Is generally divided into active and passive. His active obedience implies what he did; his passive what he suffered. Some divines distinguish these. They refer our pardon to his passive, and our title to glory to his active obedience: though, Dr. Owen observes, that it cannot be clearly evinced that there is any such thing in propriety of speech as passive obedience: obeying is doing, to which passion or suffering doth not belong. Of the active obedience of Christ the Scriptures assure us that he took upon him the form of a servant, and really became one, Is. 49: 3. Philippians 2:5 . Hebrews 8:1-13 : He was subject to the law of God. "He was made under the law;" the judicial or civil law of the Jews: the ceremonial law, and the moral law, Matthew 17:24; Matthew 17:27 . Luke 2:22 . Psalms 40:7-8 . He was obedient to the law of nature; he was in a state of subjection to his parents; and he fulfilled the commands of his heavenly Father as it respected the first and second table. His obedience,
1. Was voluntary, Psalms 40:6 .
2. Complete, 1 Peter 2:22 .
3. Wrought out in the room and stead of his people, Romans 10:4 . Romans 5:19 .
4. Well pleasing and acceptable in the sight of God.
See ATONEMENT; Death and Sufferings of Christ.