Our Bible Reading

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · May 30, 1911

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 38, No. 21.

Our Bible Reading

The Immutable Law

1. What is said of the perfection of God's law? The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. Ps. 19: 7.

NOTE.—God's law is said to be "perfect," and we should expect that anything coming from the hand of the Infinite One would be absolutely complete. Then where is the possibility for any need of any change in that law? In view of the character of the Author of the law of God, it must be in its very nature immutable, or not subject to change.

2. Is the Lord Himself given to constant change, or is what He does always right from the start, and therefore immutable? I, Jehovah, change not. Mal. 3: 6, A.R.V.

3. Since He is thus unchangeable, what does He say of the law that He has given? The works of His hands are truth and justice; all His precepts are sure. They are established forever and ever; they are done in truth and uprightness. Ps. 111: 7, 8, A.R.V.

NOTE.—Observe that the works of His hands are "truth and justice." His precepts are sure, and stand forever and ever, because they are done in truth and uprightness. What folly it is for men to say, in the face of such statements from the Word of God, that the law of the Lord, like the laws of fallible men, is mutable, imperfect, and therefore would have to be changed! God is infinitely perfect, and therefore everything that comes from His hand is perfect, and needs never to be changed as long as eternity lasts.

4. What does Christ say about the unchangeableness of His Father's law? Think not that I came to destroy the law or the prophets: I came not to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass away from the law, till all things be accomplished. Matt. 5: 17, 18, A.R.V.

5. What is the evident meaning of the word "fulfil" when spoken of moral obligation? If ye fulfil the royal law according to the Scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well. James 2: 8. Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. Gal. 6: 2.

NOTE.—To fulfil the royal law means to love our neighbor as ourselves. It means the doing of the law of God, not the abolishing of it. To fulfil the law of Christ means to sympathize with our brother, to bear his burden with him. In this way the law of Christ is brought nearer and more sacred to us, instead of being abolished. And hence when the Master said, as recorded above by Matthew, that He came to fulfil the law, it is equivalent to saying He came to obey the law. And not a jot, the smallest letter of the Hebrew alphabet, nor a tittle, the little ornamental and distinguishing corner of a letter, is to pass from the law. No chance here for mutability or change!

6. With what affectionate regard does the psalmist say the Messiah would hold the law of God when He should come? Sacrifice and offering Thou didst not desire; Mine ears hast Thou opened; burnt offering and sin-offering hast Thou not required. Then said I, 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: 6-8.

NOTE.—Observe closely that it is said that the law is within the heart of the One that comes to set aside the sacrifices and offerings of the old dispensation by the offering of Himself.

7. May we be sure that the text quoted above from the Fortieth Psalm refers to Christ? For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. Wherefore when He cometh into the world, He saith, Sacrifice and offering Thou wouldest not, but a body hast Thou prepared Me: in burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin Thou hast had no pleasure. Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of Me,) to do Thy will, O God. Above when He said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin Thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; then said He, Lo, I come to do Thy will, O God. He taketh away the first [the sacrifices and offerings], that He may establish the second [the will of God, which is the law of God]. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: but this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God. Heb. 10: 4-12.

NOTE.—It is perfectly apparent that the apostle is quoting in the foregoing the verses from the Fortieth Psalm, given already in this reading. It is equally as clear that He makes the verses to apply to our great High Priest, Christ Jesus, who offered Himself as the one sacrifice that renders all other sin-offerings obsolete. And the verses in this Fortieth Psalm from which the quotation is taken make it unmistakably clear that the law of the Father was enshrined in the Saviour's heart when He came to give Himself an offering for sin. Should we not, then, tenderly respect a document that was so dear to the heart of the Master?

8. May we not conclude, then, that obedience to this law is a necessary qualification to entering the kingdom of heaven? Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will [keepeth the law] of My Father which is in heaven. Matt. 7: 21.