Just to make the issue of the “Law” Clear –
We all have to keep God’s Law or the Ten Commandments.
The Law of Moses showed a person how to be reconciled to God after God’s law had been violated.
Everyone who sins violates God’s law and is cursed as a result, Gal 3:10.
Ga 3:10 For as many as are of the “works of the law” are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is everyone that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
The first part of the verse reads – Ga 3:10a For as many as are of the “works of the law” are under the curse:
Gal 3:10a means that if a person needs to rely on the “law of Moses to be forgiven” they are under a curse because they had previously broken God’s law.
Gal 310b reads – for it is written, Cursed is everyone that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
Gal 3:10b means – because it is written in the Law that everyone who does not continue to Keep Gods has become cursed as a result.
The Law of Moses showed a person how to be reconciled to God after a sin had been committed. If a person sins and breaks God’s law (all sin is lawlessness, 1 Jn 3:4, they place themselves “under” the law (under the Law’s authority) and they need to be reconciled to God.
They could do this by doing “A Work of the (Mosaic) Law” or sacrificing to God to obtain forgiveness.
A person is not made just by making a sacrifice; they are forgiven, Rom 3:20. They are justified by their faith, Rm 3:28.
God’s law was summarized by Jesus in Matthew 22:37-40, where He said that we have fulfilled God’s Law if we Love God and our neighbor.
Jesus summarized God’s Law into two commandments – Love God and Neighbor in Matt 22:37-40.
Mt 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38 This is the first and great commandment.
39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
In the Old Covenant, the Law of Moses said that a person needed to make some type of sacrifice after they sinned so that they could be forgiven and reconciled to God.
In the New Covenant Jesus embodied every sacrifice possible, and now we simply have to confess our sins to Him, and He commits to forgiving us and teaching us so that we learn not to sin in the future, 1 Jn 1:9.
1Jo 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
The term “saved” refers to being saved from something.
In the Bible, the concept refers to being “saved” from God’s wrath, Rm 1:18.
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)
Sin is lawlessness or breaking God’s Laws. In the Old Testament Moses taught God’s people how to regain a “right” or righteous relationship with God after they sinned. They had to make a sin offering.
In the New Covenant, we simply have to recognize the sin and confess it to Jesus to be forgiven and then we become right or righteous in our relationship with God through Christ.
God’s wrath can be called a fire, Deut 32:22.
De 32:22 For a fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest hell, and shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountains.
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:
God’s grace teaches sinful people to deny ungodliness and avoid this fire, Titus 2:11-12.
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;
God makes sure that all people can see His grace, Titus 2:11.
Titus 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;
There is a difference, however, between “seeing” something and “receiving it”.
When a person humbles themselves before God they put themselves in a position to receive “Grace from God”, James 4:6.
Jas 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
He then begins to teach them to deny ungodliness and be “saved” from the fire He has kindled in His anger.
To teach people to deny “ungodly” behavior their correction may necessarily involve discipline, 12 Cor 11:32.
1Co 11:32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
God evaluates a persons behavior and a negative evaluation point is referred to as a “Day of the Lord”.
God may not approve of their behavior and choose to expose them to Hell, or “outer Darkness” for their correction.
If they ask for forgiveness they have recognized the ungodly behavior and are forgiven. If the person has not recognized the behavior as sinful it is termed to be willful. Willful sin brings discipline as is seen in Heb 10:26.
Heb 10:26¶For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
In keeping with teaching a person not to sin and deny ungodliness Jesus deals with this behavior by allowing discipline to affect the person. This is seen in Matt 25:41.
The reward or Kingdom of God is found in the following verse –
Romans 14:17 KJV — For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
The penalty for disobedience is the Lack of these same attributes. Upon a time of evaluation called or judgment a Christians previous behavior is either approved if or disapproved of.
There are many times of evaluation in our lives when God evaluates our behavior, and these times come into our lives as God deems them necessary.
Upon approval we enter Gods kingdom to a greater degree, as Jesus illustrated in –
Matthew 25:23 KJV — His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
Times of disapproval are illustrated below –
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:
To prevent their “condemnation with the world” they may require discipline, 1 Cor 11:32.
Heb 10:26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins 27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall “devour” the adversaries.
The term “Devour” in Heb 10:27 refers to consuming the “adversaries”.
The concept of adversaries is defined by Strong’s Greek word #5227 which means “opposition”.
Using this definition in Heb 10:27 the verse is seen to be saying this –
Heb 10:26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins 27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall “devour” that which opposes.
The person is not devoured – the sinful behavioral characteristics are devoured.
Combining the truths from 1 Cor 11:32 regarding discipline to prevent condemnation, and the truth from Heb 10:27 regarding devouring “that which opposes, we see an additional insight.
This insight can be likened to the purifying of metal through the application of heat or fire, which causes the dross to separate from the metal.
Eze 22:19 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because ye are all become dross, behold, therefore I will gather you into the midst of Jerusalem. 20 As they gather silver, and brass, and iron, and lead, and tin, into the midst of the furnace, to blow the fire upon it, to melt it; so will I gather you in mine anger and in my fury, and I will leave you there, and melt you. 21 Yea, I will gather you, and blow upon you in the fire of my wrath, and ye shall be melted in the midst thereof. 22 As silver is melted in the midst of the furnace, so shall ye be melted in the midst thereof; and ye shall know that I the LORD have poured out my fury upon you.
In these verses, we gain insight into the “elements” melting.
2 Pe 3:10 But the day of the Lord (Time of judgment or negative evaluation) will come as a thief (Devil) in the night (Time of Spiritual Darkness); in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt (Elemental behaviors of sin, Gal 4:3) with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
Ga 4:3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the “elements” of the world
In allegorical terms, it can be seen that if a Christian remains in this purifying fire forever they would be consumed.
Mt 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. (KJV)
Fallen angels are everlasting just as the fire is, so they cannot leave Hell. Hell was made for the punishment of these eternal spiritual beings.
Jesus is however the Lion of the tribe of Judah, as Hosea 5:14 and Rev 5:5 illustrate.
Ho 5:14 For I will be unto Ephraim as a lion, and as a young lion to the house of Judah: I, even I, will tear and go away; I will carry off, and there shall be none to deliver.
Re 5:5 and one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not; behold, the Lion that is of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath overcome to open the book and the seven seals thereof.
The Devil or Satan goes about as a Roaring Lion seeking whom He is allowed (By God) to devour,1 Pet 5:8.
1Pe 5:8 Be sober, be watchful: your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour,
(ASV)
The phrase Jesus is “The Lion of the Tribe of Judah” is an allegorical reference to Jesus supervising the discipline of Judah, (or His people) when they are exposed to the Devil’s presence or nature for their discipline and purification.
The fire, however, can be entered and exited during this lifetime by mankind according to Matt 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.
In Matt 5:26 it can be seen that casting into prison and casting into Hellfire correspond to one another.
Jesus facilitates the Christians “leaving Outer Darkness” or Hell when the sin has been purged from their lives.
The time that a Christian spends in the fire of God’s judgment on the Day of the Lord is not permanent, but limited or shortened so that the person is not consumed along with the elements of their carnality.
Mt 24:22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake, those days shall be shortened.
This is what is referred to as “being saved through fire”.
As long as a Christian has not learned to abstain from Ungodliness (Titus 2:11-12) they are under the Law and are being disciplined in this manner.
This is found in Paul’s life as He says –
Ro 7:8 But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law, sin was dead.
9 For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died
Before Paul knew about God’s law He thought He was alive. When He became aware of God’s law He realized He was living in Spiritual Death.
10 And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.
The law pointed out Paul’s sinfulness.
11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.
12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.
Paul needed to stop sinning and Jesus teaches Him to stop sinning and obey God’s laws through God’s grace.
Just as with Man’s law – We are all “In” the law and we are only “under the Law” (Under the Law’s authority) if we break the Law.
Ro 7:6 But now we have been discharged from the law, having died (Died to Sin) to that wherein we were held; so that we serve in newness of the spirit, and not in oldness of the letter.
Ga 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
1 ¶ Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;
2 But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.
3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: