p. 9 | The End of the Law by Chas. P. Whitford

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 10, 1910

The End of the Law

By Chas. P. Whitford

CHAS. P. WHITFORD

There is a class of religionists in the world to-day who tell us that the law of God has come to an end, and offer as proof Rom. 10:4, which reads as follows: “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.”

But the text does not say that the law of God has come to an end. Then what does it say? It says that Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one who believeth. The facts are simply these: The end, or object, of the law was to bring man to perfect obedience. By reason of the power of sin and the corruption of human nature, this became impossible; and so Christ came to do that which the law could not do; and here is the proof in Rom. 8:34: “Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.”

It is thus that Christ becomes the “end”—object, or ultimate requirement—of the law. Christ is the means by which man is justified, and enabled to keep the law. The law is not destroyed, nor the intention of the Law-giver frustrated, but full satisfaction being made by the death of Christ for our breach of the law, the end is attained, and we are put in another way of justification. Christ thus becomes “the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.”

But what about those who do not believe? The law still abides to condemn them as sinners, and “sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.”

Miami, Fla.