The New Life

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The New Life.
even as I have kept my Father's commandments,
and abide in His love." He was in the love of the
Father, but could not abide there otherwise than by
obedience. And He says that this is equally for us
the one way to abide in His love : we must keep His
commandments. He came to open for us the way
back to God : this way was the way of obedience
only he that through faith in Jesus walks in this way
shall come to God.i
How gloriously is this connection betwixt the obedience
of Jesus and our own, expressed in Heb. v. :
" He learned obedience, and became unto all them
that obey Him the author of eternal salvation."
This is the bond of unity between Jesus and His people,
the point of conformity and inward unanimity.
He was obedient to the Father : they, on the other
hand, are obedient to Him. He and they are both
obedient. His obedience not only atones for, but
drives out their disobedience. He and they bear one
token : obedience to God. ^
This obedience is a characteristic of the life of
faith. It is called the obedience of faith.' There is
nothing in earthly things that so spurs on men to
work as faith : the belief that there is advantage or
joy to be found is the secret of all work.
"By faith
Abraham, when he was called, obeyed : ' ' according
to what I believe shall my works be. The faith that
Jesus made me free from the power of sin for obedi-
1 Gen. xxii. 17, 18, xxvi. 4, 5 ; i Sam. xv. 22 : John xv. 10.
*Rom. vi. 17; 2 Cor. x. 5 ;
Phil, ii 8.
'Acts vi. 7 ; Rom. i. 5, xvi. 26. 212