GLIMPSES OF THE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
By F. R. Richards
The Law and Righteousness.
THE All-wise needed none to teach Him that the highest happiness of His created intelligences depends upon their harmonious action, harmony among themselves, and that harmonious action is in turn but the finished inclination of united purpose. Herein is the intent of all God’s laws, which, whether written or unwritten, are “eternal;” on “the fleshy tablets of the heart,” or upon “tables of stone,” they are “unchangeable;” discerned or misunderstood, they are “holy;” and exalted or reviled, they are “good.” “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind,” is the first and great commandment; “and the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” God knew that these are the foundation principles upon which alone the harmonious association of His intelligent beings could rest. He was pleased to ordain that the very essence of truth, in whatever bearing, may be drawn from them only, and that every element of truth shall exist by virtue of and be witnessed only by them. Jesus therefore says, “On these two commandments hang,” not only “all the law,” but “the prophets” as well. Matt. 22: 37-40. As to the judgment which determines the reward of the wicked, it is set from the beginning, and its integrity witnessed by the law; “for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” Rom. 3: 20. Man determines his own destiny by his choice of obedience or disobedience. Jesus says, “If any man hear My words, and believe not, I judge him not; for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.” John 12: 47. But God “hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that Man whom he hath ordained.” And by raising Christ from the dead “He hath given assurance” of this to all men. Acts 17: 31. “With righteousness shall He judge the world.” Ps. 98: 9. “The works of His hands are verity and judgment; all His commandments are sure. They stand fast forever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness.” Ps. 111: 7, 8. God’s law will in that day witness to His righteous judgment; for by authority of it shall judgment be rendered. David, by divine inspiration, says: “Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and Thy law is the truth.” “Thy commandments are my delights;” for “unless Thy law have been my delights, I should then have perished.” “The righteousness of Thy testimonies is everlasting.” “I have known of old that Thou hast founded them forever.” Ps. 119: 142-144, 92, 152. God’s law, being the expression of His nature, must partake of the attributes of His character; its authority, scope, and duration are therefore infinite, as He is infinite. We have seen that because of transgression all merit death; we have also seen that by faith in the atoning blood of Christ, man may become exempt from the penalty of disobedience, and be reconciled to God, or justified in His sight. To be reconciled to God is to be brought into unity, conformity, or harmony with His will. The condition of right relations with God is called righteousness; but it comes to us not by our lawful works; for “by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight,” but “by grace are ye saved thru faith; and that not of yourselves, . . . lest any man should boast.” Therefore Jesus is the Lord, our Righteousness. Our righteousness is then the righteousness of Christ. But let none say that because the deeds of the law can not work justification, the law has no office. Shall we say that the law is sin?—“God forbid. Nay,” says Paul, “I had not known sin, but by the law;” “for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” Rom. 7: 7; 3: 20. Whoso grasps and applies the atonement (at-one-ment with God) by receiving the righteousness of Christ, is no longer under the dominion of sin, which is the bondage of the law. The law no longer holds6over his head death as the penalty of his disobedience; for, being right (at one, of one mind and purpose) with God, his acts will be in harmony with the eternal principles of God’s law. In this consists his freedom; herein God’s law becomes to him, not the bondage of sin, but the “perfect law of liberty.” He is “free from the law of sin and death.” James 1: 25; Rom. 8: 2. In his new state of mind, every precept of God’s law becomes to him, not the menacing threat of a cruel master, but a blessed promise, bringing its own fulfilment; for now he loves “God with all his heart,” and “his neighbor as himself.” He does not covet; for by inheritance he is heir to all the riches of heaven, with paradise restored. The law of God is the expression of His wisdom; man therefore becomes wise unto salvation by cultivating its acquaintance, as could be proved by a score of texts. “They that forsake the law praise the wicked; but such as keep the law contend with them.” Prov. 28: 4. Yes, it is they who wrestle against “spiritual wickedness.” Man in his mortal strife against the powers of darkness would surely be overcome in sin but for his help in God; but “he that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.” Prov. 28: 9. Let us all, then, adopt into our prayer the words of the psalmist, when by the law he knew he was a wretched sinner: “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” Ps. 51: 10. The spirit of this prayer is in harmony with the eternal principles of God’s truth; for “to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” Rom. 8: 6, 7. Hence the advice: “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” Phil. 2: 5. “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” “If children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ.” Rom. 8: 14, 17. “Be renewed in the spirit of your mind,” and “put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” Eph. 4: 23, 24. “The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment;” for “the law of his God is in his heart.” “Wait on the Lord, and keep His way, and He shall exalt thee to inherit the land.” You ask when?—“When the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.” For “the transgressors shall be destroyed together; . . . but the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord; He is their strength in the time of trouble. And the Lord shall help them, and deliver them; He shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in Him.” Ps. 37: 30, 31, 34, 38-40.