Gospel Truth #8
A higher motivation becomes realized in the close of time than has prevailed in the church in past ages—a concern for Christ that He receive His reward and find His "rest" in the final eradication of sin. All egocentric motivation based merely on fear of hell or hope of reward is less effective. The higher motivation is symbolized in the climax of Scripture—the Bride of Christ making herself "ready."
How A.T. Jones Understood This Truth
"When Jesus comes, it is to take His people unto Himself. It is to present to Himself His glorious church, 'not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing,' but that it is ‘holy and without blemish' [quoted from Ephesians 5:25-27, 32]. It is to see Himself perfectly reflected in all His saints.
"And before He comes thus, His people must be in that condition. Before He comes, we must be brought to that state of perfection in the complete image of Jesus (Ephesians 4:7, 8, 11-13). And this state of perfection, this developing in each believer the complete image of Jesus—this is the finishing of the mystery of God, which is Christ in you the hope of glory. This consummation is accomplished in the cleansing of the sanctuary.
"And the blotting out of sins is exactly this thing of the cleansing of the sanctuary; it is the finishing of all transgression in our lives; it is the making an end of all sins in our character; it is the bringing in of the very righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ. . . . Therefore now as never before, we are to repent and be converted, that our sins may be blotted out, that an utter end shall be made of them forever in our lives" (The Consecrated Way, pp. 123-125).
"When [the True Witness] comes and speaks to you and me, it is because He wants to translate us, but He cannot translate sin, can He? Then, the only purpose that He has in showing us the depth and breadth of sin, is that He may save us from it and translate us" (General Conference Bulletin, 1893, p. 205). (Waggoner Agrees)