Question Corner

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Feb 13, 1901

1122. Questions on the Law.

“(1) Why did Paul call the law written in stone the ministration of death? (2) Moses put a vail over his face so that the children of Israel could not look to the end of that which was abolished. 2 Corinthians 3. What was abolished? (3) Does Christ become the end of the law to every one that believeth? (4) Does Paul know what he was talking about when he says the law was our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ (Gal. 3:24)?”

1. To every one who receives the law or any other truth only outwardly, that is, in the mere letter, it is the minister of death. Only as it becomes a part of our very life does it minister life; and this is what the law does, received thru Christ Jesus. Rom. 8:2.

2. The glory of condemnation, that which pointed out their sin; it was glorious, but beyond that glory was the greater glory of justification or righteousness. Moses saw beyond the sin, the condemnation, the ministration of death, to the glory of righteousness and life in God’s presence. The children of Israel thru unbelief refused to do this and requested Moses to vail his face. That vail represented their unbelief. It is just the same to-day as then.

3. Christ becomes the end (purpose, object) of the law for (unto) righteousness to every one that believeth. See article on “Christ the End of the Law,” in another column.

4. We do not know what Paul knows now. Unless he has been raised from the dead, he does not know, for “the dead know not anything.” Nevertheless, Gal. 3:24 states the truth, and every one who has passed thru the experience knows it true. See article “Under the Law,” in the SIGNS of January 30.

1123. J. F. S. “Who changed the Sabbath? And how? and when?”—See article in this issue, or Bible Students’ Library, No. 107.

1124. How Free from the Law. “When Christ fulfilled the law He was free from the law, and therefore above the law. Now when a sinner repents, and believes in Christ Jesus, is he not free from the law, or above the law in Christ Jesus? Therefore he is not under obligation to keep the seventh day under the old law, but is under obligation to keep the Christian Sabbath under grace, which is the resurrection day or Lord’s day. Rev. 1:10.”

“Under the law” does not mean amenable to it, in duty bound to obey it, but under its condemnation. Of course the sinner would not or could not be condemned by a law that he was not in duty bound to obey, but “under the law” in contrast with “under grace” (Rom. 6:14, 15), means under the law’s condemnation. “Free from the law” in the true sense is not freedom from obedience to its holy and just demands, but freedom from its condemnation. No, Jesus was not above the law. He tells us thru the psalms just what His relation to the law was: “I delight to do Thy will, O My God; yea, Thy law is within My heart.” Ps. 40:8. He therefore obeyed it. John 15:10; Matt. 5:17. So also will those in Christ Jesus. 1 John 2:6. If Christ dwells in the heart by faith (Eph. 3:17; Gal. 2:20), the law will also be there; for the law is in Christ’s heart. God gives the sinner a new spirit by placing His Spirit within him, and by that Spirit writing the law in the new heart. See Eze. 36:26, 27; Heb. 8:10; Jer. 31:33; 2 Cor. 3:3. The Bible knows no such term as “Christian Sabbath,” and the only Lord’s day “is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God.” See Ex. 20:10; Isa. 58:13; Mark 2:27. It did not take a day for Christ to rise; why should a day be set apart? Well may the Lord inquire, “Who hath required this at your hands?” and well may Jesus say, “Every plant which My heavenly Father hath not planted shall be rooted up.” Nothing but the spirit of antichrist will impel any person to set himself above God’s law.