Law of God
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Those who trample upon God’s authority, and show open contempt
to the law given in such grandeur at Sinai, virtually despise the Law-
giver, the great Jehovah. The children of Israel, who transgressed the
first and second commandments, were charged not to be seen any-
where near the mount, where God was to descend in glory to write the
law a second time upon tables of stone, lest they should be consumed
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with the burning glory of his presence. And if they could not even
look upon the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance, because
he had been communing with God, how much less can the transgres-
sors of God’s law look upon the Son of God when he shall appear in
the clouds of heaven in the glory of his Father, surrounded by all the
angelic host, to execute judgment upon all who have disregarded the
commandments of God, and have trodden under foot his blood!
The law of God existed before man was created. The angels were
governed by it. Satan fell because he transgressed the principles of
God’s government. After Adam and Eve were created, God made
known to them his law. It was not then written, but was rehearsed to
them by Jehovah.
The Sabbath of the fourth commandment was instituted in Eden.
After God had made the world, and created man upon the earth, he
made the Sabbath for man. After Adam’s sin and fall nothing was
taken from the law of God. The principles of the ten commandments
existed before the fall, and were of a character suited to the condition
of a holy order of beings. After the fall, the principles of those precepts
were not changed, but additional precepts were given to meet man in
his fallen state.
A system was then established requiring the sacrificing of beasts
to keep before fallen man that which the serpent made Eve disbelieve,
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that the penalty of disobedience is death. The transgression of God’s
law made it necessary for Christ to die a sacrifice, and thus make a
way possible for man to escape the penalty, and yet the honor of God’s
law be preserved. The system of sacrifices was to teach man humility,
in view of his fallen condition, and lead him to repentance, and to trust
in God alone, through the promised Redeemer, for pardon for past
transgression of his law. If the law of God had not been transgressed
there never would have been death, and there would have been no need
of additional precepts to suit man’s fallen condition.