 
Illustration. Abraham Entering The Promised Land. "By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out ... obeyed." Heb. 11:8. 1. What did the Lord command Abraham to do? “Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will show thee.” Gen. 12:1. 2. How did Abraham respond to this command? “So Abram departed, as the Lord had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.” Verse 4. 3. Of what was Abraham's obedience the fruit? “By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed to go out unto a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.” Heb. 11:8, R. V. 4. What command did the Lord later give to Abraham? “And He said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him therefor a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.” Gen. 22:2. [pg 137]5. Upon what ground were the previous promises then renewed to Abraham? “And said, By Myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: that in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the seashore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the world be blessed; because thou hast obeyed My voice.” Verses 16-18. 6. What enabled Abraham to endure the test? “By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son.” Heb. 11:17. 7. Of what were the works of Abraham an evidence? “Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?” James 2:21. 8. By his works what was shown to be perfect? “Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?” Verse 22. 9. In what statement of the scripture was Abraham's obedience really implied? “And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.” Verse 23. 10. What kind of faith avails with God? “For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.” Gal. 5:6. Note.—The faith which justifies is the faith which works. Those who say, and do not, are not men of faith. The obedience which is pleasing to God is the fruit of that faith which takes God at His word, and submits to the working of His power, being fully assured that what He has promised He is able also to perform. This is the faith which is reckoned for righteousness. See Rom. 4:21, 22. 11. For what purpose is the mystery of the gospel made manifest? “But now [the mystery] is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith.” Rom. 16:26. 12. For what purpose is the grace of Christ received? [pg 138]“Through whom we received grace and apostleship, unto obedience of faith among all the nations, for His name's sake.” Rom. 1:5, R. V. 13. What example of obedience has Christ set for us? “And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” Phil. 2:8. 14. At what cost did even He learn the lesson of obedience? “Though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered.” Heb. 5:8. 15. To whom did Christ become the author of salvation? “And being made perfect, He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him.” Verse 9. 16. How complete should this obedience be? “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” 2 Cor. 10:5. 17. What effect did the preaching of the apostles have upon the hearers? “And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.” Acts 6:7. 18. What effect did the preaching of the apostle Paul have upon the Gentiles? “For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed.” Rom. 15:18. 19. How highly does God regard obedience? “And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to harken than the fat of rams.” 1 Sam. 15:22. 20. With what sins are rebellion and stubbornness classed? “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, He hath also rejected thee from being king.” Verse 23. [pg 139]
Illustration. [pg 140]Ruth And Naomi. "Thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God." Ruth 1:16. 21. Whose voice had more weight with Saul than had the commandment of God? “And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.” Verse 24. 22. What charge did Jesus bring against the Pharisees? “And He said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.” Mark 7:9. Note.—Human tradition is simply the voice of man preserved in the church. To follow the traditions of men instead of obeying the commandments of God is to repeat the sin of Saul. 23. What will be the fate of those who do not obey the gospel of Christ? “And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 2 Thess. 1:7, 8. 24. What condition is attained in obeying the truth? “Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently.” 1 Peter 1:22. 25. What promise is made to the obedient? “If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land.” Isa. 1:19. 26. Whose example are we urged to imitate? “That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” Heb. 6:12. To obey is better than sacrifice, the Lord hath said; To harken when He commandeth, than an offering made. All ye who say, “There is naught to do since Christ doth save,” Remember what He commands you in the Book He gave. Remember only the doers of the word are blessed; 'Tis well to hear and believe it, but to do is best. F. E. Belden. |
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