individual to believe that the apostles abolished the ten commandments and then
re-enacted nine of them, we ask them to consider whether the doctrine which
represents the infinite Law-giver as doing this very thing, is not a still greater
absurdity?
If the apostles abolished the law of God, who gave them authority? The Son
of God indeed commissioned them to teach all things whatsoever he had
commanded them; but we have seen, in all his teaching to them, that he
maintained the immutability of his Father's law, so that from their divine Master
they never received such a commission. If they taught as he taught, we shall find
them setting forth the perpetuity and immutability of the law of God. And that they
did speak the same doctrine
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which their Lord had taught them, we have divine assurance. John14:26. If the
apostles abolished the law, they must have done it in the very epistles in which,
according to some of our opponents, they re-enacted nine of the commandments
for the gospel dispensation. These epistles were written not far from A. D. 60; so
that if the law of God was abolished by the apostles, it was abolished about thirty
years after the crucifixion.
We have presented the question in this form, that attention might be called to
the folly of those teachers who represent the apostles as legislating upon the law
of God. A single testimony from the apostle James ought to make those blush for
shame who represent the apostles as abolishing the law of God, or as reenacting
a part of it, to take the place of the original code. "There is one Lawgiver
who is able to save and to destroy." James 4:12. From the preceding verse
it is certain that James thus designates Him who gave the law in person at the
first; that law, the authority of which he so distinctly recognizes in chapter 1:25;
2:8-12. According to James, there is but one such being in the universe; namely,
the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God. It is therefore the height
of absurdity to represent the apostles as amending, abolishing, or re-enacting the
law of God. The twelve apostles never yet attempted to dethrone the
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one Law-giver, or to usurp any of his prerogatives.
We shall now present the plain and explicit testimony of the apostles relative
to the perpetuity of the law of God, and thus allow them to speak on this subject
in their own behalf. The limits of this tract will not admit an extended notice of
objections. For this part of the subject the reader is referred to larger works
published at Review Office. The word of God is not yea and nay; therefore the
plain statements of our Lord and his apostles must forever vindicate the
immutability of the divine law.
"If ye fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy
neighbor as thyself, ye do well: but if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin,
and are convinced of the law as transgressors. For whosoever shall keep the
whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. For he that 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. So speak ye, and so do, as they
that shall be judged by the law of liberty." James 2:8-12.
Several important facts are clearly set forth in this quotation. That the royal
law to which James refers is the original law, is certain from the fact that he
quotes it from the Scripture, the Old Testament. This is further evident from the
fact that James in citing two of the ten commandments, presents them
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on their original authority; that is, as spoken by God in person. Or if we adopt the
