p. 8 | THE WILL OF GOD by W. A. Sweany

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Jan 31, 1906

THE WILL OF GOD

By W. A. Sweany

BY W. A. SWEANY

The Necessity of Instant Obedience.

THE candid consideration of the primary and fundamental relations between creature and Creator demonstrates the wisdom and justice of instant obedience, even tho the object and result of the mandate may not be understood. It is neither necessary nor possible for the servant or soldier to always fully understand the object or result of the order of his master or captain. It is his to obey, leaving the responsibility for results and consequences with the one in authority.

The application of the simple, everywhere-recognized, "right of property" to our relations with Jehovah demonstrates at once His right to command and our duty to obey; for we are His by the double right of creation and redemption. Isa. 43: 1-7; 45: 9-12; 29: 15, 16; Jer. 18: 1-6; 1 Cor. 6: 19, 20; 1 Peter 1: 18, 19. Moreover, intelligent self-interest demands obedience, since, as hereinbefore shown, it is best for us, both here and hereafter.

It is evident, however, that the reason why disobedience and death, and loyalty and life, stand thus related to each other is not fully and generally understood as it should be. Jehovah's will or law is the expression in words of His nature and character; a statement of what He is, and what He desires us to be. Matt. 5: 44-48; 1 Peter 1: 13-16. Righteousness is right-doing, or right-being. Jehovah's righteousness is, therefore, what He does and is, and the record or statement thereof is His will or law for us.

God's Will a Living Word.

His commandments are not simply spoken and written; they are what He Himself has done and still does, in truth and uprightness. And since we know that whatsoever Jehovah doeth, it shall be forever; nothing can be put to it nor anything taken from it, and Jehovah doeth it that men may fear before Him, "they stand fast forever and ever." Ps. 111, especially verses 7, 8; Eccl. 3: 14; Ps. 119: 152, 160, 172; Matt. 5: 17-19; Luke 16: 17.

The righteousness or life of Jehovah that is thus described in the written Word, is fully revealed, illustrated, and manifested in the living Word—the Word made flesh. So fully was God in Christ—"manifest in the flesh"—that to see Him was to see the Father. John 1: 1-14; Rev. 19: 11-16; 2 Cor. 5: 17-19; 1 Tim. 3: 16; John 14: 1-11. He is therefore our Pattern and Example, and nothing is required of us but what He does and is. 1 Peter 2: 21; 1 Tim. 1: 16. And so, by beholding, considering, believing, obeying, and following Him, we become "partakers of the divine nature," and "are changed into the same image." 2 Peter 1: 3, 4; 2 Cor. 3: 18.

Perfection of the Law.

The law, like its Author, is righteous, holy, pure, spiritual, just, true, and good, and through obedience thereto, we become partakers of His fulness, which is made up of these various characteristics, graces, and attributes. "The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus" converts the soul, and makes "free from the law of sin and death." Rom. 8: 1-5; Ps. 19: 7-11. But in Him all fulness dwells, "and ye are complete in Him." Col. 2: 9, 10.

So not only is He the Author, Source, and Giver of all the above-mentioned graces, but He is also the Source, Fountain, and Giver of life. Ps. 36: 9. And, just as His Word and commandment, when believed and obeyed, transmits to the obedient believer the foregoing graces of His character, so the words that He speaks to us, they are spirit and they are life. John 6: 63. "His commandment is life everlasting." John 12: 50. "The man that doeth them shall live in them," for "the commandment is ordained unto life." "In the way of righteousness is life; and in the pathway thereof there is no death." Prov. 12: 28. "Sin is the transgression of the law," and "sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death," for "the wages of sin is death." "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned." 1 John 3: 4; James 1: 15; Rom. 6: 23; 5: 12.

It is therefore certain that if Adam and Eve had never sinned, they would still be living, as are the angels "that do His commandments, harkening unto the voice of His word." Ps. 103: 20-22. It is true, in the eternal nature of things, that—

In Obedience and Righteousness There Is Life,

while in disobedience and sin there is death. Lev. 18: 5; Neh. 9: 5-38, especially verses 28, 29; Eze. 20: 1-44, especially verses 11, 13, 21; Matt. 19: 16-22; Luke 10: 25-28. It should be carefully noted that Jehovah did not say, In the day that thou eatest thereof, I will kill you. It was not a threat of vengeance or retribution, but a solemn, loving warning of an inevitable consequence. Death was in the disobedience, not in the fruit. But just so surely "as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners," "by the obedience of One, shall many be made righteous." Rom. 5: 15-21. "Tho He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered; and being made perfect, He became the Author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him." Heb. 5: 8, 9.

But it should always be remembered that the obedience of Christ avails nothing for us unless it is reproduced and wrought out in us. "Of our own selves," "without Him," "we can do nothing;" but we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. Rom. 8: 1-17; John 15: 4-7; Phil. 4: 13. And so it is that the faithful, loving, tested, tried, unyielding, continual obedience of Him who dwells in the heart by faith, restores His image in the soul, and insures and secures eternal, immortal, life for the believer. Gal. 2: 20; 2 Cor. 4: 10, 11; Eph. 3: 17; Rev. 22: 14. It is because of this that Satan uses to the utmost every art, blandishment, deception, influence, and power at his disposal, to cause us to sin.

God's Infinite Love.

It is for this reason that Jehovah, with infinite love and longing, beseeches us to obey, and warns us against transgression. He is "not willing that any should perish." He has "no pleasure in the death of Him that dieth;" "wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye." "Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?" "Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin." "He that sinneth against Me wrongeth his own soul; all they that hate Me love death." 2 Peter 3: 9; Ezekiel 18, especially verses 30-32; Prov. 8: 35, 36.

Surely, in view of all this, obedience should not be regarded as a cross. Rather, let every one say, "Teach me, O Lord, the way of Thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end. Give me understanding, and I shall keep Thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart. Make me to go in the path of Thy commandments; for therein do I delight. . . . So shall I keep Thy law continually forever and ever. And I will walk at liberty; for I seek Thy precepts. I will speak of Thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed. And I will delight myself in Thy commandments, which I have loved." Ps. 119: 33-47.

(Continued in our issue of February 14.)