How many professed Christians keep the letter of the law and expect to be in heaven and to have eternal life? They do not realize that there is a great difference between keeping the letter of the law and the spirit of the law.  This divides the professed Christians into two groups. Those who keep the letter of the law are divided into many church organizations, and those who keep the spirit of the law belong to only one church.

The letter of the law says, “Thou shall not kill.” But the spirit of the law says, “Love your enemies, do good to them that hate you.” Matthew 5:44.  The letter of the law says, “Thou shalt not commit adultery.” Matthew 5:27. But the spirit of the law says, “That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.” Matthew 5:28

In a similar way, we can keep every commandment according to the letter of it or according to the spirit. To keep the letter of the law is sufficient for church membership, but it is not enough for our salvation. This kind of obedience will not give us happiness, nor perfect joy and peace.

Paul writes, “Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the Spirit: for the letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth life.” 2 Corinthians 3:6

Also Paul writes, “But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.” Romans 7:6

Sister White writes, “God’s unchangeable law of Ten Commandments, however, Paul still kept in spirit as well as in letter.” –The Acts of the Apostles, p. 190

“Paul says that as ‘touching the righteousness which is in the law’—as far as outward acts were concerned—he was ‘blameless’ (Philippians 3:6); but when the spiritual character of the law was discerned, he saw himself a sinner. Judged by the letter of the law as men apply it to the outward life, he had abstained from sin; but when he looked into the depths of its holy precepts, and saw himself as God saw him, he bowed in humiliation and confessed his guilt. He says, ‘I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.’ Romans 7:9. When he saw the spiritual nature of the law, sin appeared in its true hideousness, and his self-esteem was gone.” –Steps to Christ, p. 29

“Sin did not kill the law, but it did kill the carnal mind in Paul. ‘Now we are delivered from the law,’ he declares, ‘that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter’ (Romans 7:6). ‘Was that then 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’ (Romans 7:13). ‘Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good’ (Romans 7:12). Paul calls the attention of his hearers to the broken law, and shows them wherein they are guilty. He instructs them as a schoolmaster instructs his scholars, and shows them the way back to their loyalty to God.” –Selected Messages, book 1, p. 213

“If the law extended to the outward conduct only, men would not be guilty in their wrong thoughts, desires, and designs. But the law requires that the soul itself be pure and the mind holy, that the thoughts and feelings may be in accordance with the standard of love and righteousness.” –Selected Messages, book 1, p. 211

Keeping the letter of the law only or keeping the letter of the law and the spirit of the law also makes these completely different religions. When a person follows the letter of the law only, he goes against his own will; but when he follows the spirit of the law he does that what he really wants to do. Before he looked to others to follow their example, but now with the spirit of the law he looks to Christ and follows Him only. If no one else wants to do missionary work, he will do it because Christ did it. Christ in your heart makes obedience to the law enjoyable.

Jesus explained the spirit of the law to His disciples. “For I was an hungred, and ye gave Me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave Me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took Me in: Naked, and ye clothed Me: I was sick, and ye visited Me: I was in prison, and ye came unto Me. . . . And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these My brethren, ye have done it unto Me.” Matthew 25:35–36, 40

Jesus also explained the spirit of the law in His sermon on the mount. “And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.” Matthew 5:41. The first mile is to keep the letter of the law. But the second mile is to keep the spirit of the law. All who are satisfied to obey the letter of the law only will fail in their efforts, because God will not give us His divine power to keep only the letter of the law. But if we ask for His power to keep the spirit of the law, then we will receive His divine power, and we will be able to move even mountains.

Jesus explained the spirit of the law further, “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” Matthew 22:37–40

Paul also learned that without this supreme love all other talents are without value. Let us all have the same experience that Paul had and learn the value of the spirit of the law and stop obeying the letter of the law only. Amen.

Timo Martin