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 God'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 God's law?
"For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God 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 God'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 lust, 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 God's law?
"And knowest His [God'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 attitude toward God'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 God: 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 everyone 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 God'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 God by your tradition?" Matt. 15:3.
18. How had they done this?
"For God 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 God of none
effect by your tradition." Verses 4-6.
19. In consequence of this, what value did Christ place upon their worship?
"But in vain they do worship 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
constitute 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 God's
law?
