is what the carnal world and the unconverted pursue.

Mat 20:25  But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. 

Mat 20:26  But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister

Isa 1:23  Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them. 

The truth is that ALL MANKIND will get the same reward, even the same coat of many colors as all will go through the same experiences and one event.  The Lord loves the new man in each of us and that is how we will all move from death unto life and from being lost to being found.  This should bring great joy to our spiritual hearts to know and receive this truth.

Luk 15:22  But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: 

Luk 15:24  For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

We are instruments (ministers of God) who are used of the Lord to pass on His gifts and blessings to others.  It is a wonderful thing to serve in the kingdom of God and be a part of His living and active ministry in the world.

1Pe 4:10  As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 

Joh 14:12  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. 

Flesh will be disappointed to know it gets no exaltation and shares not in the glory of the Lord.  The same carnal thoughts of why obey God if all men are going to be saved will try us also when we realize there is nothing special in it for us except to be blessed first and used of the Lord to bring in others.  We are chosen now so we can serve Him only and work in His kingdom. It is our greedy father the devil who will perverts to blessing of God into self-seeking glory.

Luk 4:8  And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. 

Lord willing, we will keep growing in the faith knowing we are not our own and all that we do is for the Lord’s glory.

1Co 10:31  Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. 

Articles

Abandoning Principles Leads to Error

The true church of Jesus Christ is not divided (1Co 1:13).  Christ is ONE with the Father and with His Christ.

Joh 10:30  I and my Father are one.

Joh 17:21  That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

Christ being One with His Father and His people means the TRUE church cannot be divided and will be of one mind in matters of the Spirit and of Doctrine.

1Co 6:17  But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.

The divide of Christ’s church is really a separating and a sifting of the wheat from the chaff as only a remnant shall escape from Jerusalem in this age.

Our fallen brothers and sisters have erred in vision and stumbled in their judgment all the Lords doing of course.  In love, we have tried and will continue to try as Lord allows us to win them back.

Denying the Lake of Fire is a subtle way of denying the cross and creating a different process (less punishment, more rewards) for the Jew vs the Gentiles in being saved.   But the truth is all men are saved the exact same way and given the exact same reward – THE MIND OF CHRIST.  The Elect just receives it first.  It is the carnal mind that has led our fallen away (the error of the wicked) elders into believing we deserve special rewards and prizes.  The Bible teaches otherwise when rightfully divided.  Here are five witnesses that more than establishing the truth of the true doctrine.

Act 15:8  And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;

Act 15:9  And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.

Act 15:11  But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.

Jud 1:3  Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

Eph 3:6  That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:

Luk 17:10  So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.

Mat 20:14  Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee.   SAME REWARD

Our living the Second Death which is the Lake of Fire is how we overcome and how we are saved.  It is not something to be avoided.

Rev 12:11  And they overcame him [Satan and his messengers] by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony, and they loved not their lives unto the [second] death. 

1Co 1:18  For the message of the cross (lake of fire) is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

Heb 2:14  Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death (second death, death to death) he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 

Heb 2:15  And deliver them (SAVE US) who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage

“Come Lord Jesus Come” is what we should be saying rather than the Lake of Fire is not for me.  We must be baptized by His fire in the lake of fire.

Rev 22:17  And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.

Rev 22:18  For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book;

Rev 22:19  and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. 

Foundational Principles Abandoned

The origin on the errors is an abandonment of the foundational principles of how Truth is established.  Those errors extent deeper into other areas such as rightly dividing the First Resurrection and understanding what the Reward and the prize of the higher calling in Christ represent.

  1. The Word IS, WAS and WILL BE (present, past and future fulfillment) – Rev 1:8, Rev 4:8
  2. The Word is a two-edged sword speaking about the old man and new man in every word and every verse – Heb 4:12
  3. The sum of the word is true – Psa 119:160
  4. No scripture is of its own private explanation – 2Pe 1:20
  5. Man shall live (the IS/inwardly) by every Word God spoke – Mat 4:4, 1Co 3:21
  6. God speaks of things that ARE NOT as if they already are – Rom 4:17
  7. His words are Spirit and not to be taken by the letter – Joh 6:63
  8. Truth is found by comparing spiritual to spiritual – 1Col 2:13
  9. All things come alike to all, one event to all men – Ecc 9:2
  10. All things are done in parables to hide the meaning in the letter (Mar 4:11, Hos 12:10)

As we teach, we must always watch and prove all things, being vigalent in trying the spirits and testing the doctrines.

1Ti 4:16  Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

2Co 11:3  But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity [living by every word, one event, etc] that is in Christ.

We Live Every Word Inwardly

One distinction that will help clear the smoke of confusion is to remember that “living by every word God spoke” is speaking about living them ALL INWARDLY.  Where is the kingdom of God and where is the Lord working to bring about Christ in us?

Luk 17:20  Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation;

Luk 17:21  nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.” 

We live all words INWARDLY, fulfilling the IS part of “is, was and will be” because now is judgment upon the house of God (1Pe 4:17).  Problems and quarrelsome questions come up on this subject when we forget to emphasize the inward and living part of that is what every man lives.

Heb 4:12  For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword

It has never been said that this means applying them in the WAS or the WILL BE sense to every man.  For example, we did not go thru the flood of Noah outwardly, but we did inwardly.  The same is to be applied for all events in the historical past, but we will live them all out in their INWARD application.  As a further example, we all come out of the world (Egypt) and then go through a wilderness experience after first coming to the knowledge of the Truth before we enter the promised land and begin to conquer sin (the giants) in our land.

 Future events for us also cannot be lived by everyone outwardly.  Only the very Elect who are completed in Christ in this age, will be the administrators and outward ruling with Christ in the next age.   For example, anyone already physically dead that was not Elect cannot be ruled over in the outward Millennium.  Yet all men in their order of harvest will live those words out INWARDLY even for those in resurrected spirit bodies as the kingdom of God is still WITHIN those men.

Lake of Fire and Second Death

The Lake of Fire is where salvation is found and the new man formed and completed by the wrath of God against our old man.  The revealing (revelation) of Jesus Christ in the hearts and minds of every man is the greatest gift and reward imaginable.  As this church has rightfully taught in the past, it is our living out those words that bring this greatest blessing and gives every man the mind of Christ.

Rev 1:3  Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things (lives them) which are written in it; for the time is near.

The new man is brought forth in this fire and Christ in us, the overcomer, is raised when the dead old man dies.  It’s not us overcoming, again it is Christ in us doing the work and ushering in righteousness in the kingdom of God.

1Jn 4:4  Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you (CHRIST – the new man), than he that is in the world.

The Second Death is a functional living event like all words of Scripture.  Those dead to death (the Second Death) are blessed indeed because at that point, it is finished and they have put on the mind of Christ and are at rest.  It is a blessing to die to death and live the Second Death.

Rev 14:13  And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.

The old man is destroyed and the new man (Christ in us) raised up in power by going through the wrath of God. That is the gospel and how one is blessed and made holy.

Rev 20:6  Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

As an overcomer, the fire of God’s word has already burned out all the wood, hay and stubble and we are complete in Christ in need of nothing.  Thus we see Christ and His Christ in the fire administering the Lake of Fire and the fire cannot hurt us.  Christ and His Christ can walk in this fire without hurt.  They had already overcome by the same fire.

Dan 3:25  He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.

Dan 3:26  Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire. 

There it is.  The new man in us, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, overcome and come forth from the fire.  The new man in us is THE RESULT of going into the fire in faith and losing our life in the flesh.  Avoiding the lake of fire means no overcoming in this age.

Christ in us is the overcomer and only He can dwell in the everlasting fire and not be hurt.

Isa 33:14  The sinners in Zion are afraid; Fearfulness has seized the hypocrites: “Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? Who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?”

The answer is the NEW MAN in us, the overcomer…..

Isa 33:15  He who walks righteously and speaks uprightly, He who despises the gain of oppressions, Who gestures with his hands, refusing bribes, Who stops his ears from hearing of bloodshed, And shuts his eyes from seeing evil:

The new man is not appointed to wrath but to salvation.  Double witness right here.

1Th 5:9  For God hath not appointed us (Christ, the new man) to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

Rev 2:11  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh (Christ in us, the new man only) shall not be hurt of the second death.

The new man in us is not appointed to wrath!!!.  The Second Death experience will not hurt the new man. The new man is being raised up in the same proportion as the old man is being destroyed in the fire whether it be called Lake of Fire or fiery trials.  We are following in our Lord’s footsteps.

Rom 6:5  For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death (second death), certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, (the First Resurrection, the mind of Christ)

Rom 6:6  knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.

Rom 6:7  For he who has died (the second death) has been freed from sin. (Holiness, the blessing of the new man, Christ in us the hope of glory)