Bible Readings for the Home Circle
Chapter 101 : 3. How comprehensive are these commandments?"Fear G.o.d, and keep His commandment

3. How comprehensive are these commandments?

"Fear G.o.d, and keep His commandments: for _this is the whole duty of man_." Eccl. 12:13.

4. What inspired tribute is paid to the law of G.o.d?

"_The law of the Lord is perfect_, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is _sure_, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are _right_, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is _pure_, enlightening the eyes." Ps. 19:7, 8.

5. What blessing does the psalmist say attends the keeping of G.o.d's commandments?

"Moreover by them is Thy servant warned: and _in keeping of them there is great reward_." Verse 11.

6. What did Christ state as a condition of entering into life?

"If thou wilt enter into life, _keep the commandments_." Matt. 19:17.

7. Can man of himself, unaided by Christ, keep the law?

"I am the vine, ye are the branches: he that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for _without Me ye can do nothing_."

John 15:5. See also Rom. 7:14-19.

8. What provision has been made so that we may keep G.o.d's law?

"For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, G.o.d sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." Rom.

8:3, 4.

9. What is the nature of G.o.d's law?

"For we know that _the law is spiritual_: but I am carnal, sold under sin." Rom. 7:14.

NOTE.-In His comments on the sixth and seventh commandments, recorded in Matt. 5:21-28, Christ demonstrated the spiritual nature of the law, showing that it relates not merely to outward actions, but that it reaches to the thoughts and intents of the heart. See also Heb. 4:12. The tenth commandment forbids l.u.s.t, or all unlawful desire. Rom. 7:7. Obedience to this law, therefore, requires not merely an outward compliance, but genuine heart service. This can be rendered only by a regenerated soul.

10. How is the law further described?

"Wherefore the law is _holy_, and the commandment _holy_, and _just_, and _good_." Verse 12.

11. What is revealed in G.o.d's law?.

"And knowest _His_ [_G.o.d's_] _will_, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law." Rom. 2:18.

12. When Christ came to this earth, what was His att.i.tude toward G.o.d's will, or law?

"Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of Me, _I delight to do Thy will, O My G.o.d: yea, Thy law is within My heart_."

Ps. 40:7, 8. See Heb. 10:5, 7.

13. Who did He say would enter the kingdom of heaven?

"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_." Matt. 7:21.

14. What did He say of those who should break one of G.o.d's commandments, or should teach men to do so?

"Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, _he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven_." Matt. 5:19, first part.

15. Who did He say would be called great in the kingdom?

"But _whosoever shall do and teach them_, the same shall be called great in the kingdom." Same verse, last part.

16. How did Christ estimate the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees?

"For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, _ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven_." Verse 20.

17. For what did Christ reprove the Pharisees?

"But He answered and said unto them, _Why do ye also transgress the commandment of G.o.d by your tradition?_" Matt. 15:3.

18. How had they done this?

"For G.o.d commanded, saying, Honor thy father and mother.... But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, ... and honor not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of G.o.d of none effect by your tradition." Verses 4-6.

19. In consequence of this, what value did Christ place upon their wors.h.i.+p?

"But _in vain they do wors.h.i.+p Me_, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." Verse 9.

20. What is sin declared to be?

"Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for _sin is the transgression of the law_." 1 John 3:4.

21. By what is the knowledge of sin?

"For _by the law is the knowledge of sin_." Rom. 3:20. See Rom. 7:7.

22. How many of the commandments is it necessary to break in order to become a transgressor of the law?

"For _whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all_. For He that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, and yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law." James 2:10, 11.

NOTE.-This shows that the ten commandments are a complete whole, and together const.i.tute but one law. Like a chain of ten links, all are inseparably connected together. If one link is broken, the chain is broken.

23. How may we be freed from the guilt of our sins, or our transgressions of G.o.d's law?

"_If we confess our sins_, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9.

24. Why are we admonished to fear G.o.d and keep His commandments?

"Fear G.o.d, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

_For G.o.d shall bring every work into judgment_, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil." Eccl. 12:13, 14.