To perform, to keep, or to act in accordance with; as, "Bear ye one another"s burdens, and so _fulfil_ the law of Christ." Gal. 6:2. See also Matt. 3:15; James 2:8, 9.
7. How did Christ treat His Father"s commandments?
"I have _kept_ My Father"s commandments, and abide in His love." John 15:10.
8. If one professes to abide in Christ, how ought he to walk?
"He that saith he abideth in Him _ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked_." 1 John 2:6.
9. What is sin?
"Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for _sin is the transgression of the law_." 1 John 3:4.
NOTE.-This text does not say that sin _was_ the transgression of the law, but that it _is_ this, thus demonstrating that the law is still in force in the gospel dispensation. "Whosoever" likewise shows the universality of its binding claims. Whoever of any nation, race, or people commits sin, transgresses the law.
[Ill.u.s.tration.]
The Great Sacrifice. "Do we then make void the law through faith? G.o.d forbid: yea, we establish the law." Rom. 3:31.
10. In what condition are all men?
"For _all have sinned_, and come short of the glory of G.o.d." Rom. 3:23.
11. How many are included in the "all" who have sinned?
"What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved _both Jews and Gentiles_, that _they are all under sin_." Verse 9.
12. By what are all men proved guilty?
"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_." Verse 19.
NOTE.-It is what the law says, and not what one may interpret it to mean, that proves the sinner guilty. Moreover, G.o.d is no respecter of persons, but treats Jew and Gentile alike. Measured by the law, _all the world_ are guilty before G.o.d.
13. Does faith in G.o.d make void the law?
"Do we then make void the law through faith? _G.o.d forbid: yea, we establish the law_." Verse 31.
14. What, more than all else, proves the perpetuity and immutability of the law of G.o.d?
"For _G.o.d so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son_, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
John 3:16. "Christ died for our sins." 1 Cor. 15:3.
NOTE.-Could the law have been abolished, and sin been disposed of in this way, Christ need not have come and died for our sins. The gift of Christ, therefore, more than all else, proves the immutability of the law of G.o.d. Christ must come and die, and satisfy the claims of the law, or the world must perish. The law could not give way. Says Spurgeon in his sermon on "The Perpetuity of the Law of G.o.d," "Our Lord Jesus Christ gave a greater vindication of the law by dying because it had been broken than all the lost can ever give by their miseries." The fact that the law is to be the standard in the judgment is another proof of its enduring nature. See Eccl. 12:13, 14; James 2:8-12.
15. What relation does a justified person sustain to the law?
"For not the hearers of the law are just before G.o.d, but _the doers of the law shall be justified_." Rom. 2:13.
16. Who has the promise of being blessed in his doing?
"But he that looketh into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and so continueth, being not a hearer that forgetteth, but _a doer that worketh_, this man shall be blessed in his doing." James 1:25, R. V.
17. By what may we know that we have pa.s.sed from death unto life?
"We know that we have pa.s.sed from death unto life, _because we love the brethren_." 1 John 3:14.
18. And how may we know that we love the brethren?
"By this we know that we love the children of G.o.d, _when we love G.o.d, and keep His commandments_." 1 John 5:2.
19. What is the love of G.o.d?
"For this is the love of G.o.d, _that we keep His commandments_." Verse 3.
20. How are those described who will be prepared for the coming of Christ?
"Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of G.o.d, and the faith of Jesus." Rev. 14:12.
O that the Lord would guide my ways To keep His statutes still!
O that my G.o.d would grant me grace To know and do His will!
O send Thy Spirit down to write Thy law upon my heart, Nor let my tongue indulge deceit, Nor act the liar"s part.
From vanity turn off my eyes, Let no corrupt design Nor covetous desire arise Within this soul of mine.
Order my footsteps by Thy word, And make my heart sincere; Let sin have no dominion, Lord, But keep my conscience clear.
Make me to walk in Thy commands, "Tis a delightful road; Nor let my head, nor heart, nor hands Offend against my G.o.d.
ISAAC WATTS.
Why The Law Was Given At Sinai
[Ill.u.s.tration.]
Moses With The Tables Of The Law. "By the law is the knowledge of sin."