SUMMARY: The term "active obedience" refers to the perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ. Christ's "active obedience" is not merely His inherent holiness as the Divine Son of God. The active obedience of Christ includes His perfect, lifelong obedience to the letter and spirit of God's holy law (note Matthew 3:15; Galatians 4:4-5). For thirty plus years Jesus lived one perfect life! The perfect (alien) righteousness of Christ (the second Adam) is imputed to the account of all who receive the Savior in faith (see 2 Corinthians 5:21, Romans 5). This doctrine touches the heart of the biblical gospel. To quote the late Dr. Machen, "I'm so thankful for the active obedience of Christ. No hope without it."
As J. C. Ryle wrote long ago, "He (Jesus) did what the first Adam failed to do, and all the saints in every age fail to do: He kept the law perfectly, and by so keeping it brought in everlasting righteousness for all who believe." (Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: John; 3:199).
INTRODUCTION: Jesus Christ is the most influential Person who ever walked the face of the earth. He is the greatest preacher, friend, teacher, leader, and example the world has ever seen. “No other name has inspired greater devotion, evoked greater reverence, or ignited greater controversy.”[1]
Jesus Christ was both 100% God and 100% man.[2] In John 8:58, “Jesus said to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.’”[3] Following this account in John 10:30-33, Jesus says to the Jews, “‘I and the Father are one.’ Then the Jews took up stones again to kill him. Jesus answered them, ‘I showed you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you stoning Me?’ The Jews answered Him, ‘For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy; and because You, being a man, make yourself out to be God.’” Jesus is referred to as both the Son of God (John 20:31) and the Son of Man (Mark 10:45) during His earthly ministry.[4] The Apostle Paul sums up Jesus' Divine nature quite well when he wrote in Colossians, “For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority.”
The
Theological and Practical Significance of Jesus’ Perfect Life of Obedience
Much more could be written about the Deity and
perfect humanity of Jesus Christ. John
21:25 says, “And there are also many other things which Jesus did, which if
they were written in detail, I suppose that even the world itself would not
contain the books which were written.”
The scope of Jesus’ life and ministry can never be fully exhausted! The purpose of this essay is to research and
explain the theological significance of Jesus perfect life of obedience.
The Messianic Son lived His life in total submission to the will
of His Father. “Jesus said to them, ‘My
food is to do the will of Him who sent me, and to accomplish His work.’”[5] As the second member of the Trinity Jesus is
totally equal with God. Yet by virtue of
His eternal role as Son, He is submissive to the perfect will of the Father.[6] He told His followers, “I can do nothing on
My own initiative. As I hear, I judge;
and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him
who sent Me.”[7] Everything that Jesus Christ said and did during His
time on earth was in complete accord with the Father’s will.
Jesus’ perfect life of obedience is normally broken
down theologically into two categories: 1) The active obedience of Christ and 2) the
passive obedience of Christ. “Christ as
Mediator entered the federal relation in which Adam stood in the state of
integrity, in order to merit eternal life for the sinner. This constitutes the active obedience of
Christ, consisting in all that Christ did to observe the law in its federal
aspect, as the condition for obtaining eternal life.”[8] Christ passive obedience consists in, “His
paying the penalty of sin by His suffering and death, and thus discharging the
debt of all His people.”[9]
The distinction between the active and passive
obedience of Christ are in some ways unimportant. Both elements were apart of God’s perfect
will and are the basis of a Christian’s justification. Charles Hodge wisely notes, “The distinction
becomes important only when it denied that His moral obedience is any part of
the righteousness for which the believer is justified, or that His whole work
in making satisfaction consisted in expiation or bearing the penalty of the
law. This is contrary to Scripture and
vitiates the doctrine of justification as presented in the Bible.”[10] Justification includes the active obedience
of Christ (keeping the righteous requirements of the Law) and His passive
obedience (paying the penalty of the Law).
Over the next few days we will examine six different elements of theological and practical significance pertaining to Jesus perfect life of obedience.
TO BE CONTINUED-
Over the next few days we will examine six different elements of theological and practical significance pertaining to Jesus perfect life of obedience.
TO BE CONTINUED-
[1]
Douglas Groothuis, Revealing the New Age Jesus (Downers Grove, Ill.:
Intervarsity Press, 1990), 9.
[2]
This is what is commonly referred to as the Deity of Christ.
[3]
All Scripture quotations taken from the NASB version. The Jews knew that Jesus was claiming to be
God. As a result, the picked up stones
to kill Him in John 8:59.
[4]
For more Scripture references on the Deity of Christ see: John 1; 1 Cor
15; Phil. 2; Col 1; Heb 1; Rev 5; For more Scripture references on the humanity
of Christ see: Luke 2:40, 52; Mark 14:33-34; John 8:40; Acts 22:8; Romans
1:3; 1 Timothy 2:5.
[5]
John 4:34.
[6]
A distinct role does not necessarily imply inferiority. Read Luke 2:49; John 5:30, 15:10, 20:21; 1
Cor. 11:3, 15:28.
[7]
John 5:30.
[8]
Louis Berkhof, Systematic Theology (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans
Publishing Company, 1941), 380. I will develop this concept more deeply later on. One does not have to affirm a “Covenant of Works” in order to uphold the active obedience of Christ. This is not a Covenant theology versus Dispensationalism debate. For now it is sufficient to point out that both Jesus' active and passive obedience were
necessary for fallen Man's redemption to take place.
[9]
Ibid., 381.
[10]
Charles Hodge, Justification by Faith Alone (Hobbs, New Mex.: The
Trinity Foundation, 1995), 90.
