Obedience

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 19, 1907

THE law of God is the basis of the new covenant, as well as of the old. Under the old covenant man promised to obey, without realizing his need of Christ and without depending upon Christ for the necessary grace and power to enable him to obey. The new covenant was “simply an arrangement for bringing men again into harmony with the divine will, placing them where they could obey God’s law.” It makes a vast difference whether men accept the condition, “Obey and live,” without Christ, or whether they accept the same condition with Christ. In the one case they attempt to make themselves righteous; in the other case they accept the righteousness of Christ. In the one case they attempt to save themselves; in the other case they accept salvation as the gift of God in Christ. In the one case they believe in, and depend upon, their own power for obedience; in the other case they believe in, and depend upon, the power of an indwelling Christ for obedience. In the one case it is righteousness by works; in the other case it is righteousness by faith. In both cases there is the same law and the same condition of obedience.

The gospel not only provides for the full and free forgiveness of sin, but also makes it possible for man to be perfectly obedient to God’s law. He who desires to accept the gift of life through Christ must be willing to submit to the condition on which that life is bestowed. “For all the objects of his creation the condition is the same,—a life sustained by receiving the life of God, a life exercised in harmony with the Creator’s will.” Sin originated in the unwillingness of Lucifer to be subject to the divine law. “He began to insinuate doubts concerning the laws that governed heavenly beings, intimating that though laws might be necessary for the inhabitants of the worlds, angels, being more exalted, needed no such restraint, for their own wisdom was a sufficient guide.” Thus “the desire for unrestricted freedom” was awakened in the minds of those who had hitherto been perfectly happy while subject to the divine law.

After the entrance of sin the same perfect obedience to the same perfect law was required as the indispensable condition of salvation, and in the gospel of Christ provision was made so that man was able to render obedience. “The covenant of grace was first made with man in Eden, when, after the fall, there was given a divine promise that the seed of the woman should bruise the serpent’s head. To all men this covenant offered pardon, and the assisting grace of God for future obedience through faith in Christ. It also promised them eternal life on condition of fidelity to God’s law. Thus the patriarchs received the hope of salvation. The same covenant was renewed to Abraham in the promise, ‘In thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.’ This promise pointed to Christ. So Abraham understood it, and he trusted in Christ for the forgiveness of sins. It was this faith that was accounted unto him for righteousness. The covenant with Abraham also maintained the authority of God’s law. The Lord appeared unto Abraham, and said, ‘I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.’ The testimony of God concerning his faithful servant was, ‘Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.’ And the Lord declared to him, ‘I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.’” It will thus be seen that the condition

of obedience was just as much present in the new covenant as in the old. The difference was that in the new covenant God’s promises made obedience possible, while man’s promise in the old covenant was weak and worthless. In this closing work of the gospel a people is to be developed who will render perfect obedience to the divine law through their faith in Christ, of whom it is said, “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” They accept the obedience of faith as the condition upon which God has promised life everlasting.