Two Laws

Continued from yesterday…

The two Laws in the New Testament.

This is a very important subject. By not having a correct view of this subject many have stumbled, and have been kept from the Sabbath truth. It is my object to show that the word law, in the New Testament, does not apply to one and the same law ; but sometimes it applies to the ceremonial law of Moses, and sometimes to the moral law of God, the ten commandments.

If the word , law so often used by St. Paul, refers to only one law, then certainly, the apostle has often contradicted himself. Here I will give two texts from his epistles, which speak of the law, that the reader may plainly see the contradiction, if but one law is meant.

"Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace." Gal. 5 : 4.

"For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified." Rom. 1 : 13.

Has the Apostle contradicted what he wrote to the Galatians, in his letter to the Romans two years after ? This, no believer in the Bible will admit. When we apply the word law as we should there is no contradiction. The language of the text, and its connection will determine the application.

When Paul speaks of the law in Rom. 2 : 12-22, he refers to the moral law of commandments. This fact he settles in verses 21, 22, by quoting three commandments from the decalogue.

When he speaks of the law in Gal. 5: 4, he refers to the ceremonial law of Moses. This is clear, and established by the fact that Paul is speaking of circumcision, and eating with the Gentiles, and does not refer to the moral law.

St. Paul's letter to the Romans was written A. D. 60. Read what he says to them of the law, 27 years after the law of Moses was abolished and dead.

"Wherefore the law IS HOLY, and the commandment holy, and JUST, and GOOD." Rom. 7 : 12. "For we know that the law is spiritual:" verse 14th. " For I DELIGHT in the law of God after the inward man ;" verse 22d.

" I thank God, through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God ;" verse 25th.

No one will say that Paul calls the law of Moses "spiritual," "holy, just and good," and that he delighted in it, and SERVED it 27 years after it was dead ; therefore he is speaking of another law, the ten commandments. This plain fact is made still more evident, if possible, by the 7th verse, where the Apostle quotes the last commandment in the decalogue. "Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, THOU SHALT NOT COVET."

We are often referred to Rome. 7 : 6, for proof that the law of God is dead. But it proves no such thing. Please read this verse with the marginal reading, and you will see that it is the christian that is dead to the law, and not the law that is dead.

"But now we are delivered from the law, (the sentence of the law,) being dead to that wherein we were held." The law of God is the instrument to convict the sinner of sin, and slay him, as it did Paul, that he might be justified, and made alive through faith in Jesus Christ. "For I was alive without the law once ; but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died." Rom. 7 : 9. Here, " the letter (or law) killeth, but the spirit giveth life." 2 Cor. 3 : 6.

"Do we then make void the law through faith ? God forbid : yea, we establish the law." Rom. 3 : 31. Any unprejudiced mind may see the two laws in the New Testament, by carefully searching for the truth. One is called a yoke of BONDAGE ; Gal. 5 : 1 ; the other is called a royal law of LIBERTY; James 1 : 25; 2 8,  One was a law of "carnal ceremonies;" Heb. 9:10; the other was the Apostle's delight, holy, just, good, and spiritual. Here I will add the testimony of Jesus in his sermon on the Mount. Mat. 5: 17-33.

"Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets. I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil." How many are thinking that Jesus abolished, and destroyed the law of commandments, the very thing he has told them not to think. He came to fulfil the law. The way to fulfill the law is to keep it. This Jesus did, in keeping his Father's commandments. See John 15 : 10.

" 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."

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This text proves that all ten of the commandments, in the moral law are to continue in full force, not one relaxed, or taken away, while heaven and earth remain. The next verse shows that Jesus was speaking of the ten commandments.

"Whosoever, therefore, shall 'violate, or teach others to violate, were it the least of these commandments, shall be in no esteem in the reign of heaven ; but whosoever shall practise and teach them, shall be highly esteemed in the reign of heaven." (See Campbell's translation.)

The first four commandments, on the first table of stone show man his duty to his God. They are the great commandments in the law, as they are laws relating to man's duty to God.

The last six, on the second table, show man his duty to his fellow man. They are the least commandments in the law as they are laws relating to man's duty to his fellow man.

Jesus here quotes three of these least commandments from the second table of stone, which establishes, the fact, without a shadow of a doubt, that he is speaking of the ten commandments. See verses 21st, 27th and 33d.

Men may teach for a few days that the moral law is abolished, or that the fourth commandment is changed, or RELAXED, but how their false assertions, and sophistry withers before the plain testimony of the Son of God who has said, " Till heaven and earth pass, ONE JOT or ONE TITTLE shall in NO WISE pass from the law." And how they will wither and fall in the day of slaughter, and in the judgement.

Reader, be not deceived by those who are trampling under their feet the holy law of God. Do not, I beg of you, let them turn you from the plain teachings of the Saviour, and his holy Apostles, in relation to the law of God. Are you violating the fourth, the Sabbath commandment in that law ? If you are, do it no longer. It is one of the great commandments. If those who break the least, will be of no esteem in the reign of heaven, how and where will you appear, if you violate one of the greatest  commandments

Dear Brethren and Sisters—

I hope this little sheet will afford you comfort and strength. Love and duty have compelled me to send it out to you. I know you must be rooted, and built up in the present truth, or you will not be able to stand "in the battle in the day of the Lord ;" Eze. 13 : 5.

The time has come when we must be whole hearted in the truth. Every thing is to be shaken that can be; therefore those whose feet are not planted on the rock, will be shaken all to pieces. Those only will be able to stand in the day of slaughter, who shall he found keeping the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. It is no small thing to be a Christian. We must be pure in life and conversation here in time, if we would enter the Holy City.

The keeping of the fourth commandment is all-important present truth ;  this alone, will not save any one. We must keep all ten of the commandments, and strictly follow all the directions of the New. Testament, and have living active faith in Jesus. Those who would be found ready to enter the saint's rest, at the appearing of Christ, must live wholly, WHOLLY for Jesus now.

This little sheet is free for all. Those who are interested in Present Truth, and esteem it a privilege, are invited to help pay the expense. I would publish in pamphlet form, but it would be a number of weeks before I could get out a pamphlet containing all I wish to write. I shall send out 1000 copies of this sheet ; then arrange the matter of this and the following Nos, and have 1000 more of each No. printed to stitch together in pamphlet form, to distribute as they are called for.

Will some brother or sister in each place where this sheet is received, send me in plain writing the names and Post-Office address of all who are seeking present truth. Write soon. My Post-Office address is Middletown, Conn.

In hope, JAMES WHITE

We are now studying - 'The Present Truth' papers published in the middle 1800's. These are called the 'Present Truth' because it WAS Present Truth for that time. So why study them now? Because TRUTH at any time is worth studying, and we KNOW that often ORIGINAL truth presented before Satan has had an opportunity to corrupt it, can be very enlightening. At the very least we will see, by the grace of God, through the Holy Spirit, what truth then is still uncorrupted today and still very relevant for us living in these dark, dark times. Our world today compared to a hundred and seventy years ago is so much worse than it was, with so much evil being called good, and good being called evil.  May God bless us as we seek HIS truth for us in our present, bringing us only closer to Him and prayerfully the Second Coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

THE PRESENT TRUTH.

PUBLISHED SEMI-MONTHLY—BY JAMES WHITE.

Vol.l.  MIDDLETOWN, CONN, JULY, 1849.  No. 1.