In Defense of the Faith

Every Commandment Still Binding

Canright as an Adventist further says:

“James teaches the same simple truth, that every one of the Ten Commandments is binding upon Christians. He says, ‘For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.’ James 2:10. Of what law is he speaking? The Ten Commandments, as he proceeds to show in the very next verse: ‘For He that said [marginal reading, that law which 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.’ James is speaking of that law which says, Do not kill, Do not commit adultery. We all know that this law is the Ten Commandments, for it is the only law which contains this language. Wherever these words are quoted in the New Testament, they are quoted directly from the Ten Commandments as contained in the Old Testament. Now James says positively that whoever shall keep the whole of that law, that is, nine of the Ten Commandments, and break any one of them, he is guilty of all. DOF 38.1

“He has broken the law. He is a transgressor, and God will hold him guilty. How could the sacredness and perpetuity of that law be taught in stronger language? People who can explain this away, can explain away anything.

“These commandments are constantly appealed to, not only in the Old Testament, but just as frequently in the New Testament, as the standard of right and wrong, of moral character; as that which shows who is righteous and who is wicked. When the young man asked Christ what he should do to inherit eternal life, the Savior’s answer was, ‘If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.’ Matthew 19:17. Thus the Lord held up before him the commandments of God as the condition of eternal life. That He here referred to the Ten Commandments is evident, for He immediately proceeded to quote several of them to show what law He meant. DOF 39.1

“When Jesus would prove the Pharisees to be hypocrites and wicked men, He brought the same test to bear upon them. ‘Why do you also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? For God commanded, saying, Honor thy father and mother.’ Matthew 15:3, 4. Here the Ten Commandments are plainly referred to. The Savior then says, ‘In vain they do worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.’ Verse 9. It is vain for us, then, to profess to worship and, and yet disregard any precept of His holy law.... DOF 39.2

“Throughout the New Testament this law is spoken of in the highest terms. Paul, referring to the Ten Commandments (Romans 7:7), says, ‘Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.’ ‘For we know that the law is spiritual; but I am carnal, sold under sin.’ ‘For I delight in the law of God.’ Romans 7:12, 14, 22. This was the character of that law at the time Paul wrote, which was A. D. 50. He does not say it used to be holy and good; but it ‘is holy,’ ‘is spiritual,’ etc. The holy apostle says, ‘I delight in the law of God.’ Should we not do the same? The apostle states: ‘The carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.’ Romans 8:7. DOF 39.3

“Reader, God’s law is just right: the trouble is with the carnal heart. It does not love to obey that law. How is it with yourself? Do you love to meditate upon that law? Do you observe its precepts? Or are you breaking some of these commandments? Remember that one of them plainly requires you to keep the seventh-day Sabbath. We beseech you not to regard this matter lightly, nor condemn us for teaching and keeping the law of God just as the Bible presents it. We solemnly believe that the time has come for a reformation concerning the commandments of God, as predicted in the last message (Revelation 14:12): ‘Here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.’ Just before Jesus comes, a people is to be raised up who will keep all the commandments of God, while they also have faith in Jesus. This is just what we see fulfilled in the work of Seventh-day Adventists.”—D. M. Canright, The Law of God. DOF 40.1