p. 8 | The Law of God by H. W. Cottrell

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Jan 14, 1913

The Law of God

By H. W. Cottrell

By H. W. Cottrell

The Character of the Law

Having determined in the preceding article that the Ten Commandments constitute the law of God, and that it is an expression of His will, descriptive of His character, we proceed to study the character of the law. The character of the law of God must of necessity be similar to the character of its Author.

The inner life of a villain characters his countenance. His facial features depict the realm-kingdom of darkness in which he lives. The outshining of the within-abiding new life (Christ), is characterized in countenance, manner, and acts, of that saintly mother.

Those oppressive religio-civil laws that existed in the Dark Ages, or in any other age of the world, depicted the hidden venomous character of the law enactors.

The character of our heavenly Father, who gave man His law as a guide in morals, is well described in the language: “God is love.” “O give thanks unto the Lord; for He is good: for His mercy endureth forever.” “But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us.” “The Lord our God is holy.” 1 John 4:8, 16; John 3:16; Ps. 106:1; Eph. 2:4; Ps. 99:9.

The character of that transcendent law of God, the Ten Commandments, is defined by the Lord in Holy Writ. Paul quotes from the seventh and tenth commandments of the law, and declares it to be holy like its Author, our heavenly Father. “Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. . . . Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.” Rom. 7:7-12.

The apostle Paul knew the Author of the law. He also knew the character of the law, and that it condemns sin in the man who violates it; for it had so done in him. Therefore he was prepared to pronounce the law of God “holy, and just, and good.”

It Is Perfect

The sweet singer of Israel declares it to be “perfect, converting the soul.” Ps. 19:7. The thought of infinite perfection is almost beyond the grasp of the finite mind; but from the human point of view, we can readily grasp the thought that if a joiner were to make a perfect joint, attested by the square, then were to add to or take from, it would make it imperfect. It would be equally true should one succeed in an effort to alter the law of Jehovah. Perfection is the character of the law. Divine perfection can not be altered.

“Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and Thy law is the truth.” Ps. 119:142. A man may cease to tell the truth when he talks, but “It is impossible for God to lie.” Heb. 6:18, A.R.V. Truth may be placed on the scaffold, trodden under foot of man, but it can not perish. Truth is the character of God’s law.

Spiritual

As late as A.D. 60, the apostle Paul declared on behalf of the character of the law, “We know that the law is spiritual.” Knowing the law of God, and knowing it to be spiritual, he shaped his faith and practise in harmony with it. He said he believed “all things which are written in the law.” Acts 24:14; 17:2. The character of the law is spiritual.

It Convicts of Sin

“Howbeit if ye fulfil the royal law, according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well: but if ye have respect of persons, ye commit sin, being convicted by the law as transgressors.” James 2:8, 9, A.R.V.

The character of the law of God is good, just, true, perfect, holy, and spiritual.

The character of every law, whether human or divine, is a reflection of the character of its author. The character of the law of God is just like the character of our loving heavenly Father.

[The next article in this series is “The Immutability of the Law.”]