He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth.
He who keeps instruction is in the way of life, while he who refuses reproof errs and wanders from that path. Keeping instruction is remaining in the healthful way of righteousness by keeping God's law, which leads to life, whereas sin as transgression of the law leads to disease and death. That way of life is found in believing the gospel and accepting Christ as Saviour, for he bore the penalty of sin and is the only way to eternal life. It is a way of peace and rest, yet it demands self-denial in Christ's footsteps through opposition and suffering unto immortality in God's everlasting kingdom. Therefore instruction must be heeded and loving reproof willingly received as a kindness that corrects wrong and removes sin from the character, for God chastens to save from sin and call sinners to turn and live, not to cause pain.
Instruction Is Life's Way
He who keeps instruction is in the way of life, while he who refuses reproof errs and goes astray from that path. To accept and hold to instruction and correction is to walk in the way of life and remain on the right path, and to reject it is to leave that path for error.
Keeping instruction is staying in the healthful, normal way of righteousness, which is keeping the law that comprehends all righteousness, and God's instruction and law lead to life. Life is found alone in that way of righteousness, and to keep instruction is to stay in that healthful, normal way of life.
Righteousness leads to life, while sin and unrighteousness, which is transgression of the law, lead to death. To refuse instruction and walk in sin is to walk in the opposite of life, which is disease ending in death. Man would never have died if he had continued to obey God, but by sinning he lost life, because sin brings death.
This way of life is the way of righteousness, peace, and rest, though it can be difficult and demands a life of self-denial marked by Christ's footsteps. Living by God's Word even through self-denial, opposition, and suffering leads ultimately to immortality in God's everlasting kingdom, for righteousness is life.
Walking in righteousness and right doing is traveling that way of life, which is found in believing the gospel and accepting Christ as Saviour. Christ bore sin's penalty, and those who accept him are given eternal life, for Christ is the only way to salvation.
Receiving Loving Reproof
Keeping instruction puts a person in the way of life, while refusing reproof causes him to err and go astray from the right path. Giving heed to instruction is important, and submission to correction is necessary in order to remain on that path. Learning under chastening and improving through correction is the way to stay there, receiving divine instruction and learning from reproofs so as to benefit from counsel given for one's needs. Reproof is therefore to be received willingly rather than rejected, and loving chastisement is to be received rather than resisted, for friendly correction is valuable.
Praise and flattery are sweet to the human heart, which is loath to accept reproof. Yet God as creator and governor of the universe and disposer of human destinies rewards piety and punishes evil, so flattery and praise are not to be chosen in place of willingly received correction. Reproof is a kindness because it corrects wrongdoing and helps remove sin from the character. Accepting it even when it is painful is wiser than rejecting it, and a person should remain willing to hear correction from God's Spirit and from a faithful friend.
God reproves and chastens to save people from sin and greater suffering, not to cause pain or to satisfy anger. His loving correction keeps those who accept it in the way of life, while refusing it leads astray into error. In that correction he calls sinners to turn and live.
He who keeps instruction is in the way of life, while he who refuses reproof errs and wanders from that path. Keeping instruction is remaining in the healthful way of righteousness by keeping God's law, which leads to life, whereas sin as transgression of the law leads to disease and death. That way of life is found in believing the gospel and accepting Christ as Saviour, for he bore the penalty of sin and is the only way to eternal life. It is a way of peace and rest, yet it demands self-denial in Christ's footsteps through opposition and suffering unto immortality in God's everlasting kingdom. Therefore instruction must be heeded and loving reproof willingly received as a kindness that corrects wrong and removes sin from the character, for God chastens to save from sin and call sinners to turn and live, not to cause pain.
Instruction Is Life's Way
He who keeps instruction is in the way of life, while he who refuses reproof errs and goes astray from that path. To accept and hold to instruction and correction is to walk in the way of life and remain on the right path, and to reject it is to leave that path for error.
Keeping instruction is staying in the healthful, normal way of righteousness, which is keeping the law that comprehends all righteousness, and God's instruction and law lead to life. Life is found alone in that way of righteousness, and to keep instruction is to stay in that healthful, normal way of life.
Righteousness leads to life, while sin and unrighteousness, which is transgression of the law, lead to death. To refuse instruction and walk in sin is to walk in the opposite of life, which is disease ending in death. Man would never have died if he had continued to obey God, but by sinning he lost life, because sin brings death.
This way of life is the way of righteousness, peace, and rest, though it can be difficult and demands a life of self-denial marked by Christ's footsteps. Living by God's Word even through self-denial, opposition, and suffering leads ultimately to immortality in God's everlasting kingdom, for righteousness is life.
Walking in righteousness and right doing is traveling that way of life, which is found in believing the gospel and accepting Christ as Saviour. Christ bore sin's penalty, and those who accept him are given eternal life, for Christ is the only way to salvation.
Receiving Loving Reproof
Keeping instruction puts a person in the way of life, while refusing reproof causes him to err and go astray from the right path. Giving heed to instruction is important, and submission to correction is necessary in order to remain on that path. Learning under chastening and improving through correction is the way to stay there, receiving divine instruction and learning from reproofs so as to benefit from counsel given for one's needs. Reproof is therefore to be received willingly rather than rejected, and loving chastisement is to be received rather than resisted, for friendly correction is valuable.
Praise and flattery are sweet to the human heart, which is loath to accept reproof. Yet God as creator and governor of the universe and disposer of human destinies rewards piety and punishes evil, so flattery and praise are not to be chosen in place of willingly received correction. Reproof is a kindness because it corrects wrongdoing and helps remove sin from the character. Accepting it even when it is painful is wiser than rejecting it, and a person should remain willing to hear correction from God's Spirit and from a faithful friend.
God reproves and chastens to save people from sin and greater suffering, not to cause pain or to satisfy anger. His loving correction keeps those who accept it in the way of life, while refusing it leads astray into error. In that correction he calls sinners to turn and live.