Is It True? by H. A. St. John

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Jan 11, 1877

Is It True?

By H. A. St. John

“A MAN may keep every one of the commandments, and yet not be a Christian.” Thus boldly, publicly, and emphatically, declared a minister not long since. Is it true? We had the privilege of as boldly, publicly, and emphatically denying the truthfulness of the statement. But there are some who believe in the perpetuity of the law, who think it true that a man may keep all the ten commandments without being a Christian. It becomes, therefore, a matter of no little importance to determine, if possible, the exact truth in the case. We are firmly of the opinion that perfect obedience to the law of God will constitute a perfect Christian. It is represented otherwise by those who teach the abrogation of the law. And it has ever appeared to us that the assertion, that a man may keep all the law and not be a Christian, is designed to belittle the character and sacredness of that holy law, and make it appear as a thing of insignificant importance. We are quite sure if this is not always the design of such teaching, it is the tendency.

We will now submit a very few reasons deduced from the Scriptures of truth, which we consider of sufficient weight to decide the matter. We will first offer an illustration that will assist, perhaps, in getting at our thoughts upon the subject. Suppose neighbor A has a farm adapted to grazing. He employs B to take care of his stock. He informs B that his whole duty consists in caring for his flock. For a time he is obedient and faithful, but one day he wanders from the farm and crosses a stream, and when once over finds to his regret that he cannot return without assistance. Now while B is in this position his whole duty as a servant of Mr. A is the same as when he was on the farm, caring for the flock, but now he has placed himself in a position where he cannot do his whole duty. Now suppose Mr. A takes pity on B, pardons his wrong, bridges the stream, and permits him to return to his post of duty. Now he can do his whole duty, which, while on the other side of the stream, he could not do.

Now it appears to us that the history of the human family presents nearly a parallel case. While man was in Eden, before he had sinned, his whole duty was summed up in the moral law. After he had departed from God by sin or transgression, his whole duty was the same as before, but he has now placed himself in a position where he cannot do his duty without assistance, any more than B could care for his master's flock while over the stream. But God takes pity upon helpless man, bridges the stream, institutes the plan of salvation, whereby man may come back to the Father and do his whole duty, which he could not do while away.

How is it then that we may get back to the Father where we may keep his holy law? “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 14:6. Then is it not plain? No man can do his whole duty without first coming to God through Christ. He must comply with the terms of the gospel before he can keep the ten commandments. The sinner must be slain by the law before he can be made alive unto God. He can be made alive unto God only through the Lord Jesus Christ; and he must be made alive unto God before he can perfectly keep his law. Thus we may understand how the law of the Lord converts the soul, Ps. 19:7, and how that fearing God and keeping his commandments is the whole duty of man. Eccl. 12:13.

Out of many proofs and considerations that might be offered to sustain the same idea, we will submit but one more, which we regard as entirely conclusive. It is the language of Paul in Rom. 8:7, 8. “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.”

Can we be mistaken in our conclusion? The sinner that is in the flesh, that is carnally minded, cannot please God, cannot become subject to his law, it is impossible. Then comes the question, How is the carnal mind, that stands in the way of keeping the law of God, to be taken away? This question admits of but one answer, namely, Through Christ only, or by complying with the gracious terms of the gospel. Can carnality be put away? This point will not be disputed.

The sinner comes to Christ humbly confessing his sins, finds pardon, has the carnal heart removed, and then goes on to obey the law of God, which he was never in a condition to obey before. Now is not such an one a Christian? Most assuredly. Without conversion, no man can keep the law of God, and conversion can never take place without Christ and the gospel. The law of God cannot be too highly appreciated. But while we talk of its beauties, its importance, and its sacredness; oh! may we never forget to square our lives by it, through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

H. A. St. JOHN.