THE ROLE OF OF GODS LAW , IN RIGHTEOUSNESS BY FAITH.
What place the law of God occupies in the subject of righteousness by faith."

"Moreover the law entered, that the offense might abound.Rom 5:20" In other words, Rom. 3:20, the last words ... "by the law is the knowledge of sin." What was the law given for on tables of stone--the first purpose of its given? To show us what sin is. To make sin abound; to give the knowledge of sin. So, "the law entered that the offense might abound"; that sin might appear; that it might appear as it is. Paul, speaking in the 7th chapter of Romans, says how it appeared to him, 12th and 13th verses:"

"Wherefore the law is holy and the commandment holy and just and good. Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful." Then to make sin abound and make it appear as it is, exceeding sinful--that is the first object of the giving of the law, isn't it?"

NOTE: Did you see that it is not the ten commandments that is made death unto us, but the SIN that the law exposes in us works death in us. The law is that 'good' and 'righteous' thing which SHOWS us sin and it is that sin which brings about death.

First, the law is to give the knowledge of sin and second, the law is to bring us unto Christ and after it has led us to Christ and we have found Him, then it witnesses to the righteousness of God which is by faith.

So we can see that the law of God in the first instance points out sin( Rom 3:20), which then sends us to Jesus Christ( John 1:29), because the law itself cannot cleanse us from sin and we cannot keep the law perfectly ourselves. Then when we have Jesus and His righteousness, the law stands as a witness to the righteousness of God in us by faith. The law stands as a witness to the life and working of Christ in us. We cannot obtain this perfection and righteousness ourselves that the law demands. So if we do not have Christ, God's ten commandments will stand as 'witnesses' against us, showing we don't have Christ. But if we do have Christ, then the law of God will 'witness' FOR us that we have the righteous character of Christ.

This shows that the ten commandments are still valid and needed today. Not for us to gain any righteousness from. But to stand as witnesses to the whole universe that we have been made righteous in God, through Christ, by faith. In the judgment, we are asked .. "what right do you have to the kingdom?" And we will respond .. "I have no right myself, but only through the merits and righteousness of Christ". Then we are told .. "I have ten witnesses here to testify." .. And those ten witnesses [the ten commandments] will say to those who are in Christ .. "yes, we are satisfied with him." .. And thus they witness to the whole universe the righteousness of God in His people through Christ.

it is the presence of Christ that makes holy and sanctifies the place where it is. And when the presence of Christ is there in its fulness, then what is that place? That is sanctified. What is the sign of sanctification? The Sabbath(Ezekiel 20:12;20). And sanctification complete is God's complete work in the soul. Then when the work of God is completed in the soul, the law of God will witness to it all the way. But what particular part of the law of God is a witness to that particular thing, the complete sanctification of His people? The Sabbath of the Lord." It stands there as the witness and as the chief witness and the two coming together testify and the seal is affixed. That work is completed."

What will these 'witnesses' [ten commandments] say to those who willfully disregard the 7th day Sabbath of the 4th commandment? They will witness that those professed Christians who think they can keep God's law THEIR OWN WAY are NOT looking to Christ, but are looking to SELF. Then these ten witnesses will show that those professed Christians do not have the righteousness of Christ - they will not have that 'garment' and will be cast out into 'outer darkness'. This is the investigative judgment going on right now! DO YOU HAVE CHRIST? WHAT WILL THE 'WITNESSES' SAY? Jesus does not and will not work contrary to His very own law!

So those who say the ten commandments are not needed anymore, do an injustice to God and His government. And those who say the commandments are needed but can keep them the way WE choose, that very law will 'witness' that they are NOT looking to Christ, but to SELF. So let us be very careful how we use the ten commandments. In the first instance they point out our sin and send us to Jesus for the remedy of that sin. Then they stand as witnesses to the fact that we have been made righteous in Christ through faith and that we have the life and righteousness of Christ in us. Praise God!

Revelation 14:12 ...'Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and THE FAITH OF JESUS.' Obedience to God’s requirements was more essential than temporal food. To pursue a course of deviation from the purposes of God, in the smallest degree, would be more grievous than hunger or death