The Watchman
August 11, 1908
The Law of God not Abrogated by the Saviour
There stood up a certain lawyer, and tempted Christ, 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.” Christ here shows the lawyer that it is not alone a professed belief in the claims of God's law that makes the Christian; it is the carrying out of that law. To love God with all the heart and our neighbor as ourselves is the true fruit of piety. SW August 11, 1908, par. 1
God has given us his holy precepts, because he loves mankind. To shield us from the results of transgression, he reveals the principles of righteousness. The law is an expression of the thought of God; when received in Christ, it becomes our thought. It lifts us above the power of natural desires and tendencies, above temptations that lead to sin. God desires us to be happy, and he gave us the precepts of the law that in obeying them we might have joy. When at Jesus’ birth the angels sang—
“Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, good will toward men.”
they were declaring the principles of the law which he had come to magnify and make honorable.
SW August 11, 1908, par. 2
When the law was proclaimed from Sinai, God made known to men the holiness of his character, that by contrast they might see the sinfulness of their own. The law was given to convict them of sin, and reveal their need of a Saviour. It would do this as its principles were applied to the heart by the Holy Spirit. This work it is still to do. SW August 11, 1908, par. 3
In the life of Christ the principles of the law are made plain; and as the Holy Spirit of God touches the heart; as the light of Christ reveals to men their need of his cleansing blood and his justifying righteousness, the law is still an agent in bringing us to Christ, that we may be justified by faith. “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul.” SW August 11, 1908, par. 4
“Till heaven and earth pass,” said Jesus, “one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.” The sun shining in the heavens, the solid earth upon which you dwell, are God's witnesses that his law is changeless and eternal. Though they may pass away, the divine precepts shall endure. “It is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.” The system of types that pointed to Jesus as the Lamb of God was to be abolished at his death; but the precepts of the decalogue are as immutable as the throne of God. SW August 11, 1908, par. 5
Since “the law of the Lord is perfect,” every variation from it must be evil. Those who disobey the commandments of God, and teach others to do so, are condemned by Christ. The Saviour's life of obedience maintained the claims of the law; it proved that the law could be kept in humanity, and showed the excellence of character that obedience would develop. All who obey as he did, are likewise declaring that the law is “holy, and just, and good.” On the other hand, all who break God's commandments are sustaining Satan's claim that the law is unjust, and cannot be obeyed. Thus they second the deceptions of the great adversary, and cast dishonor upon God. They are the children of the wicked one, who was the first rebel against God's law. To admit them into heaven would again bring in the elements of discord and rebellion, and imperil the well-being of the universe. No man who wilfully disregards one principle of the law shall enter the kingdom of heaven. SW August 11, 1908, par. 6
The Lord means what he says, and man cannot set aside his commands with impunity. The example of Adam and Eve in the garden should sufficiently warn us against any disobedience of the divine law. Their sin brought guilt and sorrow upon the world, and caused the death of the Son of God. He was subjected to insult, rejection, and crucifixion by the very ones he came to save. What infinite expense attended that disobedience in the garden of Eden. SW August 11, 1908, par. 7
God will not pass over any transgression of his law more lightly now than when he pronounced judgment against Adam. The Saviour of the world raises his voice in protest against those who regard the divine commandments with carelessness and indifference. He said, “Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven; but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” SW August 11, 1908, par. 8
God has spoken, and he means that man shall obey. He does not inquire if it is convenient for him to do so; and if we are true servants of God, there will be no question in our minds as to the course we will take. SW August 11, 1908, par. 9