NEW TESTAMENT TESTIMONY.
By Joseph Bates
THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD CLEARLY TAUGHT AND ENFORCED IN THE NEW TESTAMENT, BY JESUS AND HIS APOSTLES.
Those who profess to keep all the commandments of the Lord our God, are frequently told by their opponents that the commandments of God, the ten which he wrote on tables of stone, are not taught and enforced in the New Testament; hence we Gentiles, under the Gospel, are not bound to keep them. They admit their binding nature in the Old Testament, but say they were all abolished at the crucifixion of Jesus. On this point, then, let us test the subject. First, by the testimony of our blessed Lord, and second, by the testimony of three inspired apostles. I. THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS. The young man came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life? Jesus answered—'If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.' Matt. xix, 16, 17. Again, 'Then one of them which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the law? [Here we see that commandments and law are synonymous.] Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.' Matt. xxii, 35—40.11Once more. 'And behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? He said unto him, what is written in the law? how readest thou? And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind, and thy neighbor as thyself. And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right, this do, and thou shalt live.' Luke x, 25—28. Here we see that Jesus gives the essence of God's law thus:—'On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.' The first four on the first table, embrace one duty to God; the other six on the second table, our duty to our neighbor. The two tables fold together like a book. On one table the essence is, love God; on the other, love your neighbor. Jesus shows that all the law, (God's law—his ten commandments,) and all the prophets, hang on these. Remember, Jesus and the lawyer both answer the question, 'What is written in the law;—clearly referring to all the written commandments of God, of which the law of Moses had nothing to do. The new commandment, which Jesus gave the Church, is not included here; for that was not given until after his last supper. John xiii, 34. Love God and love your neighbor, also bear up all the prophets. Now if the commandments of God were abolished in a few days after Jesus replied to the lawyer, even at his crucifixion, then the prophets were abolished also. This would embrace the whole of the Old Testament, and we should be left without a Bible, and also without a rule to prove that there has been a sinner on earth, since Jesus was crucified: for 'Sin is the transgression of the law.' 1 John iii, 4. 'For where no law is, there is no transgression.' Rom. iv 15. 'For without the law sin was dead.' Chap. vii, 8. We cannot see how it is possible for honest minds to admit these three texts, and still say they believe that the commandments of God were abolished 1819 years ago. We learn from the reply of Jesus to the lawyer, that the commandments are the foundation, yea, the constitution of the Bible, in a much clearer sense than the constitution of the United States is the foundation for the thirty States of North America. Destroy this, and the thirty States are dissolved at once. Hence, the standing law requiring every President elect to be sworn by God's law that he will not violate the constitution of his country. Shall we be so blind as to believe that our law can be just, and valid, if our rulers are sworn by the law of God, and yet, that law been abolished 1819 years? Respecting the questions of the young man, and the lawyer, Jesus told them, that the way to enter into eternal life, was by keeping the commandments. How shall we ever find the way there, if there are none? Did our blessed Lord die to save men, and then point out such a path to walk in? No, no. He gave us the whole law of God to guide us into eternal life, and man cannot find any other way. But we will come to the test—the sermon of Jesus on the mount.—After saying many things, all in their place for us, he says, 'Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets; I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily, I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.' Matt. v, 17, 18. Here is language stronger than the pillars of heaven, that one jot of God's law cannot be abolished while heaven and earth remain. Our opponents try to get round this by saying that Jesus fulfilled all the law, and that abolished it. With such a rule as this to guide us, all the law we kept or fulfilled yesterday would not be binding on us to-day: therefore our rulers would have to be continually employed abolishing the law of yesterday, and enacting new ones for to-day. Blessed be God, we have a more perfect rule, in the New Testament.—See Gal. v, 14; James ii, 8; Rom. xiii, 8—10. Loving one another is the fulfilling of the law to our neighbor; and comprises six holy principles, called by Jesus the second commandment. Loving God with all our soul and mind, comprises the first four holy principles, making the ten complete. When Jesus says, 'not one jot shall pass away,' he means the whole; our duty to God, and our duty to our neighbor. When men can prove that 'heaven and earth' have passed away, then it will be time to look for one jot of God's law to fail, and not before. How strange it is to say, that God's law has failed, or is abolished, and yet our rulers cannot keep the people in subjection without enforcing it. Is it not a plain contradiction in terms, to say, that God's law is still in force, and at the same time insist that the letter or precept was abolished 1819 years ago? Jesus kept his Father's commandments up to the last day of his mission on earth; [John xv, 10,] and his disciples nine hours after the crucifixion, were keeping the fourth commandment, according to its letter or precept. Luke xxiii, 56. Here again is clear proof that they were not abolished when Jesus was crucified. Let us now return to Matt. v, 19.—Jesus continues his subject of the law, and says, 'Whosoever, therefore, shall violate, or teach others to violate, were it the least of these commandments, shall be in no esteem in the reign of heaven; but whosoever shall practice or teach them, shall be highly esteemed in the reign of heaven.' [Campbell's trans.] The reign of heaven is yet in the future; and the word whosoever includes all, both Jew and Gentile. How clear it is, in this verse, that Jesus did not teach the abolition of his Father's law at his crucifixion; but enforced it on the whole human family, up to the reign of heaven. The test, for keeping them to obtain eternal life, is found in this verse also. For he says, 'Whosoever shall violate, or teach others to violate,' &c., 'shall be in no esteem in the reign of heaven.' But all such as 'practice and teach them, shall be highly esteemed in the reign of heaven.' We cannot be made 'kings and priests unto God,' unless we are esteemed; therefore, all such as knowingly violate God's commandments, will not reign in heaven. Praise the Lord! We have determined to obey, and claim this blessed promise. But we are told that these are not God's commandments; but the New Testament commandments. We do not find any such name for a law, that takes the place of God's law. Let us attend to the sermon of Jesus. He will make it all plain. 'Ye have heard that it was said of them of old time, Thou shalt not kill.'—Verse 21. 'Ye have heard that it was said, Thou shalt not commit adultery.'—Verse 27. 'Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain,' is taken up in verses 33, 34. Here Jesus quotes the sixth and seventh commandments, on the second table, and the third on the first table of stone. Here is plain proof that his whole argument, from the 17th to the 35th verse, was on the ten commandments, written on tables of stone. The three which he quoted, were sufficient to explain his subject. Now let us look at the conclusion of his sermon, in chap. vii, 24—27. 'Therefore, whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man which built his house upon a rock. And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not; for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man which built his house upon the sand, &c., and it fell and great was the fall of it.' This of course refers to his whole sermon, embracing all the commandments of God. Who would not rather be found on solid rock, than sliding sand, when the rain descends, the floods come, and winds blow? II. THE TESTIMONY OF THREE INSPIRED APOSTLES, AFTER THE CRUCIFIXION.—Let it be well understood that all who teach that the commandments of God are abolished, and not taught in the New Testament, teach that their abolition dates from the crucifixion. When was the crucifixion? We say, In the spring of A. D. 31. This then is their starting point. First, we will present the testimony of the Apostle to the Gentiles.—Rom. vii chap. beginning with verse 6th. Here we are told, is proof that the law is dead. Please read this verse with the marginal reading, and it will appear plain that we [under the gospel] are dead to that law, [sacrifices and offerings] wherein we were held [but now we are separated from the law. Whiting's trans.] and not the law that is dead. For Paul goes on to say, 'What shall we say then? is the law sin? God forbid. Nay I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.' This is the tenth commandment. 'For I was alive without the law once, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died.' For without the law sin was dead. . . . And the commandment which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.' Here Paul shows that the commandment which was ordained unto life, still had power sufficient to kill sin in him, or he would eventually have died a sinner, and this is what it will do for us all, either kill sin in us, or kill us. 'For sin is the transgression of the law.' 'Wherefore the LAW is HOLY, and the COMMANDMENT HOLY, and JUST and GOOD. Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good: that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.' Chap. vii, 12, 13. How perfectly plain Paul has made this argument in his own experience, and the experience of all others, that sin is the very opposite to the holy law of God; and always will be, while we worship God spiritually—that is, by faith. Again. 'For I delight in the law of God, after the inward man.' Verse 22. Shall we understand this of the heart? No, no. Hear him. 'I thank God, through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God.'—Verse 25. How convincing to all that it is with the mind—the intellectual powers that we serve the law of God, and not the heart; which is the seat of life. The mind is the Bible marked place for the seal, the profession. 'Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.'—Rom iii, 31. Through faith, we understand this to mean our mode of worship under the gospel, contrasted with Moses' under his administration. Then the law is established simply by our believing, and keeping it. Now let us see the date of this letter to the Romans and we find it was A. D. 60. Now subtract the date of the crucifixion A. D. 31, where our opponents tell us that the law of God was abolished, and we have 29 years this side of their date; showing without fear of contradiction that the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good, and ordained to life; and spiritual, [that is, by faith, after the ascension of Jesus,] and that Paul himself with his mind served, or kept it, and delighted in it, and says, it is established by faith under the gospel. Second, the testimony of James.—'Ye fulfill the royal law, according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well. . . . For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.'—Chap. ii, 8—12. James has here quoted the sixth and seventh commandments from the law of God, to prove that if we violate one of them, or any point in the law, we are guilty of all. Also that we are to be judged by this royal law of liberty. Why is this called a perfect law? Answer. Because it is a whole, unbroken, unchanged covenant in all its precepts. Why is it a ROYAL LAW of liberty? Answer. Because it came from it.12King eternal, and was given for all his subjects in the universe, without bounds, or limit; because they are to be judged by it. This therefore, cannot be an indefinite law, called by our opponents, the law of the New Testament; the law of grace, &c., but one that all will have to meet at the judgment. It is also the very opposite to the yoke of bondage. See Gal. v, 1. This letter of James is dated A. D. 60; the same year that Paul wrote his epistle to the Romans. Third, the testimony of John. 'Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning: The old commandment is the word which ye heard from the beginning.'—1 John ii, 7. In verse 13, and in chapter i, 1, and also in his gospel, chapter i, 1, we further see what he means, by the beginning. Therefore we learn that he is speaking of the fourth commandment, given on the seventh day of the creation. We know that objections are raised here; but we think it will be a difficult point, to prove that any other of the ten words were given, but the Sabbath commandment in the beginning of the creation. John makes a clear distinction between this old one from the beginning, and the new one from the beginning of the gospel. 'Again a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you . . . . He that loveth his brother abideth in the light,' &c., verses 8—11. We know that this new commandment came from Jesus to the Church.—See John xiii, 34, 35. But the old one, from the beginning, from the Father, was given to whosoever would receive it. 'By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.'—Chapter v, 2, 3. 'He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him.'—Chapter ii, 4. This testimony is dated A. D. 90. Now in view of all the testimony on this subject, how should we imagine this case would be decided before the Supreme Judicial Court of the most enlightened nation on the earth. 1. The Judge. 2. Twelve impartial Jurymen. 3. On one side, the opponents who teach that the commandments of God were abolished, when Jesus was nailed to the cross, [A. D. 31,] and that they are not taught in the New Testament, therefore, should not be regarded. 4. On the other side, stands Jesus, who is soon to be the Judge of the living and the dead. Behind him are his three inspired apostles, all testifying on the opposite side of this question. 5. Advocates on both sides. The arguments on both sides are before the court. The Judge now rises, and gives his charge to the Jury like the following.—Gentlemen of the Jury, an impartial and righteous verdict in this case is of the most momentous importance. You will, therefore, be very careful to weigh the testimony on both sides. You perceive that there are but four witnesses on one side, and a host on the other. I charge you therefore, to scan well their professed religious characters, their sacrifices, and their zeal and sufferings for these great truths. Keep your minds strictly to the law and their testimony, and render your verdict accordingly. The testimony of the opponents to the commandments of God being binding since Jesus was nailed to the cross, has appeared in their writings and oral teachings. Their main arguments are drawn from five of the Apostle Paul's letters, viz: Col. ii, 14—17; Gal. chaps. iii and v; Heb. chaps. viii and x; 2 Cor. iii, 7—18; Rom. chaps. vii, xiii, and xiv; and from James ii, 8—12. They say further, that Jesus did not teach them in the New Testament, and that they were not binding after his crucifixion. The first point they offer, you will perceive is fatal to their argument; because they claim it for their starting point, to prove the abolition of the commandments of God, viz: Col. ii, 14—17. Now the commandments are not mentioned in the whole chapter; hence they are afloat without any place to pin their point. Their other arguments have no point to start from. They may ask for a rehearing to show that they had particular reference to the Sabbath days, in verse 16. But you will please notice, that the abolition of all the commandments of God, is the subject stated in the case before you. Such a request, therefore, would be out of order. If they had some other object in view, viz, to blot out the fourth, the Sabbath commandment, you will have just cause to suspect their whole testimony,—that all of it, like their starting point, is inferential. If, on the other hand, you learn that they have sacrificed worldly goods, salaries, pleasures of the world, and praise of men, it will prove (if nothing else) their sincerity. Put it all into their scale. We will now point you to some of the main points in the New Testament testimony. I. THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. He shows,—
1. That all the law, and the prophets, hang on the commandments of God. Therefore the Bible could not be sustained without them. 2. That the young man and the lawyer were both directed to keep the commandments, in the law, in order to enter into eternal life. 3. That heaven would sooner pass away, than one tittle of the law would fail.—Matt. v, 18. 4. That the commandments are a test for the kingdom of heaven, when knowingly violated,—verse 19. [Campbell's trans.] 5. That they are to be kept clear down to the reign of heaven. 6. That whosoever would do, and teach them, should be highly esteemed in the reign of heaven. 7. That they were the commandments of God in his law.—[Chap. v, 21, 27, 33, 34,] and that he kept them. [See John xv, 10.] Here you will take particular notice, that the veracity, and character of this witness is unimpeachable; that his sacrifices were such that he had not where to lay his head. That he finally sealed this testimony (which is the everlasting covenant) with his own blood.—Heb. x, 29; xiii, 20. Be careful and weigh every point in the testimony of this witness. II. THE THREE INSPIRED WITNESSES.
Their testimony was given after their Master was nailed to the cross. This is an important point for your consideration. First, Paul the great Apostle to the Gentiles. Some points in his testimony are as follows:— 1. 'Is the law sin, God forbid.' 'Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment HOLY, and JUST and GOOD.' 2. That it was ordained to life, and is spiritual. 3. That he was thankful to God, through Jesus Christ, that with his 'MIND he served the law of God.' He also DELIGHTED in the law of God, [His Commandments.]—Rom. vii. 4. That the LAW WAS ESTABLISHED THROUGH FAITH, [Chap. iii, 31,] i. e. under the gospel, in the Spirit, and not the letter. Here you will please to remember that this witness was miraculously and specially raised up and sent forth to preach the truth to the Gentiles, some time after the crucifixion, where the opposite party testify that the commandments of God were abolished. His peculiar message to them was to preach the gospel, and show them, all that was abolished of the law of Moses. His most bitter persecutors,—so strenuous for keeping the commandments of God, never charged him with violating one of them. If they were abolished, it was specially his duty to declare the same to his hearers. How dare he then teach such doctrine to the Romans, as is stated in the four points above, at least 26 years after he received his message. See one more point here. This important witness has testified in his seventh chap. to his brethren, the Romans (Gentiles) and stated that he kept the commandments, or served the law of God, (which is the same thing,) and in chapter third says that the law of God is established. This was his teaching to them A. D. 60. Will he contradict himself in chap. iii, 20; x, 4, or xiv, 5, 6, or show a mistake in chap. xiii, 8—10. Consider well and see if in such a case his testimony would not be impeached. Further, if he is right in the third and seventh chapters to the Romans, then his letter to the Galatians two years before this must be of the same tenor. Read the third and fourth chapters, and compare them with chap. v, 14. In Hebrews viii, he testifies that the same law of God is written in the heart, and put into the mind, in the second or new covenant that was on tables of stone, in the first or old covenant. In chap. x, 1—9 he shows the law of sacrifices and offerings, a shadow only of good things to come. As for 2 Cor. iii, 7—18, the witness showed the year before, in 1 Cor. vii, that the 'keeping of the commandments of God is something.' [Whiting's trans.] He could not make them nothing, or abolish them, the year after he taught the Romans that he kept them. If you do not impeach the veracity of this witness, then the four points stated above, are clear. SECOND. THE TESTIMONY OF JAMES. He testifies,—
1. That the commandments in the law of God, are a ROYAL LAW OF LIBERTY.—Chap. ii, 11. 2. That we are to be JUDGED by this law. This being true, the sixth and last argument of the opponents fails with their first five.—(See their statement.) Please not forget another point here; i. e. the testimony of the last witness is dated A. D. 60, just 29 years this side of A. D. 31; where the opponents say the commandments of God were abolished. THIRD. JOHN'S TESTIMONY, is,—
1. That the old commandment from the beginning, is to be kept. 2. That the rule by which we know that we love God and his children, is by keeping the commandments. 3. 'He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.' The date of this is A. D. 90: 29 years this side of the other party's point. One passage of scripture belongs here, and may assist you in making up your verdict. It is this,—in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.' These three witnesses were inspired of God to teach the whole truth. They undoubtedly followed their Divine Master's last injunction, viz: 'Teach all nations, . . . to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you,' &c. They suffered the loss of all things in confronting the same covenant, and preaching kindred truths; and finally all except John sealed their testimony with their blood. The Lord Jesus has presented six points, proving that the commandments have been binding now 18½ years this side of the crucifixion, where the opponents testify that they were abolished; and that they will be binding 'till heaven and earth pass away.' The first two witnesses have presented seven points, 29 years this side of the crucifixion, and the third, three points 59 years this side of the same point of time. As the opponents failed in the onset, in giving a starting point for the abolition of the commandments at the crucifixion, (and that was the only point they ever contended for to prove their doctrine,) and, as their other13texts failed to help them, but made their testimony still more obscure, and unsafe, I say, in view of all these things, their case looks very ——! But I forbear, and submit the case to you, to give a righteous verdict according to law, and the testimony. Dear Reader;—examine for yourself and be not deceived, and led blindfolded. Your salvation is at stake, on this point. You are to be judged by these very commandments.—See James ii, 12. It is God's everlasting covenant with man. Look at the sublime picture of the last finishing work for the whole house of Israel. Look into the open temple of God: (Rev. xi, 19.) there stands the ark containing the very ten commandments, God's everlasting covenant.—Suppose for one moment, that man was able to destroy the pattern, yet God has the original in the safest place in heaven. Look ye! There stands two cherubims over the covenant, looking down to it. There stands the Lord Jesus right before it, with his breast-plate of judgment over his heart, representing the names of all Israel. See, he is presenting them before the Father, who is up between the cherubims in a glorious cloud. His train fills the temple, and his all-seeing eye is scanning every name. Reader, this scene is now drawing to a close. In a few days more, our Advocate will have finished his pleading, and God will send forth the seven last plagues, and his four sore judgments, and utterly destroy every soul, that is found breaking his commandments. It will be too late then to ascertain whether these opponents knew better than the Lord Jesus, and his three special witnesses, whom God had inspired, and sent forth to teach his commandments. If you have any evidence that your name is on the breast-plate of judgment, hesitate not another moment, to do and keep all the commandments of God. Amen.
JOSEPH BATES.
Fairhaven, Mass., Nov. 4, 1850.