Bible Readings for the Home Circle Part 156

16. Who does Christ say will be blessed through the prophecies of the book of Revelation?

"Blessed is _he that readeth_, and _they that hear_ the words of this prophecy, _and keep those things which are written therein_." Rev. 1:3.

NOTE.-We are in the last days, in the generation that is to hear the final warning message contained in this book. See Rev.

14:6-10; 18:1-5. Those who accept this message are described as keeping the commandments of G.o.d and the faith of Jesus. See Rev.

12:17; 14:12; 22:14; and readings on pages 251-263. Now especially this book should be studied.

17. May those who have once been led of G.o.d, be rejected by Him on account of unbelief?

"I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, _afterward destroyed them that believed not_." Jude 5.

18. Upon what condition only may we be made partakers of Christ?

"For we are made partakers of Christ, _if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end_." Heb. 3:14. See Matt. 10: 22; 24:12, 13; Heb. 10:35-39.

Walk in the light! so shalt thou know That fellows.h.i.+p of love His Spirit only can bestow Who reigns in light above.

Walk in the light! and thou shalt own Thy darkness pa.s.sed away; Because that light on thee hath shone In which is perfect day.

Walk in the light! and e'en the tomb No fearful shade shall wear; Glory shall chase away its gloom, For Christ hath conquered there.

Walk in the light! and thine shall be A path, though th.o.r.n.y, bright; For G.o.d, by grace, shall dwell in thee, And G.o.d Himself is light.

BERNARD BARTON.

Saving Faith

[Ill.u.s.tration.]

Jesus Walking On The Sea. "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of G.o.d." Rom. 10:17.

1. What is faith?

"Faith is the _substance_ [margin, _ground_, or _confidence_] of things hoped for, the _evidence_ of things not seen." Heb. 11:1.

2. How important is faith?

"_Without faith it is impossible to please Him_: for he that cometh to G.o.d must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him." Verse 6.

3. How only can we truly know G.o.d?

"Neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, _and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal Him_." Matt. 11:27.

4. In whom must we believe in order to be saved?

"For G.o.d so loved the world, that He gave _His only begotten Son_, that whosoever believeth in _Him_ should not perish but have everlasting life."

John 3:16.

5. What challenge does the apostle James make as to the evidence that one has genuine faith?

"Show me thy faith _without_ thy works, and I will show thee my faith _by_ my works." James 2:18.

6. How did Abraham show that he had perfect faith in G.o.d?

"Was not Abraham our father justified by works, _when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar_? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and _by works was faith made perfect_?" Verses 21, 22.

7. By what practical example does the apostle ill.u.s.trate the difference between genuine, living faith, and a dead faith?

"If a brother or sister be naked, and dest.i.tute of daily food, and one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?" Verses 15, 16.

8. How necessary are works in maintaining living faith?

"But wilt thou know, O vain man, that _faith without works is dead_?...

For _as the body without the spirit_ [margin, _breath_] _is dead, so faith without works is dead also_." Verses 20-26.

NOTES.-The apostle was not here arguing for justification or salvation by faith _and_ works, but for a living faith-a faith _that_ works.

"There are two errors against which the children of G.o.d-particularly those who have just come to trust in His grace-especially need to guard. The first ... is that of looking to their own works, trusting to anything they can do, to bring themselves into harmony with G.o.d. He who is trying to become holy by his own works in keeping the law, is attempting an impossibility. All that man can do without Christ is polluted with selfishness and sin. It is the grace of Christ alone, through faith, that can make us holy. The opposite and no less dangerous error is that belief in Christ releases men from keeping the law of G.o.d; that since by faith alone we become partakers of the grace of Christ, our works have nothing to do with our redemption....

Obedience-the service and allegiance of love-is the true sign of disciples.h.i.+p.... Instead of releasing man from obedience, it is faith, and faith only, that makes us partakers of the grace of Christ, which enables us to render obedience. We do not earn salvation by our obedience; for salvation is the free gift of G.o.d, to be received by faith. But obedience is the fruit of faith....

That so-called faith in Christ which professes to release men from the obligation of obedience to G.o.d, is not faith, but presumption."-_"__Steps to Christ,__"__ pages 64-66._

Says Luther: "If Christ alone takes away sin, we cannot do so by all our works. But good works follow redemption as surely as fruit appears upon a living tree."-_D'Aubigne's __"__History of the Reformation,__"_ book 2, chap. 6.

9. What does the hope of salvation lead one to do?

"And every man that hath this hope in Him _purifieth himself_, even as He is pure." 1 John 3:3.

10. Upon what condition are we made partakers of Christ?

"For we are made partakers of Christ, _if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end_." Heb. 3:14.

11. Upon what conditions has G.o.d promised us cleansing and the forgiveness of our sins?

"But _if we walk in the light_, as He is in the light, we have fellows.h.i.+p one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.... _If we confess our sins_, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:7-9.