WHENCE COMES OBEDIENCE?

I have more than once had occasion to refer to the words of the apostle, “I can do all things through Christ, which strengtheneth me.” (Phil. 4:13). And whatever brethren may speak or write regarding rewards of obedience or the sufferings for disobedience, let it always be remembered that it is only in the strengthening power of the grace of Christ that any one of the true worshipers of God can do anything in the way of obedience that is right and acceptable in His sight.

It seems to us now that the apostle Paul was exceedingly particular to express himself in very strong terms as to how Gentile worshipers were made obedient “by word and deed.” He would not even “dare to speak of any of those things which Christ had not wrought by him to make the Gentiles obedient by word and deed.” And if any one should claim even now that they can render spiritual service and acceptable obedience to God, apart from the strengthening power of the grace of Christ, the holy apostle of Jesus would fear and tremble and stand in such holy awe and reverence before the Lord as to say, “I will not dare to speak of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me.”

No, my brethren, let us not dare to supplant Christ, nor assume to do that in our own name and in our own strength, which can only be done in the name and by the strength of Christ Jesus strengthening us. “Whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the name of the Lord Jesus giving thanks to God and the Father by Him.” (Co. 3:17).

If by our gospel preaching, admonition, exhortation and encouragement any subject of saving grace has been made obedient to God by word and by deed and has put on Christ by an open and public profession, all the glory and honor of this great work is due to Him who hath wrought these things by us. It was through mighty signs and wonders and by the power of the Spirit of God that Christ wrought by Paul to make the Gentiles obedient not only in word, but also in deed and in truth. When Christ by His Spirit has wrought in His ministers to accomplish the obedience of faith, that obedience is something more than a mere wordy profession or mechanical form or ceremony. It is an obedience of faith. It is a work; it is true, but it is a work of faith in Christ Jesus. He has wrought this faith in us and thereby He hath wrought all our works of obedience in us. The spirit and principle of obedience is first wrought within us by the spirit and power of the Lord, before we are commanded to work out, or make manifest without that which God hath wrought for us within. “It is God that worketh in you, both to will and to do of His good pleasure.”

It is written in Heb. 11:8, that “by faith ... Abraham obeyed.” “Faith wrought with his works”; and to say that faith wrought, is to say that faith in Christ and in the word and promise of God moves one to obedience both by word and deed. “Without faith it is impossible to please God,” and without faith all our so-called works of obedience would be nothing but an empty form, and could not be regarded as an acceptable service to God. This gospel was preached to some, but the word preached did not profit them because it was not mixed with faith in them that heard it.

When the word preached is not mixed with faith in those that hear, it comes to them only as the words of man, but when mixed with faith, it comes to them, not as the word of man, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh in the true believer, to bring forth fruit.

Gospel Messenger

A consciousness of inbred sin will cause us to distrust ourselves, to look continually to Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. This salutary fear, implanted in the heart through the covenant love of God, alone can keep us from falling. We shall walk over the slippery paths of this world with safety, when we tread with cautious step, leaning on our Beloved.

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