In Romans 7:14 the Apostle Paul tells us that “the Law is spiritual.”  Spiritual things and spirit beings cannot be destroyed, nor can they die.  For this reason Satan and his devils (demons), which are spirits, will be cast into the Lake of fire where they will burn forever (Mat. 25:41).  Sinners will also be cast into that fire but will be burned to ashes which will be walked upon by God’s Very Elect saints (Mal. 4:3).  Though the fire is everlasting, the punishment of sinning people will be temporary.  God is not vindictive; He will quickly put them out of their misery.  The belief that sinners will burn forever is yet another of Satan’s lies that God’s “fine print” brings to light.

Another Satanic lie is the “Bible truth” that the Law was “nailed to the cross” (Col. 2:14).  What was nailed to the cross was the “handwriting of ordinances that was against us.”  This was the sacrificial law handwritten by Moses in a “book” (scroll) and placed BESIDE the ark which contained the stone-etched Law written with the finger of God (Deut. 31:26).  Jesus announced the death of the sacrificial law at the Last Supper when He announced that His blood would replace animal blood for the removal of sins.

God’s “holy, just and good” Law (Rom. 7:12) is spiritual (vs 14) and written in the hearts of God’s Very Elect (Joel 2:28/ Jer. 31:31-33/ Heb. 8:18;10:16).  This is the Law that defines both holiness and sin–holiness if obeyed/ sin if not obeyed (1 Jn. 3:4).  That Law also dictates the future of man–life in the Kingdom of God if obeyed/ death in the Lake of Fire if not obeyed.  Contrary to universal church opinion, Christ’s sacrifice provided the power to obey the Law, not to break the Law and get away with it.  Read The Message of the Cross.  Key word–Message.

The Law (Gospel–Genesis to Revelation) is God’s “WITNESS” to the world (Mat. 24:14).  This is the Gospel (Law) that “the Scripture” (the Word Who became Jesus Christ) preached to Abraham (Gal. 3:6-8).  That same Gospel was preached to the New Testament Church (Heb. 4:2).  This was the same Gospel that had been preached to the Israelites as they wandered in the wilderness (Heb 3:17).  “Them” referred to in 4:2 refers to “whom” in 3:17.  There is only one true Gospel and it is eternal.  Are you loving God’s “fine print” yet?  Learning His “fine print” is the result of following His study instructions as recorded in Isaiah 28:9,10.  Note that in verse 13 He repeats His instructions for emphasis.  God is in the midst of His “fine print.”

In order to join the Almighty in His future kingdom we must learn His Law/Gospel/Truth/Word/Light, believe it and obey it in this life.  As noted in the previous series, in order for Christ to be our Savior in the next life He must be our LORD in this life.  As Adam and Eve learned the hard way, we cannot work for Satan and expect to be paid by God.  Sinners Saved By Grace have been duped by Satan’s promise that they can sin and “… not surely die” (Gen. 2:17; 3:3,4).  Everyone has a Lord–either God or Satan.  As 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1 tells us, the two are antithetical to each other.  SSBG do not believe this.  They are among the Laodiceans Jesus addressed in Revelation 3:14-22.

As stated earlier, God’s Law is spiritual.  To obey a spiritual Law requires spiritual power.  God’s spiritual Law can only be obeyed through the power of His Holy Spirit living within the believer.  Notice what Jesus told His apostles who had met with Him on the Mount of Olives following His temporary return to earth.  When the story is picked up He had been teaching them for 40 days “the things concerning the Kingdom of God” (Acts 1:1-5).  In verses 4 and 5 we learn that He had told them to return to Jerusalem where they were to “… wait for the promise of the Father,” which was the baptism with the Holy Spirit.  In verse 8 He told them that they would “receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you” and that they would be His witnesses throughout “… the uttermost parts of the earth,” but not before receiving the Holy Spirit.  On the Day of Pentecost the apostles were gathered together with Christ’s other disciples, about 120 in all, in an upper room where they were celebrating the Holy Day.  Suddenly, the Holy Spirit fell on them.  The rest of the story is well known but summarily rejected by most of those who call themselves God’s people.  The majority of those who do believe it disobey God in numerous other ways, thereby disqualifying themselves for receiving eternal life.  All must, as Jesus said, “Repent and believe (obey) the Gospel.”  Now we will address the question: Why does man need the Holy Spirit in this life in order to qualify for salvation upon Christ’s return?

The Spirit of God is the most powerful force in the universe.  For example, God spoke His will to the Word (the God Who became Jesus Christ), Who spoke the universe into existence through the power of the Holy Spirit (Ps. 33:6-9; 104:30).  The creation process is again explained in John 1:1-4,14 where the apostle wrote: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was WITH God, and the Word was (also a) God ….  All things were made by Him (the Word) and without Him was not anything made that was made.  In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.  And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, and we (the disciples) beheld His glory, the glory of the only begotten (at that time) of the Father, full of grace and Truth” (the Word–Jn. 17:17).  In John 1:17 and 10 we are told that Jesus came to “declare Him” (the Father), meaning to declare His Word/Will/Truth/Gospel/Law.  What He “declared” was the Father’s “witness”–the Holy Bible which Jesus declared would have been preached in all nations before His return to earth (Mat. 24:14).  At that time He will bring to an end the “times of the Gentiles” (the Gentiles’ rule of the earth–Lk. 21:24), “restore the kingdom to Israel” (Acts 1:6;15:16) and “rebuild the tabernacle of David” (Acts 15:16).  He will do all these things plus much more, and will do so using the power of the Holy Spirit.  This is the same power by which He was conceived in Mary’s womb (Lk. 1:35/ Mat. 1:18).  That same Holy Spirit power enabled Him to conquer Satan while being tempted and tried as are all men, “yet without sin” (Heb. 4:15), thereby qualifying to be mankind’s Savior and the ruler of the universe.

What does this say about those who will rule the universe with Him?  See God’s Very Elect: Future Caretakers of the Universe.  Key word–Caretakers.  If Jesus, as a man like all other men (Heb. 5:7-9), had to conquer Satan (Rev. 3:21) and walk in holiness (1 Jn. 2:6) in order to qualify to rule the universe, can anything less be required of those who will rule with Him?  It is impossible to keep the Law without the power of the Holy Spirit.  It is for the purpose of keeping the Law that God gives the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:32).  L.J.