ROMANS III, 31 by I. D. VAN HORN

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 19, 1869

By I. D. VAN HORN

“Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid; yea, we establish the law.”

The law here referred to by the apostle, is that by which is the knowledge of sin. Verse 20. The inspired definition of sin is, “The transgression of the law,” 1 John iii, 4. Some quibble here, and say, “This does not tell us what law it is that it is sin to transgress. We would refer all such to what is said about it by the apostle James, chap. ii, 8–12. We are informed there that sin is the transgression of that law which says, “Thou shalt not commit adultery,” and “Thou shalt not kill.” It is, therefore, the law of God—the ten commandments, which Paul so emphatically declares is not made void by faith in Christ. Faith in the Saviour does not abolish the moral law.

But, on the other hand, Paul declares that by faith in Christ “we establish the law.” How can this be? Simply as follows: God created the man Adam, and placed him in the garden of Eden with a right to everything that was for his own comfort and enjoyment. He had also a right to the tree of life; but there was the tree of the knowledge of good and evil which was, by the command of the Lord, reserved. This tree was to prove the man’s fidelity to his Maker. By obedience he would ever retain his right to the tree of life, and live continually. To disobey would be to incur the displeasure of his God, and fall under the sentence of death. He did disobey, and immediately was deprived of his right to the tree of life. He was driven from the garden of Eden under the sentence of death. He must return to dust from whence he was taken, and there is no way of escape. He had violated his Maker’s law.

Now in order to save man and restore him again to a right to the tree of life, the Lord must do away with his law and let man live, or he must provide a means to bring him up again from death. He could not be a just God and do away his law; therefore this would be impossible. Another way to save man must be provided. The Son of God offers to become man’s Saviour by being made a sacrifice for sin. The sacrifice is accepted, the plan of salvation is laid, and the promise is given. Hope revives in the heart of man as he views, by faith, his Saviour suffering for the sins of the whole world. By faith in Jesus, man can secure the pardon of all his violations of the law of God. “Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name under Heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts iv, 12. It is not by the doing away of the law of God, therefore, that man obtains a right to the tree of life, but by faith in Jesus his Saviour, and by obedience to the law. Jesus has said, “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. xxii, 12. It is thus, dear reader, that faith in Christ establishes the law of God. By obedience to it, through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, all may obtain eternal life.

I. D. VAN HORN.

ROMANS III, 31.