Bible Readings for the Home Circle Part 29

4. How closely are righteousness and life thus united?

"In the way of _righteousness_ is _life_; and in the pathway thereof there is no death." Prov. 12:28.

5. What does he find who follows after righteousness?

"He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth _life_, righteousness, and honor." Prov. 21:21.

6. Through what does grace reign unto eternal life?

"That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign _through righteousness_ unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord." Rom. 5:21.

[Ill.u.s.tration.]

Healing The Lame Man. "In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk." Acts 3:6.

7. What is the very life of the Spirit?

"And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of _righteousness_." Rom. 8:10.

8. What are the commandments of G.o.d declared to be?

"All Thy commandments are _righteousness_." Ps. 119:172.

9. What did Jesus declare G.o.d's commandment to be?

"And I know that His commandment is _life everlasting_." John 12:50.

NOTE.-Life and righteousness are thus shown to be inseparable.

10. What does the prophet Jeremiah declare Christ to be?

"And this is His name whereby He shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS." Jer. 23:6.

11. What does Christ declare Himself to be?

"I am the way, the truth, and the _life_." John 14:6.

12. How is righteousness received?

"For if by one man's offense death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of _the gift of righteousness_ shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ." Rom. 5:17.

13. How is eternal life bestowed?

"For the wages of sin is death; but the _gift_ of G.o.d is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Rom. 6:23.

14. What did Moses set forth as the basis of righteousness?

"And _it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments_ before the Lord our G.o.d, as He hath commanded us." Deut.

6:25.

15. What did Christ indicate as essential to eternal life?

"And He said unto him, Why callest thou Me good? there is none good but one, that is, G.o.d: but _if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments_." Matt. 19:17.

NOTE.-The righteousness of G.o.d, which is obtained by faith in Christ, brings with it the life of G.o.d, which is inseparably connected with righteousness; and the life of G.o.d, which is bestowed upon man as a gift through his faith in Christ, is a life of righteousness,-the righteousness, or right-doing, of Christ.

Consecration

[Ill.u.s.tration.]

The Carpenter's Son. "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus." Phil. 2:5.

1. What offering did King Hezekiah command to be made when he reestablished the wors.h.i.+p of the temple?

"And Hezekiah commanded to offer the _burnt offering_ upon the altar. And when the burnt offering began, the song of the Lord began also with the trumpets, and with the instruments ordained by David king of Israel." 2 Chron. 29:27.

2. After the people had united in this service, how did Hezekiah interpret its meaning?

"Then Hezekiah answered and said, _Now ye have consecrated yourselves unto the Lord_, come near and bring sacrifices and thank-offerings into the house of the Lord. And the congregation brought in sacrifices and thank-offerings; and as many as were of a free heart burnt offerings."

Verse 31.

NOTE.-The morning and the evening burnt offering, or the continual offering (Ex. 29:42), symbolized the daily consecration of the people to the Lord.

3. How is this consecration urged upon all Christians?

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of G.o.d, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto G.o.d, which is your reasonable service." Rom. 12:1.

4. What is the continual sacrifice of praise declared to be?

"Through Him then let us offer up a sacrifice of praise to G.o.d continually, that is, the fruit of lips which make confession to His name." Heb. 13:15, R. V.

5. How is the service of consecration to be carried forward by the Christian church?

"Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, _to offer up spiritual sacrifices_, acceptable to G.o.d by Jesus Christ." 1 Peter 2:5.

6. Who has set the example of complete consecration?