Bible Readings for the Home Circle Part 32

"For _this is the will of G.o.d_, even your sanctification." 1 Thess. 4:3.

NOTE.-Whatever is the will of G.o.d concerning us can be realized in our experience if our wills are in harmony with His will. It is therefore a matter of great encouragement to know that our sanctification is included in the will of G.o.d.

4. What distinct purpose did Christ have in giving Himself for the church?

"Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it; _that He might sanctify and cleanse it_ with the was.h.i.+ng of water by the word." Eph. 5:25, 26.

5. What kind of church would He thus be able to present to Himself?

"That He might present it to Himself _a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing_; but that it should be holy and without blemish." Verse 27.

6. In the experience of sanctification, what att.i.tude must one a.s.sume toward the truth?

"G.o.d hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and _belief of the truth_." 2 Thess. 2:13.

7. What instruction shows that sanctification is a progressive work?

"But _grow_ in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." 2 Peter 3:18. See chap. 1:5-7.

8. What description of the apostle Paul's experience is in harmony with this?

"Brethren, _I count not myself to have apprehended_: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, _I press toward the mark_ of the prize of the high calling of G.o.d in Christ Jesus." Phil. 3:13, 14.

9. By what is this cleansing from sin and fitting for G.o.d's service accomplished?

"For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: how much more shall the _blood of Christ_, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to G.o.d, _purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living G.o.d_?" Heb. 9:13, 14. See also chap. 10:29.

10. What change is thus brought about?

"And be not conformed to this world: but _be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind_, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of G.o.d." Rom. 12:2.

11. Can any one boast of sinlessness?

"If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." 1 John 1:8.

12. What are we exhorted by the prophet to seek?

"Seek ye the Lord, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought His judgment; _seek righteousness, seek meekness_: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord's anger." Zeph. 2:3.

13. In whose name should everything be done?

"And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, _do all in the name of the Lord Jesus_." Col. 3:17.

14. In all we do, whose glory should we have in view?

"Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, _do all to the glory of G.o.d_." 1 Cor. 10:31.

15. What cla.s.ses of persons are necessarily shut out of the kingdom of G.o.d?

"For this ye know, that no wh.o.r.emonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of G.o.d." Eph. 5:5. "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of G.o.d? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of G.o.d." 1 Cor. 6:9, 10.

16. What must be crucified and eliminated from our lives if we would be holy?

"Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: for which things' sake the wrath of G.o.d cometh on the children of disobedience." Col. 3:5, 6.

17. When purged from these sins, in what condition is a man, and for what is he prepared?

"If a man therefore purge himself from these, _he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the Master's use, and prepared unto every good work_." 2 Tim. 2:21.

NOTE.-"Sanctification is the term used to describe the work of G.o.d the Holy Ghost upon the character of those who are justified. We are justified in order that we may be sanctified, and we are sanctified in order that we may be glorified. 'Whom He justified, them He also glorified.' Rom. 8:30. The grace of G.o.d is given to make us holy, and so to fit us for G.o.d's presence in eternity; for 'without holiness no man shall see the Lord.' Heb. 12:14."-"_The Catholic Religion_" (_Episcopal_), _by Rev. Vernon Staley, page 327_.

Importance Of Sound Doctrine

[Ill.u.s.tration.]

Ezra Reading The Law. "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." 1 Thess. 5:21.

1. Does it matter what one believes, so long as he is sincere?

"G.o.d hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit _and belief of the truth_." 2 Thess. 2:13.

NOTE.-Doctrine affects the _life_. Truth leads to life and G.o.d; error to death and destruction. No one would think of saying it matters not what _G.o.d_ one wors.h.i.+ps, so long as he is sincere, any more than he would think of saying it matters not what one _eats_ or _drinks_, so long as he _relishes_ what he eats and drinks; or what _road_ he travels, so long as he _thinks_ he is on the right road. Sincerity is a virtue; but it is not the test of sound doctrine. G.o.d wills that we shall know the _truth_, and He has made provision whereby we may know what is truth.

2. Did Joshua think it immaterial what G.o.d Israel served?

"Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve Him in sincerity and in truth: and _put away the G.o.ds which your fathers served on the other side of the flood and in Egypt; and serve ye the Lord_. And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the G.o.ds which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the G.o.ds of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but _as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord_." Joshua 24:14, 15.

NOTE.-The influence of all idolatrous wors.h.i.+p is degrading. See Rom. 1:21-32; Numbers 15; 1 Cor. 10:20; 1 John 5:21.

3. How may we determine the truthfulness of any doctrine?

"_Prove all things_; hold fast that which is good." 1 Thess. 5:21.

4. By what should we test, or prove, all doctrine?

"_To the law and to the testimony_: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." Isa. 8:20.