p. 1 | Sinai and Calvary

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jun 4, 1894

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 20, No. 30.

Sinai and Calvary.

Jesus Christ spoke the law of God from the clouds of glory resting on Sinai's peak. There was the revelation of God's holiness and glory in his law. But as no man knoweth "the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him," it follows that this revelation of God in his law was made by the Son. This is also shown by such texts as 1 Cor. 8:6; John 1:1-3; Ex. 23:20-22; Acts 7:37, 38.

A Law of Love.

God is a God of love. His law was, therefore, given in love. "The Lord came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir unto them; he shined forth from Mount Paran, and he came with ten thousands of saints; from his right hand went a fiery law for them. Yea, he loved the people." To those who were laden with sins, who had not submitted to God's will, Sinai was a fearful and terrible place. They could not endure the presence of God's glory, the glory of goodness. But to Moses, whose will was yielded to God's will, whose sins were forgiven by Christ, God's presence was most blessed. He could talk with God face to face, and unconsciously partake of that glory till his own face shone with the heavenly radiance.

Calvary.

Calvary represents the climax of the manifestation of God's love. God's love had been shown in all past generations. It had been manifest in creation, in merciful prohibition and restriction, in mercy to the sinful, in the curse upon the earth, in merciful providences, in his teaching and leading of the race. In all these we hear the assurance, God is love; God loves us. But when Christ, the Son of God, gave his life, it is revealed to us how much God loves us. But God's love was the same in giving the law as it was in giving his Son. Infinite love was in both, incomprehensible to fallen man. For there is not one principle manifest at Calvary that was not uttered at Sinai. The former is a fuller revelation of the latter. Christ was offered that we might be able to keep the law as God gave it, a law of love; that, like Moses, we might see God in his glory without "a dimming veil between."

Present Facts.

But to be of benefit to us Sinai and Calvary must be more than mere historical facts. They must be present, living experiences. We must see God, "glorious in holiness," before we realize or know how exceedingly sinful sin is. And seeing him thus, with hearts submitted to his will, we will yield the sin, we will long for the righteousness; and thus the law will lead us to Christ, that we may be justified by faith, and have the righteousness of the law written in our hearts. Then will we delight ourselves in the law of God's commandments, and will say, with "the sweet singer of Israel:" "The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver." "O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day." With Christ will we say: "I delight to do thy will, O my God; yea, thy law is within my heart." He who honors God at Calvary will bow with reverence at Sinai, and gladly praise God for both. But he who rejects Sinai and what it means, will reject Calvary, with all that it means, because it is impossible for him to know it. He who rejects law and government can never understand reconciliation and loyalty, God's infinite justice and infinite mercy blending together in infinite love.