BIBLE READING. Perfection of Character.
By C. P. Whitford
“HOLY,” “holiness”—in their primitive meaning these words imply a separation, or setting apart, from secular and profane uses to sacred and divine uses—the comparative freedom from sin which results from the sanctification of the human heart, as in the case of Christians. Heb. 3:1; Col. 3:12. 1. What is the character of God’s law?—“Wherefore the law is holy.” Rom. 7:12. 2. What is the character of God?—“Be ye holy; for I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:16. 3. As God is holy, and His law is holy, then is not the law a transcript of His character? 4. What are we commanded to follow?—“Follow . . . holiness.” Heb. 12:14. 5. As God and His law are both alike in character,—both are holy,—can we follow holiness and not follow the law? 6. To be like God and like a law that is holy is to be like them in what?—It is to be like them in character. If two things are alike, to be like one is to be like the other. 7. Is holiness necessary to salvation?—“Without which no man shall see the Lord.” Heb. 12:14. Holiness is a Bible doctrine. Angels were cast out of heaven because of sin, or unholiness. Eze. 28:16. Will anything be taken back that is sinful, or unholy?—No. Matt. 5:8; Rev. 21:27. 8. What other attribute is given to the law of God?—“Righteousness.” Ps. 119:172. 9. Is God also righteous?—“Gracious is the Lord, and righteous.” Ps. 11:7; 116:5. “There is no unrighteousness in Him.” Ps. 92:15. 10. Is it necessary for us to have righteousness?—“Seek righteousness: . . . it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord’s anger.” Zeph. 2:3. 12. Does the Lord expect us to be perfect?—“Be ye therefore perfect.” Matt. 5:48. 13. How perfect?—Just as perfect in our sphere as our Father in heaven is in His; just as perfect as the law of our Father in heaven, which is like Him in character. 14. We have found that the law is holy, and righteous, and perfect. God is also holy, and righteous, and perfect; and we are required to be holy, and righteous, and perfect. 15. Some say they are holy and righteous of themselves. To what does the Lord compare such righteousness?—To filthy rags. Isa. 64:6. 16. According to the standard of the Ten Commandments, are any righteous by nature? Rom. 3:10, 19, 23. 17. Not having any righteousness of our own, whose righteousness do we need?—God’s righteousness. Matt. 6:33. What is God’s righteousness? Ps. 119:172. 19. If we could obtain righteousness from the law, what would it frustrate?—It would frustrate the favor of God. Gal. 2:21. 20. What is said of those who seek to become righteous through the law?—“Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified [or seek for justification because of good works] by the law; ye are fallen from grace.” Gal. 5:4. 21. Does justification come, then, as a result of our works?—No, indeed (Rom. 3:20); but from a faith which works. Gal. 5:6. Anything called faith which does not work the works of God is not faith. To believe in God is to work the works of God. John 6:28, 29. A righteous man does righteousness. 1 John 3:7. This is not to make himself righteous; for we have learned that no man is made righteous by the law (Gal. 3:11), but he bears the fruit of righteousness because he has been made righteous. 24. Shall we continue to sin, or continue to transgress the law, because the law will not say to us, You are all right? Gal. 2:17. 25. Whose right-doing does the law represent?—God’s. 26. How many think they can do things as nearly right as God can? 27. How great is the difference between our way of doing things and God’s way?—The difference is as great as the heavens are higher than the earth. Isa. 55:8, 9. 28. Do we belong to ourselves?—“For ye are bought with a price.” 1 Cor. 6:19, 20. 31. What besides us did He purchase at His death? Gal. 1:3, 4. He “gave himself for our sins”—for our unrighteousness. Shall we deliver over to the Lord that which is His own? 32. Before we can give up sin and ourselves to the One to whom we and our sins belong, what is first necessary?—We must become reconciled to God through the death of His Son. Rom. 5:10. 33. Does the death of His Son save us?—No; it only reconciles us to God so we are willing to give ourselves and our sins to the Lord. Rom. 5:10. But in the giving of ourselves and our sins to the Lord, we are accepting Him; and when we have Him with us, we have all there is in Him. 1 Cor. 1:30; Isa. 54:17. And what is there in Him?—“The Lord is righteous in all His ways, and holy in all His works.” Ps. 145:17. 35. What was His life? John 15:10. From infancy to the grave He lived a life of perfect obedience to the law of God. Consequently, as the law is holy and righteous and perfect, in Him there is holiness and righteousness and perfection; and having Him, we have all there is in Him, and this is how we are holy and righteous and perfect, even as our Father in heaven is perfect. 36. What will witness to this holiness and righteousness and perfection?—“The law and the prophets.” Rom. 3:20, 21. 37. How are they obtained? Vs. 22-28; 4:3-5.