Chapter 61—The Vital Function of God’s Laws
(A) The Decalogue
The knowledge of Guilt—The knowledge which God did not
want our first parents to have was a knowledge of guilt. And when
they accepted the assertions of Satan, which were false, disobedience
and transgression were introduced into our world. This disobedience
to God’s express command, this belief of Satan’s lie, opened the
floodgates of woe upon the world.—
The Review and Herald, April 5,
1898
.
Nature Weakened—The transgression of God’s law brought woe
and death in its train. Through disobedience man’s powers were
perverted and selfishness took the place of love. His nature became so
weakened that it was impossible for him to resist the power of evil, and
the tempter saw being fulfilled his purpose to thwart the divine plan of
man’s creation and fill the earth with misery and desolation. Men had
chosen a ruler who chained them to his car as captives.—
Counsels to
Parents, Teachers, and Students, 33
(1913).
God’s Law Easily Understood—There is no mystery in the law
of God. The feeblest intellect can grasp these rules to regulate the
life and form the character after the Divine Model. If the children
of men would, to the best of their ability, obey this law, they would
gain strength of intellect and power of discernment to comprehend still
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more of God’s purposes and plans. And this advancement may not
only be continued during the present life, but it may go forward during
the eternal ages.—
The Review and Herald, September 14, 1886
.
Wonderful in Simplicity—How wonderful in its simplicity, its
comprehensiveness and perfection, is the law of Jehovah! In the
purposes and dealings of God there are mysteries which the finite
mind is unable to comprehend. And it is because we cannot fathom the
secrets of infinite wisdom and power that we are filled with reverence
for the Most High.—
The Review and Herald, September 14, 1886
.
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