The Moral Law of God.
Author:PedroVonSmidt
No man or woman who comes to Christ, however pure he may become, can atone for his past sins, or future sins. He needs a saviour. By the deeds of the law shall no flesh be justified. Salvation is a gift, keeping the law is the fruit of a saving relationship with God, it is not the root or cause of our salvation. We are not saved by obedience, yet we are not saved without obedience.
The sinner is separated from God by a gulf of sin that is broad and black and deep,” MB 9-11. The law demands the sinners death. The angel of Divine Justice must first be fully satisfied before He can step down from the throne of the Almighty and Mercy take the throne. Satan demands the life of the sinner but Christ intercedes for the soul that accepts His gracious provision, and the soul is dressed in Christ’s robe of righteousness.
Scripture tells us that ‘Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.’ Rm 3:20. God’s righteousness is manifested without the deeds of the law, the law and the prophets witnessed to this truth. See Rm 3:21. The righteousness of God is by faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. See v 22. Scripture affirms that ‘all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.’ v 23. But we are justified by faith that works through grace. See v 24. Through God’s forbearance, Christ declares His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past. Sin is repented of and forsaken. Christ can only save a soul from sin and not in sin. Sin is in the past; the soul is in remission of sin and sinning. The soul is a conquering power to righteousness.Abraham, and consequently the saints, are not justified by works. Else man could glory in his achievement. ‘For what saith the Scripture? Abraham believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness.’ See Rm 4:1-3. The reward is not of a debt paid to the sinner, it is all of God’s free grace. To him who works to secure salvation it is not of grace but a debt owed to him.
Scripture tells us that ‘Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.’ Rm 3:20. God’s righteousness is manifested without the deeds of the law, the law and the prophets witnessed to this truth. See Rm 3:21. The righteousness of God is by faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. See v 22. Scripture affirms that ‘all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.’ v 23. But we are justified by faith that works through grace. See v 24. Through God’s forbearance, Christ declares His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past. Sin is repented of and forsaken. Christ can only save a soul from sin and not in sin. Sin is in the past; the soul is in remission of sin and sinning. The soul is a conquering power to righteousness.Abraham, and consequently the saints, are not justified by works. Else man could glory in his achievement. ‘For what saith the Scripture? Abraham believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness.’ See Rm 4:1-3. The reward is not of a debt paid to the sinner, it is all of God’s free grace. To him who works to secure salvation it is not of grace but a debt owed to him.
To him that worketh not, but believes on the God who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. David writes that God imputes righteousness for a man’s faith without works. See v 5-6. The man to whom God does not impute his sins to his account, whose iniquities are covered, is blessed. See v 7. The promise to Abraham of inheriting the earth as his possession was through faith. Righteousness is imputed to him The promise was not through the law that he would be the father of the faithful either, it was through the righteousness of faith. See v 8-13. If the promise came through the law then faith in Christ is made void and the promise is of none effect. See v 14.
God’s character is 1. spiritual. ‘God is a spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and truth.’ Jn 4:24. God’s law is spiritual. ‘For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.’ God’s character is 2. love.’He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.’ God’s law is love. ‘Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.’ Mt 22:37-40. God’s character is 3. truth. ‘Jesus said unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.’ Jn 14:6. God’s law is truth. ‘The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips:’’thy law is the truth.’ Ps 119:142. God’s character is 4. righteousness. ‘The Lord is righteous in all His ways, and holy in all His works.’ Ps 145:17. God’s law is righteous. ‘My tongue shall speak of Thy word; for all Thy commandments are righteous.’ Ps 119:144,172.
God’s character is 5. holy. ‘Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of Hosts: the whole earth is full of His glory.’ Isa 6:3. God’s law is holy. ‘Wherefore the law is holy, the commandment holy, and just, and good.’ Rm 7:12. God’s character is 6. perfect. ‘Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.’ Mt 5:48. God’s law is perfect. ‘The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.’ Ps 19:7.
God’s character is 7. good. ‘ And Jesus said unto him, why callest Me good, there is none good save one, that is, God.’ Lk 18:19. God’s law is good. ‘Wherefore the law is holy, the commandment holy, and just, and good.’ Rm 7:12. God’s character is 8. just. ‘He is the Rock, His work is perfect: for all His ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is He.’ Deut 32:4. God’s law is just. ‘Wherefore the law is holy, the commandment holy, and just, and good.’ Rm 7:12. God’s character is 9. pure. ‘And every man that hath this hope in Him purifieth himself, even as He is pure.’ 1 Jn 3:3. God’s law is pure. ‘The statutes of the Lord are right: rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.’ Ps 19:8.
God’s character is 10. unchanging. ‘Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.’ Jm 1:17. God’s law is unchanging. ‘My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that has gone out of My lips.’ Ps 89:34. “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am come not to destroy, but to fulfill. For Verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Mt 5:17-18.
God’s character stands 11. forever. “Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory forever and ever. Amen.’ 1 Tim 1:17. ‘Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou had hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.’ Ps 90:2. God’s law stands forever. ‘The works of His hands are verity and judgment; all His commandments are sure. They stand fast forever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness.’ Ps 111:8-9.
God’s character is 12. the Way. ‘Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, except by Me.’ Jn 14:6. God’s law is the way. ‘For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at His mouth: for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts. But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the Lord of hosts. …as ye have not kept my ways, but have been partial in the law.’ Mal 2:7-9.
God’s character is 13. great. ‘Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of His holiness.’ Ps 48:1. God’s law is great. ‘I have written to him the great things of My law, but they were counted as a strange thing.’ Hosea 8:12. God’s character is 14. clean or cleanses. ‘And Jesus put forth His hand, and touched him saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.’ Mt 8:3. God’s law is clean. ‘Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my Sabbaths, and I am profaned among them.’ Ezek 22:26.
Gods law converts the soul and enlightens the eyes. Ps 19:7.
