LAW OF LIFE AND LIBERTY.
By William Covert
MAN was created free. He came into being, possessed with life from God, without an encumbrance. All his environments were favorable to perfect obedience, and his physical constitution accorded with the requirements of endless duration. The Creator endowed him with capacities to enjoy the fulness of the situation, and yet, that man might be perfectly free it was arranged that he should retain all these things, only by a free choice. It was also further provided that he could make known his acceptance by conforming to the law, which was perfectly adapted to his best interests. Thus it is written, "Let thine hand help me; for I have chosen thy precepts." Ps. 119:173. In speaking of the law's purpose, the apostle says the commandment was ordained to life. Rom. 7:10. It was a means of instruction regarding the rules of living, and also a medium by which man was to be kept in constant touch with the springs of life. "For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life." Prov. 6:23. A further statement says, "In the way of righteousness [obedience] is life; and in the pathway thereof there is no death." Prov. 12:28. It is therefore certain that life primarily depended for its perpetuity on obedience to the law; and future life is given in conformity to our choice, "I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life." Deut. 30:19. It is said if a man do the commandments he shall live in them. Lev. 18:5; Rom. 10:5; Eze. 20:11, 13, 21. Yet the reverse of life came to man, because he chose wrong, and transgression ensued instead of obedience. "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned." Rom. 5:12. Man renounced life and chose death by turning away from the law. But some will ask how the law which now condemns the sinner to die, could at any time have been a medium of life to man. The answer to this query is found in a number of considerations, some of which we shall mention. God creates by his word (Ps. 33:6); the word is Spirit and life (John 6:63). "With them [God's precepts] thou hast quickened me." Ps. 119:93. God's word is as truly a means of living for man as the bread which he eats. "Man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live." Deut. 8:3. Jesus understood the significance of this Scripture, and was in touch with its power. It was actually in him a spring of life. He had not yielded to unbelief and sin even on one point, and he knew perfectly that eternal life depended upon the living touch of every part of God's word. Therefore in his temptation in the wilderness the Saviour used this text to defeat the adversary. Matt. 4:4. He not only repeated the words of Scripture, but he rested in their living power, and to him they were spirit and life. Had Adam and Eve remembered the same principle, and by faith intrenched themselves in it as a fortress of life, they would have been safe from the onsets of the enemy. The law was a part of that living word which was to be inwrought in man's nature, to be a connecting medium with the life of God. But this was the very thing which Satan asked them to reject. He knew that the living word embodied in the law kept Adam and Eve in touch with the life of their Creator. Therefore, to turn from the law, was to sever themselves from the fountain of life. It was by receiving unbelief and sin into the place which the law had occupied, that man was put in touch with bondage, misery, sorrow, condemnation and death. It is burdensome only to the carnal mind to yield obedience to the law of God. But to the child of God obedience to the law is a pleasure. "Great peace have they which love thy law; and nothing shall offend them." Ps. 119:165. "O how I love thy law! it is my meditation all the day." Verse 97. "I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies." "I will delight myself in thy statutes." "My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy judgments at all times." Verses 14, 16, 20. "I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart." Verse 32. "Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight." Verse 35. "I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold." Verse 127. "Thy law is my delight." Verse 174. "My soul hath kept thy testimonies; and I love them exceedingly." Verse 167. The glad obedience of the Saviour's life is described by David, where it is written, "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." Ps. 40:7, 8. As with the Redeemer, so with the Christian, he delights to do the will of God. Obedience is an outgrowth of the renewed nature. Jesus enthroned in the heart will still delight to obey the commandments. The truly converted man is but exercising the freedom of his nature when he walks in the law of God. But the person with the carnal mind can not obey the law of God even when he tries (Rom. 8:7), because it is contrary to the attributes of his sinful nature. It is with this class that the law is a yoke of bondage. As long as man remained faithful in obedience to God, his whole being was perfectly free. There was no dread of death, no apprehension of punishment, no tormenting fear, no bondage to a corrupt nature. He wore no galling yoke in slavery to Satan. He was at liberty then to freely traverse all the realms of Paradise, and, with right unrestrained, to eat of the tree of life. But sad the difference since the fall! Now man's whole life is but one period of bondage through fear of death, only as it is relieved of its sting by hope in Jesus Christ. See Heb. 2:15. But with the commandment-breaker there is perpetual bondage; says the apostle: "They themselves are the servants of corruption; for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage." 2 Peter 2:19. The transgressor is overcome by Satan and is in bondage to him. Elsewhere it is asserted, "That to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness." Rom. 6:16. Furthermore, our Saviour taught that none but the obedient are free, and they through him. But speaking of the wicked, he said, "Whosoever committeth sin [transgresseth the law, 1 John 3:4] is the servant of sin." John 8:34-36. It is a principle everywhere acknowledged that none but the law-abiding citizen of any country is entitled to the fulness of its liberties. The man who unites with the enemies of his country to destroy that banner which has protected him, has forfeited to that country both his liberty and his life. How then will it fare with the one who unites with the enemies of God's law to oppose the government of heaven? Can such an one go free, and be given the liberties of God's kingdom? Can such be granted the freedom enjoyed by the obedient? Certainly not. When sin shall at last be removed, bondage shall go with it. Then the tree of life will again yield fruit for man. All restrictions thrown around its life-giving properties shall be taken away. It will then be said: "Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city." Rev. 22:14. This is the time of which David wrote when he said: "So shall I keep thy law continually forever and ever. And I will walk at liberty ['at large,' margin], for I seek thy precepts." Ps. 119:44, 45. According to this statement, there will be no break in the obedience of God's children in the life to come. They will then keep the law continually forever and ever. And their liberties will not be abridged. They can then be trusted anywhere. The city, too, through whose gates the commandment-keepers shall be admitted, is also7free. "Jerusalem which is above is free." Gal. 4:26. Those who disregard the commandments shall be debarred from all the privileges of the city. Rev. 21:27. But to the obedient the gates of pearl shall never be closed. Verse 25. That blessed right shall compass the universe, reaching as far as the dominion of that throne established in the heavens which rules over all.