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Date: Thu, 28 Sep 1995 09:03:46 +0100
Reply-To: Christian explanation of the Scriptures to Israel
Sender: Christian explanation of the Scriptures to Israel
From: Teus Benschop
Subject: Catechism, 36
To: Multiple recipients of list CHR-EXP
Q. Can they, who are converted to God, perfectly keep the law?
A. Not at all; but even the most holy men, as long as they are in this
life, have only a small beginning of this obedience; yet so, that they
with a sincere resolution begin to live not only according to some, but
according to all the commandments of God, as they also constantly pray
to God that they may daily increase therein.
It was said in one of the previous questions and answers, that he, who
is converted to God, begins to keep the law. It may be asked now, if he
perfectly can keep the law, or if he does it imperfectly. Can they, who
are converted to God, perfectly keep the law? The answer is: No, not at
all. We begin to keep the law, but we are far from doing it perfectly.
They who are converted, as long as they are in this flesh, they have
only a small beginning of the perfect obedience.
This is not said to give licence to all sins. Maybe there are
people, as soon as they hear that even the believers cannot keep the
law, begin to flatter themselves. Not so, for the believer, though he
cannot keep the law as it ought, yet, he begins with a sincere
resolution to live according to the whole law. He begins not to live
according to some, but according to all commandments of God. And while
doing that, he constantly experiences his fails. These fails sadden him,
since he wished that he was perfect. His daily failing is the reason why
he constantly prays to God, that he may increase in His obedience,
through His power.
Even the most holy man have but a small beginning of the perfect
obedience. James said: "For in many things we offend all." (James 3:2)
We offend all, said James, also the most holy men. And Paul, when
speaking of himself, says: "Not as though I had already attained, either
were already perfect". But he continues saying, that he pursues the
holiness: "but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which
also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:12) He tries to
be perfect, but in this life, he will never attain that. Also John
testifies the same truth: "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive
ourselves, and the truth is not in us." (1 John 1:8) Let nobody then
say, that he keeps the law perfectly, but let any believer say with the
apostles, that they pursue after obedience, and never attain to that in
this life.
He, who is converted to God, tries to keep all the commandments,
though he stumbles daily. He is not like those, who keep one or two
commandments, and make themselves believe that they keep the law. They
select the easiest command, or the command which is in conformance with
their character, and then think to keep the law. But he, who is
converted to God, does it not in this way. He is not selective, so as to
select some commandments, but he tries to keep them all. Daily
experiencing his stumbling therein, he daily humbles himself before God,
and prays for strength. His desire is to become holy, but in this life,
he never becomes so. Since God is holy, he also try to be holy. He knows
what God has said, and has repeated in many places: "Ye shall therefore
be holy, for I am holy." (Leviticus 11:45)
As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former
lusts in your ignorance; but as he which hath called you is holy, so be
ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, Be ye
holy; for I am holy.
1 Peter 1:14-16
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Teus Benschop -- t.benschop@pobox.ruu.nl
Listowner of chr-exp@nic.surfnet.nl
"A Christian explanation of the Scriptures to Israel"
Institute Practical Bible-education
Web: https://christian.net/pub/resources/text/ipb-e/ipbe-home.html
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file: /pub/resources/text/ipb-e/cate: cat-036.txt
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