THE BLESSED WITNESSES

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Apr 17, 1893

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 19, No. 24.

THE BLESSED WITNESSES.

God’s law of ten commandments is many times called his "testimonies." The ark in which that law was placed was called the "ark of the testimony." Testimony means evidence, proof, witness. The ten commandments are called testimonies, because they witness of God’s character and either for or against every individual soul of man. First of all, that law is the reflect of God’s character and government; it is the expression of his righteousness. Says one scripture, "All thy commandments are righteousness." Ps. 119:172. In Isa. 51:6-8 that holy law and the gospel of Christ are thus contrasted with the most enduring things of earth: "Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath; for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner; but my salvation shall be forever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished. Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings. For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool; but my righteousness shall be forever, and my salvation from generation to generation."

But it is not from God’s law, holy and enduring as it is, that man obtains his righteousness. That must be obtained by the gospel. Righteousness does not come by the law; if it does, Christ died in vain. The gospel is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; "for therein [in the gospel] is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith." Rom. 1:16, 17. It is of the law of God as a witness, or of God’s commandments as witnesses, that we would speak.

The law witnesses to our condemnation. "By the law is the knowledge of sin." Rom. 3:20. "Sin is the transgression of the law," and "all unrighteousness is sin," are declared by the Lord through another apostle. See 1 John 3:4; 5:17. The apostle Paul expresses it still stronger when he declares that we would not know sin but by the law. Rom. 7:7. Now as all unrighteousness is sin, and as sin is the transgression of the law, it follows that the law condemns all unrighteousness, and must, in its far-reaching breadth, embrace all righteousness. As that law condemns all sin, it condemns all mankind as sinners, stopping every mouth and revealing the whole world guilty before God. Rom. 3:19. "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." Rom. 3:23. But "the soul that sinneth, it shall die." Eze. 18:4. "Sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death." James 1:15. Man as a sinner is, therefore, doomed to the curse of death, and the witnesses which condemn him are the ten commandments of God’s holy law, and these only can condemn him. No other testimony is accepted at the bar of heaven. No other witnesses can testify in the case. This is the inspired testimony of the apostle Paul regarding himself, as well as every other sinner. He asks, "Is the law sin," because it condemned him? And he thus answers: "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 tenth precept of the Decalogue witnessed against Paul and proved him a sinner. The law was holy, and the commandment holy and just and good, but the law proved Paul to be a sinner, carnal, condemned to death. He saw the law that it was good, but he could not do it. He tried to rise above himself and sin, but found that he was bound to a body of sin, the corruption of which would destroy him forever.

Stern, unrelenting, inexorable are the witnesses, and in them he can find no hope. And yet they are not his enemies; they have simply revealed his true condition. The Spirit of God speaking through those stern but faithfully true witnesses has given the soul a new view of the sinfulness of sin; and the poignant thrusts of an awakening conscience reveal somewhat of the depth of the disease and lead the despairing soul to cry out, "O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?"

And now the blessed moment for which those witnesses have testified, the moment for which the Spirit of God wrought conviction,

has come. The diagnosis has been made, the physician has reported, the witnesses have testified, and the poor sin-sick soul has been led to see that he has no hope in himself, no power, no righteousness, no goodness; and the Comforter who has reproved becomes the Comforter which consoles. The blessed Spirit which points out the sin points out the Saviour in all his mercy, in his abounding love, holding out with yearning hands his own perfect robe of righteousness. His faith gladly grasps it; the sin rolls away, and he stands justified before God. Thus is fulfilled to him, simply by faith, "even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe, for there is no difference."

Where are now the ten inexorable witnesses? They still stand there, but with what blessed assurance upon their faces. They look upon the perfect righteousness of Christ and say, We have nothing against it; that soul is free. The condemnation is lifted, the sins are removed. Then can the soul truly sing, in the language of Inspiration:—

"Thy testimonies also are my delight." "Let thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may live; for thy law is my delight."

And truly with such righteousness clothing us God’s law is a delight; for the law witnesses that that righteousness which is without the law is sufficient. "Therefore by the deeds of the law shall no flesh be justified in his sight; for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe." Rom. 3:20–22.

Christ died that he might bestow upon all this righteousness. "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us; for it is written, Cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree." Now notice why he is a curse for us: "That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." Gal. 3:13, 14. What is the blessing of Abraham? "Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness." Rom. 4:3.

How willing, yea, how anxious is God to thus bless all! Jesus Christ died for that very purpose, died that we might be clothed with his righteousness, died that we might have his Spirit, died that we might be "complete in him." Then, reader, why not come? Why not yield? Why not choose? All out of Christ is disappointment and sin and death; all in Christ is righteousness and life and peace. God desires that every soul shall sing:—

"I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; My soul shall be joyful in my God; For he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation. He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, And as a bride adorneth herself with jewels."

Reader, can you sing this song in truth? If not, why not? Are the ten commandments to you blessed witnesses of sin cleansed away, of the perfect righteousness of Christ upon you? If not, why not? God is willing, earnestly desirous. Are you?