The Law of God—Its Immutability and Perpetuity
1. Of what is the law of God an expression? “Let my tongue sing of Thy word; For all Thy commandments are righteousness.” Ps. 119:172. 2. How long will God’s righteousness endure? “Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness.” Ps. 119:142. 3. By what striking comparison does God emphasize the perpetuity of His righteousness? “Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath; for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment; and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but My salvation shall be forever, and My righteousness shall not be abolished.” Isa. 51:6. 4. What is this righteousness? “Harken unto Me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is My law; My righteousness shall be forever, and My salvation unto all generations.” Isa. 51:7, 8. 5. Why is the law so enduring? “The law is holy, and the commandment holy, and righteous, and good.” Rom. 7:12. NOTE.— When men make laws which are just and good, they remain unchanged; there would be no justice in a change; there would be no necessity for a change, even tho all obey the laws. God’s law is not only righteous and good, but holy; infinite love and justice would make no change. 6. What was the attitude of the Saviour with respect to the law? “Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.” Matt. 5:17. 7. Did He teach that the law had been or could be done away? “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away.” “It is easier for heaven and earth to pass away, than for one tittle of the law to fall.” Matt. 24:35; Luke 16:17. 8. This is in harmony with what words of Solomon? “I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be forever: nothing can be put to it, nor anything taken from it.” Eccl. 3:14. 9. What will be the result of disobedience to the commandments? “Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, shall be called least [by those] in the kingdom of heaven.” Matt. 5:19. 10. What shall be for those who obey? “Whosoever shall do and teach them, shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” Matt. 5:19. “Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the Tree of Life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.” Rev. 22:14. 11. In the very last days of earth’s history, John saw a “remnant” church keeping the commandments. “The dragon waxed wroth with the woman [the church], and went away to make war with the rest [the “remnant”] of her seed, that keep the commandments of God, and hold the testimony of Jesus.” Rev. 12:17. 12. Beyond the “remnant” church is the Judgment, and there we find the law, still binding, still the standard of life. “Fear God, and keep His commandments; for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every work into judgment, with every hidden thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” Eccl. 12:13, 14. 13. To what, then, shall we ever look? “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” Isa. 8:20.