God’s New Spelling for “Obey”
“Trust and obey” is frequently given as the key to living the Victorious Life. “Surrender and obedience,” another suggests as the things necessary for continuance in victory. Instant obedience to every word of God, another says, is absolutely necessary if one would be in victory. Another teacher points out that the New Testament reduces all God’s commandments to two,—believe in Jesus and love one another,—and our duty is thus simplified: we are to obey these two commandments and victory is ours.
But to obey these commandments is exactly what I cannot do. If I obey these two commandments, the whole law of God is fulfilled in me. It is because I have failed to fulfil this perfect law of God, that I cry out with Paul, “Wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me?” The answer to that question gives me the secret of the Victorious Life, the Life that results in obedience. Of what avail is it to tell me that the secret of living the Victorious Life is to obey God, when the very reason I am hungry after the Life is because it results in obedience. That Life does what I have failed to do—obey God.
So long as we make obedience the cause or producer of victory, so long are we under the law. We are living under the Old Covenant. The law says, “He that doeth them [God’s statutes] shall live in them”; that is, it is the law-keeper’s obedience which brings life and victory.
But, it will be answered, when Christians are urged to obey it is not intended that they should do this in their own strength. We must constantly seek divine help to obey. There is the human side and the divine side. On our part we are to strive with all our willpower against sin, and God’s part is to help us in the struggle.