After Jesus comes into the Hearts of believers God begins to conform the Christian into the image of Christ. He does this through the process referred to as His Grace. This is called being saved from the wrath of God which is directed against sin, Rm 1:18.
This is accomplished through judgment which is based upon our individual obedience to the command to Love. God teaches us through His grace what is right in His eyes and what is not right.
Humility before God is the basis for receiving God’s grace, James 4:6.
Jas 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
After a Christian humbles themselves before Jesus they place themselves in a position where God can teach them to deny ungodly activity, Titus 2:11-12. He begins the salvation process which can be referred to as “receiving the Grace of God”, by grace we are saved, Eph 2:8.
The grace of God teaches a person to abstain from ungodliness in other words “to abstain from sin”. We know the wrath or anger of God is revealed against all ungodliness, Romans 1:18.
The comparison of Romans 1:18 and Titus 2:11-12 clarify the salvation process.
Ro 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; (KJV)
Tit 2:11 ¶ For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
By teaching a person to deny ungodly activity the appearance of Jesus is brought about as the next verse in Titus 2 illustrates.
Tit 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
Our hope of Glory is “Christ in us” (Col 1:27), and that is facilitated by God’s grace.
In Titus 2:13 the word translated as “Looking for” is the Strong’s Concordance Greek word numbered 4327. This Greek word suggests a receiving or motion into something. Which is of course the “image of Christ”, Rm 8:29.
2Pe 3:6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:
2Pe 3:7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
Hell (fire) is referred to as the place or condition which the Devil and His angels inhabit, Matt 25:41.
As in the case of Job, God uses the Devil and His angels (Hell) to bring about the judgment or evaluation of a Christian. This is done to teach them to deny ungodly activity in the future.
This application of God’s judgment or evaluation is how God’s grace conforms believers to the likeness of Christ.
Mt 25:41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: (KJV)
The Devil comes to steal kill and destroy, so being sent to the place where He and His demons exist means that what a person has will be taken away, and He will suffer loss. That loss can be physical of course but since this discussion involves the formation of Christ in the believer most of the loss will be of a spiritual nature.
When, as a disciplinary measure, a Christian is delivered into the presence of the Devil and his angels He remains there until He corrects the behavior that moved Jesus to send Him there in the first place, (Mt 5:26).
Mt 5:26 Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.
Every Christian is in the process of being taught to be righteous, joyful, and peaceful in the Holy Spirit. They are being taught to inherit the promised nature of Christ.
Hence, we have every Christian being conformed to the image of Christ simultaneously. Each at various levels of either success or failure. Added into this concept we must recognize that God does not deal with every negative aspect of a person immediately. This can be seen through Deut 7:22. God drives out the enemies of our Spirit as we become Spiritually strong enough to maintain the progress we have made.
The point of judgment or evaluation that the scripture refers to as the Day of the Lord is literally discipline overseen by Jesus, and administered by the Devil. This discipline is of course for the ultimate benefit of the individual Christian.
Jesus can in this circumstance be called the Lion (devourer) of the tribe of Judah. Since He is the one who oversees the discipline of His followers, 1 Cor 11:32.
2Pe 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens (ones dwelling in Heaven) shall pass away (the ways of God are neglected through transgression, Lk 15:29) with a great noise, and the elements (elemental or carnal things) shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
In Luke 15:29 the Strong’s word number 3928, commonly translated as “pass away” is used to indicate the “neglecting of a duty” or simply as “disobedience/transgression”.
Lu 15:29 And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed (passed away from or neglected thy commandment, 3829) I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: (KJV)
2Pe 3:11 ¶ Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, (KJV)
The elemental or carnal aspects (transgressions) of the believer (one dwelling in Heaven) are melted or done away with (dissolved) through the application of discipline.
This discipline happens to the individual Christian during a specific point in time, and this point of evaluation is referred to as the Day of the Lord.
Mt 24:50 The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,
Mt 24:51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Jesus Himself in one brief statement in Matt 24:28 summarized when the Day of the Lord would occur.
Mt 24:28 Wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.
A carcase is a dead body or a Christian who has been involved in willful sin.
Col 2:13 And you, being dead through your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, you, I say, did he make alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses;
The eagles (vultures in some translations) are the demons or thieves that carry out the discipline/evaluation that Jesus allows on the Day of the Lord, as is seen in 2 Pet 3:10.
2 Peter 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief; in the which the “heavens shall pass away” with a great noise (this indicates a backslidden condition), and the “elements” (elemental things or worldly/earthly behaviors) shall be dissolved with fervent heat, and the earth and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
This shows how Jesus thru the judgment/evaluation called the Day of the Lord, purifies His people.
In this way the condemnation seen in 1 Cor 11:32 is avoided.
1Co 11:32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.