The Law of God fulfilled
By J. A. Waggoner
The Law of God fulfilled.
Many seem to suppose that because the Saviour fulfilled the law, we are under no obligation to keep it; thus abolishing, instead of establishing the law through faith. According to Macknight's translation the Saviour fulfilled the law in the sense of ratifying it. Jesus said, [Matt. v, 17,] "Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets; I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill;" and, [John xv, 10,] "I have kept my Father's commandments." Then fulfilling the law, is keeping it, and not destroying it, according to Christ's own words. Paul gives us the converse of fulfill, which makes it very clear; [Rom. ii, 27;] "and shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfill the law, judge thee who by the letter, and circumcision dost transgress the law?" Rom. viii, 3, 4. "God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and by a sacrifice for sin [margin] condemned sin in the flesh; that the righteousness [precept, Whiting] of the law might be fulfilled [not transgressed] in us, who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit." Matt. vii, 12. "All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets." Then the law and the prophets cannot be destroyed, or made void, so long as the golden rule—the law of love abides. The remark is often made that, "A law fulfilled is no longer of force." Let us trace this proposition to its conclusion as follows: Christ came to fulfill the law—therefore we are under no obligation to keep or fulfill the law. Again, [Rom. xiii, 10,] "Love is the fulfilling of the law;" and Christ fulfilled the law, (which is love,) therefore by faith in Christ we are released from the obligation to keep or fulfill the law which is to love. Can such liberty be desirable to the Christian?—But further, we may release ourselves from the obligation to love, according to the above rule. Rom. xiii, 8. "He that loveth another hath fulfilled the law;" and a law once fulfilled is no longer of force. Therefore, "he that loveth another," is under no obligation to love any more! Can this conclusion be denied by those who vainly strive to "make void the law through faith?" Rom. iii, 31. Is not this perverting the right ways of the Lord? Acts xiii, 10. Baraboo, Wis., Aug. 18th, 1852.