We have noticed as facts have
come before us, that young converts and indeed older Christians have been
ensnared by the enemy into a spirit of lawlessness. Oh, they say, we are saved
now; we are Christians; we are not under the law; can we not in many things do
our own will? Why should we be so narrow and strict? Can we not go where we
like and hear what we like? And though this is not said and done by all, yet
how much of our time may be spent in doing our own will?

 

Perhaps nothing has been
forgotten more than the Christian’s sanctification by "the Spirit, unto
obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ" (1 Pet. 1:2). We
are not set apart, as a nation, from Egypt unto the obedience of the law of
Moses, to stand before that mount, to tremble beneath the sound of the
righteous claims of a holy God ("And so terrible was the sight, that Moses
said, I exceedingly fear and quake" Heb. 12:21). Neither are we set apart
to be a struggling people, striving in vain to keep the law of Moses. We are not
sanctified, or set apart, simply to obedience but to the obedience of Christ.

 

What then was the obedience of
Christ? Was it a mere question of right and wrong with Him? Had He to use His
private judgment as to what was right and wrong? Did He avoid stealing because
it was wrong to do so? What was the principle on which He ever acted?

 

Let us hear Him on the subject:
"Then said I, 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). And, in His case, God’s will was to accomplish our redemption by His
blood. But in every act He could say, "I delight to do Thy will, O My
God." "For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the
will of Him that sent Me" (John 6:38). And in answer to this unmixed
delight to do the Father’s will in every thought and act, a voice was heard
from heaven which said, "Thou art My beloved Son; in Thee I am well
pleased" (Luke 3:22).

 

To this obedience the believer
is set apart by the Spirit; not to the trembling, quaking bondage of Sinai but
to the obedience of Him who could thus say, "I delight to do Thy will, O
My God." In the obedience of Christ we see two things:first, a nature
that delighted to do the will of God, and second, power to do that will. He
could never possibly have said, "How to perform that which is good I find
not," like the one of Romans 7:18. The delight of His heart and every
action of His devoted life were well pleasing to the Father:no leaven within,
no spot without. His obedience was perfect before God. Such is the standard set
before us; such the obedience unto which we are set apart, sanctified. All the
rest of mankind are doing their own will, but Christians are separated from
them, to delight to do the will of God their Father.

 

Is it not evident that in order
to do this, there must also be the same two things in the believer? There must
be a nature that delights to do the will of the Father. That nature must
be holy, or it cannot delight to do the holy will of God. But man in his fallen
condition is the very opposite of this; neither circumcision, baptism, nor
religious ceremonies will change his evil nature. The other thing needed is power.
Such a case is supposed and described in Romans 7. The believer is born
again, has a new nature, can truly say, "I delight in the law of God after
the inward man" (Rom. 7:22), but he has no power. He says, "For to
will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not"
(Rom. 7:18). Does not this show the need we have, not only of a new nature
wholly from above and of God, but also the absolute need of power! That power
is the indwelling of the Holy Ghost, "For the law of the Spirit of life in
Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death." This is the
all-important subject of Romans 8:1-17.

 

It may be asked, "But has
not the believer two natures; is there not conflict still with an evil
nature?" And though we are set apart to such a perfect example—the
obedience of Christ— can we say that we do always the things that please the
Father? Can we say that we have no sin? (1 John 1 :8). He knew no sin! Can we
say that? Surely that perfect pattern is placed before our eyes, but can we say
we have never failed? Can we say, even as believers, "We have not
sinned?" Would we not "make Him a liar, and His word is not in
us" (1 John 1:10)? This is most true. Mark the divine perfection of the
Word of God:we are not only set apart by the Spirit unto the obedience of
Christ, but "the sanctification of the Spirit [is] unto obedience and
sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ." It is impossible to experience
the power of the Holy Ghost for obedience unless we receive the seal, the
witness of the Spirit to the infinite and immutable value of the blood of
Christ. Oh, sweet relief! Oh, lasting victory! The blood of Jesus is the answer
to all that I am and all that I have done. It is not like the blood of bulls
and goats that needed repetition and never purged the conscience. But "the
blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin" (1 John 1:7). We
are set apart to that, to the sprinkling efficacy of the blood of Christ. What
"peace! God says, "Their sins and iniquities will I remember no
more" (Heb. 10:17). Believer, is it not thus written? Is not this your
peace?

 

We press then this much
neglected blessed truth—the obedience of Christ. Oh, what need of prayer and
searching of the Word of God, what dependence on the Holy Spirit, both to know
and to receive power to do, yea, to delight to do the will of God. What have we
done this day because it is His will?