Our Bible Reading

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Dec 17, 1912

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 39, No. 49.

Our Bible Reading

A Godly Life

1. What is God's object concerning His children? "YE shall be HOLY; for I JEHOVAH your God am HOLY." Lev. 19: 2.

2. How is the same thought and standard expressed in the New Testament? "But like as HE who called you is HOLY, be YE YOURSELVES also HOLY in ALL MANNER OF LIVING; because it is written, YE SHALL BE HOLY; FOR I AM HOLY." 1 Peter 1: 15, 16.

3. How is the duty of man expressed? "This is the end of the matter; all hath been heard; FEAR GOD, AND KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS; for this is the WHOLE DUTY of man. For God will bring every work into judgment, with every hidden thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil." Eccl. 12: 13, 14. "Howbeit if ye fulfil the royal law, according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well: but if ye have respect of persons, ye commit sin, being convicted by the law as transgressors. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is become guilty of all. For He that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou dost not commit adultery, but killest, thou art become a transgressor of the law. So SPEAK YE, and so DO, as men that are to be judged by a law of liberty." James 2: 8-12.

4. But as man is a sinner, what is the purpose of God's grace? "For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God [did by], sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: that the ordinance ["requirement," "righteousness"] of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." Rom. 8: 3, 4.

5. As God requires love, and the sinner does not naturally love God, what provision has He made for this? "The LOVE OF GOD hath been shed abroad in our hearts through the HOLY SPIRIT which was given unto us." Rom. 5: 5.

6. Having in our hearts the love of God, what will we do? "For THIS is the LOVE OF GOD, that we KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS; and His commandments are not grievous." 1 John 5: 3. "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but FAITH WORKING THROUGH LOVE." Gal. 5: 6.

7. How are the characters of the children of grace described? "Here is the patience of the saints, they that KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD, AND THE FAITH OF JESUS." Rev. 14: 12.