Evangelical Obedience # 6

Evangelical Obedience # 6

"For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what a man has - and not according to what he has not" (2 Cor. 8:12) - upon which Matthew Henry says in his commentary: "The willing mind is accepted when accompanied with sincere endeavors. When men purpose that which is good and and endeavor according to their ability to perform also - God will accept of what they have or can do, and not reject them for what they have not, and what is not in their power to do; and this is true as to other things besides the work of charity." Yet it was prudently added: "But let us note here, that this Scripture will not justify those who think good meanings are enough, or that good purposes and the profession of a willing mind are sufficient to save them. It is accepted indeed, where there is a performance as far as we are able."

A readiness of disposition is what God regards, and that disposition is judged by Him according to the resources which are at its command. Our Father estimates what we render unto Him - by the purity of our intentions. Little is regarded as much - when love prompts it. If the heart is really in it, the offering is well pleasing to Him whether it is but "two young pigeons" (Luke 2:24), or tens of thousands of oxen and sheep (1 Kings 8:63).

"The Covenant of Grace insists not so much upon the measure and degree of our obedience, as on the quality and nature of every degree - that it is sincere and upright." In contrast with legal obedience - evangelical obedience consists of honest aims and genuine efforts, striving to live holily, and to walk closely with God - that is according to the rules He has prescribed in His Word, and, according to the gracious condescension - is received and rewarded by God for Christ's sake. That holy purposes and sincere resolutions are accepted by God - though they are not really accomplished - is "he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar" (James 2:21), for he never actually "offered up" Isaac, except in intention and willingness. Upon which Thomas Manton said: "God counts that to be done which is about to be done, and takes notice of what is in the heart - though it is not brought to practice and realization. Yet not idle purposes when men hope to do tomorrow, what should and can be done today." "We labor, that, whether present (at home in the body) or absent, we may be accepted of Him" (2 Cor. 5:9) - must be our grand and constant endeavor.

Another example to the point is the case of David, who desired and planned to provide a more suitable dwelling place for Jehovah in Israel's midst. As Solomon, at a later date, declared: "But the Lord said to David my father, "Forasmuch as it was in your heart to build a house for My name - you did well in that it was in your heart" (2 Chron. 6:8). God graciously accepted the will for the deed, and credited His servant with the same. So it is with evangelical obedience: that which is truly sincere and is prompted by love unto God, though very imperfect - He graciously accepts as perfect.

When He appeared before Abraham, the father of all those who believe, He declared, "I am the Almighty God; walk before Me, and be perfect" (Gen. 17:1) - which, in the margin, is accurately and helpfully rendered, "upright and sincere," for absolute perfection is in this life impossible. Legal obedience was approved by justice; evangelical obedience is acceptable unto mercy. The former was according to the unabated rigor of the Law, which owned nothing short of a conformity without defect or intermission. Whereas the latter is received by God through Christ, according to the milder dispensation of the Gospel (Gal. 3:8).

Second Chronicles 30:18-19 records a very striking instance where God accepted the will for the deed, and did not enforce the full requirements of His Law: "Most of those who came from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun had not purified themselves. But King Hezekiah prayed for them, and they were allowed to eat the Passover meal anyway, even though this was contrary to the requirements of the Law. For Hezekiah said: May the Lord, who is good, pardon those who decide to follow the Lord, the God of their ancestors, even though they are not properly cleansed for the ceremony." Hezekiah apprehended God's mercy better than do some of His people today! "And the Lord hearkened to Hezekiah, and healed the people" (verses 18:20). Ah - but note well that the king had restricted his request unto those who had "set their hearts to seek" (2 Chron. 11:16)!

Such uprightness was the very opposite of what we read of in Deuteronomy 29: 19-20: "Those who hear the warnings of this curse should not congratulate themselves, thinking, "I am safe, even though I am following the desires of my own stubborn heart." This would lead to utter ruin! The Lord will never pardon such people. Instead His anger and jealously will burn against them. All the curses written in this book will come down on them, and the Lord will erase their names from under Heaven!"

~A. W. Pink~

(continued with # 7)