WHILE Satan is roaming up and down in the desolate earth, and the wicked dead are unconscious of passing events, those that have been accounted worthy to have eternal life are reigning with Christ in the city of God. They are sitting on thrones of judgment. The apostle Paul speaks of this time when he says, "Judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts." 1 Cor. 4:5. Daniel, in speaking of the time when the Ancient of Days came, says, "Judgment was given to the saints of the Most High." Dan. 7:22. John speaks of this judgment work also: "I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them." "They shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years." Rev. 20:4, 6. When the books were examined in the investigative judgment, it was decided who should have eternal life, or who had been cleansed from all his sins. The cases of the wicked are yet to be examined to ascertain the degree of punishment of each. They are to be judged according to their deeds. Their deeds will be reckoned according to the light they had, or might have had. When the books are opened, there will be present not only the angels that kept the record, but those from each generation that were saved by the gospel. "The saints shall judge the world," says Paul. 1 Cor. 6:2, 3. As they sit on the thrones with Christ, they judge the wicked, comparing their acts with the Bible, deciding every case according to the deeds done in the body. "Know ye not that we shall judge angels?" Yes, Satan’s case, and those of the angels who rebelled with him, will be investigated. In this work the saints and Christ are reigning over Satan and the wicked. The Greek word from whence comes our word "reign," is defined as "possessing regal authority." Satan has claimed the authority over the saints. He even contended with Christ over the body of Moses. He claimed Moses as his prisoner. When Christ came to raise him from the dead, Satan disputed with him. See Jude 9. Now his regal authority is broken, and Christ and the redeemed ones can sit in judgment on his case.
During the thousand years the records of all the wicked are examined, and judgment is passed upon each one according to his deeds. During this time the wicked "shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison, and after many days shall they be visited." Isa. 24:22. "The rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished." Rev. 20:5.
THE EXECUTION.
After the cases of the ungodly and the one who deceived them are examined, they must be called before the judgment throne and receive their sentence before they are punished. "Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, to execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him." Jude 14, 15. This is the description of Jesus’ return to the earth after the thousand years are finished:—
As he descends in terrific majesty, he bids the wicked dead arise to receive their doom. They come forth, a mighty host, numberless as the sands of the sea. What a contrast to those who were raised at the first resurrection! The righteous were clothed with immortal youth and beauty. The wicked bear the traces of disease and death. Every eye in that vast multitude is turned to behold the glory of the Son of God. With one voice the wicked hosts exclaim, "Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord!" It is not love to Jesus that inspires this utterance. The force of truth urges the words from unwilling lips. As the wicked went into their graves, so they come forth, with the same enmity to Christ, and the same rebellion. They are to have no new probation, in which to remedy the defects of their past lives. Nothing would be gained by this. A lifetime of transgression has not softened their hearts. A second probation, were it given them, would be occupied as was the first, in evading the requirements of God and exciting rebellion against him.—Great Controversy.
The prophet says: "The Lord my God shall come, and all the saints with thee." "And his feet shall stand in that day upon613the Mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof, . . . and there shall be a very great valley." Zech. 14:5, 4. John speaks of this same time when he says, "I John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband." Rev. 21:2.
As Christ and the city with the saints descend to the earth, there is a place purified and prepared for them called "a very great valley." When we consider that the city itself is three hundred and seventy-five miles square, we can see that a valley prepared for it must be a large place. As Satan sees this vast company descending, he begins to realize his final defeat. But as he sees all the wicked brought to life again, he takes courage and prepares for the last mighty struggle for the supremacy.
"And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, and shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle." Rev. 20:7, 8. Satan was bound in the beginning of the thousand years, and his followers taken away. At the close he is loosened, they are brought back, and he at once goes forth to call them to battle. He has seen the camp of the saints and the city of God, and hopes to marshal his hosts and take them captive. Even Gog and Magog, who had in past days oppressed God’s people, are now called into service that they may receive the final doom pronounced upon them through the prophet. See Ezekiel 38 and 39.
How much time elapses before Satan makes the attack we do not know, but it is sufficient for him to gather them from the whole earth, and construct implements of warfare. The countless millions are marshaled under their great leader and advanced toward the city.
"And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city." Rev. 20:9. Here they see the great white throne, and hear their sentence read from the books in which the records of their lives have been kept.
As soon as the books of record are opened, and the eye of Jesus looks upon the wicked, they are conscious of every sin which they have ever committed. They see just where their feet diverged from the path of purity and holiness, just how far pride and rebellion have carried them in violation of the law of God. The seductive temptations which they encouraged by indulgence in sin, the blessings perverted, the messengers of God despised, the warnings rejected, the waves of mercy beaten back by the stubborn, unrepentant heart,—all appear as if written in letters of fire.—Great Controversy.
After hearing and seeing the records of their past lives, "fire comes down from heaven and devours them." Thus the great controversy between Christ and Satan closes. The fire from above that destroys Satan and his followers cleanses the earth from every stain of sin. Christ, the Saviour of his people, has destroyed Satan and all his work. The earth is melted with the fervent heat, and the works that are therein are burned up. 2 Peter 3:10. "Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." Verse 13. God’s plan will be carried out, and the original dominion will be restored to man. The saints will possess the kingdom forever. Jesus will be their king, and the city which was their home during the thousand years, now becomes the capital of the new earth. Every tear will be wiped away, and all cause of sorrow removed. Then will the saints go in and out of the city throughout the endless ages of eternity.
Reader, which side of this great controversy are you now on? Have you enlisted with Jesus, the mighty warrior, who is sure to come out victorious? Or are you serving Satan, who is sure to be defeated? Jesus will give you victory every day, that you may have a pure character, and at last stand with him triumphant. May the Lord help us all to walk with him, and reign with him at last.
WAS THERE A NECESSITY FOR A CHANGE OF THE SABBATH?
By William Covert
BY ELDER WILLIAM COVERT.
IN former articles we have shown that the Sabbath was given to be a memorial of creation. It has also been shown that since man became a subject of redemption, the Sabbath is also a reminder of God's power to sanctify and save him from sin.
As the Creator himself made the Sabbath to answer the purposes above specified, it must be admitted that it did answer those purposes. To deny this would be equivalent to saying that the Lord tried to do a thing but was not able. This would be charging God with weakness.
It will appear by further investigation that redemption was included in, and is of itself, creation. Says the apostle, "We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." Eph. 2:10.
According to the thought presented in the above scripture, conversion simply causes the one converted to be in harmony with that which was ordained in creation. Previously the apostle had taught that all that it is possible for man to be through redemption was decided upon before man was created. He says, "He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love; having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of his will." Eph. 1:4, 5. It is therefore quite clear that the Lord has not been taken by surprise with any difficulty associated with man. It is also seen that even the sacrifice of Christ for man's salvation was agreed upon before man was made. When therefore the Sabbath was given to be a memorial of the facts included in creation, it embodied facts which in themselves included redemption.
From these truths it is proved that redemption is neither less nor greater than creation. Neither is it different from it. It is folly then to talk about the necessity of having a different memorial from that given through creation in order that man might show his faith in redemption. Further, it is an impeachment of the wisdom of God to claim that an event which was understood and to meet which the plans were all laid in creation, should afterward transpire in such a manner as to make it necessary for Him that created to change the memorial which he had provided through creation for the celebration of all that that creation comprehended.
Having demonstrated from the word of God that the Lord has given to man the Sabbath, we have in doing so proved that there is no necessity that man should give himself a sabbath.
Having also proved that there is in the Sabbath which God has given all that man claims should be in the sabbath that he has substituted, the necessity for a change is again shown to be wanting.
Again, as there is no scripture which demands that there should be such a change, but much can be found to the contrary, would it not be more reasonable for the man who claims to be directed by the Scriptures in other matters, to let them decide this subject also? It is claimed that the Lord made the change, and that he requires man to so regard it.
Yet at the same time it is admitted that the Scriptures nowhere tell man about the change. Notwithstanding this claim and admission, the same party will teach that the Scriptures reveal to man his whole duty.
May the writer kindly ask that reader of this article who observes the first day of the week, calling it either "the Sabbath" or "the Lord's day," if he does not at times wish he could find some scripture which tells him to do so? Could he not then keep it with better satisfaction to himself? Could he not then teach to his neighbors its obligation with more confidence?
"THE MORAL BASIS OF THE SABBATH."
The Central Baptist (St. Louis) takes three columns to prove that there is a "moral basis" to the Sabbath. It does not need three lines to prove that there is a positively religious basis on which the Sabbath law and Sabbath observance rest, if men believe the Bible and are willing to obey. It is pitiful that Christian men have so long talked of "civil sabbaths," "rest days," etc., that they must now struggle to prove that morality is a factor in Sabbath keeping. The Sabbath rests wholly on a religious basis. Obedience to its demands, as God has set them forth, brings subordinate blessings. But you cannot begin with these subordinate results and attain the true idea of the Sabbath, nor its legitimate religious results. If the Baptist will obey the Bible, as Baptists profess to, it will not be compelled to write three columns to prove that there is a moral basis under the Sabbath. Of course there is none for Sunday; that is what ails the Baptist. No effort to steal Sinai and make it the basis of the semi-pagan Sunday has ever been successful, and that sort of theft is especially difficult for Baptists to accomplish.—Evangel and Sabbath Outlook.
Walking With God
Walking with God is keeping step to the music of his word. We may indeed obey its precepts from cold sense of duty, but obedience lacking the element of loving fellowship with God is drudgery. A soldier may obey his captain’s orders with mechanical precision, like a well-regulated machine, not even having a thrill of affection for his leader, but it should not be thus with sinners plucked from the fire by a loving hand, and saints preserved from fear by God’s gracious purpose. “To obey is better than sacrifice,” when obedience is the fruit of affection. “If ye love me,” said Jesus, “keep my commandments.” A loving heart obeying the Master will promote fellowship with him in gracious designs. And thus we walk together.—The Defense.
YE DID IT UNTO ME.
By Ellen G. White
BY MRS. E. G. WHITE.
"For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called; but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to naught things that are; that no flesh should glory in his presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption; that, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord."
God's people will be composed mostly of persons from the common walks of life. "Hearken, my beloved brethren, hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?" One of the tokens of Christ's divine mission was, "The poor have the gospel preached unto them." Through our large cities there are many in lowly circumstances who are serving the Lord in singleness of heart, according to the best light which shines upon their pathway. They are hidden ones, for their life is hid with Christ in God. They have an humble opinion of their merits, and yet they love Jesus according to the knowledge they have of him, and put their trust in him as their personal Saviour. They have had no opportunity to understand the philosophy of theology, and are not wise in worldly wisdom; yet they know enough to love Jesus, and Jesus loves them. In humble ways they have done according to their ability what they could to bless others, and they will be surprised when the heavenly benediction is spoken upon them by the Heavenly Master: "Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me in; naked, and ye clothed me; I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye came unto me."
Those to whom these blessed words are spoken are those who have cherished the principles and spirit of the character of Christ. They loved the Lord Jesus, and served him in the simplicity of true godliness. They were a blessing to all with whom they associated, although they knew but little of the theory and doctrine of theology. Even among the heathen there are those who cherish the spirit of kindness, who have given all the help within their power to the missionaries that have been sent them. They worship God ignorantly, and to many of them the message of light is never brought; yet they will not perish, for they will receive the blessing, because they have wrought the works of God. Many who have never heard the message of salvation are all ready to receive the light, and God designs that it shall go to them like clear rays of glory. They will hear the living messenger, who brings the living message, as he says: "Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you. God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; neither is worshiped with men's hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; and hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; that they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us; for in him we live, and move, and have our being."
How surprised and gladdened will be the hearts of the lowly among the nations, and among the heathen, to hear from the lips of the Saviour: "For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me in; naked, and ye clothed me; I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye came unto me." They will answer, saying, "Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? when saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."
Christ identifies his interest with that of suffering humanity. Every kindly action, if it is simply the giving of the cup of cold water, if it is the best that can be given, will be remembered and rewarded. How glad will be the great heart of Infinite Love as his simple-hearted followers look up with surprise and joy at his words of approval, "Ye have done it unto me." But to those who have been self-centered, who have lived but to please and serve themselves, he will say: "Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was an hungered, and ye gave me no meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me not in; naked, and ye clothed me not; sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me."
Through life the class that are bidden depart from Christ have served and glorified themselves; and in their self-indulgence and self-pleasing it was impossible to form a character after Christ's likeness. They had the word of God, they may have even understood the theory of the truth, but they did not exercise themselves unto godliness. Satisfied in their sufficiency, their daily acts decided their own destiny, and they formed a character exactly contrary to the character of Christ. They failed to comprehend the value and significance of the infinite sacrifice made to save their souls. Had they responded to the great love that had been manifested for them, they would have been convinced of their own weakness and sinfulness, and would have loved God with the whole heart and their neighbors as themselves. But they did not desire an experience in wearing the yoke of Christ, and they cared not to carry his burden in willing service for the Master, and so failed to become collaborators with Christ. They excused themselves from all responsibility for Christ's sake. They were slothful servants, and misapplied their talents, and used their ability for the service of self and the world. While making a profession of godliness, their Christless lives misrepresented the character of their professed Lord. They refused everything of a spiritual nature, and would have nothing to do with that which required sacrifice and self-denial, and their souls were as destitute of the grace of Christ as were the hills of Gilboa of dew or rain.
"UNTO ALL THEM ALSO THAT LOVE HIS APPEARING."
By G. D. Ballou
BY ELDER G. D. BALLOU.
THIS is the crucial test of character for the last generation of men. The great apostle says that the crown of righteousness awaits not only himself, but "all them also that love his appearing." 2 Tim. 4:8. None others will receive it. Those who love the appearing of Jesus will do so because they have loved his word and longed to be stamped with his own divine character; and they will have been stamped with that divine character before they can welcome the divine glory of his presence. Those who have the hope of being like him and seeing him as he is when he comes will have purified their souls through obedience to the truth until Jesus' own purity rests upon them. 1 Peter 1:22; 1 John 3:2, 3.
It is to those who love him and keep his word that Jesus and the Father manifest their love by coming to the heart and abiding there. John 14:23. It was this divine power and presence working within that caused Paul to live the life he here lived by faith of the Son of God. Gal. 2:20. And the same divine Presence will work in the hearts of Paul's brethren now to prepare them for the reward615that awaits all "who love his appearing."
Who to-day loves the appearing of Jesus? Some will hail him with hearts overflowing with joy. If Paul and Peter and John were here what would be the response of their hearts to the message, "Surely I come quickly"? What else could it be but, "Even so, come, Lord Jesus." Rev. 22: 20.
It is along this line that the division is to be drawn "between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not." In this we shall be able to discern between the righteous and the wicked.
As the struggling overcomer sees more of his own weakness, sees how helpless and hopeless his case is, in his own efforts, his soul will cry out with unutterable longings for more of Jesus; oh to have Christ formed within the hope of glory! And the Spirit of Jesus reigning in the hearts of his followers will welcome, yea, long, for his personal presence. Oh, to behold that Saviour who has died for us; so tenderly dealt with his erring creatures; so graciously forgiven their sins; so mightily strengthened us to overcome! Yea, hasten that glad day, dear Saviour, when we shall behold thy face in righteousness.
Grant's Pass, Or.
NOT AS I WILL.
By Helen Hunt Jackson
BLINDFOLDED and alone I stand,
With unknown thresholds on each hand;
The darkness deepens as I grope,
Afraid to fear, afraid to hope;
Yet this one thing I learn to know
Each day more surely as I go,
That doors are opened, ways are made,
Burdens are lifted or are laid,
By some great law unseen and still,
Unfathomed purpose to fulfill,
"Not as I will."
Blindfolded and alone I wait.
Loss seems too bitter, gain too late;
Too heavy burdens in the load,
And too few helpers on the road;
And joy is weak, and grief is strong,
And years and days so long, so long;
Yet this one thing I learn to know
Each day more surely as I go,—
That I am glad the good and ill
By changeless law are ordered still,
"Not as I will."
"Not as I will!" the sound grows sweet
Each time my lips the words repeat.
"Not as I will," the darkness feels
More safe than light when this thought steals
Like whispered voice to calm and bless
All unrest and all loneliness.
"Not as I will," because the One
Who loved us first and best has gone
Before us on the road, and still
For us must all his love fulfill—
"Not as we will."
—Helen Hunt Jackson.
CLERICAL INFIDELITY.
By Editor
FROM a letter from Prof. F. S. Hafford, a few days since, we present our readers with the following:—
A few days ago I heard a prominent city clergyman (not of this city) make some remarkable statements before his congregation at their Thursday evening prayer meeting. The one appointed to lead the meeting chose the subject of faith, and read the eleventh of Hebrews. He soon opened the meeting for testimony and called on the pastor to start the remarks.
The minister said in substance that when one began to talk about faith he was treading on quicksand. That there was not a minister in the city that dared to preach Bible faith! That he had tried to find a definition or reason for Paul's preaching it and he had concluded that "courage" was what he usually meant. That we never heard of Christ preaching faith! He did not need to, but Paul needed it to keep up his courage, implying that if he followed his reason he would go astray. That belief in Bible faith would revolutionize the life of the believer, and those who professed it would not be building fine houses and surrounding themselves with servants and all comforts and luxuries they could invent or imagine and then go to church once or twice a week and say they enjoyed religion. Christ did not live that way!
The foregoing statements created the sensation they were intended to produce. I think there were a hundred people present, and quite a number were prompt to argue the subject. The pastor, however, kept still till the storm was over and the meeting was ready to close, when he remarked pleasantly that he was like a man who preached a sermon on Sunday for which he had to spend the rest of the week apologizing; that he would call around and see them in their homes before the next meeting.
In the same city the ministers' union after due deliberation have agreed to reject parts of the Bible as uninspired. I did not hear just what parts were discarded, but learned that the books of Moses, Job, and Daniel were among them. These were not to be quoted as authority or texts used to preach from. Many others were also in the proscribed list.
"JACK-IN-THE-BOX."
By W. N. Glenn
BY W. N. GLENN.
WE have reached a point in the matter of foisting Sunday observance upon an unsuspecting public where Sunday looms up in almost everything that is presented in the way of reform. Whatever the pretense in the organization of modern reform, especially if the churches participate, at some stage of the movement the Sunday issue is sure to be sprung. It has become a kind of "Jack-in-the-box," ready on all occasions to be sprung the moment some enthusiast chooses to "press the button."
A marked illustration of this principle recently occurred in this city. A movement was set on foot which had for its object the calling of a Temperance Congress, and all the churches and temperance and religious societies in the county were invited to send delegates. A meeting was held and an executive committee appointed. At a subsequent meeting, at the request of some new delegates the acting chairman explained the object of the organization. In substance he stated that the object was to unite all the temperance forces in the county in a combined effort against the liquor traffic, and to call a Congress in which every phase of the question might be presented and discussed. Another gentleman, a leading spirit in the movement, also presented the subject in the same light. Up to this time there had been no intimation that the movement contemplated other action than a purely temperance or anti-liquor work.
Notwithstanding this quite general conception of the situation, almost the first business, after some ordinary routine matters had been disposed of, was to spring the Sunday "Jack-in-the-box." The executive committee being called upon for a report, the secretary stated that owing to a press of other matters the committee had not found time to take any definite action in regard to the work of the organization; but they had voted an indorsement of certain resolutions of the Christian Endeavor Society calling for the Sunday closing of the proposed Midwinter Fair in San Francisco. Then the question of indorsing the action of the executive committee was brought before the meeting. Although even the secretary of the organization and two or three ministers stated that they did not like to vote on resolutions which they had not read (and there was not a copy at hand), the matter was by the majority deemed of too much importance to be allowed to go over till another meeting.
It was suggested by one delegate, and conceded by several others, that the subject of the resolutions was not within the scope of the object of the organization, and therefore not proper matter for consideration; but it was argued that Sunday observance and the temperance cause are so intimately connected as to be practically inseparable. Action was so strongly urged that some who were really opposed to the indorsement, on the ground of its irrelevancy to the ostensible purpose of the organization, seemed to feel the necessity of going with the majority lest they might appear as being opposed to the closing of the Midwinter Fair.
And thus it is that this counterfeit institution is held ready by its votaries to be impertinently thrust into the front rank of every reform movement, as though the acknowledgment of its sacredness were the end of all reform, as though Christianity were summed up in Sunday observance.
Oakland, Cal.
"FULFILL."
By Elder G. T. Wilson
BY ELDER G. T. WILSON.
Let Scripture Explain Itself.
THERE are some people who are very desirous, it seems, to make it appear that when Christ said, "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets; I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill," the word "fulfill" means to abolish, to bring to an end. Well, let us see if this is the sense in which the word "fulfill" is used in other places, and then we can determine whether it should be so understood here in Matt. 5:17. And right here it may be well to say that those who claim that the law of God (the ten commandments) is abolished, have very little idea as to the absurdity of their position, or of the fact that they by it ignore the very gospel.
First, the gospel is the power of God unto salvation; but salvation from what? The only true answer to this question must be, Salvation from sin. But what is sin? The answer of the Scripture is, "Sin is the transgression of the law." 1 John 3:4. "All unrighteousness is sin." 1 John 5:17. Then the gospel is to save men from sin, from unrighteousness, from transgression of the law. But how do we obtain a knowledge of what sin is? God's word answers: "By the law is the knowledge of sin;" "I had not known sin, but by the law." Rom. 3:20; 7:7. Do we not want the gospel to continue its blessed work? It was said by the angel to Mary when our Saviour was born, "Thou shalt call his name Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins." This precious Saviour "was bruised" on the cross "for our transgressions." Was it not truly said, "He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might616be made the righteousness of God in him." 2 Cor. 5:21.
To Jesus alone do we look for salvation from sin, and his righteousness is the only righteousness which will meet the demands of the broken law of God. Thus only can we be robed in Christ's righteousness, live by his power, sing of his salvation, and magnify his holy name all the day.
But how about the word "fulfill"?
That fulfill does not mean abolish can be clearly seen by reading a few other texts where the word is used. By substituting the word "abolish" for the word "fulfill" in a few of these texts, anyone can see how absurd it would be to say that Christ's fulfilling the law abolished it. The Saviour's words to John when he asked him to baptize him, help to illustrate the use of the word "fulfill." John at first refused to do it, but Jesus said, "Suffer it to be so now; for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness." Did Christ's fulfilling all righteousness abolish it, or bring it to an end?—No, indeed! For his righteousness still avails for us. In James 2:8 we read, "If ye fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well." Who wants the word "fulfill" to mean "abolish" here? It is evidently used in the sense of "do," carry out in the life, perform its requirements. This can only be fulfilled by those who give their hearts to the Saviour and accept of his righteousness to meet the demands of the law which man has broken. Then only can man fulfill the royal law, and love his neighbor as himself. It is the Spirit of Christ which fills the believer's heart with holy love, and enables him to love both his Maker and his fellow creature. Rom. 5:5. The cross of Calvary is God's testimony to the holy and unchangeable character of his righteous law which man had broken, and the spotless life of Him who acted as man's Substitute, bearing his sin on the cruel cross until the hiding of his Father's face caused the dying Son of God to cry out in his utter loneliness and gloom, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" All this was that we might taste the cup of salvation, yea, drink and live forever. Christ died for our sins, to uphold his Father's law. Rom. 3:31.
Every part of the law of God was a law of spiritual life in Christ, and when we are redeemed from its condemnation, we receive the Holy Spirit, and it at once begins to lead us to fulfill the law in our lives, while we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, not on the law. Led by the Spirit, we are not under condemnation of the law; but its righteousness is fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit. Rom. 8:3, 4.
All the righteous law of God is fulfilled by us when we love our neighbor as ourselves, because he who loves God will love his brother also. See Gal. 5:14; 1 John 4:19-21. "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." Gal. 6:2. Surely this does not mean "abolish" the law of Christ. "This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh." Gal. 5:16. "Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be." Rom. 8:7. The purity of heaven is repulsive to the carnal heart, which fulfills the desires of the flesh and of the mind unrenewed by divine grace; so we are not at all surprised when we see people whose wills are not submitted to the will of God trying every way they can to put far from them that holy law, which represents to us the righteous character of God, for it condemns the carnal-minded man, and shows him he is lost without a Saviour, who alone can deliver him from the bondage of his own sins. It is very necessary that we submit to God, and then all that he requires will be a pleasure for us to fulfill. James 4:7.
How beautiful and harmonious the above texts appear when we let them stand as they are intended to mean, to do, to perform, to fulfill, to carry out! Prophecy may be fulfilled but once, and thereafter become a matter of past history; so may it be with the types and shadows of the law of sacrifices and ceremonial rites of the temple service, but God's holy law, which points out what sin is, and forms the golden rod with which he measures men's characters, does not end by being done once. Rev. 22:14.
It was fulfilled in the life of Christ, and is to be fulfilled in everyone in whom Christ dwells by his Holy Spirit at the present time. Rom. 8:1-4.
"Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets; I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in nowise pass 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."
Napier, New Zealand.
OUR COUNTRY, YES, WE HEAR THEE.
By J. E. Rankin
BY REV. J. E. RANKIN, D.D.
Our country, yes, we hear thee,
Thy stirring battle call,
For hostile hordes are near thee;
Thou need'st thy children all.
It is no time to dally,
To hesitate or doubt:
This is decision's valley:
Forward, with victor shout!
'Tis not the old-time battle,
With garments rolled in blood,
When death shots thickly rattle,
But bad confronting good,
But truth confronting error,
And right confronting wrong.
'Tis this awakens terror,
Sin is so great and strong.
For open doors, Thou'st heard us;
We have been praying long;
Now rise, O Lord, and gird us
To meet the coming throng!
Where God's own hand is leading,
We surely dare to go;
We need no voice of pleading,
We fear no overthrow.