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From Heaven With Love
and tendencies, above temptations that lead to sin. God gave us the
precepts of the law that in obeying them we might have joy.
At Sinai, God made known to men the holiness of His character,
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that by contrast they might see the sinfulness of their own. The law
was given to convict them of sin, and reveal their need of a Saviour.
This work it is still to do. As the Holy Spirit reveals to men their
need of Christ’s cleansing blood and justifying righteousness, the
law is still an agent in bringing us to Christ, that we may be justified
by faith. “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul.”
Psalm
19:7
.
“Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise
pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.” The sun shining, and the solid
earth are God’s witnesses that His law is eternal. Though they may
pass away, the divine precepts shall endure. The system of types
that pointed to Jesus as the Lamb of God was to be abolished at His
death, but the Decalogue is as immutable as the throne of God.
The Saviour’s life of obedience proved that the law could be kept
in humanity and showed the excellence of character that obedience
would develop. On the other hand, all who break God’s command-
ments sustain Satan’s claim that the law cannot be obeyed. To admit
them to heaven would again bring in discord and rebellion, and im-
peril the well-being of the universe. No one who willfully disregards
one principle of the law shall enter the kingdom of heaven.
The greatest deception of the human mind in Christ’s day was
that a mere assent to the truth constitutes righteousness. In all human
experience a theoretical knowledge of the truth has been proved to
be insufficient for the saving of the soul. It does not bring forth the
fruits of righteousness.
A jealous regard for what is termed theological truth often ac-
companies a hatred of genuine truth as made manifest in life. The
darkest chapters of history are burdened with the record of crimes
committed by bigoted religionists. The Pharisees thought themselves
the greatest religionists of the world, but their so-called orthodoxy
led them to crucify the Lord of glory. Many profess faith in the
truth; but if it does not make them sincere, kind, patient, forbearing,
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heavenly-minded, it is a curse to its possessors, and through their
influence it is a curse to the world.