Basic HTML Version
Man’s Inability to Save Himself, March 13
Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by
the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ,
that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the
works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be
justified.
Galatians 2:16
.
Another compact—called in Scripture the “old” covenant—was
formed between God and Israel at Sinai, and was then ratified by the
blood of a sacrifice....
God ... gave them [Israel] His law, with the promise of great bless-
ings on condition of obedience: “If ye will obey my voice indeed, and
keep my covenant, then ... ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests,
and an holy nation.”
Exodus 19:5, 6
. The people did not realize the
sinfulness of their own hearts, and that without Christ it was impossible
for them to keep God’s law; and they readily entered into covenant with
God. Feeling that they were able to establish their own righteousness,
they declared, “All that the Lord hath said will we do, and be obedient.”
Exodus 24:7
. They had witnessed the proclamation of the law in awful
majesty, and had trembled with terror before the mount; and yet only a
few weeks passed before they broke their covenant with God, and bowed
down to worship a graven image. They could not hope for the favor of
God through a covenant which they had broken; and now, seeing their
sinfulness and their need of pardon, they were brought to feel their need
of the Saviour revealed in the Abrahamic covenant, and shadowed forth
in the sacrificial offerings....
The terms of the “old covenant” were, Obey and live: “If a man
do, he shall even live in them;” but “cursed be he that confirmeth not
all the words of this law to do them.”
Ezekiel 20:11
;
Leviticus 18:5
;
Deuteronomy 27:26
. The “new covenant” was established upon “better
promises”—the promise of forgiveness of sins, and of the grace of God
to renew the heart, and bring it into harmony with the principles of
God’s law.
The only means of salvation is provided under the Abrahamic
covenant.
[79]
80