THE APOSTLES AND THE LAW OF GOD.
By W. L. Iles
I HAVE now presented from the New Testament Christ's teachings concerning the law and the Sabbath, not through apostles and prophets, but from statements which fell from his own lips. How sad it is that any one should reject his teaching! We next present the teachings of Christ upon the Sabbath question, through his apostles, by the Holy Spirit. He that teaches the law, teaches the Sabbath, and so we first notice the apostles' teachings and the law. The teachings of the apostles are in harmony with the teachings of Christ. If their teachings do not agree with Christ's, then we are safe to reject them. The doctrine of Christ is the true standard by which all doctrine should be tested. Christ said, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." Matt. 28:19, 20. The apostles were to teach what Christ commanded. If they taught only what he commanded, then they would agree. The minister to-day is to teach what Christ commanded. Where is the text that would warrant a minister of the Gospel to teach his flock to observe Sunday? We are warranted in teaching the Sabbath of the fourth commandment. See Matt. 5:19. "Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen." Acts 1:2. The writings of the apostles are the teachings of Christ by the Holy Spirit. Paul's writings are the commandments of the Lord, by the Holy Spirit. 1 Cor. 14:37. The Holy Spirit is the representative of Christ, and whether the teaching be direct from his lips, or through his apostles, it is all of Christ, and all must harmonize. If Christ taught us to keep every jot and tittle of the law, even the least commandment (Matt. 5:17-19), then the apostles' teachings must harmonize with it. The apostles taught that the life of a Christian would be conformed to the law of God, or the Ten Commandments. Christ was the law-keeper; man has been the law-breaker. How can a law-breaker ever become perfect? God requires perfection and holiness. "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." Matt. 5:48. "Be ye holy; for I am holy." 1 Peter 1:16. If the law is perfect and holy, and a man is perfect and holy, the law and the man's life must correspond. With God there can be only one standard of perfection. If the law is perfect and holy, and God requires of his children perfection and holiness, he simply requires their lives to be conformed to his law. We next inquire, What is the nature of God's law?—"Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good." Rom. 7:12. It is very important for us to know what law is here referred to, and it is easy for us to determine; for in verse 7 part of it is quoted: "What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law; for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet." "For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me." Verse 11. The law that Paul calls holy is the one that has in it the commandment, "Thou shalt not covet;" and this he calls holy, just, and good. The law was an instrument used in Paul's conversion. It did a good work. "For we know that the law is spiritual; but I am carnal, sold under sin." Rom. 7:14. Before conversion we are carnal, but the law is spiritual. It is impossible for a carnal man to keep a spiritual law. "Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be." Chap. 8:7. We have found the law to be holy and spiritual, and it is pronounced "perfect" by the psalmist David. Ps. 19:7. He also says, "All thy commandments are righteousness." Ps. 119:172. If the law is perfect, then, when our lives become conformed to it, we are perfect. We only can be righteous when our lives are conformed to that which is righteousness. "Little children, let no man deceive you; he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as He is righteous." 1 John 3:7. "For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified." Rom. 2:13. In order to be holy, our lives must be conformed to the law of God. How become holy, or righteous? How shall my life be conformed to the holy law? The life of Jesus is the only life lived in human flesh that ever was absolutely perfect. His life was perfectly conformed to the law of God. His life was the life of God. It was the law in living characters. By his spotless life he prepared a spotless robe of righteousness, which every one puts on at conversion. This righteousness is the righteousness required by the law, for Jesus kept, or fulfilled, the law. Matt. 5:17. The law and the prophets bear witness to the righteousness of God, lived out in the life of Christ. "But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets." Rom. 3:21. It is evident that God's righteousness is the righteousness that is required by the law, for the law is a witness to that righteousness. "Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe; for there is no difference." Verse 22. The robe of righteousness, which is "unto all" and "upon all" them that believe, was prepared by the "faith of Jesus." The faith that Jesus had while upon earth prepared a robe for me. I am saved from my past sins by his righteousness, which was by his faith. "Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God." Verse 25. Until conversion our past life is all sin. In order that we may be perfect, God's righteousness is declared upon us. As his righteousness is the righteousness of the law, we are conformed to the law. In the judgment day no one will have an excuse for being unholy. The holy garment of Christ's righteousness is to all. All may put it on. It can not be laid aside for safe keeping, it must be put on. "I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels." Isa. 61:10. "Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel. And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with a change of raiment." Zech. 3:3, 4. "And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white; for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints." Rev. 19:8. This change of raiment takes place when a man gives his heart to God. When we put on the garment of Christ's righteousness, we put on Christ. "Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof." Rom. 13:14. "Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words; and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him." John 14:23. "That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith." Eph. 3:17. The Christian has Christ with him, dwelling in his heart by faith. He is holy, for Christ is holy, and Christ is with him. He is now "spiritual," for he has the mind of the spirit. Rom. 8:6-9. He is now "perfect" in Jesus Christ. Col. 2:10. He is now like the law, and through Christ he can keep the law. "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Phil. 4:13. God desires to see the same law fulfilled in us and appear in our lives, by Christ working in us, as was fulfilled by Christ and appeared in his life. God sent his Son that the law might6be fulfilled in us. "For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh; that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit." Rom. 8:3, 4. The law referred to in this text is some law that existed before Jesus came. He came because the law was weak through the flesh, and because man in the flesh could not keep it. In Jesus Christ we can keep it. He came that the law might be fulfilled in us. After conversion, the righteousness of the law is to appear in our lives. Thus the Gospel provides that our lives should be conformed to God's holy law.