Fragment: The Law

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“The law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.” (John 1:1717For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. (John 1:17).) The law told man what he ought to be. It did not tell him what he was. It told him of life if he obeyed, of a curse if he disobeyed; but it did not tell him that God was love. It spoke of responsibility; it said, “Do this, and live.” All this was perfect in its place: but it told neither what man was nor what God was; that remained concealed, but that is the truth. The truth is not what ought to be, but what is — the reality of all relationships as they are, and the revelation of Him who, if there are any, must be the center of them. Now that could not be told without grace; for man was a ruined sinner, and God is love. And how tell, moreover, that all relationship was gone, morally? For judgment is not a relationship, but the consequence of the breach of one. Hence, Christ is the truth. For sin, grace, God Himself, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, even, are revealed as they are; what man is in perfection in relationship with God; What man’s alienation from God; what obedience, what disobedience; what sin, what God, what man, what heaven! what earth — nothing but finds itself placed where it is in reference to God, and with the fullest revelation of Himself — while His counsels even are brought cut, of which Christ is the center.