the desire of ages-第71章

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n　agent　in　bringing　us　to　Christ；　that　we　may　be　justified　by　faith。　〃The　law　of　the　Lord　is　perfect；　converting　the　soul。〃　Ps。　19：7。

〃Till　heaven　and　earth　pass；〃　said　Jesus；　〃one　jot　or　one　tittle　shall　in　nowise　pass　from　the　law；　till　all　be　fulfilled。〃　The　sun　shining　in　the　heavens；　the　solid　earth　upon　which　you　dwell；　are　God's　witnesses　that　His　law　is　changeless　and　eternal。　Though　they　may　pass　away；　the　divine　precepts　shall　endure。　〃It　is　easier　for　heaven　and　earth　to　pass；　than　one　tittle　of　the　law　to　fail。〃　Luke　16：17。　The　system　of　types　that　pointed　to　Jesus　as　the　Lamb　of　God　was　to　be　abolished　at　His　death；　but　the　precepts　of　the　Decalogue　are　as　immutable　as　the　throne　of　God。

Since　〃the　law　of　the　Lord　is　perfect；〃　every　variation　from　it　must　be　evil。　Those　who　disobey　the　commandments　of　God；　and　teach　others

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to　do　so；　are　condemned　by　Christ。　The　Saviour's　life　of　obedience　maintained　the　claims　of　the　law；　it　proved　that　the　law　could　be　kept　in　humanity；　and　showed　the　excellence　of　character　that　obedience　would　develop。　All　who　obey　as　He　did　are　likewise　declaring　that　the　law　is　〃holy；　and　just；　and　good。〃　Rom。　7：12。　On　the　other　hand；　all　who　break　God's　commandments　are　sustaining　Satan's　claim　that　the　law　is　unjust；　and　cannot　be　obeyed。　Thus　they　second　the　deceptions　of　the　great　adversary；　and　cast　dishonor　upon　God。　They　are　the　children　of　the　wicked　one；　who　was　the　first　rebel　against　God's　law。　To　admit　them　into　heaven　would　again　bring　in　the　elements　of　discord　and　rebellion；　and　imperil　the　well…being　of　the　universe。　No　man　who　willfully　disregards　one　principle　of　the　law　shall　enter　the　kingdom　of　heaven。

The　rabbis　counted　their　righteousness　a　passport　to　heaven；　but　Jesus　declared　it　to　be　insufficient　and　unworthy。　External　ceremonies　and　a　theoretical　knowledge　of　truth　constituted　Pharisaical　righteousness。　The　rabbis　claimed　to　be　holy　through　their　own　efforts　in　keeping　the　law；　but　their　works　had　divorced　righteousness　from　religion。　While　they　were　punctilious　in　ritual　observances；　their　lives　were　immoral　and　debased。　Their　so…called　righteousness　could　never　enter　the　kingdom　of　heaven。

The　greatest　deception　of　the　human　mind　in　Christ's　day　was　that　a　mere　assent　to　the　truth　constitutes　righteousness。　In　all　human　experience　a　theoretical　knowledge　of　the　truth　has　been　proved　to　be　insufficient　for　the　saving　of　the　soul。　It　does　not　bring　forth　the　fruits　of　righteousness。　A　jealous　regard　for　what　is　termed　theological　truth　often　accompanies　a　hatred　of　genuine　truth　as　made　manifest　in　life。　The　darkest　chapters　of　history　are　burdened　with　the　record　of　crimes　committed　by　bigoted　religionists。　The　Pharisees　claimed　to　be　children　of　Abraham；　and　boasted　of　their　possession　of　the　oracles　of　God；　yet　these　advantages　did　not　preserve　them　from　selfishness；　malignity；　greed　for　gain；　and　the　basest　hypocrisy。　They　thought　themselves　the　greatest　religionists　of　the　world；　but　their　so…called　orthodoxy　led　them　to　crucify　the　Lord　of　glory。

The　same　danger　still　exists。　Many　take　it　for　granted　that　they　are　Christians；　simply　because　they　subscribe　to　certain　theological　tenets。　But　they　have　not　brought　the　truth　into　practical　life。　They　have　not　believed　and　loved　it；　therefore　they　have　not　received　the　power　and

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grace　that　come　through　sanctification　of　the　truth。　Men　may　profess　faith　in　the　truth；　but　if　it　does　not　make　them　sincere；　kind；　patient；　forbearing；　heavenly…minded；　it　is　a　curse　to　its　possessors；　and　through　their　influence　it　is　a　curse　to　the　world。

The　righteousness　which　Christ　taught　is　conformity　of　heart　and　life　to　the　revealed　will　of　God。　Sinful　men　can　become　righteous　only　as　they　have　faith　in　God　and　maintain　a　vital　connection　with　Him。　Then　true　godliness　will　elevate　the　thoughts　and　ennoble　the　life。　Then　the　external　forms　of　religion　accord　with　the　Christian's　internal　purity。　Then　the　ceremonies　required　in　the　service　of　God　are　not　meaningless　rites；　like　those　of　the　hypocritical　Pharisees。

Jesus　takes　up　the　commandments　separately；　and　explains　the　depth　and　breadth　of　their　requirement。　Instead　of　removing　one　jot　of　their　force；　He　shows　how　far…reaching　their　principles　are；　and　exposes　the　fatal　mistake　of　the　Jews　in　their　outward　show　of　obedience。　He　declares　that　by　the　evil　thought　or　the　lustful　look　the　law　of　God　is　transgressed。　One　who　becomes　a　party　to　the　least　injustice　is　breaking　the　law　and　degrading　his　own　moral　nature。　Murder　first　exists　in　the　mind。　He　who　gives　hatred　a　place　in　his　heart　is　setting　his　feet　in　the　path　of　the　murderer；　and　his　offerings　are　abhorrent　to　God。

The　Jews　cultivated　a　spirit　of　retaliation。　In　their　hatred　of　the　Romans　they　gave　utterance　to　hard　denunciations；　and　pleased　the　wicked　one　by　manifesting　his　attributes。　Thus　they　were　training　themselves　to　do　the　terrible　deeds　to　which　he　led　them　on。　In　the　religious　life　of　the　Pharisees　there　was　nothing　to　recommend　piety　to　the　Gentiles。　Jesus　bade　them　not　to　deceive　themselves　with　the　thought　that　they　could　in　heart　rise　up　against　their　oppressors；　and　cherish　the　longing　to　avenge　their　wrongs。

It　is　true　there　is　an　indignation　that　is　justifiable；　even　in　the　followers　of　Christ。　When　they　see　that　God　is　dishonored；　and　His　service　brought　into　disrepute；　when　they　see　the　innocent　oppressed；　a　righteous　indignation　stirs　the　soul。　Such　anger；　born　of　sensitive　morals；　is　not　a　sin。　But　those　who　at　any　supposed　provocation　feel　at　liberty　to　indulge　anger　or　resentment　are　opening　the　heart　to　Satan。　Bitterness　and　animosity　must　be　banished　from　the　soul　if　we　would　be　in　harmony　with　heaven。

The　Saviour　goes　farther　than　this。　He　says；　〃If　thou　bring　thy　gift　to　the　altar；　and　there　rememberest　that　thy　brother　hath　aught　against　thee；　leave　there　thy　gift　before　the　altar；　and　go　thy　way；　first　be

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reconciled　to　thy　brother；　and　then　come　and　offer　thy　gift。〃　Many　are　zealous　in　religious　services；　while　between　them　and　their　brethren　are　unhappy　differences　which　they　might　reconcile。　God　requires　them　to　do　all　in　their　power　to　restore　harmony。　Until　they　do　this；　He　cannot　accept　their　services。　The　Christian's　duty　in　this　matter　is　clearly　pointed　out。

God　pours　His　blessings　upon　all。　〃He　maketh　His　sun　to　rise　on　the　evil　and　on　the　good；　and　sendeth　rain　on　the　just　and　on　the　unjust。〃　He　is　〃kind　unto　the　unthankful　and　to　the　evil。〃　Luke　6：35。　He　bids　us　to　be　like　Him。　〃Bless　them　that　curse　you；〃　said　Jesus；　〃do　good　to　them　that　hate　you；　。　。　。　that　ye　may　be　the　children　of　your　Father　which　is　in　heaven。〃　These　are　the　principles　of　the　law；　and　they　are　the　wellsprings　of　life。

God's　ideal　for　His　children　is　higher　than　the　highest　human　thought　can　reach。　〃Be　ye　therefore　perfect；　even　as　your　Father　which　is　in　heaven　is　perfect。〃　This　command　is　a　promise。　The　plan　of　redemption　contemplates　our　complete　recovery　from　the　power　of　Satan。　Christ　always　separates　the　contrite　soul　from　sin。　He　came　to　destroy　the　works　of　the　devil；　and　He　has　made　provision　that　the　Holy　Spirit　shall　be　imparted　to　every　repentant　soul；　to　keep　him　from　sinning。

The　tempter's　agency　is　not　to　be　accounted　an　excuse　for　one　wrong　act。　Satan　is　jubilant　when　he　hears　the　professed　followers　of　Christ　making　excuses　for　their　deformity　of　character。　It　is　these　excuses　that　lead　to　sin。　There　is　no　excuse　for　sinning。　A　holy　temper；　a　Christlike　life；　is　accessible　to　every　repenting；　believing　child　of　God。

The　ideal　of　Christian　character　is　Christlikeness。　As　the　Son　of　man　was　perfect　in　His　life；　so　His　followers　are　to　be　perfect　in　their　life。　Jesus　was　in　all　things　made　like　unto　His　brethren。　He　became　flesh；　even　as　we　are。　He　was　hungry　and　thirsty　and　weary。　He　was　sustained　by　food　and　refreshed　by　sleep。　He　shared　the　lot　of　man；　yet　He　was　the　blameless　Son　of　God。　He　was　God　in　the　flesh。　His　character　is　to　be　ours。　The　Lord　says　of　those　who　believe　in　Him；　〃I　w