Lessons from The History of How the True Light on the Covenants Was Established
1888 – 1900

Lesson 7

The Glad Tidings of Advancing Light

The True light on the covenants, rather than doing away with the moral law, actually establishes that the moral law of God cannot be abolished and cannot be changed. Furthermore the true light on the covenants clearly explains the three functions of the moral law of God namely:-

First Function:
The moral law defines sin, points out sin, gives knowledge of sin 1 John 3:4; Romans 7:7.

Second Function:
The moral law is used by the Holy Spirit as a prison officer or school master to convict us of our sin and to shut us up in our guilt and condemnation allowing us no ease or escape until we submit to be brought to Christ that we might be justified by faith. Galatians 3:24.

Third Function:
The law bears witness or confirms that the free gift of the righteousness of God in Christ is identical to the righteousness described in and demanded by the law Rom. 3:21; 3:31.

Furthermore, the 1888 light on the covenants and righteousness by faith clearly asserts the Pauline doctrine that righteousness, salvation and eternal life cannot be received or achieved through law but only by the faith of Jesus.

The perfect faith of Jesus, which produced the perfect surrender, the perfect obedience and the perfect sacrifice in His life, has won for all mankind the free gift of righteousness, eternal life and salvation. The individual sinner receives the free gift by faith in Christ.

The free gift of righteousness covers us giving us a right standing (Justification) before God's judgment bar and the free gift of righteousness fills and transforms us giving us a right experience or fitness for heaven.

We are not justified by law.

"Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified." Galatians 2:16.

Yet faith establishes the law.

“Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.” Romans 3:31.

How does faith establish the law? It works by love.

“For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.” Galatians 5:6.

And what does love do? It keeps the commandments of God.

“By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” 1 John 5:2-4. And what is the dynamic mechanism of victory over sin? The cross of Christ!

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.” Galatians 2:20-21.

Where is the law written in the new covenant experience? In the heart and mind of the believer.

“This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.” Hebrews 10:16, 17.

Therefore, in the end-time, what kind of people will the new covenant produce? A faith-keeping, commandment keeping people!

“Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” Rev. 14:12.

Moreover the principle of the cross separates the believer from the world!

“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” 1 John 2:15-17.

“Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” James 4:4.

“But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” Gal. 6:14.

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Cor. 5:17.

In order to produce this wonderful salvation for us, the Son of God had to become a human being and He had to take on the same sinful fallen flesh we have. He had to be tempted in all points as we are tempted and He had to overcome as a man depending completely on His Heavenly Father. He could not use His own inherent Deity but as a man He had to surrender in full faith to God. He had the same natural mind-structure (brain) as we have but by faith in His Father He produced sinless mind-function (thoughts)!

“Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

“For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

“For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.” Heb. 2:14-18.

“For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Heb. 4:15-16.

“I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.” John 5:30.

“For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.” John 6:38.

“Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.” John 14:10.

The righteousness described in the moral law is the righteousness of God and this righteousness is fulfilled in the believer in Christ.

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

“For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Romans 8:1-4.

God demands perfect obedience but this is not achieved through law but through faith in Christ by the faith of Christ.

“Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith.” Romans 16:25, 26.

The light advances

The year 1897 was one in which the debate on the covenants was continued.

In the SIGNS Journal, under the section called the "Question Corner" a question was answered on "The Two Covenants," the true light as given through Waggoner was clearly evident in the answer.

"Hagar represents the covenant made at Horeb… in which the children of Israel promised to obey. They thought they could do it in their strength, even as Abraham thought God's will could be accomplished through the son of Hagar. But in their own strength they failed. The did not have God's power and promise and law in their heart….The children of the old covenant are those who seek by their own works to do God's will, hoping in themselves. This will always lead to the bondage of sin." S.T. (1897-02-18) p. 99.

Similarly, a question on the schoolmaster was answered according to the true light. The answer stated that the law convicts the sinner of sin in order to lead him to Christ for Justification by faith.

Meanwhile in the "Review and Herald" journal Uriah Smith was stepping up his opposition to Waggoner's position on Galatians 3:19.

Waggoner's position, the true light, was that the law mentioned in Galatians 3:19 is the moral law and the coming of the "seed" referred to Christ's second coming. Let us follow clearly Waggoner's line of proof:

"And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." Gal. 3:29.

Christ was God's new representative man, the Second Adam. Abraham's "seed" when fully developed means Christ and all those who are "in Christ."

QUESTION: What was the promised inheritance?

ANSWER: It was the earth made new. Romans 4:13; 2 Peter 3:13

QUESTION: Who is the Seed?

ANSWER: Christ. Galatians 3:16

QUESTION: Are others included?

ANSWER: All those who are in Christ. Gal. 3:29 Christ and His people are one. 1 Cor. 12:12. John 17:2

QUESTION: Has either Abraham or Christ entered the earth made new yet?

ANSWER: No. Abraham never set foot on it. Christ had no place to lay His head. Heb. 11:13-16, 10.

QUESTION: Can any single believer possess the earth made new before another?

ANSWER: No. Being joint heirs with Christ means that Christ and all who are in Him will possess all the inheritance simultaneously. Gal. 3:16; Romans 8:17, 28-30; Rev. 19:7-8

QUESTION: When will the "Seed" be complete?

ANSWER: Heb. 10:12-14; 1 Cor. 15:22-28. When the last sinner who is to be saved shall be saved and the remnant shall be perfected, the SEED will be complete! Heb. 11:39, 40.

Therefore Galatians 3:19 shows that the moral law must continue to perform its three functions until the Second Coming of Christ! The words of Jesus are shown to be absolutely correct.

“Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

“Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

“For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Mat. 5:17-20.

Uriah Smith and his group rejected this light and continued to hold the position that the law in Galatians 3:19 was the ceremonial law and the coming of the seed meant the first Advent.

This error was tied to another error based on a misunderstanding of Galatians 3:25.

"But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster."

Most theologians interpreted this text to mean that faith "came" at the first Advent. Uriah Smith's position was that the ceremonial law was the schoolmaster and the coming of faith meant the first Advent of Jesus.

Waggoner explained that the schoolmaster was the moral law and the coming of faith simply meant the individual sinner believing on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation.

QUESTION: When does faith come?

ANSWER: Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. Rom. 10:17

Whenever a person heard the Word and believed in Christ then faith had come for that person. It was not a matter of dispensations but a condition of the individual heart! Listen to the Reformer.

"When does faith come? - Strangely enough, many have supposed that there was a definite time fixed for faith to come. This passage has been "interpreted" to mean that men were under the law until a certain time in the history of the world, and that at that time faith came, and then they were henceforth free from the law. The coming of faith they make synonymous with the manifestation of Christ on earth. We cannot say that anybody ever thought so, for such an "interpretation" indicates utter absence of thought about the matter. It would make men to be saved in bulk, regardless of any concurrence on their part. It would have it that up to a certain time all were in bondage under the law, and that from that time henceforth all were free from sin. A man's salvation would therefore depend simply on the accident of birth. If he lived before a certain time, he would be lost; if after, he would be saved … No one can seriously think of the idea that the apostle is here speaking of a fixed, definite time in the history of the world, dividing between two so-called "dispensations," without at once abandoning it." E.J. Waggoner, "From Prison to a Palace. Gal. 3:22-29 (Concluded.) ST 25,9. (March 1, 1899), p.147.

In the Desire of Ages, Ellen White has left on record a beautiful summary of Waggoner's exposition of Paul's teaching on the functions of the law.

"When the law was proclaimed from Sinai, God made known to men the holiness of His character, that by contrast they might see the sinfulness of their own. The law was given to convict them of sin, and reveal their need of a Saviour. It would do this as its principles were applied to the heart by the Holy Spirit. This work it is still to do. In the life of Christ the principles of the law are made plain; and as the Holy Spirit of God touches the heart, as the light of Christ reveals to men their need of His cleansing blood and His justifying righteousness, the law is still an agent in bringing us to Christ, that we may be justified by faith." D.A. 308.

Since the moral law points out sin (1 John 3:4; Rom. 7:7) and describes God's righteousness (Rom. 7:12) it can never be abolished or changed (Matt. 5:17). The law is the standard in the judgment (Ecclesiastes 12:13, 14). In the new covenant the righteousness of the law is fulfilled in the believer in Christ as it is written in the heart by the Holy Spirit (Heb. 10:16. Rom. 8:4).

The moral law of God as a police officer is searching for you. If the law finds you in Christ you are safe (Romans 8:1) but if the law finds you out of Christ you are under condemnation. (Romans 3:19)!

However sinful a man might have been he is safe in Christ, but only in Christ. And however "good" a man might have been he is lost if he is not in Christ.

“Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

“That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.” Philippians 3:8-11.

“Christ was treated as we deserve, that we might be treated as He deserves. He was condemned for our sins, in which He had no share, that we might be justified by His righteousness, in which we had no share. He suffered the death which was ours, that we might receive the life which was His. "With His stripes we are healed." D.A. 25.

“The proud heart strives to earn salvation; but both our title to heaven and our fitness for it are found in the righteousness of Christ. The Lord can do nothing toward the recovery of man until, convinced of his own weakness, and stripped of all self-sufficiency, he yields himself to the control of God. Then he can receive the gift that God is waiting to bestow. From the soul that feels his need, nothing is withheld. He has unrestricted access to Him in whom all fullness dwells. "For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones." Isa. 57:15. D.A. 300.

Scripture Model of the Two Covenants

A timeline of Two Parallel Covenants, One the Everlasting Promises of God, The other the Self-Confident Fallible Promises of the People to Obey

The New or "Everlasting Covenant"

(The Abrahamic Covenant) (The Gospel Gal. 3:8)

Stretches from Eden------------------+--------------to the Second Coming
The Plan of Salvation as Abraham understood it.
The promised inheritance is the whole world made righteous and new. Accepted “by Faith.”
Symbolized by Sarah, the freewoman and her son Isaac through whom the “seed” would come

The Old Covenant

From People's Promises -----------------+--------------to the Second Coming
Given at Sinai to God by the People rather than them accepting the Covenant of their Fathers
Their promise to "Obey" rather than believe.
All those who fail to believe God's Promise by Faith and make THEIR promise to obey are under the Old Covenant. See Galatians 4:21-31

Light too clear not to be seen

The 1888 light on the covenants is so clear, so bright, so beautiful and yet there are those who prefer their own interpretations and refuse to walk in the light sent from Heaven.

The old covenant at Sinai was the promise of the people to obey in order to earn the inheritance and produce their own righteousness. Heb. 8:6-9; Rom. 10:3. The old covenant is represented by Hagar and the birth of Ishmael by the works of the flesh. Gal. 4:21-31.

On the other hand, the new covenant is, and always has been, the promise of God in the Seed which promise is to be received and experienced by faith.

The success of the old covenant depended on the promise and the work of the people.

The success of the new covenant depends on the promise and the work of God.

In the Review and Herald, July 24 1900 the light had intensified beautifully as A.T. Jones expressed it sweetly.

"In the new covenant it is God who is the worker, "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." Phil. 2:13. It is "through the blood of the everlasting covenant," that "the God of Peace" makes "you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ" who is the "surety" of this "better testament." Heb. 13:20, 21; 7:22.

“The only way in which the people come into this covenant is passively: they must submit themselves unto the righteousness of God. Rom. 10:3. They "yield" themselves unto God and their "members as instruments of righteousness unto God." Rom. 6:13.

“Thus, whoever is partaker of this covenant in any way whatever, is partaker of it wholly by the promise of God; and so becomes, "as Isaac was," a child of promise.

“There is no other way to be a partaker of the new covenant than by the promise of God: for there is nothing in the covenant but the naked promise of God. There is no way to be a child of God, but by the promise of God: that promise accepted by faith. Our sins are forgiven, our unrighteousness is pardoned, because God says it, and by the word of that promise we know it. He who accepts and depends only on the promise of God is of the people of God because God has said it. God is his God, because God has said it. The law of God is in his mind, and is written upon his heart, because God has promised that he will put it in his mind and write it on his heart; and he has submitted himself to God to have it done by God. And having so submitted himself to the righteousness of God, he rests securely in the promise of God in Christ, who is the mediator and the surety of the new covenant. And "this is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent."

“The old covenant consisted, and ever consists, of the promises and works, of the righteousness, of people who know only the bJanuary 20, 2007sists forever of the promises and the works of righteousness of God in those who know the birth of the Spirit by the promise of God.”

And in the same Review and Herald, July 31, 1900 A.T. Jones amplified and summarized the E.J. Waggoner position as follows:-

"The old covenant, the covenant from Sinai, is summed up in the word "SELF." The new covenant, the everlasting covenant, is summed up in the word "CHRIST."

“The old covenant is self and his righteousness. The new covenant is Christ and the righteousness of God.

“The old covenant is self and the bondage of sin and works of law. The new covenant is Christ and the liberty of righteousness which is by faith.

“The old covenant--self--must be cast out, utterly repudiated, that the new covenant--Christ--may have its proper place and may manifest its saving power, for the son of the bondwoman can never be heir with the son of the free.”

In 1890 Ellen White gave a warning to those who persisted in rejecting the light of the covenants and righteousness by faith. Let us close by meditating on that warning.

“There are many outside our people who are in the favor of God, because they have lived up to all the light that God has given them. For nearly two years we have been urging the people to come up and accept the light and the truth concerning the righteousness of Christ, and they do not know whether to come and take hold of this precious truth or not. They are bound about with their own ideas. They do not let the Saviour in. I have done what I could to present the matter. I can speak to the ear, but I cannot speak to the heart. Shall we not arise, and get out of this position of unbelief? Shall we not bruise Satan under our feet? I beseech of you, Come up where the living waters flow.

“Yesterday morning I arose with an agony upon my soul, and I could only say, "Lord, thou knowest all about it. My heart is burdened, and thou knowest that I cannot bear this load. I must have more help than I yet have had. Thou knowest that when I see men taking positions contrary to thy word, I am crushed under the load, and I can do nothing without thy help." It seemed that as I prayed a wave of light fell about me, and a voice said, "I will be with thee to strengthen thee." Since then I have been resting in Jesus. I can hide in him. I am not going to carry this load any longer. I shall lay it down at the feet of my Redeemer.

“Brethren, shall we not all of us leave our loads there? and when we leave this meeting, may it be with the truth burning in our souls like fire shut up in our bones. You will meet with those who will say, "You are too much excited over this matter. You are too much in earnest. You should not be reaching for the righteousness of Christ, and making so much of that. You should preach the law." As a people, we have preached the law until we are as dry as the hills of Gilboa that had neither dew nor rain. We must preach Christ in the law, and there will be sap and nourishment in the preaching that will be as food to the famishing flock of God. We must not trust in our own merits at all, but in the merits of Jesus of Nazareth. Our eyes must be anointed with eye-salve. We must draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to us, if we come in his own appointed way. O that you may go forth as the disciples did after the day of Pentecost, and then your testimony will have a living ring, and souls will be converted to God.” R.H. March 11, 1890.

Next in the series: New Covenant Rest

Appeal

“This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:5 – 7.

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