This word stands in the way of those who declare the Ten Commandments abolished.
ALLEN WALKER
SOMETIMES a very small word in the Bible is a great annoyance to those who wish to arrive at certain conclusions in order to evade an unwelcome truth. The little word “ten,” with only three letters in it, is one of these words.
The little word “ten” stands persistently in the way of those who try to argue that the Ten Commandments are not a distinct and separate law. The apostle Paul says in Ephesians 2:15 that “the law of commandments contained in ordinances” is “abolished.” Seventh-day Adventists hold that the Ten Commandments are a distinct and separate law, and are not included in “the law of commandments contained in ordinances,” which Paul declares was “abolished.” Those who attempt to include the commandment, “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy,” with those which were abolished, contend that the Ten Commandments are in no sense distinct from the others, and that there are not two laws. Let us see:
In Deuteronomy 4:13 we read that God “commanded . . . ten commandments.” Why does Inspiration put the word “ten” there? Why did the Lord speak just “ten” commandments, and then stop? The word “ten” is a limitation word. The law which the Lord Himself spoke contains just “ten” commandments, no more, no less. In Deuteronomy 5:22 Moses was very specific on this point, “These words the Lord spake . . . and He added no more.” Why was it that the Lord “added no more”? There must be some very important reason why the Lord stopped there and “added no more.” It was because He wished us to understand that this was a distinct and separate law.
When God wrote His law later on tables of stone, how many commandments did He write? “And He wrote . . . ten commandments.” Deuteronomy 10:4. “Two tables of . . . stone, written with the finger of God.” Exodus 31:18. “The writing was the writing of God.” Exodus 32:16.
Why did the Lord write just “ten” commandments, and then stop? Because that was all that God wished in this law; ten commandments completed it. If God stopped there, and “added no more,” and the Holy Spirit by the use of the word “ten” limits this law to that exact number of commandments, what right has puny man to “add to” this law the scores of other commandments which the Lord instructed Moses to command?
It is the application of this inspired word “ten” to the language of James 2:10, 11, found in the New Testament, that brings “trouble” into the ranks of the one-law-theory advocates. For when by the use of the word “ten” we have established the truth that the law of Ten Commandments was a complete and distinct law, then all that is necessary to prove that “the whole” of this law is still to be kept by Christians, including the commandment which says, “the seventh day is the Sabbath,” is to read the following language in James 2:10, 11. “Whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. For that law [margin] which 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.”
This plainly says that “the whole” of “that law” which says, “Thou shalt not commit adultery,” and, “Thou shalt not kill,” is still binding. It took “ten” commandments to compose “the whole” of “that law,” and one of these commandments proclaims, “The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God.” If that commandment was abolished from “that law” at the cross; then in the days of James “the whole” of “that law” which said, “Thou shalt not commit adultery,” would not be in force, but just nine tenths of it.
The Holy Spirit’s repeated use of the word “ten” and His use of the words “whole law” in James 2:10 are Bible proof that the Ten Commandments make up a complete law, and no part of it was abolished at the cross.
Working for the Salvation of the Lost
“CHRISTIAN motives demand that we work with a steady purpose, an undying interest, an ever-increasing importunity, for the souls whom Satan is seeking to destroy. Nothing is to chill the earnest, yearning energy for the salvation of the lost.”
The WORK of the HOLY SPIRIT
By Marshall B. Van Kirk
MARSHALL B. VAN KIRK
Much speculation is often entertained as to the exact form of the Holy Spirit, of what substance He is, and how He appears. However, in the words of another, “it is not essential for us to be able to define just what the Holy Spirit is. Christ tells us that the Spirit is the Comforter, ‘the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father.’ It is plainly declared regarding the Holy Spirit, that in His work of guiding men into all truth, ‘He shall not speak of Himself.’”—“Acts of the Apostles,” page 51.
This statement is manifestly in perfect accord with the teaching of the Master as He endeavored to make plain to us what the office of the Holy Spirit is. In John 14: 16, 17 the following is recorded: “I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world can not receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.”
WHOM HE REPRESENTS
This statement declares whom the Spirit represents,—the Father. No one who is living in worldliness, who has not accepted the salvation so freely offered of God, can receive Him, for He is a stranger to him. The Holy Spirit’s office, as a revealer of truth, is unrecognized, His admonition is unheeded, for He speaks as a stranger. Yet to those who receive Him, He becomes an abiding presence; His relationship is so intimate that He is called an abiding presence. When griefs assail, He it is who can still the torrent of sorrow, and bring abiding comfort. Oh, how much we storm-tossed human beings need such an abiding presence! He longs to take up His abode within our hearts, and to become God’s guiding force in all our experiences. Reader, turn your heart to God, and allow this blessed Person of the Godhead to be in you and abide with you.
But who is He? and what is His form? How may I distinguish Him? The Scripture does not describe His form or appearance. His work is plainly defined, but His substance is not revealed. God says that “the wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.” John 3: 8. Thus revelation gives us a view of the operation of the Spirit, but not of His form.
“The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.” Deuteronomy 29: 29. Everything God has written about the Spirit is ours, but we have no authority to speculate upon that which God has seen fit to keep to Himself.
As we read of the fulfillment of the promise of God, we learn that the manifestation on the day of Pentecost was an example of how God used His Spirit in His work of converting men. And not of the least interest is the fact that He (the Spirit) abides forever. What a wonderful privilege of having this heavenly Visitor continuously in each one of us!
Do we desire power in the spiritual life? Then open the way for the indwelling Spirit of God. Do we desire enlightenment? Then let the heavenly Messenger teach us. Do we need comfort, let us seek the companionship of Him who, as the Comforter, represents both God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.
In giving instruction about receiving the Holy Spirit, Jesus says that the world is unable to receive Him, yet it is through the constant calling of the Spirit that a sinner is turned toward God. And when the door of the heart is opened, we may enjoy His presence, help, and encouragement.
INEXPLICABLE, BUT DEMONSTRABLE
The question of His dwelling within is difficult to explain, but not difficult to demonstrate. Submission and desire on our part, sufficient to control our activity, is necessary. God does not intrude upon us. He will not do for us anything undesired. He will not force any service. He comes to abide only in answer to our prayer to the Father.
To the indwelling of the mighty Third Person of the Godhead must be attributed the spiritual understanding of those twelve men who in constant association with the Master assimilated His daily teaching. True, they were sometimes slow in understanding the scope of His teaching, but the quickening of the Holy Spirit became manifest after Jesus left them for His heavenly abode.
“Even the disciples failed of understanding all that Jesus desired to reveal to them; but from time to time, as they surrendered themselves to the Holy Spirit’s power, their minds were illuminated. They realized that the mighty God, clad in the garb of humanity, was among them. Jesus rejoiced that though this knowledge was not possessed by the wise and prudent, it had been revealed to these humble men. . . . They beheld Him ‘whom the world can not receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.’”—“Desire of Ages,” page 494.
To anyone who will accept Him, who will allow Him the untrammeled privilege of the heart, will this same blessed Spirit of God come to dwell with him and to bring him light and grace and peace.
In order for Him to transform the life of the individual, He must be given full freedom to instruct and direct the life motives.
“Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you. And when He is come, He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they believe not on Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father, and ye see Me no more; of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.” John 16: 7-11.
Among the first of the great truths of the above quotation is the statement that the Spirit will unfold one’s self to himself. The first office of the Spirit is the bringing of the conviction of sin to the unbeliever. Until the sinner can be convicted of his sin, the Spirit can not dwell within. But when sin is recognized and acknowledged, then the Spirit quickly reveals the source of righteousness. Jesus, who has gone to the Father, reveals through the Comforter, His personal Representative, the possibility of our personal righteousness. He gives us the knowledge of how sin may be removed, reveals how it may be completely overcome.
The Holy Spirit, dwelling within, means complete victory over sin. Thus the individual in whom He dwells may be preserved from yielding to known temptation. There is such a blending of our motives and desires that, with our consent, Jesus, through His Holy Spirit, identifies Himself with our thoughts and aims. Thus God’s will becomes our will, God’s mind our mind; and our activities bear the imprint of God’s direction.
JUDGED AND OVERCOME
One in whom the Spirit dwells does not choose to do that which is wrong. Thus sin is divested of its power to rule over him, and the Spirit reveals to him in a personal experience that the prince of this world—Satan—has been judged and overcome. Satan was overcome by Jesus while in the flesh He battled against the temptations of humanity, and thus He overcame for any human being in whom the Holy Spirit is invited to dwell. It is only through this experience that the battle against sin is fought and won.
The Spirit is the agency through whom a man may judge himself; and God tells us that if we would do this—judge ourselves—we would not be judged. (1 Corinthians 11: 31.) Any man, through the grace of God, may be fitted for and have an abundant entrance into God’s kingdom.
Through the cleansing work of the Holy Spirit, “some men’s sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment” (1 Timothy 5: 24); but of the men who refuse the Spirit and His work it is said, “They [the sins] follow after.” The experience of cleansing is the fruit of repentance, which also is a gift of God. A man thus cleansed becomes wholly God’s child, and as such is the abode of both Christ and the Father. His life is an entire surrender to the obedience of God, and every thought is brought into obedience to Christ. (2 Corinthians 10: 5.) Shall we let Him in to do His appointed work in our hearts?
THE WILL IN CONQUERING SIN
Mrs. C. H. Llewellyn of Walton, Kentucky, wishes to know about the will in overcoming sinful habits.
The questioner is right when she says that no evil habit can be broken except by the “determination of the will power.” Revelation 22:17 reads: “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And he that heareth, let him say, Come. And he that is athirst, let him come: he that will, let him take the water of life freely.” Let us particularly note the volitional value of the words, “he that will,”—words which essentially count for the attainment of eternal life. He that wills is assured of God’s salvation, for he works in harmony with God’s plan for him.
This by no means predicates, however, that it is by our will power that we are saved from sin or evil habits. There is no power within us of any kind whereby we can triumph over iniquity. We were born in sin (Psalm 51:5), and throughout life we are held in its overmastering grip (Romans 3:10-12). We all of us know only too well how true to human experience are the words of the prophet: “Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.” Jeremiah 13:23.
What our will power does is to connect us with Heaven’s resources of redemption through Jesus Christ. Our wills invite the Master of men to take possession of our lives; and through His power, His presence, sin is conquered, and we are freed from the thralldom of transgression and iniquitous and vile habits. As one truthfully and beautifully puts it, “Many are inquiring, ‘How am I to make the surrender of myself to God?’ You desire to give yourself to Him, but you are weak in moral power, in slavery to doubt, and controlled by the habits of your life of sin. Your promises and resolutions are like ropes of sand. You can not control your thoughts, your impulses, your affections. The knowledge of your broken promises and forfeited pledges weakens your confidence in your own sincerity, and causes you to feel that God can not accept you; but you need not despair. What you need to understand is the true force of the will. This is the governing power in the nature of man, the power of decision, or of choice. Everything depends on the right action of the will. The power of choice God has given to men; it is theirs to exercise. You can not change your heart, you can not of yourself give to God its affections; but you can choose to serve Him. You can give Him your will, He will then work in you to will and to do according to His good pleasure. (Philippians 2:13.) Thus your whole nature will be brought under the control of the Spirit of Christ; your affections will be centered upon Him; your thoughts will be in harmony with Him.
“Desires for goodness and holiness are right as far as they go; but if you stop here, they will avail nothing. Many will be lost, while hoping and desiring to be Christians. They do not come to the point of yielding the will to God. They do not now choose to be Christians.
“Through the right exercise of the will, an entire change may be made in your life. By yielding up your will to Christ, you ally yourself with the power that is above all principalities and powers. You will have strength from above to hold you steadfast, and thus through constant surrender to God you will be enabled to live the new life, even the life of faith.”—“Steps to Christ,” chapter, “Consecration,” paragraphs 11-13.
The "SIGNS" QUESTION CORNER
By William G. Wirth
Conducted by WILLIAM G. WIRTH, 5447 EL VERANO AVENUE, EAGLE ROCK, CALIFORNIA
If you have a question regarding Bible doctrine and Christian living, or on other subjects apropos to the field of the “Signs of the Times,” write out your question and send it in, preferably direct to Dr. Wirth. Anonymous questions will not be answered. Do not become impatient if your question is not answered immediately, for Dr. Wirth has scores of questions in waiting, and yours will be answered in order.
OTHER WORLDS
J. R. Wade of Kemmerer, Wyoming, wishes to know if there are other worlds besides our own; also about pork as an article of diet.
It was my privilege a few years back to attend a lecture given at one of our well-known American universities by an eminent and scientifically trained astronomer. In a question period at the close of his talk, he was asked the question whether he thought other worlds or other planets were inhabited besides our own. I shall never forget the forcefulness of his reply and his cogent reasoning.
In brief, he declared, it was perfectly ridiculous to believe that this small sphere of ours was alone inhabited, and other planets, many of them vastly larger than ours, were not. Unless humans were so conceited that they believed the whole universe ran for their special benefit, it was obvious that other spheres were inhabited by intelligent beings as well as our own. Their existence, as is true of our world’s existence, predicated purposeful inhabitancy. Coming from a scientist and not from a preacher, the answer made a deep impression upon all.
Without knowing it, perhaps, the lecturer was but corroborating what we read in Isaiah 45:18. What is here said about the earth, most certainly must apply to other heavenly bodies. See Revelation 12:12. From the answer which Satan gave to Jehovah in Job 1:7, “From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it,” the undoubted inference is to be drawn that if Satan, because of his present hold on this world, through the transgression of our first parents, represents this planet (see Ephesians 2:1, 2; John 12:31; 14:30), the “sons of God” (see Luke 3:38) represent other worlds, which of course shows that other worlds are inhabited.
The fact that the latter part of the book of Isaiah is eschatological, that is, deals with the closing days of Christianity or the latter part of the Christian dispensation, plainly shows that swine’s flesh is prohibited as an article of diet. (Isaiah 66:17.) In Leviticus 11:7, 8; Deuteronomy 14:8 God forbids the use of swine as food, because it is one of the most unclean of animals. Its very natural wallowing and feeding upon filth has ever made it unfit for food and figurative of everything vile in eating. As is well known, other nations besides the Jews have for these reasons placed pork under the ban as food.
THE AIRPLANE IN PROPHECY
C. E. E. Sanborn of St. Louis, Missouri, wishes to know if Isaiah 60:8 may not be a prophecy of the modern airplane and dirigible.
Isaiah 60 deals in a particular sense with the glories of the Messianic Golden Age, the time when Christ shall be “King of kings, and Lord of lords” (Revelation 19:16), the time when “the kingdom of the world is become the kingdom of our Lord, and of His Christ: and He shall reign forever and ever” (Revelation 11:15), the time when “the kingdom and the dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High: His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him” (Daniel 7:27).
In order that the people of God of Isaiah’s time might better understand these glories to which the redeemed would fall heir, Inspiration uses illustrations, in a metaphoric, figurative sense, drawn from that which was part of the Oriental life of that time. In other words, the Scriptures employ the sound pedagogical principle of making plain the unknown by the known, the unfamiliar by the familiar. This effective parabolic method was much used by our Lord in His teaching.
Because of this, the “cloud” and “doves” of Isaiah 60:8 can hardly refer to dirigibles and airplanes. This chapter deals with time after the days of aircraft. If the questioner will read the entire chapter, he will get its proper scope and the true setting of this verse. This leads me to emphasize again that we must not interpret any statement of the Bible without first being sure of the meaning of the context. To violate this rule is to invite an exposition which, while it may be ingenious, may also be fanciful. In harmony with the context, then, the “cloud” of Isaiah 60:8 metaphorically represents the great number of those who will be saved (see Hebrews 12:1 for a similar use of this word). “The doves to their windows” beautifully portrays the coming of the redeemed to their eternal “homeland,” which God has prepared for those who love Him. The word for “windows” in Hebrew means the openings of the dovecotes, the doves’ nests. Just as these birds find joyful and comforting retreat in flying to their nest-homes, so will the righteous enter into the joyful security and triumphant glories of their everlasting home. With this explanation of the “cloud” and “doves” of Isaiah 60:8, the questioner will get a fuller meaning of such scriptures as Matthew 24:30, 31 and 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18, which speak of the gathering of the redeemed at the second coming of Christ.
The Care of the Teeth
The teeth are assuming of disease in the human on the care of the teethPage Ninegreater proportions in the diagnosis and eradication ly. A dentist here gives some pertinent advice which all of us should heed.
