Basic HTML Version
The Standard of Character in the Judgment, November 24
As many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; (for not the
hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be
justified).
Romans 2:12, 13
.
Those who had accepted the light concerning the mediation of Christ and the per-
petuity of the law of God found that these were the truths presented in
Revelation 14
.
The messages of this chapter constitute a threefold warning which is to prepare the
inhabitants of the earth for the Lord’s second coming. The announcement, “The
hour of his judgment is come,” points to the closing work of Christ’s ministration
for the salvation of men. It heralds a truth which must be proclaimed until the
Saviour’s intercession shall cease and He shall return to the earth to take His people
to Himself. The work of judgment which began in 1844 must continue until the
cases of all are decided, both of the living and the dead; hence it will extend to the
close of human probation. That men may be prepared to stand in the judgment, the
message commands them to “fear God, and give glory to him,” “and worship him
that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.” The result
of an acceptance of these messages is given in the Word: “Here are they that keep
the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” In order to be prepared for the
judgment, it is necessary that men should keep the law of God. That law will be the
standard of character in the judgment. The apostle Paul declares: “As many as have
sinned in the law shall be judged by the law, ... in the day when God shall judge
the secrets of men by Jesus Christ.” And he says that “the doers of the law shall be
justified” (
Romans 2:12-16
). Faith is essential in order to the keeping of the law of
God; for “without faith it is impossible to please him.” And “whatsoever is not of
faith is sin” (
Hebrews 11:6
;
Romans 14:23
).
By the first angel, men are called upon to “fear God, and give glory to him” and
to worship Him as the Creator of the heavens and the earth. In order to do this, they
must obey His law. Says the wise man: “Fear God, and keep his commandments:
for this is the whole duty of man” (
Ecclesiastes 12:13
). Without obedience to His
commandments no worship can be pleasing to God. “This is the love of God, that
we keep his commandments.” “He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law,
even his prayer shall be abomination” (
The Great Controversy, 435, 436
).
The question of deepest interest to each one should be, Am I meeting the
requirements of the law of God? ... Only by a close examination of self in the light
of God’s Word can we discover our deviations from His holy rule of right.... In Him
we may have pardon for past failures, and in His strength grow up to be perfect men
and women in Christ Jesus (
Youth’s Instructor, June 10, 1897
).
[343]
347