The Converting Power of the Law

• 7 The law of the LORD [is] perfect,

converting the soul: the testimony of
the LORD [is] sure, making wise the
simple.

Psalms 19:7
• 16 One law and one manner shall be for
you, and for the stranger that
sojourneth with you.

Numbers 15:16
• 19 Now we know that what things
soever the law saith, it saith to them
who are under the law: that every
mouth may be stopped, and all the
world may become guilty before God.

Romans 3:19
• 1 Behold, the LORD'S hand is not
shortened, that it cannot save; neither
his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:
• 2 But your iniquities have separated
between you and your God, and your
sins have hid [his] face from you, that
he will not hear.

Isaiah 59:1-2
• 7 What shall we say then? [is] the law
sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known
sin, but by the law: for I had not known
lust, except the law had said, Thou
shalt not covet.

Romans 7:7
• 23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and
not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding
his natural face in a glass:
• 24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his
way, and straightway forgetteth what
manner of man he was.
• 25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law
of liberty, and continueth [therein], he
being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of
the work, this man shall be blessed in his
deed.
James 1:23-25
• Man, who has defaced the image of
God in his soul by a corrupt life,
cannot, by mere human effort, effect a
radical change in himself. He must
accept the provisions of the gospel; he
must be reconciled to God through
obedience to His law and faith in Jesus
Christ. His life from thenceforth must
be governed by a new principle.

Testimonies for the Church Vol. 4 p. 294

• Through repentance, faith, and good
works he may perfect a righteous
character, and claim, through the merits
of Christ, the privileges of the sons of
God. The principles of divine truth,
received and cherished in the heart,
will carry us to a height of moral
excellence that we had not deemed it
possible for us to reach.

Testimonies for the Church Vol. 4 p. 294

• “And it doth not yet appear what we
shall be: but we know that, when He
shall appear, we shall be like Him; for
we shall see Him as He is. And every
man that hath this hope in Him
purifieth himself, even as He is pure.”

Testimonies for the Church Vol. 4 p. 294

• Here is a work for man to do. He must
face the mirror, God’s law, discern the
defects in his moral character, and put
away his sins, washing his robe of
character in the blood of the Lamb. Envy,
pride, malice, deceit, strife, and crime
will be cleansed from the heart that is a
recipient of the love of Christ and that
cherishes the hope of being made like
Him when we shall see Him as He is.
Testimonies for the Church Vol. 4 p. 294
• 6 If we say that we have fellowship
with him, and walk in darkness, we lie,
and do not the truth:
• 7 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 1:6-7
• 24 Wherefore the law was our
schoolmaster [to bring us] unto Christ,
that we might be justified by faith.
• 25 But after that faith is come, we are no
longer under a schoolmaster.

Galatians 3:24 - 25
• 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.

Great Controversy 308

• 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. “The law of the Lord
is perfect, converting the soul.”
Great Controversy 308
• 31 Do we then make void the law
through faith? God forbid: yea, we
establish the law.
• 4 That the righteousness of the law
might be fulfilled in us, who walk not
after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Romans 3:31;
• Only he who has true faith is secure
against presumption. For presumption
is Satan’s counterfeit of faith. Faith
claims God’s promises, and brings
forth fruit in obedience. Presumption
also claims the promises, but uses them
as Satan did, to excuse transgression.

Great Controversy 126

• Faith would have led our first parents
to trust the love of God, and to obey
His commands. Presumption led them
to transgress His law, believing that His
great love would save them from the
consequence of their sin. It is not faith
that claims the favor of Heaven without
complying with the conditions on
which mercy is to be granted.

Great Controversy 126

• 7 Hearken unto me, ye that know
righteousness, the people in whose
heart [is] my law; fear ye not the
reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of
their revilings.

Isaiah 51:7
• 31 The law of his God [is] in his heart;
none of his steps shall slide.

Psalms 37:31
• 14 Blessed [are] they that do his
commandments, that they may have
right to the tree of life, and may enter
in through the gates into the city.

Revelation 22:14
• 97 O how love I thy law! it [is] my
meditation all the day.

Psalms 119:97