Evangelical Obedience # 1

Evangelical Obedience # 1

This article is designed chiefly for the enlightenment and comfort of those of God's people who are deeply exercised over their own obedience, and are often cast down by the defectiveness of the same. There is a real need for a Scriptural opening up of this subject, for there are very few pulpits today - even in the most orthodox circles - where anything clear and definite is given out thereon; in fact, we doubt if half of our readers have ever heard or read the term, "evangelical obedience." It is also a subject which needs the most careful handling; and if a comparative "novice" attempts to deal with it, he is likely to do more harm than good. The difficulty involved in it, is to maintain on the one hand the high and holy standard of obedience, which God has set before us in His Word; and to show on the other hand - the gracious provision which He has made for the relief of those who honestly endeavor - yet sadly fail, to measure up to that standard. The path between the two is a narrow one.

No matter how cautiously one may deal with this theme, if he is to be of any service to the real people of God, his efforts are sure to be put to a wrong and evil use by hypocrites, for they will "wrest it, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction" (2 Peter 3:16). Such is the perversity of human nature. When a discriminating sermon is preached - the particular design of which is to draw a clear line of demarcation between genuine and nominal Christians, and to "take forth the precious from the vile" (Jere. 15:19) - the graceless professor will refuse to make application of the same and examine his own heart and life in the light thereof; whereas the possessor of divine life is only too apt to draw a wrong deduction and deem himself to be numbered among the spiritually dead. Contrariwise, if the message is one of comfort to God's little ones, while too many of them are afraid to receive it, others who are not entitled will misappropriate it unto themselves. But let not a realization of these things prevent the minister of the Gospel from discharging his duty; and while being careful not to cast the children's bread unto the dogs - yet the presence of such is not to deter him from setting before the children their legitimate portion.

Before developing our theme, we will define our terms: "Evangelical obedience" is obviously the opposite of "legal obedience" - and that is of two sorts: First, the flawless and constant conformity unto His revealed will - which God required from Adam,and which He still demands from all who are under the Covenant of Works - for though man has lost his power to perform, God has not relinquished His right to insist upon what is His just due.

Second, the obedience of unregenerate formalists, which is unacceptable unto God - not only because it is full of defects - but because it issues from a natural principle - is not done in faith, and is rendered in a mercenary spirit, and therefore consists of "dead works" (Hebrews 6:1; 9:14).

Evangelical obedience is also to be distinguished from imputed obedience. It is blessedly true that when they believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, God reckons to the account of all the subjects of the Covenant of Grace the perfect obedience of their Surety, so that He pronounces them justified, or possessed of that righteousness which the Law requires. Yet that is not the only obedience which characterizes the redeemed. They now personally regulate their lives by God's commands and walk in the way of His precepts; and though their performances have many blemishes in  them (as they are well aware) - yet God is pleased for Christ's sake to accept the same.

It should need no long and laborious argument to demonstrate that God must require obedience - full and hearty obedience - from every rational agent, for only thus does He enforce His moral government over the same. The one who is indebted to God for his being and sustenance, is obviously under binding obligations to love Him with all his heart, serve Him with all his might, and seek to glorify Him in all that he does.

~A. W. Pink~

(continued with # 2)