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"THE LAW OF CHRIST"?

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International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Aug 19, 1889

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 15, No. 32.

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"THE LAW OF CHRIST"?

By Editor

WHAT next? A Mr. J. W. Jones, in an article entitled, "The Christian System; Its Law," quoted in the Christian Oracle from the Octographic Review, says: "It was about twenty-five years after the gospel of Christ was preached on the day of Pentecost that the law of Christ was published." And this law, says Mr. J., was given through Peter—second epistle, chapter one, verses four to six: "Add to your faith virtue," etc., which he calls "the seven commands."
But this "law of Christ," so called, does not contain one principle not found in the decalogue. It is no more a new law than was Paul's injunction—"Let him that stole, steal no more"—a new law. All of the apostolic injunctions concerning morality, righteousness, or godliness, are but the principles of God's eternal, immutable law, enjoined and magnified anew in the increasing light of the gospel.
The gospel, says Mr. J., guides us "through the picket lines into the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ ["on earth," as he elsewhere explains], and bids them farewell forever;" "the law [as given by Peter] gives us an entrance into the everlasting kingdom"!! So men are through the gospel helped into the church, but they must do all the rest alone! And this we suppose is called "rightly dividing the word of truth"! This is the food for the flock! It makes us sick at heart.
What is the truth?—It is this: God's eternal, unchangeable law, founded in the principles of love to God and love to man, summarily comprehended in the decalogue, is the only and everlasting rule of conduct; for it embraces all morality, all righteousness; it is righteousness. Eccl. 12:13, 14; James 2:8-12; Isa. 51:6, 7. The gospel "is the power of God unto salvation" to bring us into perfect harmony with the law of God, and to keep us there to the end. Rom. 1:16, 17; Titus 2:11-14. "These things . . . speak with all authority."