MERCY IN THE LAW | AdventAI

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Apr 23, 1894

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 20, No. 25.

MERCY IN THE LAW.

Many Bible students have taken too limited a view of the law of the great King. Much has been taught concerning it which, if true, proves it to be imperfect. The general trend of theological instruction is that the law is stern justice, and knows no pardon—that it points to no remedy, gives no

information in regard to salvation through Christ, or any means of escaping its penalty. If such views are correct, how can they be harmonized with many passages of Scripture setting forth the perfection of the law? Would it be like God to give a law designed for the moral development of his intelligent creatures which does not reflect to them every phase of his moral character? A law reflecting every phase of God's moral character would be a necessity in order to develop in them his own divine perfections. But his law falls short of this conception if mercy is not a principle inherent in it. Human laws are imperfect at best, but God's law embraces every perfection. Such limited views as those above are the product of measuring God's perfect law from the basis of imperfect human laws. Without the aid of inspiration man's finite mind is incapable of reasoning to correct conclusions concerning the nature of a law that is infinite in its scope. It does not belong to the finite to scan the infinite.

The true merits of the law can be understood only in the light of what the Scriptures say of it. David says it "is perfect, converting the soul." If mercy and pardon are principles foreign to its nature, how can it convert the soul? An instrument devoid of the principles of mercy cannot be used as a channel through which to dispense mercy. A principle which does not inhere in the law cannot be manifested by the law. "I will never forget thy precepts; for with them thou hast quickened me." Ps. 119:93.

This Old Testament idea of its perfection was advanced by Paul to the Galatians. Gal. 3:24. From the import of this scripture it is evident that the law is constituted a monitor, or disciplinarian, to bring men to Christ, that they might be justified by faith. It is in this manner that its converting power is exercised. If there is nothing but condemnation in it, how can it bring to Christ for justification? That would be inconsistent with its true nature. If it were destitute of mercy, it could have no converting power. The Psalmist again testifies, "Thy commandment is exceeding broad." But it is not exceeding broad so long as there is any moral principle not embraced in it. To deprive it of one moral principle would curtail its exceeding breadth.