PERPETUITY OF THE LAW

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Dec 7, 1904

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 30, No. 48.

PERPETUITY OF THE LAW.

THE law of God existed before sin. Sin could not have entered if there had been no law, for "where there is no law there is no transgression."

The law is an expression of God's love for His creatures, and was written in the hearts of the first human pair. We may never know the internal struggle through which Adam and Eve passed in their first violation of God's law of love. The moral principles prohibiting covetousness, stealing, and allegiance to another god, all contrary to the law of God, were violated in the fall, the sin, that let death with all its hateful companions into the world.

The two great commandments, all embracing moral precepts, were all that were needed at first, but, as mankind departed farther and farther in the path of transgression, their minds became darkened, and their moral sense blunted. Hence God in His infinite compassion and love for the race, continued more and more to unfold the great principles of love to God, and love to man, until, amid the awe-inspiring splendors of Sinai, He proclaimed the Ten Commandments, with a voice that shook the earth. Afterward writing them with His own finger on the durable rock, He committed them to the care of His people, to be kept in the midst of His church in the most holy place of the sanctuary and temple.

All the rites and ceremonies of ancient Israel were but so many object-lessons, pointing to the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world. Their significance and efficacy lay in Christ, the only "name under heaven given among men whereby" transgressors of the law of God could be pardoned and saved. So we see the truth of the Word, that Jesus was manifested to take away, not the law, but sin, the transgression of the law. Thus we see that the Gospel is not a substitute for the law, but, in the highest manner possible, attests the perpetuity of the law.

The first requirement of the Gospel is repentance. This command of the Gospel, to repent, was enjoined from the very beginning upon all sinners, in every age, and every place, and as repentance relates to sin, and by the law is the knowledge of sin, and sin is the transgression of the law, it is clearly seen that the Gospel of Christ recognizes the perpetuity of the law as its basis. We are not surprised, therefore, to hear the Saviour of the world say with great emphasis, "I am not come to destroy the law." "It is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail." Matt. 5:17. Luke 16:17; "I have kept My Father's commandments, and abide in His love." John 15:10. "If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments." Matt. 19:17. And holy apostles have written, "Love is the fulfilling of the law." Rom. 13:10. "This is the love of God, that we keep His commandments." 1 John 5:3. And holy men, in the olden time, speaking as they were moved by the Holy Spirit, have written, "Concerning Thy testimonies, I have known of old that Thou hast founded them forever." "Thy word is true from the beginning; and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth forever." Ps. 119:152, 160. "All His commandments are sure. They stand fast forever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness." Ps. 111:7, 8. The preceding are only a few of the many testimonials of like import that might be given, but these will suffice to establish the perpetuity of God's law.

The law of God contains the whole duty of man (Eccl. 12:13); but since mankind all are fallen into the horrible pit of transgression (Ps. 40:1-3), they must needs lay hold of Christ and the Gospel to lift them out, and help them on their way of obedience to God. Thus sinful man, by the help of the Gospel, is enabled to find pardon and cleansing, and grace to do God's will acceptably, and thus pass the test of that judgment when the law of God is the standard.

Then, when the great judgment is concluded, the hosts of the redeemed accounted worthy of eternal life, their vile bodies changed, and fashioned like unto Christ's glorious body (Phil. 3:20, 21), they will enter upon their everlasting reign with Jesus in the kingdom of glory. In that blissful and eternal reign, the law of love will bear sway. Everywhere and always, in that realm of the fullness of joy, will be heard one harmonious strain, with love we serve one another, with love we serve God, and with love we rejoice in all His wonderful works. How like a beautiful chain of shining gold we see the perpetuity of God's holy law of love, throughout all time and all eternity. In the Edenic Age, the Antediluvian Age, the Patriarchal Age, the Levitical Age, the Christian Age, the Millennial Age, and the Eternal Age, God's great week of ages, God's will of love, His good pleasure, His moral law, is the one revelation of God, that ever shines with undimmed splendor, a perpetual revelation of God's character of infinite love.

[Read in No. 1, "The Purpose of God's Law;" in No. 2, "Perfection of God's Law;" No. 3, "The Transgression of God's Law."]