Law of God to the Gentiles.
By H. A. St. John
“Show from the Scriptures that the law of God was ever given to the Gentiles?” The above question was handed to us by a Disciple preacher. From this, and remarks made by the same individual, we learned that he did not believe that the Gentiles in the old dispensation were amenable to God’s law. We have become satisfied that this is the commonly received opinion of a class of religionists, and a class too that have much to say about the Bible being the only man of their counsel. In our humble opinion a more egregious error could hardly be entertained. It has become very evident to us that the idea that God’s moral law was peculiarly and exclusively Jewish has been hatched for no other purpose but to evade the claims of that holy law, especially the fourth precept. We are not aware that such a doctrine was ever believed by any of the eminently learned or pious in the gospel age. It is of modern origin, and very modern at that. The advocates of this unreasonable and unscriptural doctrine seem to suppose that the obligations of the ten commandments had their origin at Sinai. Indeed this appears to be a fundamental error in their premises. Now we hold as the exact truth in the matter that the giving of the law on Mt. Sinai did not create a single new moral obligation. Any one may become satisfied of this fact by an examination of the brief history of our race from Eden to Sinai. The principles of the ten commandments were understood and their obligation acknowledged from the very beginning of man’s creation. Sin is not imputed when there is no law, but it was imputed in the patriarchal age proving that the obligation of the law existed. And no precept of the moral law is so plainly recognized before Sinai as the fourth. No command of the decalogue is so early brought into notice. It is very plain therefore, that long before there was any distinction between Jews and Gentiles, the obligation of the ten commandments rested upon all. The law of God as uttered by himself on Sinai, is termed in the Scriptures a perfect law. It is a perfect rule of morality. It was so before Sinai, after Sinai, and is still. It is as utterly impossible for us to conceive of two perfect moral laws different from each other, as it would be to conceive of two Supreme Beings unlike each other. When the self-evident truth is admitted, that the ten commandments were binding in the patriarchal age, then it must also be admitted that the whole world without respect to nationality were amenable to this law throughout the old dispensation; unless it can be shown that at Sinai God released the larger portion of the human family from moral obligation. But this cannot be proved. To those who believe that the law of God was never given to the Gentiles, we would like to propound a few questions for their consideration; 1. Why was sin imputed to them from Sinai to Christ? 2. If not imputed what will be their condition in the Judgment? 3. Can they be condemned? If so, upon what ground? If the condemnation of the Jews was because of their transgression of the law of God, and that law was abolished at the cross, why were they not then, there, and for that very reason, restored to the favor of God? Many such difficulties might be presented, but we forbear. We now offer two or three conclusive proofs from the New Testament that the law of God was binding upon the Gentiles, and these texts also constitute insurmountable evidence of the perpetuity of the law. Says Paul, “Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.” Rom. 3:19. By the expression “under the law,” the apostle means under its condemnation, shown guilty by it. Then surely if the whole world were under the just condemnation of the law it was binding upon all. Further on, in verse 23, he says, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. Does all here mean the Jews only, or the whole world? Do you say that they had transgressed the commands of the New Testament? This could not be; for it did not exist. One more testimony upon this point and we conclude. Gal. 3:22: “But the Scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.” Much testimony of like import might be produced, but this is sufficient to forever settle the question in the minds of the candid. The Old Testament Scriptures concluded all under sin, hence all were amenable to God’s law. Again, if the law of God was not binding upon the Gentiles, and its obligation taken off the Jews at the crucifixion, then, verily the apostles made a very great mistake in their preaching, for we learn that they went everywhere exhorting the people to confess and forsake their sins and come to Jesus for pardon. Repentance unto life through Christ was the first thing preached by them. How strange! yea more, how foolish and senseless a course was this to pursue, if Antinomianism be true. They could not be called to repentance for transgressing the gospel; for thousands of them were hearing it for the first time. If the apostles had believed that the Gentiles were not under the condemnation of the law, or that the law was abolished at the cross, they would have gone around the first time simply announcing the gospel; and all who chose to receive it could do so without any repentance; and upon their second tour it would be time enough to call those to repentance that had rejected and transgressed the gospel as presented to them on their first visit. But no such folly as this characterized their work. Their whole course of conduct as revealed in the Scriptures is opposed to the change or abrogation of God’s law. Their example and their preaching were ever in perfect harmony with the perpetuity of the ten commandments. How strange and sad it is that any professed Christian should find fault with the holy, just and good law of God. But the opposition is organizing and increasing in strength of numbers and talent. Truth is gaining some victories and it has many strong and earnest friends. The battle waxes hotter every day. Soon every man and woman will have the opportunity of taking their stand for, or against, the law of God; and upon their decision will depend their eternal destiny. Oh, how solemn is this period of the world’s history! Reader, to which do you belong? Are you seeking to have the perfect law of God written in your heart that you may be a partaker of all the blessings of the new covenant? Or are you turning from this holy law and losing the favor of God? Oh! be entreated to choose the Lord’s side and soon receive a victor’s crown from the hand of Jesus.