The Pulpit Commentary — Luke — Volume 1 — Section 34

Vera. 74, 75.-The ooune of the <Jhristian life. These words of Zacharias will very well indicate the course through which a Christian life passes from its commencement to its close. I. IT BEGINS IN SPIRITUAL E:MANOIPATI01', uwe being delivered out of the hand of our enemies." In order to "walk in newness of life," we must be rescued from the thraldom of sin. And there is a twofold deliverance that we need. One is from the condemnation of oor guilt; for we cannot rest and rejoice in the love of God while we are under a troubled sense of the Divine displeasure, while we feel and know that our "sin has separated between " ourselves and our heavenly Father, The other is from the boodage of evil. So long as we are "held in the cords of our sins," we are help- leBBly disobedient; it is only when we have learnt to hate sin, and, loathing it, to leave it behind us, that we are free to walk in the path of righteousness. This double emancipation is wrought for us by the Lord whose way the son of Zacharias was to prepare. By faith in him, the great Propitiation for our sins (1 John ii. 2), we ba"e full and free forgiveneSB, so that all the guilty past may be removed frum our 11ight; and in the presence of a crucified Redeemer " the flesh and its affections are crucified," we die to our old self and our old iniquities, the tolerance of sin is slain, we hate that which we loved and embraced before, we are "delivered out of the hand of our enemiea." II. lT PBOCEEDII ALONG 'l'RE PA.TB OF FILlAL SEBVICE. We "serve him without fear." Here are two element&-obedience and happiness. As soon as we unite our- selves to our Lord and Saviour, we live to serve. "None of us liveth to himself;"" We thus judge, ... that we who live should not live unto ourselves, but unto him who died for w;" (2 Cor. v. 14, 15). And this is the only true life of man. The animal may live for itself, thongh even the higher animal!! live rather for others than for themselves. But all whom we should care to emulate live to serve. It is not the sente'll,C/l passed, it is the herit,a,ge conferred upon us, that in Christ Jesus we live to serve God-to serve him by direct worship and obedience, and also, indirectly, by serving the children of his love aud the creatures of his care. And we serve in love; and therefore without fear-without that fear wbir.h means bondage; for "perfect love casteth out fear." It is with no hesitating and reluctant step that we walk in the ways of God; it is our joy to do his bidding; we '' delight to do his will: yea, his Law is within our heart" (Ps. xL 8). "We have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear i" our spirit is the spirit of happv childhood, which runs to fulfil its Fatl.er'11 word. IIL IT MOVES ·TOWARDS PEBFE<n' EXCELLENCE OF CHABAOTl!:B, .. In holiness and righteousness before him." Here are three elements of the Christian life. 1. ..,l holy /,atred of evil; leading us to condemn it in ourselves and in others, and prompting us to expel and extirpate it to the utmost of our power. 2. Tlie punuit and practice o/ on. r. 1-80.J THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. LUKE. 25