RIGHTEOUSNESS AND LAW by J. W. Scoles

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Aug 5, 1889

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 15, No. 30.

RIGHTEOUSNESS AND LAW.

By J. W. Scoles

THERE are plenty of men to-day who pride themselves on their so-called morally upright lives, but who refuse to have anything whatever to do with Christianity, because, they say, they have done nothing wrong, and therefore do not need it. Such claims may suit those who make them now, but the day is surely coming when something more will be required of them. Such virtue as this has no real benefit attached to it. Nothing short of positive goodness will ever help us, and this goodness, in order to be effectual, must be perfect goodness. In other words, our characters must be found to be actually righteous in the sight of God, and as we cannot develop such characters ourselves nor in our own strength, it at once becomes evident that we need to connect with a higher source of power than our own feeble efforts. This is found by connecting with Christ, who alone can impute perfect righteousness to us; and this is done only by his own spotless righteousness being ascribed to us through our faith in his cleansing blood, and not because of our own actual freedom from transgression.

The objection is sometimes made to this view, however, that this is accusing God of requiring impossibilities of his creatures. In other words, it is said that God’s law is the divine standard of perfection, and that perfect obedience to this law is perfect righteousness on our part; and that if it is impossible for us to render perfect obedience to this law, then God is unjust in requiring it. We answer, It is not unjust in God to require perfect obedience to a perfect law, nor is the law unjust which requires such obedience on our part. Perfect justice can be administered only through the medium of a perfect law. Anything else would be injustice. The fact that men to-day find themselves under the condemnation of the law, is an evidence, not of its injustice, but of their own unrighteousness.

The next question is, can men, in their natural condition, render complete obedience to the law of God? Many think this not only a possibility, but a duty which every man should perform. Not only so, but they point with pride to their moral lives and do not hesitate to proclaim it as a fact that they are living just right. As it has been already shown that, so far as duty goes, the law requires exact obedience, and that if this obedience is not rendered, the transgressor becomes subject to the penalty of the law, which is death, there is no question but that it

is a man's duty to keep all of God's commandments. It is only when men make the claim that they can and do keep them acceptably that we object. As David looked closely into the wonderful depths of the law of God, that standard of perfection, and compared its requirements with human attainments, he was ready to exclaim, "I have seen an end of all perfection, but thy commandment is exceeding broad." Ps. 119: 96. Paul gave utterance to a similar sentiment when he said, "For we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; as it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one," etc. Rom. 3:9, 10. He also describes, in Rom. 7:14, what must of necessity be the experience of every unconverted individual. In referring to his own case he says: "For we know that the law is spiritual; but I am carnal, sold under sin." Those who think their actions are naturally in conformity with the law of God need to have their minds quickened by the influence of his Spirit, so they can see the far-reaching spirituality of this law, and that its least violation is an offense against God, its author. The beloved disciple said, "Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer." 1 John 3:15. In this, he was simply showing that the law not only covers the overt act, but that its spirituality is so penetrating as to reach even the hidden motives of the heart. When we begin to comprehend the height and depth, and the length and breadth of this unchangeable law, and contrast with its perfection our failures to keep it, we, like Paul, will cry, "I am carnal, sold under sin."

J. W. SCOLES. (Concluded next week.)