God justly claimed the love and obedience of all his creatures. He had given them in his law a perfect standard of right. But they forgot their Maker, and chose to follow their own way in opposition to his will. They had returned enmity for a love that was as high as Heaven and as broad as the universe. God could not bring down his law to meet the standard of wicked men, neither could man, fallen by sin, meet the demands of the law by a blameless character and life. But by faith in Christ the sinner could be cleansed from his guilt, and he enabled to render obedience to the law of his Maker. God did not bestow his grace to lessen the binding claims of the law, but to establish it. “Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.” {LP 242.2}

Gud krævede kærlighed og lydighed af alle hans skabninger. Han have givet dem en fuldkommen rigtigheds-standard i sin lov. Men de glemte deres Skaber, og valgte at følge deres egen vej imod hans vilje. De havde vendt tilbage til fjenden af en kærlighed som var lige så høj som Himlen og lige så bred som universet. Gud kunne ikke nedgøre sin lov for at imødekomme onde menneskers standard, mennesker der var faldet i synd kunne heller ikke imødekomme lovens krav ved en pletfri karakter og liv. Men ved tro på Kristus kunne synderen renses for sin skyld, og han kunne blive i stand til at være lydig mod sin Skabers lov. Gud gav ikke sin nåde for at formindske lovens bindende krav, men for at befæste den. "Miskundhed og sandhed mødes, retfærd og fred skal kysse hinanden."