."(781)

The claim that Christ by His death abolished His Father's law, is without
foundation. Had it been possible for the law to be changed or set aside,
then Christ need not have died to save man from the penalty of sin. The
death of Christ, so far from abolishing the law, proves that it is
immutable. The Son of God came to "magnify the law, and make it
honorable."(782) He said, "Think not that I am come to destroy the law;"
"till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass
from the law."(783) And concerning Himself He declares, "I delight to do
Thy will, O My God: yea, Thy law is within My heart."(784)

The law of God, from its very nature, is unchangeable. It is a revelation
of the will and the character of its Author. God is love, and His law is
love. Its two great principles are love to God and love to man. "Love is
the fulfilling of the law."(785) The character of God is righteousness and
truth; such is the nature of His law. Says the psalmist, "Thy law is the
truth;" "all Thy commandments are righteousness."(786) And the apostle
Paul declares, "The law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and
good."(787) Such a law, being an expression of the mind and will of God,
must be as enduring as its Author.

It is the work of conversion and sanctification to reconcile men to God,
by bringing them into accord with the principles of His law. In the
beginning, man was created in the image of God. He was in perfect harmony
with the nature and the law of God; the principles of righteousness were
written upon his heart. But sin alienated him from his Maker. He no longer
reflected the divine image. His heart was at war with the principles of
God's law. "The carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject
to the law of God, neither indeed can be."(788) But "God so loved the
world, that He gave His only begotten Son," that man might be reconciled
to God. Through the merits of Christ he can be restored to harmony with
his Maker. His heart must be renewed by divine grace; he must have a new
life from above. This change is the new birth, without which, says Jesus,
"he cannot see the kingdom of God."

The first step in reconciliation to God, is the conviction of sin. "Sin is
the transgression of the law." "By the law is the knowledge of sin."(789)
In order to see his guilt, the sinner must test his character by God's
great standard of righteousness. It is a mirror which shows the perfection