If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. John 14:15-17.Note that the same apostle John tells us who are those who know Him.
He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. 1 John 2:4, 5.Therefore, every leader, every minister, every Christian should be weighed by the attention they give to the law of God, whose basis is love.
To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. Isaiah 8:20.
Many religious teachers assert that Christ by His death abolished the law, and men are henceforth free from its requirements. There are some who represent it as a grievous yoke, and in contrast to the bondage of the law they present the liberty to be enjoyed under the gospel. *2But not so did prophets and apostles regard the holy law of God. *2
- David: "I will walk at liberty: for I seek Thy precepts." Psalm 119:45.
- The apostle James, who wrote after the death of Christ, refers to the Decalogue as "the royal law" and "the perfect law of liberty." James 2:8; 1:25.
- John, the revelator, half a century after the crucifixion, pronounces a blessing upon them "that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city." Revelation 22:14.
The claim that Christ by His death abolished His Father's law is without foundation. Had it been possible for the law to be changed or set aside, then Christ need not have died to save man from the penalty of sin. The death of Christ, so far from abolishing the law, proves that it is immutable. The Son of God came to "magnify the law, and make it honorable." Isaiah 42:21. He said: "Think not that I am come to destroy the law;" "till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law." Matthew 5:17, 18. And concerning Himself He declares: "I delight to do Thy will, O my God: yea, Thy law is within My heart." Psalm 40:8. *2Jesus said:
Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Matthew 5:17, 18.These words are too clear to ignore.
Though John in his epistles dwells so fully upon love, yet he does not hesitate to reveal the true character of that class who claim to be sanctified while living in transgression of the law of God. *2
"He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth His word, in him verily is the love of God perfected." 1 John 2:4, 5.
Here is the test of every man's profession. We cannot accord holiness to any man without bringing him to the measurement of God's only standard of holiness in heaven and in earth. If men feel no weight of the moral law, if they belittle and make light of God's precepts, if they break one of the least of these commandments, and teach men so, they shall be of no esteem in the sight of Heaven, and we may know that their claims are without foundation. *2
Let none deceive themselves with the belief that they can become holy while willfully violating one of God's requirements. The commission of a known sin silences the witnessing voice of the Spirit and separates the soul from God. "Sin is the transgression of the law." And "whosoever sinneth [transgresseth the law] hath not seen Him, neither known Him." 1 John 3:6. *2This will be the greatest argument of the false revival. Everything is an emotion, everything will look like a great blessing but it will not lead the sinner to acknowledge his true state. The false revival will not lead the sinner to seek Jesus and through him to meet His requirements.
It's like couples who live together without getting married. They want to test whether things will work out, but do not want to enter legally binding commitment.
The real revival leads to sanctification. This process begins with God's law and is fulfilled by the Holy Spirit.
The law reveals to man his sins, but it provides no remedy. While it promises life to the obedient, it declares that death is the portion of the transgressor. The gospel of Christ alone can free him from the condemnation or the defilement of sin. He must exercise repentance toward God, whose law has been transgressed; and faith in Christ, his atoning sacrifice. Thus he obtains "remission of sins that are past" and becomes a partaker of the divine nature. *2This is the first step, every leader must preach the law of God which is like a ruler with which we can measure our lives. It enables us to understand how far we are from having a Jesus-like character.
Are now free to transgress God's law? The Bible answers this question.
Paul:
- "Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law." Romans 3:31.
- "How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?" Romans 6:2.
- "This is the love of God, that we keep His commandments: and His commandments are not grievous." 1 John 5:3.
In the new birth the heart is brought into harmony with God, as it is brought into accord with His law. When this mighty change has taken place in the sinner, he has passed from death unto life, from sin unto holiness, from transgression and rebellion to obedience and loyalty. The old life of alienation from God has ended; the new life of reconciliation, of faith and love, has begun. Then "the righteousness of the law" will "be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." Romans 8:4. And the language of the soul will be: "O how love I Thy law! it is my meditation all the day." Psalm 119:97. *2Now we begin to see what in fact is the true revival and why it comes with such great power. We begin to notice the characteristics of a true servant of God.
The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul. Psalm 19:7.
Without the law, men have no just conception of the purity and holiness of God or of their own guilt and uncleanness. They have no true conviction of sin and feel no need of repentance. Not seeing their lost condition as violators of God's law, they do not realize their need of the atoning blood of Christ. The hope of salvation is accepted without a radical change of heart or reformation of life. Thus superficial conversions abound, and multitudes are joined to the church who have never been united to Christ. *2We have just touched the surface of this topic. But we can be assured that the anointing power of the Holy Spirit will open our hearts and through the Word of God we will begin the process of sanctification, a preparation to enter the kingdom of heaven.
JESUS IS COMING SOON, AMEN, YES, COME LORD JESUS!
1 * The Great Controversy, "37. The Scriptures A Safeguard”, Ellen G. White
2 * The Great Controversy, "27. Modern Revivals”, "Ellen G. White
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