PERFECT IN EVERY WAY by H. C. Balsbaugh

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Mar 14, 1906

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 32, No. 11.

PERFECT IN EVERY WAY.

By H. C. Balsbaugh

"THE law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul." Ps. 19:7. God's law (the Ten Commandments) has within itself this fact of its perfection, namely, its own proof.

Every inquirer can readily learn upon what authority the command is given (Exodus 20), "Thou shalt not steal," by reading verses 4 and 5, which show the Author by name, and verse 11, which declares Him to be the Creator of heaven and earth. So likewise of the commandment, "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain." So all of the ten stand upon equal authority. This at once dispels the doubt of the sincere inquirer as to the right and wisdom of giving such commandments, for the Maker of heaven and earth is of right the Owner and Ruler of His creation.

Attention being called to the Author as Creator, we may quickly learn by the description of the Creation (Genesis 1), that He is good, for before making the living creatures He provided for their sustenance and pleasure. And the endless variety of creation attests infinite wisdom. This is sufficient to confirm the mind that God is almighty and perfect in wisdom and goodness.

Ex. 20:6 shows that God is love (for in that He shows mercy His love is proven), that element which binds all creation together in harmony and sympathy.

But these fundamental truths can not be learned so as to satisfy and confirm the mind without the knowledge of verse 11. The fact of Creation is foundation for genuine faith in God the Author of the Ten Commandments, which truth connects all of them. And the force of the duty to remember the greatness and perfection of the Creator is only fully set forth in the commandment (the fourth) embraced in verses 8 to 11, the simple proof that only this one connects them all into one perfect law.

The law of God is perfect in its plainness, that it may be easily understood, teaching perfect belief in it and perfect obedience to it, by which is effected the perfect conversion of the soul to God, which is the power of Jesus Christ its Giver, which is the complete thought David declares in the text. H. C. BALSBAUGH.