LOVE AND LAW by S. H. Carnahan

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Apr 20, 1904

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 30, No. 16.

LOVE AND LAW.

By S. H. Carnahan

A Study of the Foundation of God's Government.

BY S. H. CARNAHAN.

LOVE is its mainspring; for God is love personified. 1 John 4:8.

Had the created intelligences always kept in their hearts supreme love for their Creator, and loved their fellow creatures as themselves, it would never have been necessary for God's character to be transcribed into words, as in the Decalogue.

These became a necessity for the protection of those who would be loyal to their Creator's government. Gal. 3:19; Rom. 5:20. "Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound" (verse 20); but it is unnecessary for us to continue in sin in order to have the favor of God (Rom. 6:1, 2).

If every individual would live by the principle of love, it would be useless to enact laws. But as we know all will not, the state, in order to insure domestic tranquillity, secure the blessings of liberty, promote the general welfare, establish justice, and provide protection, must have laws.

The ten precepts, called the ten words (Ex. 34:28, margin), are a transcript of the name or character of God as epitomized in Ex. 34:4-7; and as God is, so is Christ His Son (John 14:9). Christ is the Word (John 1:1); and this Word written is not as words of man; for it is the Sword of the Spirit (Eph. 6:17). It "is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, . . . and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." Heb. 4:12.

As mankind became more depraved, in order that we might better sense God's character, this Word was made incarnate by God sending His own Son Jesus, in the likeness of sinful flesh, to be a living revelation of God's character before us. John 1:14.

Love embraces both justice and mercy; in fact, covers every attribute of God; and the two great commandments spoken of by Jesus, in Matthew 22 and Mark 12, are love to God, and love to our neighbor. The one is drawn out in detail in the first table of the Decalogue, and the other in the six precepts of the second table. Ex. 20:3-17. And Jesus declared that on these two hang all the law and the prophets. Matt. 22:40. It is because of that fact that we are admonished to teach these things and keep them before our minds constantly. See Deut. 6:4-8.

When we look into a mirror it reveals to us whether our faces are clean or unclean. So the law, when beheld, condemns the transgressor as guilty and subject to its penalty—death. Rom. 5:12; 6:23; 1 John 3:4. But to the one who has not disobeyed, it stands as a witness to his guiltlessness. James 1:25. We find, however, that every man has sinned and come short of the glory of God. Rom. 3:23. But God, being a God of mercy as well as of justice, "so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." So Jesus, our Saviour, had to die to sustain the law (1 Cor. 15:3) (for the law could not be changed, Gal. 3:21), and save subjects for God's kingdom in the earth when it is restored (2 Peter 3:13; Matt. 5:5).

The law is a schoolmaster to bring us to Christ (Gal. 3:24), and through faith His righteousness is imputed to us for our past lives (Rom. 4:2). He it is that works in us to the obedience of His law ever afterward. Phil. 2:13.

"The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul" (Ps. 19:7), and when we come to look into it, and see it as it is drawn out in detail in the Holy Scriptures, or in the living Example, then we are convinced that we are under its condemnation—guilty of death.

No sinful man can see God and live (Ex. 33:20); therefore our only alternative is: First, to live on in sin and be destroyed with the sin by the brightness of Christ's coming (2 Thess. 2:8) when He comes to gather the elect, and die the second death when He comes to set up His kingdom on the earth (Rev. 20:14; 21:8, reading the contexts); or, second, accept Jesus as the propitiation for our sins (1 John 1:2; Rom. 3:25), and submit to Him. Then He, the author of the law, will execute its penalty upon the "old man" of sin in us, crucifying him (Rom. 6:6), so that as we die to sin we may be buried with Christ by baptism into death (Rom. 6:3), and rise to walk in newness of life with Him. Thus, in the act of baptism we show our faith in Jesus, and the permanency of the law and government of God.

Likewise, whenever we, as followers of Christ, commune with Him in the ordinances of the Lord's Supper, we by that act say that we believe in the existing obligation of the law of God, for we do, as oft as we do it, show His death until He come. 1 Cor. 11:26.

The only way we grasp the plan of salvation, and lay hold upon its offers is by faith. Without faith it is impossible to please God; and if we would come to Him, we must first believe that He exists and will reward them who diligently seek Him. Heb. 11:6.

We do not make void the law by faith, but rather establish it in our own hearts. Rom. 3:31. And in the bosom of the law we find the seal (the part which makes it valid), or that which gives the name (Jehovah or God), the office (Creator), and the territory (universe) over which its Author rules. Ex. 20:8-11.

Abrogate, or destroy, this law, or even make of none effect this part of it, and you put away the greatest means for the eradication of idolatry, and the sanctification of God's people; for the Fourth Commandment calls the attention of the world to the true God—He who made heaven, earth, the sea, and all things therein—and the Sabbath, which God made of the seventh day by example, sanctification, blessing and precept, to be kept as a memorial of His power in creation, and His rest therefrom; it was also to be a sign forever to His people that it is He who doth keep and sanctify them. Gen. 2:2, 3; Eze. 20:12, 20; Ex. 31:13, 17.

Without Christ we can have no hope of salvation. Eph. 2:12. To meet God's approval in the judgment, we are required to have that faith that works by love (Gal. 5:6), for all will be judged by the law according to their work. Compare Rom. 2:12; James 2:12; Rev. 20:12, 13.

All who say, Lord, Lord, in that day will not be saved, but Christ, in His parable given in Matt. 21:28-31, shows clearly who the really obedient are. "And hereby we do know that we know Him [Christ] if we keep His commandments." "Whoso keepeth His Word, in him verily is the love of God perfected; hereby know we that we are in Him." 1 John 2:3, 5.

Godly love is the foundation and capstone of all perfection.

Elgin, Oregon.