CHRIST MAGNIFIES HIS FATHER'S LAW
By A. S. Booth
ISAIAH, prophesying of the attitude Christ would sustain to His Father's law, said, "The Lord is well pleased for His righteousness' sake; He will magnify the law, and make it honorable." Isa. 42: 21. Christ's life was the law of God magnified and made honorable in every respect. To magnify is not to add anything to or take from. When we turn a magnifying glass upon a flower, the glass neither adds to nor takes from the flower, but simply reveals that which is already there. Christ was an example of the law of His Father lived out in the flesh. The Father gave to the human family the law, and sent His Son as an example to all in commandment keeping. "Sin is the transgression of the law." 1 John 3: 4. The Lord came to save His people from their sins, not in their sins or from the law. We read, "Thou shalt call His name Jesus: for He shall save His people from their sins." Matt. 1: 21. It is also a matter of prophecy that the time will come that the Master will bruise the head of the serpent. Gen. 3: 15. Said John, "For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil." 1 John 3: 8. The foregoing texts clearly reveal the work of Christ. He came to magnify the law of His Father, save man from his sins, and destroy the works of the devil. Now if the Christian life means anything, it is that Christ dwells in the heart by faith. Paul's testimony was, "I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me." Gal. 2: 20. Destroys Plan of Salvation
THE Master is "the same yesterday, and to-day, and forever." When any permit Him to have His perfect way in their lives, He will cause them to magnify His holy law, will save them from their sins, and will destroy the devil's works in them. The teaching which would cause people to believe that the law of God is abolished, destroys the principles of the plan of salvation, and denies the work of the Lord. Of the law, the Bible declares: "Sin is the transgression of the law." 1 John 3: 4. "By the law is the knowledge of sin." Rom. 3: 20. "Where no law is, there is no transgression." Rom. 4: 15. "Sin is not imputed when there is no law." Rom. 5: 13. Now for argument's sake, let us conclude that as some teach, there is no law. What do we have then? Says one, "We have sin and Christ left." But where there is no law, there is no sin. Inasmuch, then, as the work of Christ is to magnify the law, and save us from sin, if there is no law or sin, there is no need of Christ. Thus the no-law theory needs no Saviour. May the Lord help us to consider that the whole effort of Heaven, in the plan of salvation, is to write the law of ten words in the heart and mind of the child of God. This is the new covenant. Heb. 8: 10. That which is written by the Spirit of the Lord in the heart and mind is not abolished. Whatsoever is in the heart, we delight to do. If the Bible teaches anything, it certainly teaches that the human family will be judged by the law of Ten Commandments. If we cannot, by the help of the Lord, meet the requirements of the law in this world and our life here, how will we fare in the Judgment? A. S. BOOTH.