God’s Standard of Righteousness by William Covert

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 17, 1910

God’s Standard of Righteousness

By William Covert

WILLIAM COVERT

Do we desire to know what standard of righteousness God approves? then look at the life of Christ for a model. He says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” John says that if one claims to abide in Christ, he should walk as Christ walked; for Christ came down from heaven not to do his own will, but the will of the Father who sent him, and he attended faithfully to the mission which he came to perform. It is true that the standard which Jesus sets before us is an exalted one; but it is for our interest that it should be so, and we should desire nothing less in righteousness than the example enjoined by our blessed Master, the righteous One, for he surely knows what is best for all, and his footsteps may well be followed.

Holiness Enjoined

When God called upon Abraham to stand as a representative of truth in the earth, he said to him: “Walk before me, and be thou perfect. And I will make my covenant between me and thee.” Thus it is seen that the condition upon which the covenant with Abraham was based, embraced a life of perfect conformity to God’s will. And this standard Abraham did reach before the end of his journey, for the Lord said, “Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.” (Gen. 26: 5.) Moreover, God requested Moses to speak to the children of Israel for him and say, “Ye shall be holy: for I the Lord your God am holy.” Lev. 19: 2. This request for holiness accorded perfectly with the profession they were making, and with the work which God had called upon them to do. And their example in holiness before the world was to serve as an argument in favor of right living, and as an inducement to lead others in the way of holiness. They were to pose before the nations as the sanctified representatives of the God of heaven, for they had been chosen by him to bear the message of truth and carry the standard of righteousness to all the nations of earth. For these reasons they were called upon to be a holy people, like the Lord who had called them.

The same God who called Israel out of Egypt has called his people out from among the nations to-day, and the same reason should be assigned for the holiness of his people now that was assigned for their holiness then. God is in holiness now just what he was in holiness then. And he has the same ability now to keep his people holy that he had then. And, too, the very same requests for holy obedience have been handed down through the ages that were given in early times to God’s people. Neither have any taught its importance in stronger terms than did Christ when advising his listeners upon the subject. His words to them were, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” Matt. 5: 48.

Says an apostle: “As he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation [all manner of living]; because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” 1 Peter 1: 15, 16. While considering the high standard set before us in the teachings which have been cited, it is helpful to know that God’s requirements enjoined, become enabling promises to all who believe them.

God will not command his people to do that which man can not do, or that which he will not enable them to perform. The word therefore which God commands becomes the word of his power to them who believe and accept the favor of his grace. For the prophet has said to the Lord, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” Isa. 26: 3. Indeed the Lord will create man anew that he may be able to perform every work enjoined by duty’s call. The gospel plan is to take an alien from God who is dead in sin, and in his stead create a new man in righteousness and true holiness. It is the new man created in righteousness who lives the life of true holiness. He has given himself up as an instrument to be in the divine hand and to be directed by the divine mind; and so it is God that works in him both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Chicago, Ill.