Lord’s Day 44
Q114. But can those converted to God obey these commandments perfectly?
No. In this life even the holiest have only a small beginning of this obedience. Nevertheless, with all seriousness of purpose, they do begin to live according to all, not only some, of God's commandments.
Scripture Proofs — King James Version
Ecclesiastes 7:20
“For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.”
Romans 7:14–15
“For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.”
1 Corinthians 13:9
“For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.”
1 John 1:8
“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”
Psalm 1:1–2
“Blessed the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.”
Romans 7:22–25
“For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.”
Philippians 3:12–16
“Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but one thing , forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.”
Commentary — Zacharias Ursinus (1616)
The question which here claims our attention is, "How is obedience to the law possible, and can those who are regenerated keep the law perfectly?" which is the seventh division proposed under the general subject of the law of God. That this question may be the better understood, we shall distinguish the nature of man as it was when it first came from the hands of God, pure and holy—as fallen, and as regenerated.
Perfect obedience to the whole law, was possible to the nature of man before it was corrupted by sin, and that as it respects every part and degree of obedience, as it is to the angels; for man was created good, and after the image of God, in righteousness and true holiness.
The nature of man in its corrupt state since the fall, is entirely unable to fulfill what the law demands; yea, it cannot so much as commence acceptable obedience to God, according to the following declarations of Scripture: "The imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth." "Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good that are accustomed to do evil." "A corrupt tree cannot bring forth good fruit." "Whatsoever is not of faith is sin." "Ye were dead in trespasses and sins; and were by nature the children of wrath even as others." "Not that we are sufficient of ourselves, to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God." (Gen. 8:21. Jer. 13:23. Matt. 7:18. Rom. 4:23. Eph. 2:13. 2 Cor. 3:5.)