Bible Readings for the Home Circle Part 28

22. What blessed experience follows upon the acceptance of Christ as our righteousness?

"Therefore being justified by faith, _we have peace with G.o.d_ through our Lord Jesus Christ." Rom. 5:1.

23. What does Christ thus become to the believer?

"For _He is our peace_, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of part.i.tion between us." Eph. 2:14.

24. On what basis is there no possibility of justification for the sinner?

"Therefore _by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight_: for by the law is the knowledge of sin." Rom. 3:20.

25. How does the death of Christ bear testimony to this?

"I do not frustrate the grace of G.o.d: for _if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain_." Gal. 2:21.

26. What is proved by any attempt to be justified by the law?

"_Christ is become of no effect unto you_, whosoever of you are justified by the law; _ye are fallen from grace_." Gal. 5:4.

27. Why did Israel fail to attain unto righteousness?

"But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore? _Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law._ For they stumbled at that stumbling-stone." Rom. 9:31, 32.

28. What is revealed by the law?

"By the law is _the knowledge of sin_." Rom. 3:20

29. What bears witness to the genuineness of the righteousness obtained by faith, apart from the deeds of the law?

"But now the righteousness of G.o.d without the law is manifested, _being witnessed by the law and the prophets_." Verse 21.

30. Does faith set aside the law of G.o.d?

"Do we then make void the law through faith? _G.o.d forbid_: yea, we _establish_ the law." Verse 31.

31. What scripture shows that the righteousness which is received by grace through faith must not be made an excuse for continuing in sin?

"What shall we say then? _Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?

G.o.d forbid._ How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?"

Rom. 6:1, 2.

32. Does faith exclude works?

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

James 2:20.

33. What is the evidence of genuine, living faith?

"Show me thy faith without thy works, and _I will show thee my faith by my works_." Verse 18.

34. What, then, are the visible proofs of genuine justification by faith?

"Ye see then how that by _works_ a man is justified, and not by faith only." Verse 24. See also verse 22.

35. What great exchange has been wrought for us in Christ?

"For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of G.o.d in Him." 2 Cor. 5:21.

NOTE.-Said Luther: "Learn to know Christ and Him crucified. Learn to sing a new song-to despair of your own works, and to cry unto Him, Lord Jesus, Thou art my righteousness, and I am Thy sin. Thou hast taken upon Thee what was mine, and given to me what was Thine; what Thou wast not Thou becamest, that I might become what I was not."-_D'Aubigne's_ "_History of the Reformation_," _book 2, chap. 8_.

Look upon Jesus, sinless is He; Father, impute His life unto me.

My life of scarlet, my sin and woe, Cover with His life, whiter than snow.

Deep are the wounds transgression has made: Red are the stains; my soul is afraid.

O to be covered, Jesus, with Thee, Safe from the law that now judgeth me!

Longing the joy of pardon to know; Jesus holds out a robe white as snow: "Lord, I accept it! leaving my own, Gladly I wear Thy pure life alone."

Reconciled by His death for my sin, Justified by His life pure and clean, Sanctified by obeying His word, Glorified when returneth my Lord.

F. E. BELDEN.

Righteousness And Life

[Ill.u.s.tration.]

The Lord Our Righteousness. "He that hath the Son hath life." 1 John 5:12.

1. What is a.s.sured to the believer in Christ?

"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.

2. What is revealed in the gospel?

"For therein is _the righteousness of G.o.d_ revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith." Rom. 1:17.

3. What has Christ brought to light through the gospel?

"Who hath abolished death, and hath brought _life and immortality_ to light through the gospel." 2 Tim. 1:10.