Bible Readings for the Home Circle Part 12

"For we are His workmans.h.i.+p, _created in Christ Jesus unto good works_, which G.o.d hath before ordained that we should walk in them." Eph. 2:10.

14. Of what great work is the Sabbath both a memorial and a sign?

"_Remember the Sabbath day_, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work: but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy G.o.d: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy man servant, nor thy maid servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: _for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is_, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it." Ex. 20:8-11.

"It is a _sign_ between Me and the children of Israel forever: _for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth_, and on the seventh day He rested, and was refreshed." Ex. 31:17.

15. Inasmuch as creation and redemption are both wrought by the same creative power, of what besides the original creation was the Sabbath given to be a sign?

"Moreover also I gave them My Sabbaths, to be a sign between Me and them, _that they might know that I am the Lord that sanctify them_." Eze. 20:12.

16. Through whose agency is the material universe sustained?

"And He [Christ] is before all things, and in Him all things _hold together_." Col. 1:17, R. V., margin.

17. What statement shows that all things, both material and spiritual, are sustained by the same personal agency?

"But to us there is ... one Lord Jesus Christ, _by whom are all things_, and we by Him." 1 Cor. 8:6.

18. Why is G.o.d worthy to receive glory and honor?

"Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: _for Thou hast created all things_, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created."

Rev. 4:11.

NOTE.-That comparatively modern view of creation known as evolution, which rests upon human research rather than upon divine revelation, and which subst.i.tutes an impersonal force for a personal Creator, overthrows the very foundation of the gospel.

Redemption is simply the new creation, and the Creator is the Redeemer. The Head of the original creation is the Head of the new creation. The original creation was wrought through Christ by the power of the word; the new creation, or redemption, is wrought in exactly the same way. The evolutionary theory of creation inevitably involves an evolutionary theory of the gospel, and sets aside the truth concerning sin, the atoning sacrifice of Christ, and the necessity of becoming new creatures through faith in the saving power of Christ.

O wors.h.i.+p the King, all-glorious above, And gratefully sing His wonderful love; Our s.h.i.+eld and Defender, the Ancient of days, Pavilioned in splendor, and girded with praise!

O tell of His might, and sing of His grace, Whose robe is the light; whose canopy, s.p.a.ce; His chariots of wrath the deep thunder-clouds form, And dark is His path on the wings of the storm!

Thy bountiful care, what tongue can recite?

It breathes in the air, it s.h.i.+nes in the light; It streams from the hills, it descends to the plain, And sweetly distils in the dew and the rain.

Frail children of dust, and feeble as frail; In Thee do we trust, nor find Thee to fail; Thy mercies, how tender! how firm to the end!

Our Maker, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend!

ROBERT GRANT.

The Character And Attributes Of G.o.d

[Ill.u.s.tration.]

The Bow Of Promise. "This is the token of the covenant." Gen. 9:17.

1. In what one word is the character of G.o.d expressed?

"He that loveth not knoweth not G.o.d; for G.o.d is _love_." 1 John 4:8.

2. What are some of the attributes of G.o.d?

"The Lord is _righteous_ in all His ways, and _holy_ in all His works."

Ps. 145:17.

3. Does Christ possess these same attributes?

"By His knowledge shall _My righteous servant_ [Christ] justify many."

Isa. 53:11. "Neither wilt Thou suffer _Thine Holy One_ to see corruption."

Acts 2:27.

4. When proclaiming His name to Moses, how did the Lord define His character?

"And the Lord descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord. And the Lord pa.s.sed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord G.o.d, _merciful_ and _gracious_, _long-suffering_, and _abundant in goodness and truth_, _keeping mercy for thousands_, _forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin_, and that will by no means clear the guilty." Ex. 34:5-7.

5. What is said of the tender compa.s.sion of G.o.d?

"But Thou, O Lord, art a G.o.d _full of compa.s.sion_, and gracious, long-suffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth." Ps. 86:15.

6. What is said of G.o.d's faithfulness in keeping His promises?

"Know therefore that the Lord thy G.o.d, He is G.o.d, _the faithful G.o.d_, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love Him and keep His commandments to a thousand generations." Deut. 7:9.

7. What is said of the strength and wisdom of G.o.d?

"Behold, G.o.d is _mighty_, and despiseth not any: He is _mighty in strength and wisdom_." Job 36:5.

8. What treasures are hid in Christ?

"In whom are hid all the treasures of _wisdom_ and _knowledge_." Col. 2:3.

9. In what language is the justice of G.o.d described?

"He is the Rock, His work is perfect; for _all His ways are judgment_: a G.o.d of truth and without iniquity, _just and right is He_." Deut. 32:4.

10. In what words is His impartiality proclaimed?

"For the Lord your G.o.d is G.o.d of G.o.ds, and Lord of lords, a great G.o.d, a mighty, and a terrible, _which regardeth not persons_, nor taketh reward."

Deut. 10:17. "Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that _G.o.d is no respecter of persons_: but in every nation he that feareth Him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with Him." Acts 10: 34, 35.

11. To how many is the Lord good?