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ROM. X, 4

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The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 24, 1868

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 32, No. 22.

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ROM. X, 4.

By E. F. C.

‘For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.’
Christ is the end of the law to one class, believers; of course he is not the end of the law to the opposite class, unbelievers.
If end means object or design, we can understand it. The object or design of the law was “righteousness,” or right doing, and if it had not been transgressed it would have developed a righteous character and given life. It was “ordained to life,” but by transgression it was “made death” to us. Since we have sinned, future obedience of the law cannot attain this object or end, namely, righteousness, for it cannot take away our past sins. But Christ offers us pardon for the past, and strength to obey in the future, and thus the original design of the law, righteousness and life, is attained through him. This is a good end, accomplished for the believer only.
But if end means abolition, the believer may commit murder, or break any one of the commandments, for to him they are abolished. But woe to the unbeliever, if he does the same thing. Christ is not the end (abolition) of the law to him. The penalty still hangs over his head, unless he abolish the law by believing.
Reader, which class would you choose to dwell among? believers or unbelievers? If both classes do their duty according to this law-abolishing creed, the unbelievers are altogether the better men. E. F. C.