p. 170 | Untitled article by Dudley Marvin Canright

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Third-day, August 27, 1867

CAN WE KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS?

By Dudley Marvin Canright

As strange as it may appear, I have often heard those who profess to be serving God, and even ministers, say that no one can keep the commandments. They say that it is impossible; that no one ever has done or ever can do it. They say this to evade the force of the fourth commandment. But is this true? I think not; for the Bible plainly teaches the contrary. “Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.” “He that saith, I know him and keepeth not his commandments is a liar and the truth is not in him.” 1 John ii, 4. Here John pronounces every man a liar who professes to love God, and keeps not his commandments. “For this is the love of God that we keep his commandments, and his commandments are not grievous.” 1 John v, 3. “Blessed are they that do his commandments that they may have right to the tree of life.” Rev. xxii, 14. Many other declarations might be quoted, saying most definitely that the commandments must be kept.

Now has any one ever kept the commandments? Of Zacharias and Elizabeth we read thus, “And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.” Luke i, 6. Then they must have kept all the commandments perfectly. Of another good man God testifies thus: “Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.” Gen. xxvi, 5. God testifies of Job that he was “perfect and upright.” Other examples might be given to prove that both men and women have perfectly kept all the commandments of God. Then how does this correspond with this declaration, “For there is not a just man upon earth that doeth good, and sinneth not?” Eccl. vii, 20. This is the strongest language that can be found in the Bible on that subject. I understand it to mean, that there is no man that has ever lived but what has at some time sinned against God. It does not mean that he always sins during his whole life. If it did, there would be a plain contradiction between this and many of the above testimonies. Men may have lived and been great sinners for many years. Then they may repent and turn to God, and live perfect lives without any sin. John exhorts Christians thus, “My little children, these things write I unto you that ye sin not, and if any man sin we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” 1 John ii, 1. He first says that we must sin not; but if any are beguiled into sin, and do repent of that sin, we have an advocate to intercede with the Father for us. Thus it is plainly taught that men can, and must, keep all the commandments. But it at the same time shows that there is hope of mercy and pardon, when a man sins, if he will repent of that sin and forsake it.

D. M. CANRIGHT.

Canaan, Me.