“NOT TO DO MINE OWN WILL.”
This is the Spirit of Christ: He came not to be served, but to serve others; not to be ministered unto, but to minister to others; not to save Himself, but to save others. There is an idea quite prevalent that Christ came to organize a new government to supersede the past, a new plan. But all this He expressly disavows. He declared prophetically through the psalmist before He came: “Lo, I come; in the volume of the book it is written of Me, I delight to do Thy will, O My God; yea, Thy law is within My heart.” Ps. 40:7, 8. When He came, His language was the same: “My meat is to do the will of Him that sent Me, and to finish His work.” John 4:34. “I can of Mine own self do nothing; as I hear, I judge; and my judgment is just; because I seek not My own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent Me.” John 5:30. “For I came down from heaven, not to do Mine own will, but the will of Him that sent Me.” John 6:38. Therefore the Master says of those who profess to be His servants and are not: “Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven.” Matt. 7:21. Of this class who profess, but do not, He says; “Then will I profess unto them, I never knew you; depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.” Verse 23. Iniquity is lawlessness, or breaking of law, and the law referred to is the law of God, the will of the Father to which Christ was willingly obedient. Christ therefore taught the integrity and immutability of God’s law, both in precept and example, even to jots and tittles (Matt. 17:20), and we are enjoined to walk in His footsteps (1 John 2:6). He, therefore, also taught no new doctrines, but the same everlasting Gospel issues in obedience to the same immutable law. God’s law stands forever. Keep it through Christ Jesus.