Part 27 (1/2)
”Now it is necessary that thou shouldst have accurate copies of them. And indeed this legislation is full of hidden wisdom, and entirely blameless, as being the legislation of G.o.d; for which cause it is, as Hecateus of Abdera says, that the poets and historians make no mention of it, nor of those men who lead their lives according to it, since it is a holy law, and ought not to be published by profane mouths.”--_Josephus, ”Antiquities,” book 12, chap. 2, sec. 4._
Unfaithful as the Jewish people oftentimes were, yet through their testimony and the dealings of G.o.d with them, the fame of the living oracles was spread abroad among the ancient nations.
One G.o.d--One Moral Standard
”There is one Lawgiver.” James 4:12. He is ever the same, and His law is the standard of righteousness for all mankind. There was not one moral standard before Christ and another after. Christ's death upon the cross because man had broken the law, is the divine testimony to all the universe that G.o.d's law can never be set aside nor its force suspended.
Jesus opened His public teaching with the declaration:
”Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pa.s.s, one jot or one t.i.ttle shall in no wise pa.s.s from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” Matt. 5:17-19.
The moral law of ten commandments is one code, every precept equally sacred and equally binding:
”Whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. For He that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.” James 2:10-12.
The law of G.o.d still speaks with all the force of that voice from Sinai, and it speaks to every soul on earth:
”Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before G.o.d.” Rom. 3:19.
Thus the law of G.o.d convicts all men of sin, and would drive every one to Christ for pardon and for the divine gift of the grace and power of obedience.
The ceremonial law--the precepts and ordinances commanded for the sacrificial system--ceased with the sacrifice of Calvary, as all these ceremonial observances pointed forward to the cross. There can be no confounding of the moral law and the ceremonial law. The ceremonial law of types and shadows showed in itself that a primary or higher law--the moral law--had been violated, making necessary a divine sacrifice if transgressors were to be saved from death and restored to obedience.
The Standard in the Judgment
The law of G.o.d's moral government, which is the rule of life for every creature, must necessarily be the standard in the great judgment day.
The Scripture states the sum of all human obligation and responsibility in the words:
”Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear G.o.d, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For G.o.d shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” Eccl. 12:13, 14.
Every son and daughter of Adam's lost race is judgment bound, to answer before the bar of G.o.d the demands of the perfect law. Divine justice cannot abate one jot or t.i.ttle of the requirements of the holy law, nor by any means clear the guilty. But divine mercy has provided the way by which G.o.d can ”be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.”
[Ill.u.s.tration: THE GIFT OF G.o.d
”G.o.d so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son.” John 3:16.]
[Ill.u.s.tration: CHILDLIKE FAITH
”Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Matt. 18:3.]
JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH
”How should man be just [righteous] with G.o.d?” asked the patriarch Job.
It has been the vital question ever since Adam sinned, and lost his righteousness and forfeited his life. The answer of Scripture is:--
”Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with G.o.d through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Rom 5:1 ”By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of G.o.d: not of works, lest any man should boast.” Eph. 2:8, 9.