by William R. Newell
It is conceived by many that to live a holy life a man must keep saying in his heart, “I must not do this or that evil thing”: or, “I must perform this or that good work, or Christian duty, to win God’s favor.”[1]
But is not this to walk under the law? Indeed, it is the very essence of living under law to feel that God’s favor depends on man’s good works! And suppose the evil dreaded and condemned be avoided; the Christian duty done: what remains in the heart but a feeling of righteousness—self-righteousness? This is not “For me to live is Christ” (Phil. 1:21)! Nor is it walking in the Spirit (Gal. 5:16), or as one under grace, God’s favor.
The man to whom to live is Christ has found his own death at the cross. And he rejoices and cries, “It is no longer I that live, but Christ that liveth in me!” (Gal. 2:20). Instead of saying, “I must not,” he says, “I have died!” Instead of saying, “I must be, or do this or that,” he says, “Christ liveth in me!” And instead of saying, “I shall try to live like Jesus,” he boldly testifies, “For me to live is Christ. Christ liveth in me!”
(Note that the writers who address the “good in man” speak of living “like Jesus,” not like Christ. Their thought is of the earthly life of our Lord, which they say should be reproduced by us. This is not, “For me to live is Christ,” having Christ revealed in us. But it is seeking a good “character” of our own, patterned, they say, after His.)
We naturally believe that a change in our conduct is demanded by God. This is not true. As said Brother Lawrence, “Our sanctification does not consist so much in changing our works as in doing our daily duties out of love to God instead of for ourselves.” In other words, God is not asking works; it is fruit that God is seeking. He is not asking anything of us, but He desires to work in us! Until we have been brought to despair utterly of ourselves we cannot believe or even understand this. Our nature is wholly self-confident. And we suppose that God’s law is for our keeping and that God is expecting us to do those good works that we know should be done! Even in the heart of quite enlightened Christians there often remains this confidence that we of ourselves can do God’s will. We have not yet seen that it is God who must work in us to do His will!
But we must hearken to and let sink into our hearts those words of Christ: “Apart from me ye can do nothing” (John 15:5).
Paul says a great deal to us about . . . the result of being given up to the blessed indwelling Holy Spirit. As it is written, “The disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 13:52). Also, “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, in the power of the Holy Spirit” (Rom. 15:13).
You and I are utterly unable of ourselves to come into a “state of grace,” as some call it. It is worse than useless to seek inward conformity to the will of God by our works, through fastings, prayers, observing “Lent,” keeping “Sabbaths,” attending strictly upon church “duties,” all self-denyings, abstinences, and midnight vigils. The apostle in Colossians 2:23 declares that all these things “are not of any value against the indulgence of the flesh,” however much they exalt the human will; but only “have indeed a show of wisdom in will-worship, and humility, and severity to the body.”
Perhaps all of us have entered into this state of endless inward striving, under the lash of a guilty conscience, to attain “a holy life.” Indeed, the desire to rise into victory, to be successful in God’s service, to do what we inwardly desire to do, to be free from ourselves, is an experience every true child of God will sooner or later come into.
The question is, How shall we attain these desires? That is the great question of Galatians. Not justification by faith (as in Romans) is the theme of Galatians. But, how shall a justified man live and be perfected? Shall he strive manfully to attain a noble “Christian character”? (The word “character” is not in the Bible; nor is the word “Christian,” except as quoted from enemies of Christ.) Or shall he observe rules, laws, ordinances, fast-days, be zealous in meetings, givings, doings—“religious” duties, so-called? Or, shall he be set aside—and Christ formed in him? Shall his efforts to attain “character” be given over utterly, and Another Person, even Christ, be magnified in him?
There is no middle ground, friend. Just as the choice in justification was between works or Christ Himself made your righteousness, so the choice in Christian living is between self and Christ. Nay, I may say between your life and Christ Himself, for Paul, I repeat, said, “For me to live is Christ.” Paul expresses his “earnest expectation and hope that Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death” (Phil. 1:20-21). “It was the good pleasure of God,” he said again, “to reveal his Son in me” (Gal. 1:16). And, “It is no longer I that live, but Christ liveth in me” (Gal. 2:20).
Just as when the secret of righteousness by faith alone dawning on the sin-laden conscience brings the blessed rest of heaven, so the secret of deliverance from sin’s power and from self, the secret of rest by faith alone, ceasing utterly from self—brings a further and deeper rest!
And now in all that we have said, we are hardly able to express the essence of what faith in the grace of God, and no longer in our efforts, really is. May God help us! It is so hard to preach pure grace. Shame upon us that it is so! Preachers need to be filled with the Holy Spirit of grace in order to preach grace. And people need to be mightily operated upon by the Holy Spirit ere they are able to believe that all God’s gifts are of grace. Many people, sad to say, refuse to believe it! They are sure they can attain blessing by being “zealously affected.” Like the false teachers among the Galatians they strive and agonize; they observe their “religious duties” with ever increasing carefulness, being positive that if they are only earnest enough they shall attain the relief they desire, and even the blessing of peace and rest from self.
But God hath said, “He that is entered into his rest hath himself rested from his works, as God did from his” (Heb. 4:10). ■
[1] This article is adapted from the chapter titled “Walk in the Spirit” in Famous Messages of William R. Newell Mostly Hitherto Unpublished (Chicago: Moody Press, 1951).
William R. Newell (1868-1956) was a pastor and assistant superintendent of Moody Bible Institute under R.A. Torrey. Newell is best known for his commentary Romans Verse-by-Verse and writing the words to the hymn “At Calvary.”