p. 261 | The Law and the Gospel by A. C. Gilbert

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Apr 27, 1915

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 42, No. 17.

The Law and the Gospel

By A. C. Gilbert

How Sin Is Revealed—How It Is Taken Away—The Happy Condition That Follows

By A. C. Gilbert

Man’s character was perfect by creation. His attitude toward his Creator was one of confidence, loyalty, and integrity. He served God in a perfectly natural manner. Every manifestation of interest in the character and work of the Lord was an absolutely natural act.

Was “Perfectly Natural”

Man, in this sinless state, exercised his functions in fullest harmony with the perfect law that was ordained to govern in the sphere of perfect moral nature. Indeed, it was the complete, perfect recognition of and obedience to God’s holy, perfect moral law which enabled man, before sin entered the world, always to please to the highest degree his Maker. He acted, as we often say, “perfectly natural.”

A Change in This Nature

But a regrettable change has come. Upon the face of nature in general, and moral nature in particular, is seen the stain of sin. Man to-day possesses a nature that is diametrically opposed to the nature with which God endowed him in the beginning by the direct act of creative power.

It is vividly described by the apostle Paul in the following words: “There is none righteous, no, not one: there is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulcher; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: their feet are swift to shed blood: destruction and misery are in their ways: and the way of peace have they not known: there is no fear of God before their eyes.” Rom. 3:10-18. They are enemies of God. Rom. 8:7; James 4:4. This is the darksome picture of man as he “acts perfectly natural” to-day.

Though man sinned—changed his character—this does not affect the nature and authority of the perfect moral standard that was his guide in the days of his perfection. Since man is invited by the Saviour to give up his sinful character for the perfect character he had in the beginning, it logically follows that the very same perfect law which regulated that sinless life in the beginning must exist to-day as the moral standard, in order to bring man back into harmony with the perfect will of God.

The Carnal Mind Is Enmity

The sinful nature of man is opposed to the plans and purposes of God. “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” Rom. 8:7. The law that governs the character of sin is in direct opposition to the law that governs the character of righteousness. Rom. 7:12 to 8:3. The purposes of the law are: (1) To define sin. 1 John 3:4. (2) To detect sin. Rom. 3:20; 7:7. As it enters the inmost recesses of heart and mind, searching for sins that lie in wait to deceive, the law becomes (3) a mirror reflecting the imperfections and stains revealed in the face of sinful character. James 1:22-25. (4) As the law manifests the inconsistencies and contradictions in the life because of sin, it becomes a reprover of wrong. Rom. 3:19; 7:7-13. (5) In fulfilling these purposes, the law becomes a standard of righteousness. It is itself a holy and righteous instrument. Rom. 7:12; James 1:25; Ps. 19:7; 111:7, 8.

Pointing to the Way Out

Though the law is righteous and perfect, yet it can impart no righteousness to the individual who stands before it condemned to the death penalty. 1 John 3:4; Rom. 6:23; 5:12; James 1:15. In the light of the purposes of the law, as stated above, man, as a sinner, stands hopeless and helpless until he discovers that the law is not only a revealer of sin, but is, as it were, a finger board directing him to Jesus, whose sinless life met the fullest just demands of the broken law, and whose precious blood can cleanse from every sin. Gal. 4:4, 5; 3:23, 24; 1 Peter 2:22; 2 Cor. 5:21; Gal. 3:13; 1 John 1:7, 9; 1 Peter 1:18, 19.

This righteousness which is imputed to us, or placed to our account, is “the righteousness of God” provided apart from that contained in the law. Seeing that the law cannot give of its righteousness to the sinner, therefore “apart from the law a righteousness of God hath been manifested,” which is the superabundant righteousness of Jesus Christ. Rom. 3:21, 22, R.V.

Power unto Salvation

We see the helplessness of man in the eyes of the justice of the law, and how through Jesus provision has been made to save him fully from the extreme penalty of the transgressed holy law of heaven. Heb. 7:25. The gospel is the revelation of this condescension, and contains within itself “the power of God unto salvation.” Rom. 1:16. The gospel, the plan of the ages, provides the pool into which all may plunge and find complete, perfect cleansing from the filth of sin.

Following the instruction given by the law, the willing heart has gone to the gospel fountain (Zech. 13:1), the Saviour, and found rescue from “the miry clay,” and has been taught to sing “a new song.” Ps. 40:1-3. Now he returns to the mirror, the law. James 1:25. And what does it say? It approves his conduct. It testifies to the fact that the person who stood before it previously as a sinner is not unrighteous now, but is righteous, has been converted, and is in harmony with the perfect purpose of the mirror, the law, because he has been justified by “the righteousness which is of God by faith” in Jesus Christ. See especially Phil. 3:9; Rom. 3:21-26, R.V.; Gal. 3:22-24.

The Law and the Man in Harmony

There is perfect agreement now between the law and the man who is justified by faith. It no longer stands to condemn. Gal. 3:25, 26. That agreement, and that approbation of the law in behalf of the man justified by the blood of Christ, will remain as long as the man maintains his loyalty to the banner of Prince Immanuel. But the moment he neglects one spiritual duty, and is made conscious of that neglect by the Holy Spirit, that very moment the righteous law arises to reprove and condemn. Either one or both of the principles upon which hangs all the law—love to God and love to man (Matt. 22:36-40)—has been violated, and the conscience feels condemned.

It is thus made clear that the law is not done away, or abolished, after one has become converted—justified by faith in Christ.

Paul says: “Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.” Rom. 3:31. Through the righteousness of Jesus Christ we are freed from the condemnation of the law, but not from its authority.

“Beware of Antinomianism”

The “Baptist Church Manual” has this to say in reference to the law: “We believe that the law of God is the eternal and unchangeable rule of His moral government; that it is holy, just, and good.”

Martin Luther emphatically avers: “I wonder exceedingly how it came to be imputed to me that I should reject the law of Ten Commandments. . . . Can it be imagined that there should be any sin where there is no law? Whosoever abrogates the law must of necessity abrogate sin also.”—“Spiritual Antichrist.”

John Wesley says, “Beware of antinomianism, making void the law, or any part of it, through faith.”—“Christian Perfection.”

The Great Peace That Comes

The attitude that every Christian should assume toward the law of God, the Ten Commandments, is beautifully expressed by the psalmist: “O how love I Thy law! it is my meditation all the day.” “I understand more than the ancients, because I keep Thy precepts.” “Through Thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.” “Great peace have they which love Thy law: and nothing shall offend them.” Ps. 119:97, 100, 104, 105.

The heart that is liberated from the power of sin, and maintains its loyalty to the gospel of Christ, is free, during that blessed experience, from the condemnation of the law, and has “confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.” 1 John 3:21, 22. “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not grievous.” 1 John 5:3.