When the Word becomes Spirit and life to us!

For those who have been made to think that the Sabbath did not exist before the creation of this world or who think that the law of ten commandments is no longer binding.

The will of God is expressed in His words and commands. Rom.2:18. Therefore, His holy law is an expression of His gracious will, His spotless character, His divine nature.
However, on tables of stones, or written with ink, His law is the ministration of condemnation and death to lead us to Christ. 2 Cor.3:7. But as we approach God through the merits of His Son, the commandments, proceeding out of His mouth, are a ministration of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus. They are "yes and amen in Christ Jesus to the glory of God through us." 2 Cor.1:20.

In other words, God imparts His Spirit to us through His living utterances when we come to Him trusting wholly in the merits of the blood that was shed for us upon Calvary's cross. As the merits of His blood are applied to us, we receive "the lively oracles" and they are the impartation of the Spirit and life to us. Acts 7:38; John 6:63, 68.

At Sinai the Israelites were not able to hear His voice that they might have life and have it more aboundantly and that is why they asked that Moses speak to them instead. Thereafter the law was engraved on stones. There and then the people entered into a covenant with God, promising to do all that the law said. But they failed miserably because the letter killeth.

But for those who receive the ten commandments as proceeding out of the mouth of God, they are the voice of God speaking to the soul in promise. The living oracles impart power, they beget life, even life everlasting. 1 Peter 1:23-25. For them, and for them only, there is not a negative in that law though it may appear thus!

The Sabbath is not only for man but for all of God's creatures. Are we to think that the angels do not live by every word that proceed out of the mouth of God? Are we to believe that the angels and the inhabitants of all the other worlds do not need the Sabbath?

The law of God, though it was adapted for manking after the fall of Adam and Eve, has not changed. God's law has always been linked to His throne. His law is the embodiment of God in Christ. And the law being a transcript of God's nature, it therefore is the same yesterday, today, and forever and ever for God never changes!

P.S. At the fall of man the law was adapted not invented

[ October 15, 2002, 01:16 AM: Message edited by: adventbeliever ]

Jesus said: "The words that I speak unto you, they are Spirit and they are life." John 6:63. "They are the words of eternal life." verse 68.
I believe it was Ellen White, to the best of my knowledge, who understood and described the law of God best. Referring to the words of Jesus in John 6:63, she makes this beautiful comment:

"In every command and in every promise of the Word of God is the power, the very life of God, by which the command may be fulfilled and the promise realized. He who by faith receives the word is receiving the very life and character of God." C.O.L.38.

Here she is not talking about the letter of the law as engraved on stones or merely written with ink. She is talking about the law, yes, but proceeding out of His mouth! "Oh how I love the law of Your mouth," said the Psalmist. Out of the mouth of God, they are "lively oracles." Acts 7:38. They impart power, they beget life, even everlasting life!

"The creative energy that called the worlds into existence is in the word of God. This word imparts power; it begets life. Every command is a promise; accepted by the will, received into the soul, it brings with it the life of the Infinite One. It transforms the nature and re-creates the soul in the image of God. The life thus imparted is in like manner sustained, 'by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God' shall man live.'" Education, p.126.

The law engraved on stones or written with ink cannot save. It cannot impart power or beget life. It is as cold as the stones it was engraved on and as dry as the ink on the paper in our Bibles. And it is lifeless! But as we receive it as the voice of God speaking to the soul, every command is a promise, a most positive promise of its fulfillment. It is the impartation of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus!

"His power, His very life, dwells in His word. As you receive the word in faith, it will give you power to obey." Mount of Blessing, p.150.

"The words and commands of God are Spirit and they are life, and there is power in them to bring into subjection and enforce obedience." Testimonies, vol.1, p.361.

Notice these words: "The words of the living God are not merely written, but spoken. The Bible is God's voice speaking to us, just as surely as though we could hear it with our ears. IF WE REALIZED THIS, WITH WHAT AWE WOULD WE OPEN GOD'S WORD, AND WITH WHAT EARNESTNESS WOULD WE SEARCH ITS PRECEPTS. The reading and contemplation of the Scriptures would be regarded as an audience with the Infinite One." Testimonies, vol.6, p.393.

"The Scriptures are to be received as God's word to us, not written merely, but spoken... He is speaking to us individually, speaking as directly as if we could listen to His voice. It is in these promises that Christ communicates to us His grace and power. They are the leaves from that tree which is 'for the healing of the nations.' Received, assimilated, they are to be the strength of the character, the inspiration and sustenance of the life. Nothing else can have such healing power. Nothing besides can impart the courage and the faith which give vital energy to the whole being." Ministry of Healing, p.122.

We are to receive life from God's word for ourselves as we approach God through the merits of the blood that is of value beyond estimate! Unless we make it our lifebusiness to behold the uplifted Savior and accept His merits, which it is our privilege to claim, we cannot inherit the life that His word alone can impart and thus we cannot be saved! "The words that I SPEAK unto you, they are Spirit and they are life." John 6:63.

P.S. From these statements anyone can see that the law of God's mouth is as enduring as He is. To abolish His law would be to abolish Himself.