And his law must be fulfilled

1 Nephi 9:1-29

Seems like this chapter is divided into two parts. This is part one. This is the part where Jacob explains why he quoted Isaiah. The revelation given to the Jews down the years applies to Lehi's people as well. All are of the house of Israel.He expounds on that revelation to give an extremely clear and concise lesson on the purpose of the Atonement. It's so excellent.

What struck me this time through was his use of the word 'law.' Jacob speaks of God's laws like we speak of the laws of physics, which is as it should be. They are not relative. Things fall in a vacuum at the same rate. An object in motion will stay in motion, etc. Jacob explains the law to us and then says "So, of course this is the result!"

And those results are fantastic.

12 And this death of which I have spoken, which is the spiritual death, shall deliver up its dead; which spiritual death is hell; wherefore, death and hell must deliver up its captive spirits, and the grave must deliver up its captive bodies and the bodies and the spirits of men will be restored one to the other; and it is by the power of the resurrection of the Holy One of Israel.
13 O how great the plan of our God! For on the other hand, the paradise of God must deliver up the spirits of the righteous, and the grave deliver up the body of the righteous; and the spirit and the body is restored to itself again, and all men become incoruptible and immortal, and they are living souls, having a perfect knowledge like unto us in the flesh, save it be that our knowledge shall be perfect.

(emphasis mine)
Jacob tells us what MUST happen as a result of the law that Heavenly Father has laid down. The law is necessary because if there isn't a law with consequences, there would be no way that the Atonement could satisfy the demands of justice and save us.

The real kicker, though, is this:

21 And he cometh into the world that he may save all men if they will hearken unto his voice; for behold he suffereth the pains of all men, yea, the pains of every living creature, both men, women, and children, who belong to the family of Adam.
22 And he suffereth this that the resurrection might pass upon all men, that all might stand before him at the great and judgment day.

(emphasis mine)

Jesus Christ paid the price for every living creature and will therefore be the final judge of every living creature. That's...that's amazing. It's such a logical thought. It's so...fair. He paid the price, He sets the conditions for obedience and salvation, and He judges whether or not we have met those conditions. Those who didn't know any better are covered. Those who did know better...well, they're not covered. But they will be resurrected all the same. To be judged by the Savior of all mankind. *shiver* Yikes.

One of my favorite institute teachers defines the word "damned" as "stuck." Which makes sense. If you replace the word in verse 24 it works really well.

And if they will not repent and believe in his name, and be baptized in his name, and endure to the end, they must be stuck; for the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, has spoken it.

That's basically where Satan and his followers are. Stuck. Stuck, miserable, and not in the presence of God. My fear of being stagnant and stuck is justified in this case. I never ever want to be stuck.