Salvation and Obedience to God’s Law

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Aug 13, 1912

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 39, No. 31.

Salvation and Obedience to God’s Law

Because the apostle Paul emphasizes the fact that only in Christ is salvation, he does not minimize obedience to the law of God's government. In fact, obedience is the object of salvation. Salvation from what?—Sin. What is sin?—Transgression of law. 1 John 3:4. What law?—The law which declares, "Thou shalt not covet." Rom. 7:7. A salvation which will not save a man from sin, and make him a loyal, obedient subject, is a failure. It weakens government, it unsettles the loyal, and would fill the kingdom with traitors and self-seekers. Paul declares that faith establishes the law. Rom. 3:31. And to a fellow worker he writes that Christ "gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works."