Chapter 31.
The Obedience of Faith
1. WHAT did the Lord command Abraham to do?
"Now the Lord had said unto Abram, _____________________________, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, _______________________." Gen. 12:1.
2. How did Abraham respond to this command?
"____________________, as the Lord had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran." Verse 4.
3. Of what was Abraham's obedience the fruit?
"By ___________ Abraham, when he was called, obeyed to go out unto a place which he was to receive for an inheritance: and he went out, not knowing whither he went." Heb. 11:8, R.V.
4. What command did the Lord later give to Abraham?
"And He said, ______________________________, ____________, and get thee into the land of Moriah; _______________________________ upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of." Gen. 22:2.
5. Upon what ground were the previous promises then renewed to Abraham?
"And said, By Myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for ______________________ __________________________________: that in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the seashore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the world be blessed; _________________________." Verses 16-18.
6. What enabled Abraham to endure the test?
"By ___________Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son." Heb. 11:17.
7. Of what were the works of Abraham an evidence?
"Was not Abraham our father _____________ by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?" James 2:21.
8. By his works what was shown to be perfect?
"Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, _____________________________?" Verse 22.
9. In what statement of the scripture was Abraham's obedience really implied?
"And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, _____________________, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God." Verse 23.
10. What kind of faith avails with God?
"For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but ________________________." Gal. 5:6.
NOTE.-The faith which justifies, is the faith which works. Those who say, and do not, are not men of faith. The obedience which is pleasing to God is the fruit of that faith which takes God at His word, and submits to the working of His power, being fully assured that what He has promised He is able also to perform. This is the faith which is reckoned for righteousness. See Rom. 4:21,22.
11. For what purpose is the mystery of the gospel made manifest?
"But now [the mystery] is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations ___________________________________________." Rom. 16:26.
12. For what purpose is the grace of Christ received?
"Through whom we have received grace and apostleship,_______________________ among all nations, for His name's sake." Rom. 1:5. R.V.
13. What example of obedience has Christ set for us?
"And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and _______________." Phil. 2:8.
14. At what cost did even He learn the lesson of obedience?
"Though He were a Son, yet ___________________________________." Heb. 5:8.
15. To whom did Christ become the author of salvation?
"And being made perfect, He became the author of eternal salvation ____________________________________________________." Verse 9.
16. How complete should this obedience be?
"Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and ____________________________________." 2 Cor. 10:5.
17. What effect did the preaching of the apostles have upon the hearers?
"And the word of God increased; and _________________________ in Jerusalem greatly; __________________________________________________.” Acts 6:7.
18. What effect did the preaching of the apostle Paul have upon the Gentiles?
"For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, _____________________________________, by word and deed." Rom. 15:18.
19. How highly does God regard obedience?
"And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, _________________________________." 1 Sam. 15:22.
20. With what sins are rebellion and stubbornness classed?
"For rebellion is as ________________________, and stubbornness is as __________ and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, He hath also rejected thee from being king." Verse 23.
21. Whose voice had more weight with Saul than had the commandment of God?
"And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord, and thy words: because ______________________________." Verse 24.
22. What charge did Jesus bring against the Pharisees?
"And He said unto them, Full well _____________________________________." Mark 7:9.
NOTE.-Human tradition is simply the voice of man preserved in the church. To follow the traditions of men instead of obeying the commandments of God is to repeat the sin of Saul.
23. What will be the fate of those who do not obey the gospel of Christ?
"And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire ______________________________." 2 Thess. 1:7,8.
24. What condition is attained in obeying the truth?
"Seeing ye have __________________________________ through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently." 1 Peter 1:22.
25. What promise is made to the obedient?
"If ye be willing and obedient, ____________________________________." Isa. 1:19.
26. Whose example are we urged to imitate?
"That ye be not slothful, but followers of them ___________________________." Heb. 6:12.
________________________________________
To obey is better than sacrifice, the Lord hath said;
To harken when He commandeth, than an offering made.
All ye who say, "There is naught to do since Christ doth save,"
Remember what He commands you in the Book He gave.
Remember only the doers of the word are blessed;
'Tis well to hear and believe it, but to do is best.
F. E. BELDEN.
Copyright © 2003-2008
www.preparingforeternity.com
All rights reserved.
Friday, August 15, 2008
BIBLE STUDY -- CHAP. 30 -- PRESENT TRUTH
Chapter 30.
Present Truth
1. BY what are men sanctified?
"Sanctify them ______________: Thy word is truth. John 17:17.
2. To what knowledge would God have all men come?
"Who will have all men to be saved, and ______________________." 1 Tim. 2:4.
3. After receiving a knowledge of the truth, what must one do in order to be sanctified by it?
"God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and __________________." 2 Thess. 2:13.
4. And what besides a mere belief in the truth is necessary?
"Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, __________________." 1 Peter 1:2.
5. What effect does obedience to the truth have?
"Seeing __________________________________ through the Spirit." Verse 22.
6. How should the truth ever be cherished?
"Buy the truth, and __________________." Prov. 23:23.
NOTE.-That is, buy the truth at whatever sacrifice or cost, and sell it under no consideration.
7. Does the Bible recognize what may be called "present truth"?
"Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the ______________." 2 Peter 1:12.
NOTE.-Some truths are applicable in all ages, and are therefore present truth for every generation; others are of a special character, and are applicable to only one generation. They are none the less important, however, because of this; for upon their acceptance or rejection depends the salvation or loss of the people of that generation. Of this kind was Noah's message of a coming flood. To the generation to whom it was preached that message was present truth; to later generations it has been past truth, and not a present, testing message. Similarly, had the first advent message of John the Baptist, of the Messiah at hand, been proclaimed in the generation either before or after John's time, it would not have been applicable - would not have been present truth. The people of the generation before would not have lived to see it fulfilled, and to those living after, it would have been wrongly timed. Not so with general truths, such as love, faith, hope, repentance, obedience, justice, and mercy. These are always in season, and of a saving nature at all times. Present truths, however always include all these, and hence are saving in character, and of vital importance.
8. What was the special message for Noah's day?
"And God said unto Noah, _______________________ before Me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, _____________________________." Gen. 6:13,14.
9. How did Noah show his faith in this message?
"________________________________________________________________ to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith." Heb. 11:7.
10. How many were saved in the ark?
"The long-suffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, _____________________________." 1 Peter 3:20.
NOTE.-Doubtless many who were lost in the flood held, in a nominal way, to faith in God; but the test as to the genuineness of this came with Noah's special message; and the difference between their faith and his was made plain when they rejected the saving truth for that time, - the warning message concerning the coming flood.
11. What special message was given to Jonah for Nineveh?
"So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. . . . And Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey, and he cried, and said, _______________________________________________." Jonah 3:3,4.
12. What saved the people from the predicted overthrow?
"So the people of Nineveh ______________________, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them. . . . And God saw their works, that _____________________________; and God repented of the evil, that He had said that He would do unto them; and He did it not." Verses 5-10. See Jer. 18:7-10.
NOTE.-So likewise would God have spared the antediluvian world had they received Noah's message, and turned from their evil ways.
13. What was the special mission of John the Baptist?
"There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, _________________________, that all men through Him might believe." John 1:6,7.
14. What answer did he return when asked concerning his mission?
"He said, ___________________________________________________." Verse 23.
15. What did Christ say of those who rejected John's message?
"But the Pharisees and lawyers _____________________________, being not baptized of him." Luke 7:30.
16. What did those do who were baptized of John?
"And all the people that heard Him, and the publicans, ________________, being baptized with, the baptism of John." Verse 29.
NOTE.-That is, they honored God by this act, which showed their faith in His truth for that time.
17. Did God's chosen people receive Christ when He came?
"He came unto His own, and ____________________________________." John 1:11.
18. What reason did they give for not receiving Him?
"We know that God spake unto Moses: ________________________________." John 9:29.
NOTE.-That was the trouble; they had no faith in anything new. They knew that God spoke by Moses: it required little faith to believe that. They felt perfectly safe in accepting him, for everything had demonstrated that he was sent of God. All could see that. But here was One whom, although He had come in fulfillment of the prophecies of Moses and the prophets as their long-looked-for Messiah, they felt there was a risk in accepting, because they did not understand the prophecies relating to Him, and time had not worked out to their satisfaction the truthfulness of His claims. It required too much faith, as against their desire to walk by sight, to accept Christ. It also called for a change of views in some things, and a reformation in life. So they rejected Him. They believed in the flood, faith in which had saved Noah; they believed in Elijah also, and professed faith in all the prophets; but when it came to this special truth for their time, they refused to accept it. Thus it has been in all ages, and thus we may expect it to continue to be to the end.
19. How did Christ say those who rejected Him reasoned?
"Ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchers of the righteous, and say, ___________________________________________________." Matt. 23:29,30.
NOTE.-While they condemned the action of their fathers in slaying the prophets whom God had sent with messages of reproof and warning applicable to those times, they soon filled up the measure of the iniquity of their fathers by putting to death the Son of God. This showed that they would have done as did their fathers had they lived in their day. Thus we see that present truths are testing truths.
20. What was the result of the Jews' not accepting Christ?
"And when He was come near, He beheld the city, and wept over it, saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but ___________________________." Luke 19:41,42. "Behold, your house is left unto you ______________." Matt. 23:38.
21. Is there to be a special message for the last days?
"Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. ____________________________, whom his Lord hath made ruler over his household, ___________________?" Matt. 24:44,45.
NOTE.-In the last days a message will go forth which will be "meat in due season" to the people. This must be the warning concerning the Lord's soon coming, and the preparation necessary to meet Him. Because, such a message was not always preached, is no evidence that it is not now to be proclaimed. In his farewell address to the Pilgrim Fathers on their departure from Holland for America, John Robinson said: "The Lord knoweth whether I shall ever see your faces more; but whether the Lord bath appointed that or not, I charge you before God and His blessed angels to follow me no farther than I have followed Christ. If God should reveal anything to you by any other instrument or His, be as ready to receive it as you ever were to receive any truth by my ministry; for I am very confident that the Lord hath more truth and light yet to break forth out of His Holy Word. For my part, I cannot sufficiently bewail the condition of the Reformed churches, who are come to a period in religion, and will go no farther than the instruments of their reformation. The Lutherans cannot be drawn to go any farther than what Luther saw; and the Calvinists, you see, stick fast where they were left by that great man of God, who yet saw not all things. This is a misery much to be lamented; for though they were burning and shining lights in their time, yet they penetrated not into the whole counsel of God, but were they now living, would be as willing to embrace further light as that which they first received."
22. What does Christ say of that servant who, when He comes, is found giving "meat in due season"?
"_______________is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing." Verse 46.
NOTES.-The coming of Christ in glory has been the hope of the faithful in all ages.
• Luther declared: "I persuade myself verily, that the day of judgment will not be absent full three hundred years. God will not, cannot, suffer this wicked world much longer. The great day is drawing near in which the kingdom of abominations shall be overthrown."
• Melanchthon said: "This aged world is not far from its end."
Calvin bade Christians "not to hesitate, ardently desiring the day of Christ's coming as of all events most auspicious;" and declared that "the whole human family of the faithful will keep in view that day." "We must hunger after Christ, we must seek, contemplate," he adds, "till the dawning of that great day, when our Lord will fully manifest the glory of His kingdom."
• Said Knox, the Scotch Reformer: "Has not our Lord Jesus carried up our flesh into heaven? and shall He not return? We know that He shall return, and that with expedition."
• Ridley and Latimer, who laid down their lives for the truth, looked in faith for the Lord's coming. Ridley wrote: "The world without doubt - this I do believe, and therefore I say it - draws to an end."
• Said Baxter: "The thoughts of the coming of the Lord are most sweet and joyful to me. It is the work of faith and the character of His saints to love His appearing, and to look for that blessed hope."
23. What will be the burden of the closing gospel message?
"Fear God, and _______________; for the hour of His judgment is come: and ____________________________________, and the fountains of waters. . . . Babylon is fallen, is fallen. . . . If any ____________________________________ ____________________________________.”Rev. 14:7-10.
24. How are those described who accept this message?
"Here is ________________________: here are they that __________________________________________________--." Verse 12.
25. How earnestly is this work to be prosecuted?
"And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, _________________________________, that my house may be filled." Luke 14:23.
NOTE.- This work is now going on. In every part of the world the sound of this closing gospel message is being heard, and the people are being urged to accept it, and to prepare for Christ's coming and kingdom. See readings in Chapters 56, 57, and 58 of this book.
Copyright © 2003-2008
www.preparingforeternity.com
All rights reserved.
Present Truth
1. BY what are men sanctified?
"Sanctify them ______________: Thy word is truth. John 17:17.
2. To what knowledge would God have all men come?
"Who will have all men to be saved, and ______________________." 1 Tim. 2:4.
3. After receiving a knowledge of the truth, what must one do in order to be sanctified by it?
"God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and __________________." 2 Thess. 2:13.
4. And what besides a mere belief in the truth is necessary?
"Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, __________________." 1 Peter 1:2.
5. What effect does obedience to the truth have?
"Seeing __________________________________ through the Spirit." Verse 22.
6. How should the truth ever be cherished?
"Buy the truth, and __________________." Prov. 23:23.
NOTE.-That is, buy the truth at whatever sacrifice or cost, and sell it under no consideration.
7. Does the Bible recognize what may be called "present truth"?
"Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the ______________." 2 Peter 1:12.
NOTE.-Some truths are applicable in all ages, and are therefore present truth for every generation; others are of a special character, and are applicable to only one generation. They are none the less important, however, because of this; for upon their acceptance or rejection depends the salvation or loss of the people of that generation. Of this kind was Noah's message of a coming flood. To the generation to whom it was preached that message was present truth; to later generations it has been past truth, and not a present, testing message. Similarly, had the first advent message of John the Baptist, of the Messiah at hand, been proclaimed in the generation either before or after John's time, it would not have been applicable - would not have been present truth. The people of the generation before would not have lived to see it fulfilled, and to those living after, it would have been wrongly timed. Not so with general truths, such as love, faith, hope, repentance, obedience, justice, and mercy. These are always in season, and of a saving nature at all times. Present truths, however always include all these, and hence are saving in character, and of vital importance.
8. What was the special message for Noah's day?
"And God said unto Noah, _______________________ before Me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, _____________________________." Gen. 6:13,14.
9. How did Noah show his faith in this message?
"________________________________________________________________ to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith." Heb. 11:7.
10. How many were saved in the ark?
"The long-suffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, _____________________________." 1 Peter 3:20.
NOTE.-Doubtless many who were lost in the flood held, in a nominal way, to faith in God; but the test as to the genuineness of this came with Noah's special message; and the difference between their faith and his was made plain when they rejected the saving truth for that time, - the warning message concerning the coming flood.
11. What special message was given to Jonah for Nineveh?
"So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. . . . And Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey, and he cried, and said, _______________________________________________." Jonah 3:3,4.
12. What saved the people from the predicted overthrow?
"So the people of Nineveh ______________________, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them. . . . And God saw their works, that _____________________________; and God repented of the evil, that He had said that He would do unto them; and He did it not." Verses 5-10. See Jer. 18:7-10.
NOTE.-So likewise would God have spared the antediluvian world had they received Noah's message, and turned from their evil ways.
13. What was the special mission of John the Baptist?
"There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, _________________________, that all men through Him might believe." John 1:6,7.
14. What answer did he return when asked concerning his mission?
"He said, ___________________________________________________." Verse 23.
15. What did Christ say of those who rejected John's message?
"But the Pharisees and lawyers _____________________________, being not baptized of him." Luke 7:30.
16. What did those do who were baptized of John?
"And all the people that heard Him, and the publicans, ________________, being baptized with, the baptism of John." Verse 29.
NOTE.-That is, they honored God by this act, which showed their faith in His truth for that time.
17. Did God's chosen people receive Christ when He came?
"He came unto His own, and ____________________________________." John 1:11.
18. What reason did they give for not receiving Him?
"We know that God spake unto Moses: ________________________________." John 9:29.
NOTE.-That was the trouble; they had no faith in anything new. They knew that God spoke by Moses: it required little faith to believe that. They felt perfectly safe in accepting him, for everything had demonstrated that he was sent of God. All could see that. But here was One whom, although He had come in fulfillment of the prophecies of Moses and the prophets as their long-looked-for Messiah, they felt there was a risk in accepting, because they did not understand the prophecies relating to Him, and time had not worked out to their satisfaction the truthfulness of His claims. It required too much faith, as against their desire to walk by sight, to accept Christ. It also called for a change of views in some things, and a reformation in life. So they rejected Him. They believed in the flood, faith in which had saved Noah; they believed in Elijah also, and professed faith in all the prophets; but when it came to this special truth for their time, they refused to accept it. Thus it has been in all ages, and thus we may expect it to continue to be to the end.
19. How did Christ say those who rejected Him reasoned?
"Ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchers of the righteous, and say, ___________________________________________________." Matt. 23:29,30.
NOTE.-While they condemned the action of their fathers in slaying the prophets whom God had sent with messages of reproof and warning applicable to those times, they soon filled up the measure of the iniquity of their fathers by putting to death the Son of God. This showed that they would have done as did their fathers had they lived in their day. Thus we see that present truths are testing truths.
20. What was the result of the Jews' not accepting Christ?
"And when He was come near, He beheld the city, and wept over it, saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but ___________________________." Luke 19:41,42. "Behold, your house is left unto you ______________." Matt. 23:38.
21. Is there to be a special message for the last days?
"Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. ____________________________, whom his Lord hath made ruler over his household, ___________________?" Matt. 24:44,45.
NOTE.-In the last days a message will go forth which will be "meat in due season" to the people. This must be the warning concerning the Lord's soon coming, and the preparation necessary to meet Him. Because, such a message was not always preached, is no evidence that it is not now to be proclaimed. In his farewell address to the Pilgrim Fathers on their departure from Holland for America, John Robinson said: "The Lord knoweth whether I shall ever see your faces more; but whether the Lord bath appointed that or not, I charge you before God and His blessed angels to follow me no farther than I have followed Christ. If God should reveal anything to you by any other instrument or His, be as ready to receive it as you ever were to receive any truth by my ministry; for I am very confident that the Lord hath more truth and light yet to break forth out of His Holy Word. For my part, I cannot sufficiently bewail the condition of the Reformed churches, who are come to a period in religion, and will go no farther than the instruments of their reformation. The Lutherans cannot be drawn to go any farther than what Luther saw; and the Calvinists, you see, stick fast where they were left by that great man of God, who yet saw not all things. This is a misery much to be lamented; for though they were burning and shining lights in their time, yet they penetrated not into the whole counsel of God, but were they now living, would be as willing to embrace further light as that which they first received."
22. What does Christ say of that servant who, when He comes, is found giving "meat in due season"?
"_______________is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing." Verse 46.
NOTES.-The coming of Christ in glory has been the hope of the faithful in all ages.
• Luther declared: "I persuade myself verily, that the day of judgment will not be absent full three hundred years. God will not, cannot, suffer this wicked world much longer. The great day is drawing near in which the kingdom of abominations shall be overthrown."
• Melanchthon said: "This aged world is not far from its end."
Calvin bade Christians "not to hesitate, ardently desiring the day of Christ's coming as of all events most auspicious;" and declared that "the whole human family of the faithful will keep in view that day." "We must hunger after Christ, we must seek, contemplate," he adds, "till the dawning of that great day, when our Lord will fully manifest the glory of His kingdom."
• Said Knox, the Scotch Reformer: "Has not our Lord Jesus carried up our flesh into heaven? and shall He not return? We know that He shall return, and that with expedition."
• Ridley and Latimer, who laid down their lives for the truth, looked in faith for the Lord's coming. Ridley wrote: "The world without doubt - this I do believe, and therefore I say it - draws to an end."
• Said Baxter: "The thoughts of the coming of the Lord are most sweet and joyful to me. It is the work of faith and the character of His saints to love His appearing, and to look for that blessed hope."
23. What will be the burden of the closing gospel message?
"Fear God, and _______________; for the hour of His judgment is come: and ____________________________________, and the fountains of waters. . . . Babylon is fallen, is fallen. . . . If any ____________________________________ ____________________________________.”Rev. 14:7-10.
24. How are those described who accept this message?
"Here is ________________________: here are they that __________________________________________________--." Verse 12.
25. How earnestly is this work to be prosecuted?
"And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, _________________________________, that my house may be filled." Luke 14:23.
NOTE.- This work is now going on. In every part of the world the sound of this closing gospel message is being heard, and the people are being urged to accept it, and to prepare for Christ's coming and kingdom. See readings in Chapters 56, 57, and 58 of this book.
Copyright © 2003-2008
www.preparingforeternity.com
All rights reserved.
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