Not understanding that Divine grace is the means of accomplishing God's goal for our life, Evangelicals are viewing grace as an alternative to the goal. Grace provides perpetual forgiveness so even though we are not transformed into the moral image of God, even though we do not press into rest in His perfect will, we are forgiven through grace and will go to Heaven to live in a mansion forever.

Can you imagine?—can you conjure up?—can you invent?—can you dream up a doctrine more opposed to God's intention than the teaching that Divine grace is an alternative to moral transformation and untroubled rest in God's Person and will?

I will answer for you. "No, you could not possibly come up with a more diabolical, destructive alternative to God's intention than the Evangelical preaching and teaching of today."

It is no wonder some complain we are "too hard," considering what they are being taught in other places. I would too if I were in their shoes, not knowing (or caring?) what the Scriptures teach.

But back to the central issue. The central issue is what will happen to me if I do not serve God as I should. This is where Satan gets in the act. He has not served God as he should have and so he is pressing for an amnesty. Satan says, "You will not surely die and neither will I!"

Now I am going to get "hard."

If you do not deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Jesus to the place of death to self; if you do not offer your body each day a living sacrifice; if you continue to walk in the lusts and appetites of the flesh rather than in the Spirit of God; if you continue to sow to your flesh instead of to the Spirit of God; you know what? You are going to slay your own resurrection.

First of all, you are not going to attain the first resurrection, the resurrection of the ruling priesthood, the resurrection that will take place when the Lord returns.

Second, when you are raised from the dead at the end of the thousand-year Kingdom Age you are going to be clothed with corruption. If you are fortunate you will merely receive lashes, have your talent taken from you, and experience the fire of God's anger. You will be saved as by fire.

If you are not fortunate you will be confined in your body in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. In that lake you will experience endless torment. The fire will never be quenched. Eternal worms will eat at your resurrected body.

"God would never do a thing like that to His chosen!"

Won't He? Think about the curses proclaimed from Mount Ebal and then compare them with the Holocaust. Do you think God loves you more than He does the natural children of Abraham, His chosen priesthood?

To be continued.