EVIDENCE OF FAITH by O. E. Jones

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Sep 9, 1897

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 23, No. 35.

EVIDENCE OF FAITH.

By O. E. Jones

“Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid; yea, we establish the law.” Rom. 3:31. The keeping of the commandments of God is an evidence of saving faith—not that the work which we do saves us; for the Word says, “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.” Rom. 3:28. But if we continue in the faith, the deeds of the law will be manifested in our lives, for it is written, “But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets.” Verse 21.

The Scriptures clearly show that the keeping of God’s commandments (so far as we know them) is an evidence of being in a saved condition. “We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren.” 1 John 3:14, first part. How may we know that we love the brethren?—“By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments; and his commandments are not grievous.” Chapter 5:2, 3.

Then again our Saviour said, “This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” John 17:3. The same writer tells us how we may know that we know God: “And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.” 1 John 2:3. And that which the Lord claims as a sign of loyalty to him is his hallowed Sabbaths. “Hallow my Sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am the Lord your God.” Eze. 20:20. And in the twelfth verse he says, “Moreover also I gave them my Sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them,

that they might know that I am the Lord that sanctify them.” Christ is the one who sanctifies: “For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one; for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren.” Heb. 2:11. Or, as we read in another place, “We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Eph. 2:10.

The hallowed Sabbath, then, is not only a memorial,—a sign of God’s power in creation of the heavens and the earth,—but it is also a sign of Christ’s presence in the heart, sanctifying the individual,—the new creation. And the attributes of God and those ascribed to his law are identical. In evidence, compare the following: “Ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.” Lev. 11:45, last part. And the same is said of his law: “Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.” Rom. 7:12. God is perfect. “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” Matt. 5:48. The same is written of his 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. Also, “The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.” Ps. 145:17. And of the law we read, “My tongue shall speak of thy Word; for all thy commandments are righteousness.” Ps. 119:172. And the Lord is truth. “Thou hast redeemed me, O Lord God of truth.” Ps. 31:5. The same is said of the law: “Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth.” Ps. 119:142. “God is love.” 1 John 4:8. The law rests on the same principle. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” Matt. 22:37-40.

Of the unchangeableness of God we read, “For I am the Lord, I change not.” Mal. 3:6, first part. And of his law we read, “All his commandments are sure. They stand fast forever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness.” Ps. 111:7, 8. “It is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.” Luke 16:17. In the new covenant promise the law of the Lord is written in the heart. “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind and write them in their hearts; and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people.” Heb. 8:10.

O. E. JONES.