The Christian and the Law of God by C. M. S.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 12, 1912

The Christian and the Law of God

By C. M. S.

It is a significant fact that one of the most blessed promises recorded in the Bible is found in the last chapter of the last book of the Bible, and that that promise is made to a remnant people who are loyal to the law of God. It reads:—

“Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.” Rev. 22:14.

The verse following that shows just who will not enter into the city of God, when the case of each one has been unalterably fixed. They are those who have been breaking those same commandments, and have thus proved themselves disloyal to God. And incidentally this demonstrates the immutability of God’s law; for here it stands in all its vigor as a touch-stone of human character and human destiny.

It is the earnest desire of every Christian to have a right to the tree of life, and to pass through the gates into the city of God. A loyal attitude toward the law of God is one of the requisites of every soul who enters that city and is given the privilege of partaking of the fruit of the tree of life. Again, in calling attention to the company of the redeemed, the revelator says: “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” Rev. 14:12. Thus we see the importance which God himself attaches to loyalty to his law. The last admonition and warning contained in the blessed Book is this one which deals with the keeping of the law of God.

Another translation of Rev. 22:14 reads: “Blessed are they that wash their robes, that they may have the right to come to the tree of life,” etc. But the two expressions are in harmony, since the washing of the robes signifies the repudiation of all that the law condemns,—the repudiation of those things specified in the verse immediately following the one quoted, which are violations of God’s law.

Those who wash their robes are not committing those violations; hence they “do his commandments;” and upon them is pronounced the last blessing recorded in the Bible; and to them the Lord himself directs the eyes of the whole world, in the words: “Here are they that keep the commandments of God.” Should not the Christian consider it worth his while to be found in the company of whom this is said?

Disloyalty to God has always been disastrous from the time Satan rebelled in heaven against the authority of God. It is the cause of this earth’s condition of sin, oppression, sickness, sorrow, and misery of every kind. We add to that condition whenever we range ourselves on the side of those who oppose the law of God.

There will come a time (after sin and sinners are removed) when the authority of God as expressed in his law, will be recognized in every part of God’s universe. If we oppose his law now, we range ourselves upon the side of those who are opposing that glorious consummation; we put ourselves in the company of those who are left outside the walls when the saints of God have had their home-coming. It must be the case; for those who refuse obedience here can not have that blessing pronounced upon them there. Those who enter heaven will be those who love the God of heaven. Listen to the testimony of John: “This is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.” 1 John 5:3.

The keeping of the commandments is also declared to be an evidence of our love of the children of God. See verse 2. Again: “Hereby we know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” 1 John 2:3, 4. And this class last mentioned are particularly pointed out as being among those left outside the gates of the city of God.

With this array of positive utterances of the Scripture, we have no excuse for declaring the law of God abolished or its observance a matter of no concern. Add to this the Saviour’s own oral testimony upon the point as recorded in Matt. 5:19, and what ground is left for the professed Christian in opposing the law of God? It is significant that the last recorded blessing of the Bible is upon commandment-keepers in a generation that is teaching the abolition of the law of God.

C. M. S.