GOD'S LAW IN CHRIST, AND IN US.
By R. C. Porter
"AND the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the Only Begotten of the Father), full of grace and truth." This is he of whom it was said, "Lo, I come; in the volume of the book it is written of me, I delight to do thy will, O my God; yea, thy law is within my heart." Christ is here presented in his relation to the law of God. This prophecy of him is a very forcible statement of the exceeding depth of his experience in that relation. Every act and every purpose is here set forth as based upon that foundation of all good principles, God's holy law of love. This law is all-embracing, comprehending even the character of the eternal God from whom it came. It is but the expression of the principles of the character of its Author. Since God is love, the law is love. His purpose in giving it to others whom he had created, was to place before them the instruction which, if heeded, would develop them into his own character. So intimate was the relationship of Christ with the law, that the loveliness of his character was but the reflection of its principles. All the honor that came to Christ was alike honor to the law by which his character was formed. The prophet seeing this, truthfully said, "He shall magnify the law and make it honorable." Paul, speaking by the Spirit, states the same truth most forcibly in Rom. 3: 21: "But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets." In Christ the righteousness of God was manifest, and the righteousness of God is expressed in the law, so that the law and the prophets witness to the life of Christ that it is the righteousness of God which they demand. Here the law for the first time since sin entered was enabled to declare absolute righteousness of any man in this world. The man, Christ Jesus, has prevailed, for "in him was no sin." He stands perfect before the law from birth to death. In him the law is revealed in all its glory. The Word is made flesh indeed, and dwells among us, while we behold its glory in the character of the only-begotten Son of God. Thus the law is manifest, and made to appear in its true character in the light of his life. Christ's statement, "If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love," is further proof of this relation. He also says, "The words which I speak are not mine, but His that sent me." And best of all, "Of mine own self I can do nothing;" placing himself alike dependent with us upon the help of God for power to keep God's law. Altho he was God in the flesh, he took our relations in his relation to the law, and overcame as we overcome. Being thus tempted in all points like as we are, he knows how to sympathize with and succor them that are tempted. Thus the Captain of our salvation was made perfect through suffering, so that "both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one, for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren." Such is the law in Christ. The prophecy of Jeremiah concerning the new covenant is given in these words: "But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts and will be their God, and they shall be my people." This is precisely God's plan for Christ's character while he was upon the earth, as above expressed. The law in the hearts of his people is to produce in them the same character that was seen in Christ. When the law is fully implanted in the hearts of all of the new covenant children, they will have no further need to "teach every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord, for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them." There is no infidelity in the new covenant family. They are all acquainted with God. Their relation to his law is an evidence of their knowledge of him. "And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments." In such the character of Christ is developed. John says: "Whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected; hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked." It is then possible for us to so perfectly live the law of love that we shall dwell in the perfection of the love of Christ. Since this is what we ought to do, this we can do. The way we undertake it will decide our success in the accomplishment of the object sought. Says Christ, "Without me ye can do nothing." Then the first thing to do is to unite with Christ in everlasting bonds of love. "He that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him." "Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not." The abiding presence of the sinless Saviour is our victory over sin. He is as victorious in human flesh today to live in perfect accord with the law of God, as he was when upon earth in the flesh eighteen hundred years ago. The only question in our overcoming sin, is the question of our willingness to give him a constant abiding-place in our hearts. When he thus dwells in us, all the fulness of the Godhead is ours, that we may be complete in him. Then be assured; "Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world." When Christ thus dwells in us, the law will be revealed through us as it was through him. We will then love the Lord with all the heart, and our neighbor as ourselves. Then the blessed union will ever exist: "I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me." See also 1 John 3: 23. The law as it was in Christ, will thus be revealed through us, and the world will see Christ in us, and we shall then be "epistles of Christ, known and read of all men." Of such Christ says: "Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me; for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world."