From the Introduction to
"BRINGING BACK THE KING"
by Philip Mauro

There is urgent need that the attention of the LORD'S people be directed to the laws of the Kingdom. The subject of

"the law of CHRIST,"

"the doctrine of CHRIST,"

"the doctrine of GOD our Saviour,"

"the law of the Spirit of life in CHRIST JESUS,"

"the apostles doctrine"

 

(which are some of the various names given in Scripture to the laws of GOD'S present Kingdom), is generally overlooked in the teaching put forth at the present day to the children of GOD; and this neglect is the cause of many of the evils which now afflict them.

An important part of the work which our LORD undertook under the New Covenant was to write His laws in the hearts of His people (Heb. 10: 16). How important this is, will be evident to us when we remember that the basis of every government is its laws, and that upon the observance of those laws the welfare of its citizens depends. Moreover, the honour and glory of the Throne are involved in the observance of the laws given by the Sovereign Ruler. The LORD has called attention to this truth in the most impressive way in the closing words of His great utterance familiarly known as " The Sermon on the Mount." From what He there says it is certain that no system of teaching, or other spiritual structure, can possibly survive the approaching time of the shaking of all things, unless it be built upon that Rock-foundation, which consists of CHRIST'S own sayings in The Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 7:24, 25), which is the solid basis of the Kingdom we have received, and which cannot be shaken (Heb. 12:22-27).

But the builders of the elaborate postponement theory began their work by setting aside the laws of CHRIST'S heavenly Kingdom on the ground that those laws are "Jewish," and not for us. Hence it is easy to predict the fate of what they have builded. In fact it is already toppling over. It is not enough, however, for us to recognize the fact that the LORD'S commandments apply to His saints of this dispensation. For obviously we must also store those commandments in our hearts, so that the Word of CHRIST may dwell in us richly, in all wisdom (Col. 3: 16), and thus from the very centre of our being it may find expression in all that we do and say. Let us then take note of what the LORD Himself says about His own commandments:

 

"Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called least in the Kingdom of heaven; but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the Kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 5: 19).

 

This is what He has put at the beginning of His sayings. And at the end we find these solemn words:

 

"Therefore whosoever* heareth these sayings of Mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock. And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the wind blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not; for it was founded upon a rock.

 

"And everyone that heareth these sayings of Mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand. And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it" (Matt. 7: 24-27).

 

*[Literally, "everyone therefore whosever" ­ words which admit of no setting aside or postponing of these commandments of the Lord.]

 

We should take due notice of the significant fact that the SPIRIT OF GOD brought these sayings of the LORD JESUS to the remembrance of His disciples, and inspired them to record the same in the Scriptures, some years after the LORD had ascended into heaven. This was in fulfilment of what the LORD had promised them in His last conversation with them before His betrayal and death; and it was for a purpose of vital importance to them. He had pointed out that the only force constraining them to obey His commandments was to be love for Himself, saying:

"If ye love Me keep My commandments."

"He that hath My commandments and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me."

"If a man love Me he will keep My words."

"He that loveth Me not keepeth not My sayings" (John 14: 15, 21, 23, 24).

And then, to let them know how He would make it possible for them to have His "words" and "commandments" and "sayings" in order that they might show their love for Him by willing obedience, He added this promise:

 

"But the Comforter, which is the H0LY GHOST, Whom the FATHER will send in My Name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance WHATSOEVER I HAVE SAID UNTO YOU" (verse 26).

 

In the light of these Scriptures it is easy to detect the harmful and destructive character of the latter-day doctrine which boldly says that "the Sermon on the Mount is law and not grace," and that its commandments are for another people and another dispensation. Most assuredly if those sayings and commandments of the LORD were for another people, and for another Kingdom than that of GOD'S "dear SON" (CoI. 1:13), it is impossible that the inspired record should not have contained a clear statement to that effect. But there is no hint of such a thing. On the contrary, it is evident that the last survivor of the apostles had never heard that the Kingdom had been "postponed" or was "in abeyance." We have quoted above from his Gospel; and in his Epistle also we have the words following, wherein the use of the pronoun "we" forbids utterly the idea of the postponement of the Kingdom:

 

"And hereby do we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

 

" But whoso keepeth His Word, in him verily is the love of God perfected. Hereby know we that we are in Him " ( I John 2: 3-5).

 

The same apostle says further:

 

"For this is the love of G0D, that we keep His commandments: and His commandments are not grievous " ( I John 5: 3).

 

It is of the highest importance to note that the call to obey the commandments of the LORD JESUS CHRIST is included in His call to the weary and heavy laden of this world:

 

"Come unto me . . . and I will give you rest.

"Take My yoke upon you . . . for My yoke is easy" (Matt. 11: 28-30).

 

The sin-burdened one receives, on coming to CHRIST the forgiveness of his sins, and he is also born again, being thus brought by the new birth into the Kingdom of God. But the Kingdom is a Kingdom of grace, a dominion where grace reigns through righteousness unto eternal life (Rom. 5: 20, 21). For the yoke is not forced upon the pardoned sinner. He must take it upon himself voluntarily, and his obedience must be "from the heart" (Rom. 6: 17) "the obedience of faith" (Rom. 16:26). This is practical truth of the highest value, and truth whereof the people of GOD stand greatly in need at the present time. Hence our fervent desire and prayer that those who are gifted to minister the Word of GOD to His people may be awakened and duly exercised as to their responsibility in this matter.