adapted to mislead。 Yet none need be deceived。 In the light of God's word it
is not difficult to determine the nature of these movements。 Wherever men
neglect the testimony of the Bible； turning away from those plain；
soul…testing truths which require self…denial and renunciation of the world；
there we may be sure that God's blessing is not bestowed。
465
And by the rule which Christ Himself has given； 〃Ye shall know them by their
fruits〃 （Matthew 7：16）； it is evident that these movements are not the work
of the Spirit of God。
In the truths of His word； God has given to men a revelation of Himself； and
to all who accept them they are a shield against the deceptions of Satan。 It
is a neglect of these truths that has opened the door to the evils which are
now becoming so widespread in the religious world。 The nature and the
importance of the law of God have been； to a great extent； lost sight of。 A
wrong conception of the character； the perpetuity； and the obligation of the
divine law has led to errors in relation to conversion and sanctification；
and has resulted in lowering the standard of piety in the church。 Here is to
be found the secret of the lack of the Spirit and power of God in the
revivals of our time。
There are； in the various denominations； men eminent for their piety； by
whom this fact is acknowledged and deplored。 Professor Edwards A。 Park； in
setting forth the current religious perils； ably says： 〃One source of danger
is the neglect of the pulpit to enforce the divine law。 In former days the
pulpit was an echo of the voice of conscience。 。 。 。 Our most illustrious
preachers gave a wonderful majesty to their discourses by following the
example of the Master； and giving prominence to the law； its precepts； and
its threatenings。 They repeated the two great maxims； that the law is a
transcript of the divine perfections； and that a man who does not love the
law does not love the gospel； for the law； as well as the gospel； is a
mirror reflecting the true character of God。 This peril leads to another；
that of underrating the evil of sin； the extent of it； the demerit of it。 In
proportion to the rightfulness of the commandment is the wrongfulness of
disobeying it。 。 。 。
〃Affiliated to the dangers already named is the danger of underestimating
the justice of God。 The tendency of the modern pulpit is to strain out the
divine justice from the divine benevolence； to sink benevolence into a
sentiment rather
466
than exalt it into a principle。 The new theological prism puts asunder what
God has joined together。 Is the divine law a good or an evil？ It is a good。
Then justice is good； for it is a disposition to execute the law。 From the
habit of underrating the divine law and justice； the extent and demerit of
human disobedience； men easily slide into the habit of underestimating the
grace which has provided an atonement for sin。〃 Thus the gospel loses its
value and importance in the minds of men； and soon they are ready
practically to cast aside the Bible itself。
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。
But not so did prophets and apostles regard the holy law of God。 Said 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。 And 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。
467
The law of God； from its very nature； is unchangeable。 It is a revelation of
the will and the character of its Author。 God is love； and His law is love。
Its two great principles are love to God and love to man。 〃Love is the
fulfilling of the law。〃 Romans 13：10。 The character of God is righteousness
and truth； such is the nature of His law。 Says the psalmist： 〃Thy law is the
truth：〃 〃all Thy commandments are righteousness。〃 Psalm 119：142； 172。 And
the apostle Paul declares： 〃The law is holy； and the commandment holy； and
just； and good。〃 Romans 7：12。 Such a law； being an expression of the mind
and will of God； must be as enduring as its Author。
It is the work of conversion and sanctification to reconcile men to God by
bringing them into accord with the principles of His law。 In the beginning；
man was created in the image of God。 He was in perfect harmony with the
nature and the law of God； the principles of righteousness were written upon
his heart。 But sin alienated him from his Maker。 He no longer reflected the
divine image。 His heart was at war with the principles of God's law。 〃The
carnal mind is enmity against God： for it is not subject to the law of God；
neither indeed can be。〃 Romans 8：7。 But 〃God so loved the world； that He
gave His only…begotten Son；〃 that man might be reconciled to God。 Through
the merits of Christ he can be restored to harmony with his Maker。 His heart
must be renewed by divine grace； he must have a new life from above。 This
change is the new birth； without which； says Jesus； 〃he cannot see the
kingdom of God。〃
The first step in reconciliation to God is the conviction of sin。 〃Sin is
the transgression of the law。〃 By the law is the knowledge of sin。〃 1 John
3：4； Romans 3：20。 In order to see his guilt； the sinner must test his
character by God's great standard of righteousness。 It is a mirror which
shows the perfection of a righteous character and enables him to discern the
defects in his own。
The law reveals to man his sins； but it provides no remedy。
468
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。 He is a child of God； having
received the spirit of adoption； whereby he cries： 〃Abba； Father！〃
Is he now free to transgress God's law？ Says Paul： 〃Do we then make void the
law through faith？ God forbid： yea； we establish the law。〃 〃How shall we；
that are dead to sin； live any longer therein？〃 And John declares： 〃This is
the love of God； that we keep His commandments： and His commandments are not
grievous。〃 Romans 3：31； 6：2； 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。
〃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。
469
Erroneous theories of sanctification； also； springing from neglect or
rejection of the divine law； have a prominent place in the religious
movements of the day。 These theories are both false in doctrine and
dangerous in practical results； and the fact that they are so generally
finding favor； renders it doubly essential that all have a clear
understanding of what the Scriptures teach