John Calvin Commentary Luke 1:75

"In holiness and righteousness before him all our days." — Luke 1:75 (ASV)

In holiness and righteousness. As the rule of a good life has been reduced by God to two tables (Exodus 31:18; Exodus 34:1), Zacharias here declares that we serve God in a proper manner when our life has been conformed to holiness and righteousness. Holiness, beyond all question, denotes—as even Plato knew—the duties of godliness,⁷⁷ which relate to the first table of the law. Righteousness, again, extends to all the duties of charity, for God requires nothing more from us in the second table of the law than to render to everyone what belongs to him. It is added, before him, to instruct believers that it is not enough if their lives are decently regulated before the eyes of men, and their hands, feet, and whole body are restrained from every kind of open wickedness; rather, they must live according to the will of God, who is not satisfied with professions of holiness but looks chiefly to the heart.

Lastly, so that no one may consider his duties to be at an end when he has worshipped God for a certain period, Zacharias declares that people have been redeemed on the condition⁷⁸ that they shall continue to devote themselves to the worship of God all the days of their life.

And certainly, as redemption is eternal, the remembrance of it ought never to pass away. As God adopts people into His family forever, their gratitude ought not to be transitory or brief. And, in a word, as Christ both died and rose, and revived for them, it is proper that He should be Lord both of the dead and living, (Romans 14:9).

So Paul, in a passage I recently quoted, enjoins us to:

live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works, (Titus 2:12–14).

⁷⁷ “Le mot de Sainctete comprend tout ce dont nous sommes redevables a Dieu pour adorer et honorer sa majeste.” — “The word .” — “The word Holiness includes all that we owe to God for adoring and honoring his majesty.”includes all that we owe to God for adoring and honoring his majesty.”

⁷⁸ “Hac lege redemptas esse homines.” — “.” — “Zacharie dit que les hommes ont este rachetez a la charge de s'appliquer a servir Dieu tout le temps de leur vie.” — “Zacharias says that men have been redeemed upon condition of applying themselves to serve God .” — “Zacharias says that men have been redeemed upon condition of applying themselves to serve God all the time of their life.””