Our Bible Reading

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Jul 11, 1911

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 38, No. 27.

Our Bible Reading

Man as a Sinner

NOTE.—Our last Bible reading was “Man as Created.” He came from the hands of his Creator a perfect physical being, a perfect mental machine, a perfect candidate for immortality. Had he proved faithful he would have formed an incorruptible character, and the incorruptible character would have demanded an immortal man; but he failed. The choice rested with him, and he made the wrong choice. Choosing righteousness, he would have chosen life; choosing his own way, which is always a perversion of God's way, he chose sin and death.

1. What is sin?

Sin is the transgression of the law. 1 John 3: 4.

2. By what law is the knowledge of sin?

Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. Rom. 7: 7.

The ten commandment law is the only law which declares, “Thou shalt not covet.”

3. When man sinned, to what did he become subject?

In the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. Gen. 2: 17.

Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned. Rom. 5: 12.

4. In what condition did this leave man?

Having no hope, and without God in the world. Eph. 2: 12.

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. Rom. 3: 23.

5. Is it not possible for man to help others to salvation?

None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him. Ps. 49: 7.

6. In what alone, then, is the hope of the sinner?

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3: 16.