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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:  http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/ipb-e/ipbe-home.html
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