Bible Readings for the Home Circle Part 31

3. Upon what condition is the crown of life promised?

"_Be thou faithful unto death_, and I will give thee a crown of life."

Rev. 2:10.

4. In whom, and from what time, have we been chosen unto holiness and salvation?

"According as He hath chosen us _in Him_ [_Christ_] _before the foundation of the world_." Eph. 1:4, first part.

5. What is the character of those thus chosen before the foundation of the world?

"That we should be _holy_ and _without blemish_ before Him in love." Same verse, last part, R. V.

6. To what has G.o.d foreordained those who attain to this character?

"Having foreordained us _unto adoption as sons_ through Jesus Christ unto Himself." Verse 5, R. V.

7. According to what does G.o.d call us?

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love G.o.d, to them who are the called _according to His purpose_." Rom. 8:28.

8. According to what have we been predestinated?

"Being predestinated _according to the purpose of Him who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will_." Eph. 1:11.

9. How many does G.o.d desire to be saved?

"_Who will have all men to be saved_, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth." 1 Tim. 2:4.

10. Upon what condition is salvation offered?

"_Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ_, and thou shalt be saved." Acts 16:31.

11. For how long must this faith be preserved in order to bring final salvation?

"_He that shall endure unto the end_, the same shall be saved." Matt.

24:13. See James 1:12; Rev. 2:10.

12. What scripture is sometimes cited as evidence that G.o.d is arbitrary in His dealings with men?

"Therefore hath He mercy on whom He _will_ have mercy, and whom He _will_ He hardeneth." Rom. 9:18.

13. But what other scripture shows with whom G.o.d _wills_ to be merciful, and with whom otherwise?

"With the _merciful_ Thou wilt show Thyself _merciful_; with an _upright_ man Thou wilt show Thyself _upright_; with the _pure_ Thou wilt show Thyself _pure_; and with the _froward_ Thou wilt show Thyself _froward_."

Ps. 18:25, 26. See also Isa. 55:7.

NOTE.-G.o.d wills that men shall be saved. He has foreordained the characters that will ent.i.tle men to salvation, but He does not _compel_ any one to receive Christ, possess this character, and be saved. This is a matter of individual choice. By His mighty acts and judgments in Egypt, G.o.d "hardened Pharaoh's heart." Ex. 7:3, 13, 22. But the same manifestations _softened_ the hearts of others. The difference was in the _hearts_, and in the way G.o.d's message and dealings were received; not in G.o.d. The same sun which melts the wax hardens the clay. Ex. 8:32 says that Pharaoh hardened his own heart.

14. What, on man's part, is essential to salvation?

"_Choose_ ye this day whom ye will serve." Joshua 24:15. "If any man _willeth to do His will_, he shall know of the teaching." John 7:17, R. V.

"_Believe_ on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." Acts 16:31.

"Whosoever _will_, let him take the water of life freely." Rev. 22:17.

NOTE.-A man once wished to join a certain church, but said he could not do so on account of the views this church held on the subject of "election." The minister to whom he was sent for help and enlightenment, failing to make the matter clear, an old colored man, a layman, came to the rescue, and said: "Brother, this is the very easiest thing in the church. You see, it is like this: The votin' is goin' on all the time; and G.o.d, He is votin'

for you; and the devil, he is votin' agin you; and whichever way _you_ vote, that is the way the _election_ goes." Commenting upon this incident, Rev. Wilbur Chapman, the noted evangelist, says: "I have studied theology some myself, and graduated at a theological seminary; but I never got anything quite so good as that."

15. In what fact may every believer rejoice?

"But rejoice _that your names are written in heaven_." Luke 10:20, R. V.

16. Whose names are to be retained in the book of life?

"_He that overcometh_, ... I will not blot out his name out of the book of life." Rev. 3:5.

O, happy day! that fixed my choice On Thee, My Saviour and my G.o.d; Well may this glowing heart rejoice, And tell its raptures all abroad.

'Tis done, the great transaction's done; I am my Lord's, and he is mine; He drew me, and I followed on, Charmed to confess the voice divine.

Now rest, my long-divided heart, Fixed on this blissful center rest; Nor ever from thy Lord depart, With Him of every good possessed.

PHILIP DODDRIDGE.

Bible Sanctification

[Ill.u.s.tration.]

Moses At The Burning Bush. "The place whereon thou standest is holy ground." Ex. 3:5.

1. What inspired prayer sets the standard of Christian experience?

"And the very G.o.d of peace _sanctify you wholly_; and I pray G.o.d your whole _spirit_ and _soul_ and _body_ be preserved _blameless_ unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Thess. 5:23.

2. How necessary is the experience of sanctification?

"Follow after peace with all men, and the sanctification _without which no man shall see the Lord_." Heb. 12:14, R. V.

3. What encouragement is held out as an aid in attaining this experience?