THERE are many voices calling in this world. Would you know the true?—Compare them all with the Voice of the Shepherd. If we do not, we shall go astray. It is not safe to follow inner voices or outer voices if they are contrary to God’s Voice.
We know what that Voice uttered once—the holy law found in Ex. 20:1-17, known as the Decalogue, the Ten Words, the Ten Commandments. To the holiness and immutability of that law all Scripture attests. “All His commandments are sure; they stand fast forever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness.” Ps. 111:7, 8. “Concerning Thy testimonies, I have known of old that Thou hast founded them forever.” Ps. 119:152. “It is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.” Luke 16:17. “I am Jehovah; I change not.” Mal. 3:6. “With whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” James 1:17.
The strong attestations of God’s word regarding His law, together with His unchangeable character, has forced devout men and Christian teachers to affirm the same. John Wesley declared: “It was not the design of Christ to revoke any part of the law. It can not be broken. Every part of it remains in force upon all men in all ages. Neither time, place, nor circumstances make it liable to change.” And similarly many others.
Jesus Christ kept the Decalogue. He was the Decalogue personified—the law of God in character. Thru Him God gave the law. John 1:1-3; 1 Cor. 8:6. His was the Voice, for God, which spoke from Sinai. He it was who died to demonstrate God’s love on the cross. All His life, in order to demonstrate the character of God, Jesus kept that law and abode in the Father’s love. John 15:10. In His character was wrought out in human form and demonstrated before humanity the righteousness of God. By that righteousness, wrought out in obedience to that law, is every sinner justified, and we are justified that we may keep the law.
In the sinner that law condemns to death. In Christ it is “the law of the Spirit of life,” given to the believer as a positive force that the righteousness of the law may be fulfilled in him (Rom. 8:1-4), so that the saved sinner may jubilantly declare, “This is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not grievous” (1 John 5:3).
To claim Christ while we reject the law, is to reject Christ. To reject the law from heart and life is to enthrone within “the lawless one,” who claims to come in Christ’s stead. Be not deceived. There is harmony with Christ and the word. He and His Father are one. We can not accept Him as the way or the life while we reject Him as the truth. His sheep hear His voice.