ARE COMMANDMENT-KEEPERS LEGALISTS?
By C. F. B.
REV. CHARLES BUCK, author of Buck’s Theological Dictionary, says, in substance, that a legalist is, strictly speaking, one who acts according to, or consistent with, the law; but in general the term is used to denote one who expects salvation by his own works. In the strict sense, the question which heads this article must be answered in the affirmative; but according to the general use of the term, we answer most emphatically, No. And it seems a little incongruous to us that, while the whole Christian world profess to observe nine of the ten commandments, we should be reproached because we teach the observance of the entire decalogue. Indeed, we might say that until their attention is called to the fact that “the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord,” nine-tenths of those who observe Sunday imagine that in so doing they are obeying the fourth commandment. So that the real difference, on this point, between Seventh-day Adventists and those who are wont to call us “legalists” and “Judaizers,” is not as to the perpetual obligation of the moral law, but as to what is required by the fourth precept of that law. Theoretically, all Christians are agreed on the necessity of keeping the first, second, third, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth commandments; and all evangelical denominations teach that no one can be saved in willful and persistent violation of any one of the first three, or of the last six precepts of the decalogue. How, then, can they find fault with us when we say that it is equally important to keep all the commandments? Are not those who teach otherwise partial in the law? Mal. 2:9. That anyone can be saved by keeping the law, Seventh-day Adventists neither believe nor teach. The province of law is not to save but to condemn. Pardon comes alone through the Saviour, and is of grace, “not of works, lest any man should boast.” Eph. 2:9. Paul expressly declares that “by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified.” Rom. 3:20. The reason for this is obvious; for when we obey God we only do our duty; and present obedience can never atone for past transgression. No matter how holy our lives may be now,—even if it were possible for us to keep perfectly every one of the commandments,—our past sins stand against us till pardoned and blotted out through the blood of the atonement. Truly “there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved,” but the name of Jesus. Acts 4:12. It is indeed strange that people with the Bible in their hands, who have always regarded the decalogue as of perpetual obligation, will, when confronted with the Sabbath truth, suddenly discover that keeping the law dishonors Christ, and losing sight of the distinction which Inspiration has so clearly made between the moral and the ceremonial laws, insist that both the moral and the typical systems expired by limitation at the cross. The Saviour, in speaking of that law which says, “Thou shalt not kill,” said: “Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of Heaven.” Matt. 5:19. (Campbell’s translation, “Shall be in no esteem in the reign of Heaven.”) Is it not then a serious matter to reject the law of God? Christ died to vindicate the justice of his Father’s government; and think you that that law which he came to “magnify” and make “honorable” (Isa. 42:21), is a thing to be set at nought and despised by fallen man? The testimony of Inspiration is, “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul” (Ps. 19:7); and shall we be found guiltless of presumptuous sin if we say that it was imperfect, and had to be abolished or annulled? This is what some teach, forgetful of the words of Christ, “Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets; I am not come to destroy but to fulfill.” “It is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.” Matt. 5:17; Luke 16:17. “The carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” Rom. 8:7–9. If we have the Spirit of the Son, we will love the Father; and if we love God we will keep his commandments; “For this is the love of God that we keep his commandments; and his commandments are not grievous.” 1 John 5:3. In Rev. 22:14 we read the words of the Saviour himself, as given to John: “Blessed are they that do his [the Father’s] commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.” But of those who reject the law it is said, “He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be an abomination.” C. F. B.