BIBLE STUDY: CHAP.103 -- THE AUTHOR OF LIBERTY

Chapter 103.
The Author of Liberty
1. HOW is the bondage of Israel in Egypt described?
"And the children of Israel ________________ by reason of the bondage, and they ________________, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage." Ex. 2:23. Compare with James 5:1-4.
2. Who heard their groaning?
"__________ heard their groaning, and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob." Verse 24.
3. What did God say to Moses?
"Now therefore, behold, __________________________: and ________________ ____________________. Come now therefore, ________________________, that thou mayest ________________________________." Ex. 3:9,10.
4. In giving Israel His law, how did God describe Himself?
"I am the Lord thy God, which have _______________________________." Ex. 20:2.
5. What provision did God make against slavery and oppression in Israel?
"And if thy brother, an Hebrew man, or an Hebrew woman, be sold unto thee, and serve thee six years; then ___________________________ from thee. And when thou sendest him out free from thee, ___________________________: thou shalt furnish him liberally out of thy flock, and out of thy floor, and out of thy wine-press: of that wherewith the Lord thy God hath blessed thee thou shalt give unto him. And ___________________________________, and the Lord thy God redeemed thee: therefore I command thee this thing today." Deut. 15:12-15. "__________________: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt." Ex. 22:21. See 2 Cor. 1:3,4.
6. What was one reason assigned why Israel should keep the Sabbath?
"And remember _____________________________, and that the Lord thy God brought thee out thence through a mighty hand and by a stretched-out arm: ______________________________________." Deut. 5:15.
NOTE.-This would suggest the idea that in their servitude and oppression in Egypt they had had difficulty regarding the observance of the Sabbath, which is a fact. From the accusation brought against Moses and Aaron by Pharaoh, as recorded in Ex. 5:5,- "Ye make them rest [Heb., Shabbath] from their burdens,"- it is plain that the Sabbath had been denied them, that they had been required to work on the Sabbath, and that Moses and Aaron were teaching them to keep it. Where individual rights and religious liberty are recognized, Sabbath observance is neither denied nor required by civil law.
7. What proclamation was to be made throughout the land of Israel every fifty years?
"And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and ________________________________: it shall be a jubilee unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family." Lev. 25:10.
8. Because Israel failed to do this, became oppressive, and disregarded and misused the Sabbath, what did God do?
"Therefore thus saith the Lord; Ye have not harkened unto Me, in proclaiming liberty, every one to his brother, and every man to his neighbor: behold, I proclaim a liberty for you, saith the Lord, to the _____________, to the ____________, and to the ____________; and _______________________________." Jer. 34:17. See also Jer. 17:24-27; 2 Chron. 36:19-21.
9. What fault did God find with the way in which Israel came to celebrate her fasts and seasons of worship?
"Behold, in the day of your fast ye ______________________, and ____________. Behold, ye fast for _______and _________, and __________________." Isa. 58:3,4.
10. What does God set forth as the acceptable fast to Him?
"Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to _________________________________, and that ye _______________? Is it not to _____________________, and that thou _________________________? when thou seest the naked, that thou ____________; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?" Verses 6, 7.
NOTE.-All this shows that God loves liberty, and hates bondage and oppression.
11. What was Christ's mission to this world?
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He hath anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He hath sent Me to ___________ the broken-hearted, to _________________ to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to ___________________________them that are bruised." Luke 4:18.
NOTE.-The Gospels show that a large part of Christ's time even on the Sabbath was devoted to relieving the oppressed and distressed.
12. In what condition are those who commit sin? "Whosoever committeth sin is _________________________." John
8:34.
13. Why was Christ's name to be called Jesus?
"And thou shalt call His name Jesus: __________________________." Matt. 1:21.
14. What lies at the root of all sin?
"When _____________ hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin." James 1:15. " I had not known ________, except the law had said, Thou shalt not __________." Rom. 7:7.
NOTE.-Lust, covetousness, and unlawful desire are only different names for selfishness. Selfishness lies at the root of all sin; and selfishness is simply the love of self to the disregard of the equal rights of others.
15. By what scripture is the equality of rights clearly shown?
"Thou shalt love thy neighbor as ___________." Lev. 19:18.
16. What rule of conduct has Christ laid down in harmony with this command?
"Whatsoever _________________________________________." Matt. 7:12.
NOTE.-Selfishness, then, must be uprooted from men's hearts before they will recognize the equal rights of their fellow men.

17. Who alone can cleanse men's hearts from selfishness?
"Neither __________________________________________." Acts 4:12. See also 1 John 1:9.
18. Who alone, then, can give men real freedom?
"_______________ therefore shall make you free, ye shall be ___________." John 8:36.
19. What was Christ's attitude toward unbelievers?
"If any man hear My words, and believe not, I ________________________: for I came not to _____________the world, but to ___________ the world." John 12:47.
20. What spirit did Christ say should control His disciples?
"But Jesus called them to Him, and saith unto them, Ye
know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise ____________ over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. But ______________: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your ____________: and whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be ______________. For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many." Mark 10:42-45.
21. What is present where the Spirit of the Lord is?
"Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is ________." 2 Cor. 3:17.
22. What kind of worship only is acceptable to God?
"But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father _____________________: for the Father seeketh such to worship Him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth." John 4:23,24.
________________________________________
FREEDOM and reason make brave men;
Take these away, what are they then?-
Mere groveling brutes, and just as well
The beasts may think of heaven or hell.
Know, then, that every soul is free
To choose his life, and what he'll be;
For this eternal truth is given:
That God will force no man to heaven.
He'll call, persuade direct him right,
Bless him with wisdom, love, and light,
In nameless ways be good and kind,
But never force the human mind.

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