The Gospel Within the Law
By T. E. Bowen
SOME persons declare that the gospel is greater than the law. Such forget that the law existed before there was any need of the gospel. And further, the law, which served as the rule, or measuring rod, by which God built His universe, provided within itself for the very existence of the gospel; for had not one clause been inserted into this constitution of God’s universal kingdom, no provision would have been made for the offering of Christ Jesus the Son, should that law be broken. This one clause made provision for God, its Author, to exercise the mercy offered us in the gospel by the giving of His only-begotten Son to die for sinful man. Here is the clause: “And showing mercy unto thousands of them [generations] that love Me, and keep My commandments.” This sentence removed, nothing remains within that instrument but the sentence of death to the offender for its violation. Then there could have been no gospel. Who dare say, therefore, which is the greater, the gospel or the law?