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HOW IS IT?

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Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · May 14, 1896

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 22, No. 20.

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HOW IS IT?

Does God Mean What He Says?

When he declares, “I have loved thee with an everlasting love; therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn thee,” does he mean it?
When the word says that “God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life,” does it mean what it says?
When the Lord declares that he “pardoneth iniquity” and “delighteth in mercy,” can we trust him?
When it is expressly declared that “if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all iniquity,” may we hope in the word?
God has given us many more “exceeding great and precious promises;” are they worth their face value? In other words,

Does God Mean What He Says?

What child will deny the word of such a Father?
Well, God has also given us commandments, “holy and just and good.”
He has said, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me,” “Thou shalt not kill,” “Thou shalt not steal.”
Does he mean what he says?
The same law and Lawgiver which gives us the above commandments says also: “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work; but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God; in it thou shalt not do any work; . . . for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day; wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day [the day of his rest], and hallowed it.”
The One who made the world and the Sabbath, and gave the law, came to earth, lived the law in his own life, that he might live it in our lives. He said, “Follow me,” “Keep the commandments.” His beloved disciple said, “He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked.” Jesus said, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.”

Does the Lord Mean What He Says?

If he does not in precept and example, does he in promise? If we will not to do his word, will he perform in us and to us his promises? Can we hope in one and ignore the other? These are vital questions. Christian brother and sister, how will you answer them?