The Spirit and the Law

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Mar 4, 1897

The Spirit and the Law

Editorial

The Spirit and the Law

The Spirit is the Spirit of God. He is the Author of life. His Spirit is “the Spirit of life.” The law is the law of God, and God is one. His Spirit is not against his law, but in his law. His law is not against the Spirit, but it is “the law of the Spirit of life.” Why should one be set against the other?

“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance;” and the apostle adds, “against such there is no law.” Gal. 5:22, 23. Just previous to this he had said, “If ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.” Verse 18. Why is one led of the Spirit “not under the law”?—Because he is in harmony with the law, and his life bears the fruit against which the law brings no charge. If the law is not against the fruit of the Spirit, it is certainly in harmony with that fruit; and if it is in harmony with the fruit of the Spirit, it is therefore in harmony with the Spirit itself. Those, therefore, who are led of the Spirit are not under the law, that is, are not under its condemnation, because they bear those fruits which the law approves.

The Spirit’s Work in Convicting of Sin

So far from the Spirit of God being contrary to the law of God, the Spirit uses that law to convince the transgressor of his sins. “And when he [the Spirit] is come, he will convince the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment; of sin, because they believe not on Me.” John 16:8, 9, margin. “By the law is the knowledge of sin.” Rom. 3:20. “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.” Rom. 7:7. The law condemns because the heart and life are contrary to the law. The law to the convicted sinner represents the terrors of quaking Sinai. It is a thing of dread holding over the head of the offender the sword of justice.

The Spirit in Justification

But the Spirit does not cease its work in the conviction of the sinner. Through the conviction of sin by the law it leads the sinner to Christ. That is the end, or object, of the Spirit’s use of the law in condemning the sinner. It convinces of sin, because the one convinced did not believe on Christ. John 16:9. Then the Spirit convinces of sin through the law—that the sinner may believe in Christ. “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.” Gal. 3:24. And when we are justified, we are justified by the imputed righteousness of God in Christ wrought out in obedience to the law through the Spirit. Rom. 5:19. It is thus that the Spirit brings us to the righteousness of the law worked out in Jesus Christ. “For Christ is the end [or object] of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.” Rom. 10:4. He places upon us the righteousness that is in the law, but which sinful man could not get from the law; and it is for this reason that the Spirit by the law leads us to Christ, where we may obtain righteousness and be brought into harmony with the law, our accuser, which then becomes a blessed witness of our acceptance with God. It witnesses that our righteousness, gotten through Christ’s obedience (Rom. 5:19), is in harmony with the law he obeyed (Rom. 3:24), and which it is also our duty to obey (James 2:12).

The Spirit in Sanctification

But the Spirit does not leave the sinner here. It not only

convicts him of sin through the law, and by that law leads him to the Justifier, that he may be made in harmony with the law, but it brings him into that relation to God that he will do acceptable service for his Master. To the convicted sinner the law is written on tables, shining with the terrible glory of Sinai. But to him whose heart Christ has opened, the law enters, yea, enters with Christ Jesus; and the Spirit of the living God writes it on the tables of every heart submitted to him. See 2 Cor. 3:3; Heb. 8:10. “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death,” “that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Rom. 8:2, 4. Blessed law of God, holy, just, perfect, good! Blessed Spirit of God, Comforter, Reprover, Guide, Helper, Sanctifier, by bringing us into harmony with the holy law! 1 Cor. 6:11. Blessed faith which can grasp these simple, life-giving truths. This is the “faith that worketh by love.” Gal. 5:6. This is the love that fulfils the law, that keeps God’s commandments, and counts them not grievous, because they are written on the heart. Rom. 13:10; 1 John 5:4. Reader, will you not welcome and cherish the mission and presence of the Spirit of God?