Death is the king of terrors to the living. All seek to escape his icy arms. This repugnance, this dread of death has caused many to imagine that they were really immortal; while others seek for eternal life in different ways; but all wonder why death is the last of man who seems to be one of God’s noblest works. If then we wish to know how death came into the world we must seek for that knowledge from revelation; for philosophy is a vain resource. {ARSH December 22, 1859, p. 33.8}
The Bible is our Creator’s own account of this matter, and also the only guide to teach us how to escape. Then turn to the sacred word and read “Wherefore as by one man sin entered into the world and death by sin; so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” Romans 5:12. The first man was Adam, who is doubtless the “one man” referred to; but verse 14 settles it thus: “Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses,” but “death came by sin,” and as Adam has long since passed under the dominion of death, we conclude that he could not have done so if he had not sinned, which makes it plain that he was the “one man” by whom sin entered the world. {ARSH December 22, 1859, p. 33.9}
Inasmuch then as sin is the cause of death, let us in the light of the Bible inquire, what is sin?
It “is the transgression of the law.” John 3:4. Not the transgression of a law, i. e., an indefinite, but the law, i. e., a definite law; and if it is a definite law, it will be definitely recorded somewhere as a law. Says Paul, “I had not known sin but by the law; for I had not known lust except the law had said, “Thou shalt not covet.” What law says, Thou shalt not covet? Is it not the law of ten commandments which God spake with his own voice from Mt. Sinai, the last prohibition of which was, “Thou shalt not covet.” It is impossible to avoid this conclusion, that the law by which is the knowledge of sin, is the same law that says “Thou shalt not covet;” which is the law God gave to man from Mt. Sinai. {ARSH December 22, 1859, p. 33.10}
But, says the objector, the law was not known for two thousand years.
It is true that God did not come down and proclaim his law in the ears of a whole nation till then; yet his people have always had a knowledge of his law. All will admit that sin existed during the first two thousand years of the world’s history; and we read “The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.” Shall we say that there was no strength in sin for two thousand years? Dare we say that the offence did not abound during this period? But the “law entered that the offense might abound.” Romans 5:20. {ARSH December 22, 1859, p. 33.11}
But let us view this in the light of other scripture. “For until the law,” (i.e., the giving of the law on Sinai) “Sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law.” Romans 5:13. Was sin imputed during the first two thousand years? Certainly sin was imputed to Adam, to Cain and a host of others; which being true, we must conclude that the law existed at that time also. Again, “Where no law is there is no transgression.” Romans 4:15. But as transgression did exist from Adam to Moses, we conclude that the law existed also. {ARSH December 22, 1859, p. 33.12}
We have found that Romans 5:12, teaches that sin is the cause of death. It naturally follows that if righteousness, the opposite of sin alone exists, we shall not die. But what is righteousness? Evidently the opposite of unrighteousness; and “all unrighteousness is sin.” 1 John 5:17. “Sin is the transgression of the law.” 1 John 3:4. Therefore righteousness must be obedience to the law. This conclusion agrees with Deuteronomy 6:25. “And it shall be our righteousness if we observe to do all these commandments before the Lord our God, as he hath commanded us.” {ARSH December 22, 1859, p. 33.13}
We have concluded that if sin causes death, righteousness will cause life; or in other words obedience to the law will cause life. This is in accordance with Ezekiel 33:15. “If the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he hath robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity, he shall surely live, he shall not die.” Again, verse 19. “But if the wicked turn from his wickedness, and do that which is lawful and right he shall live thereby.” But the law is perfect and demands perfect obedience; and if we fail in one point we are guilty of all, and cannot by our works be accounted righteous. It is written, “There is none that doeth good, no not one.” Psalm 14:3. Romans 3:10. If then, all are unrighteous they cannot be saved by their own obedience to the law for they have already failed in many points, and are consequently guilty before God. {ARSH December 22, 1859, p. 33.14}
Despair might now be felt, for death will claim its victim unless some way of escape can be devised.
That way has been found wherein “righteousness and peace have kissed each other.” The Son of God offered to lay down his life to satisfy the demands of the law against all who will turn from sin and obey the broken law. God accepted the offer and will justify him that believeth in Jesus. Romans 3:26. Faith, then in the life (or blood which is the life) of the Son of God given for the life of the world, is required to cleanse the sinner from his sins, and place him where he can in future keep God’s holy law. {ARSH December 22, 1859, p. 33.15}
Jesus was to lay down his life; but where must that event take place? Not in heaven, for death has never entered there; but the earth being where death reigns, it was necessary for Jesus to come here to die. He must come here in order to come under the dominion of death. {ARSH December 22, 1859, p. 33.16}
Man had sinned; the plan of salvation had been devised, and man was to be restored by faith in the great offering that was to be made; yet time was required before the plan could be carried out.
The time had not yet come for Jesus to suffer and die, therefore those that lived before that event, must look forward by an eye of faith to the promised Messiah, while those living after must look back to his death. Cain and Abel understood that a great offering was to be made for sin, and knew also that faith in the efficacy of that blood was necessary.
But if a man say I have faith “what doth it profit.” Something is lacking; if he has faith he will certainly act it out; he will manifest it by works; for actions speak louder than words; but let us hear the voice of inspiration on this point. “Yea a man may say, thou hast faith and I have works; shew me thy faith without thy works and I will shew thee my faith by my works..... But wilt thou know O vain man that faith without works is dead?” James 2:18-20. We see then that in order to have living faith, works are necessary. The Lord therefore, gave a “law of faith,” or ceremonial law, whereby man could manifest his faith. Thus we see Cain and Abel bringing offerings typical of the great offering. {ARSH December 22, 1859, p. 33.17}
Time passed on and God visited the earth to take out of it a people for himself. Deuteronomy 7:6. Exodus 19:5. He was their king. 1 Samuel 12:12. They agree to be his people and keep his covenant. Exodus 19:8. He came down upon Mt. Sinai and spake his law to them, it being the same law by which is the knowledge of sin. He also commanded Moses to set in order the ceremonial law, by which they were to manifest their faith in the coming Saviour. This law consisted of types or shadows pointing to Jesus; but when the fullness of time was come, and Jesus was slain, these types by which they were to manifest their faith in the Messiah to come, would not answer longer, but a new ceremonial law of works pointing back to the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus was now necessary by which to manifest our faith. This law is what many term “the Gospel.” {ARSH December 22, 1859, p. 33.18}
We have seen that the law demands the life of every offender; so we find this penalty was enforced for every violation of the letter of the law from Moses to Christ. The enforcement of the law with its penalties is called a ministration of the law. Paul calls the ministration from Moses to Christ “the ministration of death,” because every willful offender of the letter of the law was punished with death. The ministration of the law since Christ came in fulfillment of the types, is called “the ministration of the Spirit.” 2 Corinthians 3:8. Now the Lord is that Spirit.” Verse 17. So then this ministration is that of the Lord, or the great antitypical high priest in heaven. {ARSH December 22, 1859, p. 34.1}
In the first ministration the penalty was executed by men; in the second it will be executed by the Lord. But before the Lord executes the penalty, he sends the truce-flag, and proclaims mercy and pardon to all who will forsake their sins and come to him. {ARSH December 22, 1859, p. 34.2}
We must not think that because the ministration is changed, the law is changed or abolished; if so, it would not be a change of ministration, but the ministration of another law.
To illustrate this point: The constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the land; the enforcing of this law is called its ministration; a term of years is called Washington’s administration, which was followed by another term of years called Adams’ administration. Who would think for a moment that because the administration was changed, the constitution must necessarily be abolished or changed? Just so it is with the law of God, and the ministrations of “death” and the “Spirit.” {ARSH December 22, 1859, p. 34.3}
The typical offerings could not take away sin, but in them the remembrance was kept from year to year. Hebrews 10:3, 4. They only pointed to Jesus and his ministration in the heavenly sanctuary. It is through the blood of Jesus that we expect pardon for sin. More than eighteen hundred years ago our Saviour entered the holy places not made with hands, to offer his blood as a propitiation for the sins of all who will “keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus;” and when the atonement is made, and the sins of his people blotted out, then we expect Jesus to come and take his ransomed home. Then is when the strong man (Satan) will be bound by him that is stronger than he (Christ), and his prisoners, the saints, set free. {ARSH December 22, 1859, p. 34.4}
Reader, the signs of the times in which we live indicate that Christ’s ministration in heaven is nearly finished.
We are now in the commencement of the sounding of the seventh trumpet, Revelation 10, and it is in the beginning of the sounding of this trumpet that the mystery of God is finished. Revelation 10:7. The mystery of God is the gospel to the Gentiles. Ephesians 3:1-6. This will soon be finished. Then Jesus will take his people to the beautiful Zion, and will lead them to the tree of life; and then it is that “sorrow and sighing shall flee away,” and “there shall be no more death.” This is the desired boon. Will you have it? “Blessed are they that do his commandments that they may have a right to the tree of life.” {ARSH December 22, 1859, p. 34.5}
*** Full article written by E. B. Saunders and published in the Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, December 22, 1859.
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." Ephesians 2: 8, 9
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