"IF YE WILL INQUIRE, INQUIRE YE."
By Editor
This Inquirers' Department is conducted for the purpose of helping those who are studying the Bible. The answers are oftentimes only suggestive. They are never to be considered infallible, only as they agree with the infallible Word. The writer who may answer them does not consider that his opinion is infallible. He will simply give the best that he has, and plead with the inquirer to search the Word. Such questions only will be answered as, to the editors, seem to minister to the good of the readers and to the mission of the paper. We can not answer repeatedly in the same volume questions upon the same scripture. The name and address must accompany question, not for publication, but as an evidence of good faith, and that answer may be made by letter if deemed advisable. No letters are answered which do not contain the name of the writer. It is well always to enclose stamp for reply. By preaching the law do we preach the Gospel? That depends on how one preaches the law. It would be better to put it the other way: By the true preaching of the Gospel we must preach the law. Dr. Adam Clarke has said, "He who preaches the Gospel without the law heals but slightly the hurt of the daughter of My people." No man can truly preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ in its fulness and effectiveness apart from the law. This would be apparent from a few questions. What is the Gospel?—"It is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth." Rom. 1:16. Salvation from what?—Salvation from sin. "Thou shalt call His name Jesus: for He shall save His people from their sins." Matt. 1:21. "Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity [lawlessness]." Titus 2:14. What is sin?—"Sin is the transgression of the law." 1 John 3:4. "Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law." Rom. 7:7. "For where no law is, there is no transgression." Rom. 4:15. "For by the law is the knowledge of sin." Rom. 3:20. How is it possible to make a sinner see and truly know just what salvation the Gospel brings him unless the awful consequences of sin be shown as well as the awful result—death? The Gospel is given to bring men into perfect harmony with that law, so that the law which no longer condemns shall be written in the heart of the believer. If the law is preached this way it must be preached with the Gospel. God has not told us, however, to preach the law, but to preach the Gospel; and the true preaching of the Gospel must include the law.