"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost," Matthew 28:19.

2. Before one is baptized, what is necessary for him to do?

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you," Acts 2:38.

3. Toward whom must men repent?

"Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ," Acts 20:21.

4. Why should one repent toward God?

"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God," Romans 3:23.

5. What is sin declared to be?

"Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law," I John 3:4.

6. Of what law is sin the transgression?

"For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments: and His commandments are not grievous," I John 5:3.

7. What does the law first do to the sinner who wishes conversion?

"For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died," Romans 7:9.

8. Why is it necessary for one to die in the sense here represented?

"Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin," Romans 6:6.

9. If one dies, how is he to live again?

"Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him," Romans 6:8.

10. When one is dead with Christ, what should be done with him?

"Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life," Romans 6:4.

11. How is one to be buried in baptism?

"For if we have been planted together in the likeness of His death, we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection," Romans 6:5.

12. For what purpose is one baptized?

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost," Acts 2:38.

13. When baptized into Christ, what does one put on?

"For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ," Galatians 3:27.

14. After Philip had preached "Jesus" to the eunuch, what question did he ask Philip?

"And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?" Acts 8:36.

15. What reply did Philip make?

"And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest," Acts  8:37.

16. In administering this ordinance, where did Philip take the candidate?

"And they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him," Acts 8:38.

NOTE: This is a plain case of immersion.

17. Did Christ come up out of the water after He had been baptized?

"And Jesus, when He was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon Him: and lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is My beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased," Matthew 3:16, 17.

18. How many modes of baptism are recognized in the Bible?

"One Lord, one faith, one baptism," Ephesians 4:5.

19. How many were baptized, and added to the church on the day of Pentecost?

"Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls," Acts 2:41.

20. How many disciples were together on that occasion to engage in the work?

"And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,)" Acts 1:15.

NOTE: Should the query arise, how so many as three thousand could be immersed in one day, it may be met by the fact that so large a number were present to administer the ordinance.

21. After repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ, how long should one wait before being baptized?

"And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord," Acts 22:16.

22. What is necessary before being baptized?

"He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned," Mark 16:16.

23. How many of the jailer’s family were baptized?

"And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway," Acts 16:33.

24. Were all the members of this family old enough to believe?

"And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house," Acts 16: 32, 34.

25. Should both men and women be baptized?

"But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women," Acts 8:12.

26. After being baptized, what should one do?

"If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God," Colossians 3:1.

1. With what striking language does the apostle Peter close his writings?

"But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ," II Peter 3:18.

2. In what way may grace and peace be multiplied to those who believe?

"Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord," II Peter 1:2.

Through what source may we gain this knowledge?

"Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of Me," John 5:39.

4. To whom is God willing to give grace?

"But He giveth more grace. Wherefore He saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble," James 4:6.

5. Since we are told to grow in grace in what way may we make this growth?

"And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity," II Peter 1:5-7.

6. What is said of the person who entertains these things in their life?

"For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ," II Peter 1:8.

7. What is said of those who lack these things?

"But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins," II Peter 1:9.

8. What words of exhortation does the apostle Peter give?

"Wherefore the rather, brethren, give

diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall," II Peter 1:10.

Yes, I hope by God’s great mercy

We may meet, blood washed and white,

To dwell forever in that city

That shall never know no night.

Never hear the voice of weeping,

Never know the parting hand,

Redeemed from former sorrows

Which beset the war cursed land.

Those who came through tribulation

Clothed in white robes then shall be,

Palms within their hands shall carry,

They shall no more sorrow see.

No more heat shall be upon them

Every tear be wiped away,

Dwell forever in the glory

Of that bright eternal day.

—Leota Neal

1. What direction is the righteous given to govern speech?

"Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth," Ephesians 4:29.

"But as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation," I Peter 1:15.

2. What precious promise is written for those who follow these directions?

"To him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God," Psalm 50:23.

3. What is the happy condition of such?

"Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles," Proverbs 21:23.

4. Does it show wisdom sometimes to say nothing?

"Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding," Proverbs 17:28.

5. What influence have kind words, and their opposite over others?

"A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger," Proverbs 15:1.

6. Is there life-giving power in pure

speech?

"A wholesome tongue is a tree of life," Proverbs 15:4.

7. How deeply does the tongue of evil wound?

"There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword," Proverbs 12:18.

8. What scathing words are spoken of the hypocritical tongue, and what sentence pronounced?

"Thou lovest all devouring words, O thou deceitful tongue. God shall likewise destroy thee forever, He shall take thee away, and pluck thee out of thy dwelling-place, and root thee out of the land of the living," Psalm 52:4, 5.

9. Contrast the abiding future of the truthful, with the brief continuance of such as speak falsely.

"The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment," Proverbs 12:19.

10. Are words a sure index of the intents of the heart?

"For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh," Matthew 12:34, last part of verse.

11. What is said of the man who offends not in word?

"If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body," James 3:2.

12. What is said of the professed Christian whose language is unbecoming?

"If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, . . . this man’s religion is vain," James 1:26.

13. Will our words have weight in the judgment?

"For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned," Matthew 12:37.

14. By these forcible scriptures, what startling truth is established?

"Death and life are in the power of the tongue," Proverbs 18:21.

15. What should be the constant prayer of each heart?

"Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my Redeemer," Psalm 19:14.

1. In what way has the Lord spoken of covetousness?

"And He said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth," Luke 12:15.

Covetous—"Inordinately desirous; excessively eager to obtain and possess; avaricious."—Webster.

2. What showed this principle to be strong in the rich man who had already more than he knew how well to take care of?

"And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry," Luke 12:18, 19.

3. But what did God say to him?

"But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be which thou hast provided?" Luke 12:20.

4. What conclusion does the Savior draw from this parable?

"So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God," Luke 12:21.

5. What does the apostle call covetousness?

"Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry," Colossians 3:5.

6. What does he say the things here enumerated have brought upon mankind?

"For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience," Colossians 3:6.

7. What did Judas’s covetousness lead him to do?

"And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went unto the chief priests, to betray Him (Christ) unto them.

And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. And he sought how he might conveniently betray Him," Mark 14:10, 11.

8. How does the Lord regard the covetous man?

"For the wicked boasteth of his heart’s desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the Lord abhorreth," Psalm 10:3.

9. Then can God trust such men to bear responsibilities in His work?

"Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens," Exodus 18:21; see also I Timothy 3:2, 3.

10. What is almost certain to follow the desire to be rich?

"But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition," I Timothy 6:9.

11. Will covetousness be one of the specially prevalent sins of the last days?

"This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers," II Timothy 3:1, 2.

12. What will these selfish ones be doing for themselves?

"Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days," James 5:3.

13. What can one do to eradicate this evil plant from the human heart?

"Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, Who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; . . . that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate," I Timothy 6:17, 18.

14. What effect does it have upon one to give of his means to help the cause of God?

"I have shewed you all things, how that so laboring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He said, It is more blessed to give than to receive," Acts 20:35; see also Proverbs 11:24, 25.

15. To whom does the money we have belong?

"The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine, saith the Lord of hosts," Haggai 2:8.

16. How does God regard the spirit of sacrifice?

"I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well-pleasing to God. But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus," Philippians 4:18, 19.

17. Whom will Christ gather to Himself when He comes?

"He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that He may judge His people. Gather My saints together unto Me; those that have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice," Psalm 50:4, 5.

18. Heaven gave its choicest Treasure to redeem us, I Peter 1:18, 19. Ought we not to partake of the same spirit if we are God’s children?

"And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together," Romans 8:17.

  1. Upon whom did Christ pronounce a blessing?

"Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God," Matthew 5:8.

2. Did He not say the impure mind was a violation of the seventh commandment?

"Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: but I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart," Matthew 5:27, 28.

3. Does not Paul teach the carnal mind to be a violation of all God’s commandments?

"Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be," Romans 8:7.

4. Concerning purity, what words of instruction were given Timothy by the apostle Paul?

"Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partakers of other men’s sins: keep thyself pure," I Timothy 5:22.

5. If we want to purify our lives what must we follow?

"Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart," II Timothy 2:22.

6. To whom are all things pure?

"Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled," Titus 1:15.

7. What are God’s people warned against?

"But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking nor jesting, which are not convenient; but rather giving of thanks," Ephesians 5:3, 4.

8. What are mentioned as works of the flesh?

"Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies," Galatians 5:19-20. See also verse 21.

9. Will those doing such things inherit the kingdom of God?

"They which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God," Galatians 5:21.

10. With whom are we warned not to keep company?

"But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat," I Corinthians 5:11.

11. Why are evil associates to be avoided?

"Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners," I Corinthians 15:33.

12. Instead of sanctioning evil what should we do?

"And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret," Ephesians 5:11, 12.

13. Should we allow corrupt words to pass out of our mouth?

"Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers," Ephesians 4:29.

14. Will the human family be called upon to give an account of the idle words they have been using?

"But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment," Matthew 12:36.

15. Will they be condemned because of the use of idle words?

"For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned," Matthew 12:37.

16. What does the Lord call upon the wicked man to do?

"Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon," Isaiah 55:7.

17. With what should one’s mind be engaged?

"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you," Philippians 4:8, 9.

1. From what source comes the power to get wealth?

"But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is He that giveth thee power to get wealth," Deuteronomy 8:18.

2. How may we honor God?

"Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase," Proverbs 3:9.

3. What caution is given concerning riches?

"If riches increase, set not your heart upon them," Psalm 62:10, last clause.

4. Can riches be to our own hurt?

"There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt," Ecclesiastes 5:13.

5. Give examples of this.

Matthew 19:21, 22; Mark 10:21, 22.

6. Is it easy for the rich to enter the kingdom of God?

"And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto His disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!" Mark 10:23.

7. What charge is given to the rich?

"Charge them that are rich in the world, that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, Who giveth us richly all things to enjoy," I Timothy 6:17.

8. What are they further instructed to do?

"They that do good, they that be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life," I Timothy 6:18, 19.

9. What dangers attend the getting of riches?

"But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition," I Timothy 6:9.

10. What makes rich without adding sorrow?

"The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and He addeth no sorrow with it," Proverbs 10:22.

11. How are true riches obtained?

"By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, and honor, and life," Proverbs 22:4.

12. Does happiness depend on earthly possession?

"And He said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth," Luke 12:15.

13. Will silver or gold be able to deliver in the day of wrath?

"Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the Lord’s wrath," Zephaniah 1:18, first clause. See also Proverbs 11:4.

14. How did Moses esteem the reproach of Christ?

"Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for He had respect unto the recompense of reward," Hebrews 11:26.

15. Mention two classes of rich men.

"There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches," Proverbs 13:7.

16. Give an example of the first class.

Luke 12:16-20.

17. What lesson may we learn from this parable?

"So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God," Luke 12:21.

18. What fearful words are addressed to the rich oppressor?

"Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days," James 5:2, 3.

19. How may the poor of this world be counted rich?

"Hearken, my beloved brethren, hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which He hath promised to them that love Him?" James 2:5.

20. Can we estimate the worth of the eternal inheritance?

"For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what He hath prepared for him that waiteth for Him," Isaiah 64:4.

My gracious Lord, I own Thy right

To every service I can pay

And call it my supreme delight

To hear Thy dictates, and obey.

What is my being but for Thee,—

Its sure support, its noblest end?

‘Tis my delight Thy face to see,

And serve the cause of such a Friend.

I would not sigh for worldly joy,

Or to increase my worldly good;

Nor future days nor powers employ

To spread a sounding name abroad.

‘Tis to my Saviour I would live,—

To Him who for my ransom died;

Nor could all worldly honor give

Such bliss as crowns me at His side.

His work my hoary age shall bless

When youthful vigor is no more;

And my last hour of life confess

His saving love, His glorious power.

1. What duty does God require of children?

"Honor thy father and thy mother," Exodus 20:12.

2. How are parents instructed to teach their children?

"And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up," Deuteronomy 6:6, 7.

3. How does God regard those parents who enforce obedience?

"For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which He hath spoken of him," Genesis 18:19.

4. How should parents train their children?

"Train up [margin, catechize] a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it," Proverbs 22:6; see also Ephesians 6:4.

5. What encouragement have parents to correct their children? Does this result in happiness?

"Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul," Proverbs 29:17; 22:15.

6. What will result if correction is withheld?

"The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame," Proverbs 29:15.

7. By proper correction what profit will come to the child?

"Withhold not correction from the child; for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die. Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell," Proverbs 23:13, 14.

8. Is there danger of delaying correction too long?

"Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying," Proverbs 19:18.

9. Because a parent corrects his child, is it evidence that he does not love him?

"He that spareth his rod hateth his son; but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes," Proverbs 13:24.

10. In correcting the child, what should the father guard against?

"Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged," Colossians 3:21.

11. What consideration should the young ever show to the aged?

"Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man, and fear thy God: I am the Lord," Leviticus 19:32.

12. Is the Lord pleased with children who obey their parents?

"Children, obey your parents in all things; for this is well pleasing unto the Lord," Colossians 3:20.

13. How long does the command to honor parents bind sons and daughters?

"Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old," Proverbs 23:22.

14. What is to be one of the prominent sins of the last days?

"For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy," II Timothy 3:2.

1. In what way should parents train their children?

"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it," Proverbs 22:6.

2. What does Paul say about child training?

"And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord," Ephesians 6:4.

3. How diligently should parents teach their children the ways of God’s word?

"And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up," Deuteronomy 6:6, 7; see Deuteronomy 11:19.

4. What life should we live before the young?

"Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity," I Timothy 4:12.

5. In the commandment what duty does God require of children?

"Honor thy father and thy mother," Exodus 20:12.

6. What promise is made to the child that will honor his or her parents, in the Lord?

"That thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee," Exodus 20:12.

7. In what way did Abraham train his children?

"Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which He hath spoken of him," Genesis 18:18, 19.

8. What is to be one of the prominent sins of the last days?

"For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy," II Timothy 3:2.

9. Should the child honor the old?

"Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honor the face of the old man, and fear thy God: I am the Lord," Leviticus 19:32.

10. What are some good fruits of proper child training?

"Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul," Proverbs 29:17.

11. What will be the result if the child goes uncorrected?

"The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame," Proverbs 29:15.

12. Is there danger of delaying correction too long?

"Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying," Proverbs 19:18.

13. How may the parent show love for the child?

"He that spareth his rod hateth his son; but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes," Proverbs 13:24.

14. Whom does the Lord chasten?

"For whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth," Hebrews 12:6.

15. At what age should one remember their Creator?

"Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them," Ecclesiastes 12:1.

"Honor thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise," Ephesians 6:2.

2. What is the promise connected with that commandment?

"Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee," Exodus 20:12.

3. What promise is made to children if they will hearken to the Lord?

"Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord," Psalm 34:11.

4. What is the fear of the Lord?

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do His commandments," Psalm 111:10.

5. How is a wise child even though poor, regarded by the Lord?

"Better is a poor and a wise child, than and old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished," Ecclesiastes 4:13.

6. What tender words did the Savior speak in behalf of children?

"Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven," Matthew 19:14.

7. What did He do to the children to show that He loved them?

"And He took them up in His arms, put His hands upon them, and blessed them," Mark 10:16.

8. How may all receive the Lord’s blessings now?

"And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive," Matthew 21:22.

9. If children do this, and as they grow older, keep all of God’s commandments, what is promised?

"Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city," Revelations 22:14.

The day is fast approaching,

The time is drawing near,

When the King of kings in righteousness

And glory shall appear.

John saw the holy city,

Descending from the throne,

Prepared by Christ the Savior,

To take His loved ones home.

Oh may we all be ready

With our wedding garments on,

And shout the loud hosanna,

When Christ our Lord shall come.

— Mrs. Lavina Leach

1. What particular temptation is common to all men?

"But every man is tempted, when he is

drawn away of his own lust, and enticed," James 1:14.

2. What other foe does man have to contend with?

"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour," I Peter 5:8.

3. Is there still another obstacle to man’s spiritual advancement?

"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him," I John 2:15.

4. Can any one overcome these enemies in his own strength alone?

"I am the vine, ye are the branches. He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing," John 15:5.

5. What is required on our part if we are kept from our foes?

"Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak," Matthew 26:41.

6. How much should we pray?

"Pray without ceasing," I Thessalonians 5:17.

7. On what occasions did David receive strength and encouragement?

"When I remember Thee upon my bed, and meditate on Thee in the night watches," Psalm 63:6.

8. What did he say of the man who was truly blessed?

"His delight is in the law of the Lord; and in His law doth he meditate day and night," Psalm 1:2.

9. Will such a condition of mind be distasteful to one who really loves God?

"My meditation of Him shall be sweet," Psalm 104:34.

10. How long ought one to continue this constant devotion?

"But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved," Matthew 24:13.

11. What is the special duty of those who live in the time when the Lord’s coming is expected?

"Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is . . . Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch," Mark 13:33-37.

12. As the Lord’s coming draws near, what will make the duty of prayer and watchfulness more imperative?

"Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time," Revelations 12:12.

13. Can we at that time have all the help we desire, to withstand our enemies?

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in My name, He will give it you," John 16:23.

14. If help does not come when it is first asked, what should one do?

"And shall not God avenge His own elect, which cry day and night unto Him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily," Luke 18:7, 8. "Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord," Psalm 27:14.

15. What is promised to those who are found watching when the Lord comes?

"Blessed are those servants, whom the Lord when He cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that He shall gird Himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them," Luke 12:37.

Though the way is rough and thorny

Yet Thou art ever near:

Thine arm of power sustains me,

Thy voice alone can cheer.

Keep me, my Savior, keep me

Close to Thy riven side;

And then I’m safe and happy,

Whatever may betide.

 1. Have we the assurance that we have a prayer hearing, and a prayer answering God?

"And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us: and if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him," I John 5:14, 15.

2. What is said of the prayer of the righteous?

"The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord: but the prayer of the upright is His delight," Proverbs 15:8.

3. What is said of the prayers of those who fight God’s law?

"He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination," Proverbs 28:9.

4. In what way did Daniel seek to understand the dream of King Nebuchadnezzar?

"That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; . . . " Daniel 2:18.

5. Did God hear, and answer the prayer of Daniel, and his fellows?

"Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision," Daniel 2:19.

6. Did Daniel return thanks to God because his prayers had been answered?

"Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven, Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God forever and forever: for wisdom and might are His," Daniel 2:19, 20.

7. While Christ was here upon the earth, was it not His custom to return thanks to God, when his prayers had been answered?

"Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up His eyes, and said, Father, I thank Thee that Thou hast heard Me," John 11:41.

8. What thought does Paul express concerning prayer?

"Pray without ceasing," I Thessalonians 5:17.

9. And also of giving thanks?

"In every thing give thanks," I Thessalonians 5:18.

10. Is it not the will of God that we should do so?

"For this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you," I Thessalonians 5:18.

11. In what way did Elias pray before his prayers were answered?

"Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months," James 5:17.

12. Without faith will God answer prayer?

"But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing from the Lord," James 1:6, 7.

13. What does Christ say regarding the prayer of faith?

"Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them," Mark 11:24.

NOTE: It is clearly set forth in the Bible that one should ask according to the will of God if he expects God to hear and answer his petitions. See I John 5:14, 15; James 4:3; Romans 8:26.

14. Why does James say some prayers remain unanswered?

"Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that you may consume it upon your lusts," James 4:3.

15. When we approach God in prayer through what medium should we come?

"And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him," Colossians 3:17, also see Ephesians 5:20.

NOTE: To those who read, and study this lesson, are these thoughts dedicated. If you want God to hear and answer your prayers you must meet the conditions of the Bible. You must be willing to walk in the light as it comes to you, having an honest heart, always seeking more truth, and be willing to say and do all the Lord requires of you.

Isaiah says in chapter 1:19, "If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land."

Other good thoughts are expressed in Isaiah 55:7; Proverbs 15:8, 9; I John 2:4-6 and I John 3:4-7. These scriptures apply to you. You should take heed and obey.

That calls me from a world of care,

And bids me at my Father’s throne,

Make all my wants and wishes known;

In seasons of distress and grief,

My soul has often found relief;

And oft escaped the tempter’s snare,

By thy return, sweet hour of prayer!

Sweet hour of prayer! Sweet hour of prayer!

Thy wings shall my petition bear,

To Him whose truth and faithfulness

Engage the waiting soul to bless;

And since He bids me seek His face,

Believe His word and trust his grace,

I'll cast on Him my every care,

And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer.

Importance of Prayer

  1. In what places would the apostle have men pray?

"I will therefore that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting," I Timothy 2:8.

2. What is the promise to those who ask and seek for the things they need?

"Every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened," Matthew 7:8.

3. How does the Savior illustrate the willingness of Heaven to grant favors to those who ask?

"If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask Him?" verse 11.

4. Why is it necessary to ask God for all these things?

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with Whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning," James 1:17.

5. In what way does God draw nigh to us?

"Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts ye double minded," James 4:8.

6. How should one pray to God?

"I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also," I Corinthians 14:15.

7. With what should the prayers of the suppliant be mingled?

"Be careful for nothing: but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God," Philippians 4:6.

8. Should one in public repeat certain forms to be heard by men?

"But when ye pray, use not vain repetition, as the heathen do; for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking," Matthew 6:7.

9. What must necessarily accompany one's petition in order to please God?

"But without faith it is impossible to please Him; for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him," Hebrews 11:6.

10. How strong must this faith be?

"Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them," Mark 11:24.

11. When praying for forgiveness, how should one feel toward those who have in any way injured Him?

"And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any; that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses," verse 25.

12. Does it make any difference whether or not this injunction is carried out?

"But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses," verse 26.

13. How should one do when in affliction?

"Is any among you afflicted? let him pray," James 5:13.

14. Should one pray by himself alone?

"But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to Thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly," Matthew 6:6.

15. Was Jesus alone while praying?

"And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, He was there alone," Matthew 14:23.

16. But if it should happen that we were thrown into the presence of those who ridicule prayer or were forbidden to pray, should we give up our customary devotion?

"Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime," Daniel 6:10.

17. How many of Cornelius' family feared God and prayed to Him?

"A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway," Acts 10:2.

18. Did the apostolic believers have gatherings for prayer?

"And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying," Acts 12:12.

19. How often does the apostle exhort the church to pray?

"Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit," Ephesians 6:18.

20. How does he express himself on this point elsewhere?

"Pray without ceasing," I Thessalonians 5:17.

21. In a certain parable concerning an importunate widow who besought an unjust judge to assist her against her enemies, what reason did the judge give for finally heeding her petition?

"Though I fear not god, nor regard man; yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me," Luke 18:4, 5.

22. How does the Savior apply the parable?

"And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. And shall not God avenge His own elect, which cry day and night unto Him, though He bear long with them?" verses 6, 7.

23. What does the Savior conclude in answer to His own question on this point?

"I tell you that He will avenge them speedily," Luke 18:8, first part.

24. But what question does the Savior immediately ask, which shows He felt doubtful that such strong faith would exist when He is about to come?

"Nevertheless, when the Son of man cometh, shall He find faith on the earth?" verse 8, latter part.

25. What is the parable's purpose?

"And He spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint," verse 1.

What is Sin and Who are Sinners?

  1. From a Bible standpoint, who are said to be sinners?

"Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin," John 8:34.

2. In what way does the apostle John speak of the same thing?

"Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law," I John 3:4.

3. What is the Bible definition for the word sin?

"For sin is the transgression of the law," I John 3:4.

4. Of what law is John speaking?

"For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments: and His commandments are not grievous," I John 5:3.

NOTE: By the above scriptures we learn that sin is the transgression of God's law, which was written upon two tables of stone.

5. How far back in the history of the world, was sin the transgression of God's law?

"And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him," Genesis 4:8.

6. Are there then instances where the people committed sin by violating God's law?

"There dwelt men of Tyre also therein, which brought fish, and all manner of ware and sold on the Sabbath unto the children of Juda, and in Jerusalem. Then I contended with the nobles of Juda and said unto them. What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the Sabbath day?" Nehemiah 13:16, 17.

NOTE: By the above scriptures, we learn, that anciently it was sin to violate any of God's commandments. Here we find the fourth, and sixth spoken of, as being sin to violate them.

As God is no respecter of persons, Acts 10:34, He will hold the violators of any of the ten precepts guilty of committing sin, since the "wages of sin is death," Romans 6:23.

7. In Leviticus what is sin said to be?

"Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a soul shall sin through ignorance against any of the commandments of the Lord concerning things which ought not to be done, and shall do against any of them," Leviticus 4:2.

NOTE: The above scripture would imply that one should not violate any of the ten precepts.

8. Is this in harmony with James?

"For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point is guilty of all," James 2:10.

9. Of what law is James speaking?

"For He that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill, Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law," James 2:11.

NOTE: James is talking of the ten precepts, written by God upon two tables of stone, and also, that one is guilty of sin when he violates any one of the ten.

10. How did Christ talk to the woman taken in adultery?

"She said, No man Lord, and Jesus said unto her, neither do I condemn thee: Go, and sin no more," John 8:11.

NOTE: The words, "Go and sin no more," would imply, that she had been committing sin, by violating the commandment which said, "Thou shalt not commit adultery," see Exodus 20:14.

11. By what is the knowledge of sin?

"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," Romans 3:20.

12. By what did Paul gain a knowledge of sin?

"What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet," Romans 7:7. See also Exodus 20:17.

13 What is the strength of sin?

"The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law," I Corinthians 15:56.

14. What does John say of unrighteousness?

"All unrighteousness is sin," I John 5:17.

15. What are the ten commandments declared to be?

"My tongue shall speak of Thy word; for all Thy commandments are righteousness," Psalms 119:172.

NOTE: If all of God's commandments are righteousness, as the Psalmist declares they are, then the opposite would be unrighteousness. Or in other words, if it is righteous not to kill, neither to take God's name in vain, then one would be unrighteous if he would do those things. The same method will apply to each of the ten precepts, the Sabbath command included.

16. By obeying God's law, in what condition will one be?

"The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple," Psalms 19:7.

The Law of God

  1. To what place did the Lord descend when He wrote the ten commandment law on tables of stone?

"And be ready against the third day: for the third day the Lord will come down in the sight of all the people upon Mount Sinai," Exodus 19:11.

2. What extraordinary events happened the third day when God came down upon the mount?

"And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceedingly loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled," Exodus 19:16.

3. What effect did the presence of God have upon Mount Sinai when He descended to give this law?

"And Mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire; and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly," Exodus 19:18.

4. When God had finished talking with Moses upon the mountain, what did He give Moses?

"And He gave unto Moses, when He had made an end of communion with him upon Mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone written with the finger of God," Exodus 31:18.

5. What did Moses do after he received these tables of stone from the hands of God?

"And Moses turned and went down from the mount: and the two tables of testimony were in his hand: the tables were written on both their sides; on the one side and on the other were they written," Exodus 32:15.

6. What further is said of these two tables of stone and of the nature of the writings upon them?

"And the tables were the work of God and the writing was the writing of God, graven upon the tables," Exodus 32:16.

7. How many precepts or commandments were contained in this law which was given to man written with the finger of God?

"And He wrote on the tables, according to the first writing, the ten commandments," Deuteronomy 10:4.

8. What was the nature of these ten commandments, contained in this law of God, and what evils did they forbid man to commit?

The Ten Commandments

1.

"Thou shalt have no other gods before Me,"

2.

"Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love Me, and keep My commandments,"

3.

"Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain,"

4.

"Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work. But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it,"

5.

"Honor thy father and thy mother; that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee,"

6.

"Thou shalt not kill,"

7.

"Thou shalt not commit adultery,"

8.

"Thou shalt not steal,"

9.

"Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor,"

10.

"Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his man-servant, nor his maid-servant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is thy neighbor's," Exodus 20th chapter.

The Two Laws Contrasted

  The following facts show the manifest distinction between the moral and the ceremonial laws:

 Moral Law

1. Was spoken by God. Deuteronomy 4:12.

2. Was written by God on "tables of stone," Exodus 24:12.

3. Was "right," "true," and "good," Nehemiah 9:13.

4. Was a law, "which if a man do, he shall even live in it," Ezekiel 20:11, 13, 21.

5. Was a "perfect" law, Psalms 19:7.

6. Christ did not "come to destroy" it. Matthew 5:17.

7. He came to "magnify" it and make it "honorable," Isaiah 42:21.

8. Every "jot" and "tittle" of this shall stand "till heaven and earth pass" away, Matthew 5:18.

9. Of this, Christ says, "Whosoever, therefore, shall break one of these least commandments . . . shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven," Matthew 5:19.

10. Was a "law of liberty," James 2:12.

11. Is "established" through faith in Christ, Romans 3:31.

12. "Is spiritual," Romans 7:14.

13. Is "holy," and "good," Romans 7:12.

14. Was "written with the finger of God," and is called the "royal law," Exodus 31:18; James 2:8.

15. Was proclaimed by Jehovah Himself "and He added no more," Deuteronomy 5:22.

16. Is the "commandments of God," which are brought to view in the third angel's message (Revelation 14:12), and which will insure to those who observe them a "right to the tree of life," Revelation 22:14.

Ceremonial Law

  1. Was spoken by Moses, Deuteronomy 1:1-6.

2. Was written by Moses "in a book," Deuteronomy 31:24.

3. "Was not good," Ezekiel 20:25.

4. Was a law "whereby they should not live," Ezekiel 20:25.

5. "Made nothing perfect," Hebrews 7:19.

6. He "abolished" it, Ephesians 2:15.

7. He took it "out of the way" at his death. Colossians 2:14.

8. Was only "added till," and passed away, when the Seed came, Galatians 3:19.

9. Of the other, the apostle said, "We gave no such commandment" that ye should "keep the law," Acts 15:24.

10. Was a "yoke of bondage," Galatians 5:1.

11. "Was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ," Galatians 3:24, 25.

12. Is "the law of a carnal commandment," Hebrews 7:16.

13. Is "enmity against us" and "contrary to us," Ephesians 2:15; Colossians 2:14.

14. Was the "handwriting of ordinances," Colossians 2:14.

15. "Was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator," Galatians 3:19.

16. Is "the law of commandments contained in ordinances," Ephesians 2:15, "a shadow of good things to come," Hebrews 10:1, and was disannulled "for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof," Hebrews 7:18.

Importance of Sound Doctrine

  1. Does it make any difference what man believes, if he is only sincere?

"God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth," II Thessalonians 2:13; Joshua 24:14.

2. How may we determine the truthfulness of any doctrine?

"Prove all things; hold fast that which is good," I Thessalonians 5:21; Isaiah 8:20.

3. Upon what foundation should every religious tenet rest?

"And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone," Ephesians 2:20; I Corinthians 3:11.

4. What is mentioned first in the list of those things for which all Scripture is profitable?

"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine," II Timothy 3:16.

5. What advice is given to Timothy while preparing for the gospel ministry?

"Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine . . . Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them," I Timothy 4:13, 16.

6. What remarkable charge is given him as he begins his public work?

"I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom; preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine," II Timothy 4:1, 2.

7. Why is this duty so imperative?

"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables," verses 3, 4.

8. How was Titus instructed to teach and in what was he to be a pattern?

"But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine . . . in all things, shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity," Titus 2:1, 7.

9. What is the power of sound doctrine?

"Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers," Titus 1:9.

10. What danger attends false teaching?

"Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some," II Timothy 2:18.

11. Who are the disciples of Jesus, and what gracious work is wrought for them?

"If ye continue in My word, then are ye My disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free," John 8:31, 32.

12. Through what are they sanctified?

"Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy word is truth," John 17:17.

13. Will God accept the homage of such as deliberately teach contrary to His will?

"But in vain they do worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men," Matthew 15:9.

14. Can we close our ears to the truth, and remain innocent?

"He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination," Proverbs 28:9.

15. To whom will the Lord reveal His will, and lead them into the light?

"If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of Myself," John 7:17, Psalm 25:9, John 8:12.

16. What will be the fate of the spiritually blind teacher, and of those whom he presumes to teach?

"Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch," Matthew 15:14.

17. To whom will the gates of the heavenly city at length be opened?

"Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in," Isaiah 26:22; Revelation 22:14.

Sin Defined

  1. How do we know what sin is?

"What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law," Romans 7:7.

2. To what law did Paul refer?

"For I had not known lust, except the law had said, thou shall not covet," Romans 7:7.

NOTE: Paul referred to the law that said, "Thou shalt not covet," and this commandment is the tenth one of the law of ten commandments, which were spoken by God Himself, and were written by Him on two tables of stone.

3. What does Paul say of the condition of this law?

"Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good," Romans 7:12.

4. Is this a spiritual law?

"For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin," verse 14.

5. What other quality has this law in addition to being "holy, just and good?"

"The law of the Lord is perfect converting the soul," Psalm 19:7.

NOTE: A converted (changed) man will be careful to observe all the precepts of this law, not only in deed, but in thought.

6. What does the wise man tell us is the whole duty of man?

"Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man," Ecclesiastes 12:13.

7. Do we have this perfect law referred to elsewhere in the Bible, and is there a blessing for keeping it?

"But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed," James 1:25.

8. To what law does James refer when speaking of the "law of liberty?"

"For He that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill thou art become a transgressor of the law," James 2:11.

NOTE: God is the one to whom James refers, because He is the one that spake these words.

9. May any of the ten commandments be broken and the violator be guiltless?

"For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all," James 2:10.

10. By what will mankind be judged in the last day?

"So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty," verse 12.

11. What is one step in showing our relation to the law of ten commandments?

Christ, in explaining the precept, "Thou shalt not kill," gives the following instructions. "Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the alter, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the alter, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift," Matthew 5:23, 24.

NOTE: We learn by this that God looks at the intents of our heart, and the thoughts we entertain within our minds. In order to be found guiltless in the eyes of God we must have a pure mind, then our lives will be pleasing in the eyes of God.

12. What does the apostle Paul say of the one who is carnally minded?

"Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be," Romans 8:7.

13. What will be the final end of those who are carnally minded?

"For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace," verse 6.

14. What if one turns away from hearing the law?

"He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination," Proverbs 28:9.

15. What did Christ say in regard to obedience to the ten commandments being necessary to obtain eternal life?

"And, behold, one came and said unto Him, Good Master what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And He said unto him, Why callest thou Me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments," Matthew 19:16, 17.

16. How long was this law to remain in force?

"For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled," Matthew 5:18.

17. As life is conditional upon obedience to the law, what is necessary in order to enter the kingdom of God, besides fellowship with Jesus?

"Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven," Matthew 5:19.

18. What other message did Christ give?

"Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city," Revelation 22:14.

19. What is said of those who hunger and thirst after righteousness?

"Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled," Matthew 5:6.

20. Regarding righteousness, what is said of the law of God?

"My tongue shall speak of Thy word: for all Thy commandments are righteousness," Psalm 119:172.

Some day, some day, some glad sweet day;

I shall with joy His face behold,

Some day shall safe at anchor lay;

Some day shall walk the streets of gold.

The Lord's Day

  1. What does Christ say of the Sabbath?

"And He said unto them, the Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath," Mark 2:27.

2. What distinguishes the seventh day of the week from the six working days?

"And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had made; and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had made," Genesis 2:2.

3. Besides resting on the seventh day, what did God pronounce upon it?

"And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it," verse 3.

4. Why did God bless and sanctify this day?

"Because that in it He rested from all His work which God created and made," verse 3.

NOTE: The Sabbath was a part of creation, by God Himself, blessing, sanctifying and resting upon this particular day, and it stands as a memorial of the great creative work of the first week of time. The only way to change the Sabbath day, is for the creation to be gone through again, and it is not likely that such will ever be the case.

5. Is it possible for anything to be added to, or for anything to be taken from what God has done?

"I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be forever: nothing can be put to it, nor anything taken from it: and God doeth it that men should fear before Him," Ecclesiastes 3:14.

6. Have we any record where the Sabbath was ever kept prior to the giving of the law on Sinai?

"And Moses said, Eat that today; for today is a Sabbath unto the Lord; today ye shall not find it in the field. Six days ye shall gather it; but on the seventh day, which is the Sabbath, in it there shall be none. See, for that the Lord hath [in the past] given you the Sabbath, therefore He giveth you on the sixth day the bread of two days, let no man go out of his place on the seventh day," Exodus 16:25, 26 and 29.

NOTE: These things happened several days prior to the giving of the law on Sinai, and it is a fact that cannot be denied.

7. What law did God give for its observance?

"Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord Thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it," Exodus 20:8-11.

8. What statement is made herein, which has never been made of any other day?

"The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God," verse 10.

9. In what way did the Lord require the Sabbath to be kept?

"Thus saith the Lord; take heed to yourselves, and bear no burden on the Sabbath day, nor bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem; neither carry forth a burden out of your houses on the Sabbath day, neither do ye any work, but hallow ye the Sabbath day, as I commanded your fathers," Jeremiah 17:21, 22.

10. How does Isaiah tell us to keep the Sabbath?

"If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on My Holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honorable; and shalt honor Him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words," Isaiah 58:13.

11. What is said of the person that keeps the Sabbath?

"Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it; that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil," Isaiah 56:2.

12. What is said of the Gentiles that keep the Sabbath?

"Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the Lord, to serve Him, and to love the name of the Lord, to be His servants, every one that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of My covenant; Even them will I bring to My holy mountain, and make them joyful in My house of prayer," Isaiah 56:6, 7.

13. What did the Lord say the Sabbath would be between Him and His people?

"I am the Lord your God; walk in My statues, and keep My judgments, and do them: and hallow My Sabbaths: and they shall be a sign between Me and you, that ye may know that I am the Lord your God," Ezekiel 20:19, 20.

14. What was Christ's attitude toward the Sabbath?

"And He came to Nazareth where He had been brought up: and, as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up for to read," Luke 4:16.

15. How was Christ connected with the Sabbath day?

"Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the Sabbath," Mark 2:28.

16. What work is permissible on the Sabbath?

"And He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself. And when Jesus saw her, he called her to Him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity; And He laid His hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God," Luke 13:10-13.

17. In Matthew, how does Christ express the same thought?

"And behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked Him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath days? that they might accuse Him. And He said unto them, What man shall there be among you that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the Sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out? How much then is a man better than a sheep? wherefore it is lawful to do well on the Sabbath days," Matthew 12:10-12.

NOTE: Or in other words, it is right and proper to do works of charity to aid the sick and suffering, and even perform acts of mercy in relieving the suffering of animals on that day when necessity demands it.

Some day full soon, sweet Eden's bowers;

May burst upon my raptured sight,

And I shall see the glory land:

Bathed in the Lamb's eternal light.

For He who braved the storm king's wrath;

And stilled the waves of Galilee;

Will safely guide my storm tossed bark,

Across life's dark tempestuous sea.

And though it hath been well revealed;

Where heaven's gold paved highways be;

I know that I shall one day dwell;

With Him whose blood was shed for me.

_ Elder Lewis Buchtel

I love the holy Sabbath day

It does me good to rest

I know I then my Lord obey

Because that day he blest.

And oh, the language is so plain

That all may understand,

Why is it people will not see

And keep this great command?

And Jesus taught the people once

That they should surely pray,

That their flight be not in winter

Neither on the Sabbath day;

For they must leave Jerusalem,

And to the mountains flee

When the cruel Roman army came

To take them all away.

Sabbath Observance

  1. In the beginning what was upon the face of the deep?

"And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters," Genesis 1:2.

2. Since darkness covered the deep, how came the light?

"And God said, Let there be light," Genesis 1:3.

3. What was the result?

"And there was light," Genesis 1:3.

4. After light had been brought about what great work did God perform?

"And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness," Genesis 1:4.

5. What name was given the light, and also the darkness?

"And god called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night," Genesis 1:5.

6. By adding the darkness and the light together what do they make?

"And the evening [dark] and the morning [light] were the first day," Genesis 1:5.

7. What words of Christ would teach that it takes both darkness and the light to make one day as set apart by God?

"And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny Me thrice," Mark 14:30.

8. Have we any proof that these things happened in the dark part of the day?

"He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night," John 13:30.

NOTE: Here we have two statements proving beyond any question of doubt that the night is included in the day, or in other words, it takes both darkness and light to make one complete day, and that this is what God had reference to when He said, "The evening and the morning were the first day,"

9. According to the Bible when does the evening begin?

"But at the place which the Lord thy God shall choose to place his name in, there thou shalt sacrifice the passover at even, at the going down of the sun, at the season that thou camest forth out of Egypt," Deuteronomy 16:6.

10. Upon one occasion, at what time of day were the sick brought to Christ?

"And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto Him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils," Mark 1:32.

NOTE: These scriptures, as well as many others teach, that the going down of the sun is the beginning of the evening, as well as the beginning of the day.

11. Do we find other scriptures teaching the going down of the sun to be the beginning of the evening?

Answer. Yes, Please read the following Scriptures: II Chronicles 18:34; Numbers 9:21; Leviticus 22:6,7; Deuteronomy 23:11; Judges 14:12-18.

12. Concerning the beginning of the Sabbath what does Nehemiah say?

"And it came to pass, that when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the Sabbath, I commanded that the gates should be shut, and charged that they should not be opened till after the Sabbath: and some of my servants set I at the gates, that there should no burden be brought in on the Sabbath day," Nehemiah 13:19.

13. Which day of the week is the Sabbath day?

"But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God," Exodus 20:10.

14. When does this day commence, and at what time does it close?

"From even unto even, shall ye celebrate your Sabbath," Leviticus 23:32, last part of verse.

15. For how long did God say they should keep the Sabbath?

"Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations for a perpetual covenant," Exodus 31:16.

16. What does Christ say of breaking the commandments?

"Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven," Matthew 5:19.

"Whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all," James 2:10.

The Crime of the Dark Ages

  1. According to the prophet, what was to be the attitude of Christ toward His Father's law?

"The Lord is well pleased for His righteousness' sake; He will magnify the law, and make it more honorable," Isaiah 42:21.

2. According to Christ, would any part of the law be done away?

"For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled," Matthew 5:18.

NOTE: Since we find the heaven and earth here yet, we are compelled to admit that the law of God is yet binding upon the human family, and according to Christ, it will be so long as the heaven and earth are here. These words are in accordance with the prophet when he said, "He will magnify the law and make it honorable,"

3. In connection with the four universal empires as they are pictured to us by the prophet Daniel, what power would arise?

"I considered the horns and behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots; and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things," Daniel 7:8.

4. What would be one part of the work this power would carry out?

"I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them," verse 21.

NOTE: This power is recognized to be the Papacy, or Rome in its Papal form. The Papacy truly made war on the people of God to the extent of nearly sixty million suffered death in all ways possible for them to be put to death.

5. What other noted work would this power think to do?

"And he shall speak great words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and think to change times and laws; and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time," verse 25.

6. What power claims to have changed the law of God?

Answer: The Papacy.

7. What part of the law of God has the Papacy thought to change?

Answer: The fourth, or Sabbath commandment.

NOTE: This power has thought to change a commandment given by God Himself, and one that Christ said would last so long as the heavens and the earth were here.

8. By whom, and in what year do we find the first Sunday law of history?

Answer: By Constantine, and in the year 321 A.D.

9. What does the Encyclopedia Britannica say of the first Sunday law?

"The earliest recognition of the observance of Sunday as a legal duty is a constitution of Constantine in 321 A.D., enacting that all courts of justice, inhabitants of towns, and workshops were to be at rest on Sunday (venerable day of the sun) with an exception in favor of those engaged in agricultural labor," Encyclopedia Britannica, art. Sunday.

10. What do other works say of the same power, and its relation to the institution of Sunday as a rest day?

"Constantine the Great made a law for the whole empire (A.D. 321) that Sunday should be kept as a day of rest in all cities and towns; but he allowed the country people to follow their work," Encyclopedia American, art. Sabbath.

11. What did Constantine's law require?

"Let all judges and town people, and the occupation of all trades rest on the venerable day of the sun; but let all those who are situated in the country, freely and at full liberty attend to the business of agriculture; because it often happens that no other day is so fit for sowing corn and planting vines; lest, the critical moment being let slip, men should lose the commodities granted by Heaven."

12. Does the Papacy acknowledge that it has changed the Sabbath?

Answer: It does.

"Question: How prove you that the church hath power to command feasts and holy days?"

"Answer: By the very act of changing the Sabbath into Sunday, which protestants allow of; and therefore they fondly contradict themselves by keeping Sunday strictly, and breaking most other feast days commanded by the same church," Abridgment of Christian Doctrine, by Rev. Henry Tuberville, D.D., of Douay College, France (1649), page 58.

"Question: Have you any other way of proving that the church has power to institute festivals of precept?"

"Answer: Had she not such power, she could not have done that in which all modern religionists agree with her, she could not have substituted the observance of Sunday, the first day of the week, for the observance of Saturday, the seventh day, a change for which there is no scriptural authority," A Doctrinal Catechism, by Stephen Keenan, page 174.

The Catholic Church of its own infallible authority created Sunday a holy day to take the place of the Sabbath of the old law. Kansas City Catholic, February 9, 1893.

"The Catholic Church . . . by virtue of her divine mission, changed the day from Saturday to Sunday," Catholic Mirror, Official organ of Cardinal Gibbons, September 23, 1893.

"Question: Which is the Sabbath day?"

"Answer: Saturday is the Sabbath day,"

"Question: Why do we observe Sunday instead of Saturday?"

"Answer: We observe Sunday instead of Saturday because the Catholic Church, in the Council of Laodicea (A.D. 336) transferred the solemnity from Saturday to Sunday," The Converts Catechism of Catholic Doctrine, by Peter Gelermann, C. SS. R., page 50, third edition, 1913, a work which received the "apostolic blessing' of Pope Pius X, January 25, 1910.

What was done at the council of Laodicea was but one of the steps by which the change of the Sabbath was effected. This we learn to be a fact from the standpoint of their own works as well as from other sources.

13. Do Catholic authorities acknowledge that there is no command in the Bible for the sanctification of Sunday?

Answer: They do.

NOTE: "You may read the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, and you will not find a single line authorizing the sanctification of Sunday. The Scriptures enforce the religious observance of Saturday, a day which we never sanctify," _ Cardinal Gibbons, in The Faith of Our Fathers, edition 1892, page 111.

"Sunday is a Catholic institution, and its claims to observance can be defended only on Catholic principles . . . . From beginning to end of Scripture there is not a single passage that warrants the transfer of weekly public worship from the last day of the week to the first," Catholic Press (Sydney, Australia), August 25, 1900.

14. Do Protestant writers acknowledge the same thing?

Answer: They do.

NOTE: "Is there no express commandment for observing the first day of the week as Sabbath, instead of the seventh day? _ None whatever. Neither Christ, nor His apostles, nor the first Christians celebrated the first day of the week instead of the seventh as the Sabbath," _ New York Weekly Tribune, May 24, 1900.

"The Scriptures nowhere call the first day of the week the Sabbath . . . There is no Scriptural authority for so doing, nor of course any Scriptural obligation," _ The Watchman (Baptist).

"The observance of the first instead of the seventh day rests on the testimony of the church, and the church alone," _ Hobart Church News (Episcopalian), July 2, 1894.

15. How did this change in observance of days come about, suddenly or gradually?

Answer: Gradually.

NOTE: "The Christian church made no formal, but a gradual and almost unconscious transfer of the one to the other,"--The Voice From Sinai, by Archdeacon F.W. Farrar, page 167.

This of itself is evidence that there was no divine command for the change of the Sabbath.

16. For how long a time was the seventh day Sabbath observed in the Christian church?

Answer: For many centuries. In fact, its observance has never wholly ceased in the Christian church.

NOTE: Mr. Morer, a learned clergyman of the Church of England, says: "The primitive Christians had a great veneration for the Sabbath, and spent the day in devotion and sermons. And it is not to be doubted that they derived this practice from the apostles themselves," _ Dialogues on the Lord's Day, page 189.

Prof E. Brerwood, of Gresham College, London (Episcopal), says: "The Sabbath was religiously observed in the Eastern church three hundred years and more after our Savior's passion," _ Learned Treatise of the Sabbath, page 77.

The historian Socrates, who wrote about the middle of the fifth century, says: "Almost all the churches throughout the world celebrate the sacred mysteries on the Sabbath of every week, yet the Christians of Alexandria and at Rome, on account of some ancient tradition, refused to do this," _ Ecclesiastical History, book 5, chapter 22.

Sozomen, a historian of the same period, writes: "The people of Constantinople, and of several other cities, assembled together on the Sabbath as well as on the next day; which custom is never observed from Rome," Ecclesiastical History, book 7, chapter 19.

All this would have been inconceivable and impossible had there been a divine command given for the change of the Sabbath. The last two quotations also show that Rome led in the apostasy and in the change of the Sabbath.

17. What do Catholics say of the observance of Sunday by Protestants?

"It was the Catholic Church which, by the authority of Jesus Christ, has transferred this rest to the Sunday in remembrance of the resurrection of our Lord. Thus the observance of Sunday by the Protestants is an homage they pay, in spite of themselves, to the authority of the Catholic Church," Plain Talk About Protestantism of Today, by Mgr. Segur, page 213.

18. What kind of worship does the Savior call that which is not according to God's commandments?

"But in vain they do worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men," Matthew 15:9.

The seventh day this book defends,

And to the searching mind it lends

A helping hand, to learn the way,

Which is to keep God's Sabbath day.

For when the six days' work was done,

And all was finished 'neath the sun,

The Lord Himself was pleased to rest;

And hence the seventh day He blest.

The first that dawned o'er all the land,

Just fresh from the Creator's hand,

The Sabbath law God therefore laid,

The Sabbath day for man was made.

The seventh day the Lord hath blest,

And said that in it we should rest,

Can we despise His holy day,

And from His Sabbath turn away?

God's memorial then we'll keep,

And thus remember His great work,

His ten commandments we can't obey,

Unless we keep the seventh day.

_ J. A. Nugent

The Lord's Day

  1. On what day was John in the spirit while on the Isle of Patmos?

"I was in the spirit on the Lord's day," Revelation 1:10.

2. What day does Christ say He is Lord of?

"Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the Sabbath," Mark 2:28.

3. Which day is the Sabbath of the Lord?

"But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God," Exodus 20:10.

4. For whom was the Sabbath or Lord's day made?

"And He said unto them: The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath," Mark 2:27.

5. In what age of the world was the Sabbath or Lord's day made?

"Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them, and on the seventh day God ended His work which he had made, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which he had made," Genesis 2:1, 2.

6. Did not God bless and sanctify the seventh day?

"And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it," Genesis 2:3.

7. Why did God bless and sanctify the seventh day?

"Because that in it He had rested from all His work which God created and made," Genesis 2:3.

8. In the decalogue what is the seventh day called?

"Six days shalt thou labor and do all thy work: but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God," Exodus 20:9, 10.

9. What does Isaiah, speaking for God through the Holy Ghost, call the seventh day Sabbath?

"If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on My Holy Day," Isaiah 58:13.

10. Was Christ an observer of His own day?

"And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up: and as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up for to read," Luke 4:16.

11. On what day of the week did Christ arise from the dead?

"In the end of [R. V. or late on] the Sabbath, as it began to dawn [or draw on] toward the first day of the week," Matthew 28:1.

NOTE: By the above scriptures we not only learn that the Sabbath day is the Lord's day, but we also learn that it was Christ's custom to observe that day, and He also arose from the dead on the Sabbath, or Lord's day.

12. Did the followers of Christ keep the Sabbath or Lord's day?

"And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the Sabbath day according to the commandment," Luke 23:56.

13. Did they observe it after His resurrection?

"And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three Sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures," Acts 17:2. See also Acts 13:14, 42, 44; 16:13; 18:1-4, 11.

14. Since Paul and Christ were both Sabbath day observers, should we be followers of them?

"Be ye followers of me, [Paul] even as I also am of Christ," I Corinthians 11:1.

15. Was Christ's life to be the light of the world?

"Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world; he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life," John 8:12.

Who is on the Lord's side,

Always true?

There's a right and wrong side,

Where stand you?

Thousands on the wrong side

Choose to stand,

Still 'tis not the strong side,

True and grand.

Come and join the Lord's side:

Ask you why? _

Tis the only safe side

By and by.

The Jewish Sabbath and Mosaical Law Abolished

1. In the beginning, what record is given of the first day of the week?

"And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good: And God divided the light from the darkness. And God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day," Genesis 1:3-5.

NOTE: By reading the first five verses of Genesis 1 we learn, that God worked upon the first day of time. It was on this day that light was brought about.

2. In the New testament, how many times do we find the first day of the week mentioned?

Answer: Eight.

3. Do we find it spoken of as a holy or sacred day?

Answer: No.

4. Did Christ use the words first day?

Answer: He did not.

5. How does Matthew speak of the first day?

"In the end of [R.V. late on] the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre," Matthew 28:1.

6. How does Mark speak of the same first day?

"And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. Now when Jesus was risen, early the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven devils," Mark 16:2, 9.

7. What does Luke say of the same day?

"Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them," Luke 24:1.

8. Concerning a visit to the sepulchre what does John say?

"The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre," John 20:1.

9. Does John tell of a first day meeting of Christ and His disciples?

"Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you," John 20:19. Also Luke 24:29.

NOTE: By this scripture we learn that Christ met with his disciples a little while, real late on the first day of the week where they were assembled for fear of the Jews. If the reader will turn to the Bible and read Acts 1:13 and Acts 2:44 they will find it to be the custom of the disciples to live together, and beyond any question of doubt they were thus assembled when Christ appeared to them. Another thing, if Christ meeting with them was a sign of a holy day, we would gather from John 21:1-5, that they also had a holy fishing day.

10. In Acts 20 what do we find regarding the first day of the week?

"And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight," Acts 20:7.

NOTE: Here we find the second, and last first day meeting recorded in the Bible. It, as the other, was a meeting of the disciples in their own upper room. The context of shows it to be a night meeting, and Paul, after preaching during the night, makes his trip across to Assos the light part of this same day, which would not be an act of sacredness, but rather one of secular work.

11. In the eighth and last time the first day is mentioned, what is said of it?

"Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come," I Corinthians 16:1, 2.

NOTE: This, the last time the first day is mentioned, stands on the same ground as does the other seven places, nothing said, to lead any one to believe that it is a sacred day of any kind, or that it should be kept holy by any one at any time. The people in this case were not commanded to meet together, but to lay by him (or himself) in store for the poor of Jerusalem.

12. Since Christ and the apostles did not keep the first day, then what day did they observe?

Paul _ "And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks," Acts 18:4.

13. How long did he continue at this place?

"And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them," Acts 18:11. Seventy-eight Sabbaths.

14. Was it Paul's custom so to do?

"And Paul as his manner was, went in unto them, and three Sabbath days reasoned with them out of the Scriptures," Acts 17:2.

15. What was Christ's attitude toward the Sabbath?

"And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up: and as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up for to read," Luke 4:16.

16. Is it safe to follow Christ?

"Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life," John 8:12.

New Testament Sabbath

  1. In what order does the Sabbath and the first day of the week stand in the New Testament?

"In the end of the Sabbath as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre," Matthew 28:1.

2. After the crucifixion, what day was kept by the women who followed Jesus?

"And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the Sabbath day according to the commandment," Luke 23:56.

3. "According to the commandment" what day is the Sabbath?

"But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God; in it thou shalt not do any work," Exodus 20:10.

4. Why is the seventh day the Sabbath?

"For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it," Exodus 20:11.

5. How did the holy women regard the first day of the week?

"Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them," Luke 24:1.

NOTE: In this reading we see the women brought the spices which they had prepared with which to embalm the body of Jesus, and this was on the first day of the week. In reading about the Sabbath day visit we find no spices were brought with which to embalm His body, and this alone should be proof that the holy women had respect for the Sabbath which God had blessed.

6. What was the custom of Christ in regard to the Sabbath?

"And He came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up for to read," Luke 4:16.

7. In predicting the overthrow of Jerusalem, and the necessity of fleeing from Judea prior to that time, what did he enjoin upon His disciples regarding the Sabbath?

"But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the Sabbath day," Matthew 24:20.

NOTE: The destruction of Jerusalem was accomplished by the Romans in the year 70 A.D. Therefore, the Sabbath was binding in that age by the commandment of Christ Himself.

8. On what day did the Jews meet in the synagogues for worship?

"For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath day," Acts 15:21.

9. To whom was Paul especially commissioned to preach?

"But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way; for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear My name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel," Acts 9:15.

10. On what day did he and Barnabas go into the synagogue at Antioch?

"But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath and sat down," Acts 13:14.

11. After the sermon had been preached by Paul, and the Jews had left the synagogue, what did the Gentiles request of the apostles?

"And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath," verse 42.

12. What was the result of this request?

"And the next Sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God," verse 44.

13. On what day did the women at Philippi hold their prayer-meetings?

"And on the Sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont [or accustomed] to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither," Acts 16:13.

14. What was Paul's manner regarding the Sabbath?

"They came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews: and Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three Sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures," Acts 17:1, 2.

15. While at Corinth how did the apostle Paul spend the Sabbath?

"After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth . . . and he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks [or Gentiles]," Acts 18:1-4.

16. How long did he continue at this work in this place?

"And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them," verse 11.

17. Are we admonished to be followers of the apostle Paul as he was of Christ?

"Be ye followers of Me, even as I also am of Christ," I Corinthians 11:1.

18. Will we be in darkness if we follow Christ?

"Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world; he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life," John 8:12.

19. On what day does Paul say God rested from His works?

"For He spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all His works," Hebrews 4:4.

20. Does this same Sabbath rest remain for the people of God?

"There remaineth therefore a rest [margin, keeping of a Sabbath] to the people of God," Hebrews 4:9.

21. Should we be followers of god?

"Be ye therefore followers of God as dear children," Ephesians 5:1.

22. Should we cease from our works as God did from His?

"For he that is entered into His rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from His. Let us labor therefore, to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief," Hebrews 4:10, 11.

Time of Crucifixion

  1. When the wicked people came into the place near Jerusalem which is called Golgotha, what did they do with Jesus?

"And they crucified Him, and parted His garments, casting lots," Matthew 27:35.

2. Between what hours of the day was Christ hanging on the stake, before He died?

"Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour," Matthew 27:45.

3. What time of the day did Christ die?

"And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice . . . . Jesus when He had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost," verses 46, 50.

4. At what time of day was the ninth hour?

The ninth hour was at 3 o'clock in the afternoon. See note at end of this section.

5. What was the next event of importance at this time?

"And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent," verse 51.

6. What happened later in the day?

"When the even was come, there came a rich man from Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple. He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered," verses 57, 58.

7. What did Joseph do with the body?

"And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed," verses 59, 60.

8. What is the Biblical law regarding crucifixions?

"And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be to be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree: his body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day," Deuteronomy 21:22, 23.

NOTE: See the word "Day" in the concordance of your Bibles, and it will be learned that from sundown to sundown was the civil day, or the whole day of twenty-four hours, as we have it now.

Then the day was divided into the dark part, and the light part. The dark portion was divided into watches, viz. first, second, third and fourth. And the day was divided into hours, viz. third, sixth, ninth and twelfth. The third was from six o'clock in the morning until nine in the morning, or the first three hours of the light part of the day; sixth hour was until 12 o'clock noon; ninth hour was from twelve until 3 o'clock in the afternoon (this was the time the Bible says Christ died), and the twelfth hour was from three until 6 o'clock in the evening.

The Master's Sign

  1. There were many people in the world when Jesus was here who did not believe Him to be the Son of God, as He claimed. What did some of these men require of Christ, that they might believe in Him?

"Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from Thee," Matthew 12:38.

2. What was Christ's answer?

"But He answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas," verse 39.

3. What was the sign of the prophet Jonah, which Christ said would be the only sign that would be given that He was the Messiah?

"For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth," verse 40.

4. Did Jesus fulfil this sign which He gave the world that He was the Christ?

NOTE: If the old theory was true, which came to us from the Catholic Church, that Good Friday was the crucifixion day of Christ and Easter Sunday the resurrection day, Christ did not fulfill the only sign He gave the world that He was the Christ. There are not three days and three nights between Friday and Sunday. This fact can be clearly seen by a very small amount of mathematical calculation.

The facts in the case are, however, that the crucifixion and resurrection, according to the Scriptures did not occur upon these two days. The world, in this enlightened age, is rapidly accepting this new light.

The Resurrection of Christ

  1. After Christ was resurrected, when were visits made to the tomb?

"And when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint Him. And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun," Mark 16:1, 2.

2. Of what one thing in particular were they talking among themselves, as they went to the sepulcher?

"And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?" verse 3.

3. What did they discover when they arrived at the tomb?

"And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great," verse 4.

4. Did they find the body of Jesus, or had He left the tomb some time before this?

"He is risen; He is not here: behold the place where they laid Him," verse 6.

5. As the above verse says, Christ was gone from the tomb early the first day of the week. What does the other witness, Luke, say?

"Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre . . . . And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus," Luke 24:1-3.

6. The evidence according to both Mark and Luke, is that Christ was gone when these visits were made. What does John testify on this subject?

"The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene . . . and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre. Then she runneth and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them. They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid Him," John 20:1-2.

7. As these three gospels, Mark, Luke and John, all agree that when the visitors came to the tomb early the first day of the week, the stone at the door of the sepulcher was already rolled away. Christ was then resurrected and gone. What evidence have we as to the time when this stone was rolled away, and when Christ was really resurrected?

"In the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightening, and his raiment white as snow; and for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay," Matthew 28:1-6.

8. The earthquake occurred, the angels descended, and the stone was rolled away in the end of the Sabbath. The events of Christ's resurrection occurred at this time. Christ Himself tells us, in Matthew 12:40, that the only sign He would give the world that He was the Messiah, was that He would be in the earth three days and three nights. Upon what day of the week would the crucifixion and burial have taken place?

NOTE: Three days and three nights before the end of the Sabbath (which is the day before the first day of the week, and therefore Saturday) count backwards from Saturday night three days and three nights. This takes us to Wednesday.

9. When did the prophet Daniel say Christ would be crucified, or cut off?

"And He shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week He shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease," Daniel 9:27.

NOTE: While the week here has a prophetical meaning, and application with the seventy weeks, it also has a literal significance, and to this prophecy is given a two-fold meaning, as is the case with the seven heads of the beast in Revelation 17:9, 10.

Evidence From Astronomy

  The next day after the full moon was always the Passover. It was the 14th day of the Jewish month Nisan. "It was coincident with the Passover," Smith's Bible Dictionary, Leviticus 23:5.

This year, A.D. 31, it fell on Wednesday. On this day Christ was crucified and laid in the tomb. "It was the preparation of the passover," or "high day" festival sabbath, John 19:14, 31, which came on the 15th of Nisan, Leviticus 23:6, 7.

Jesus was alive and the tomb empty "In the end of the Sabbath," Matthew 28:1-7. "Late on the Sabbath," Revised version, He was in the tomb "Three days and three nights," Matthew 12:40.

Count back three days and three nights from "Late on the Sabbath" and we have Wednesday evening the time of his burial. Thus God's great time-piece, the Heavens, Genesis 1:14; Psalm 19:1, speaking through the unerring science of Astronomy, confirms the Bible record of the time of the death and resurrection of Jesus.

10. Isn't it a fact according to John 19:31, that Christ was crucified the day before a Sabbath? The text reads:

"The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day (for that sabbath day was an high day), besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away," John 19:31.

11. Was this the weekly Sabbath, or the Passover Sabbath, which was called the high day Sabbath?

"For that sabbath day was a high day," verse 31.

"And it was the preparation of the passover," verse 14.

12. How did the Passover Sabbath originate?

"In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the Lord's Passover. And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the Lord," Leviticus 23:5, 6.

13. How long was this feast of unleavened bread to continue?

"Seven days ye must eat unleavened bread," verse 6 last part of verse.

14. What is said of the first day of this feast, which was the fifteenth day of this month?

"In the first day [first day of the feast], ye shall have an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein," verse 7.

NOTE: This fifteenth day of the month is kept as a Sabbath. The day before was the passover, when the lamb without blemish was slain and offered as a sacrifice for the sins of the people, Exodus 12:3-6. This lamb was a true type of Christ who is so often mentioned as the lamb of God. Christ was also crucified on the passover, which was the fourteenth day of this month, the same day the lamb had for hundreds of years been slain. The day after Christ's crucifixion, therefore, would be the passover Sabbath, or the high day Sabbath.

The Lord's Supper

  1. Who spoke to Moses and Aaron while they were in the land of Egypt?

"And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying," Exodus 12:1.

2. What was said to them at this time?

"This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you," verse 2.

3. What were they commanded to tell the children of Israel?

"Speak you unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this [the first] month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house," verse 3.

4. Was this lamb to be a perfect one?

"Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats," verse 5.

5. How long was this lamb to be kept up?

"And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month," verse 6.

6. What were they to do with this lamb?

"And the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening," verse 6.

7. What were they to do with the blood of this lamb?

"And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper doorpost of the houses, wherein they shall eat it," verse 7.

8. Would there be any one destroyed in the homes where the blood of this lamb was found?

"And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt," verse 13.

9. What were they to do with the flesh of this lamb?

"And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it," verse 8.

10. For how long a time would this day be kept as an ordinance?

"And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the Lord throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever," verse 14.

11. What is this same day called in the New Testament?

"And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King!" John 19:14.

12. What happened to Christ during the light part of this same day?

"But they cried out, Away with Him, away with Him, crucify Him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar. Then delivered he Him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led Him away . . . . where they crucified Him, and two others with Him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst," John 19:15-18.

13. What did Christ institute on this same day, but prior to His arrest?

"And He took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is My body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of Me. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in My blood, which is shed for you," Luke 22:19, 20. See also Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25.

14. In connection with the bread and fruit of the vine, what did He introduce?

"He riseth from supper, and laid aside His garments; and took a towel, and girded Himself. After that He poureth water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith He was girded," John 13:4, 5.

15. Must we follow this example?

"If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet," verse 14.

16. What did He say He had given us?

"For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you," verse 15.

17. During what part of the day did these things occur, the light or the dark part?

"He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night," verse 30.

18. During what part of the twenty-four hour period does Paul say these things occurred?

"For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which He was betrayed took bread: and when He had given thanks, He brake it, and said, Take, eat, this is My body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of Me. After the same manner also He took the cup, when He had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in My blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of Me," I Corinthians 11:23-25.

19. By following these instructions what do we show?

"For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till He come," verse 26.

NOTE: It would be impossible to celebrate Independence Day on the 25th of December. Why? For the simple reason that July 4th was the day on which the Declaration of Independence was passed and signed, and is the only day upon which it can be successfully celebrated. This day, the fourth of July, points us back to the time when we, in reality, won our freedom. The same is true with the fourteenth day of the first month (Bible time). Upon this day a real sacrifice was made for sin; in observing the Passover upon this day, we show the Lord's death till He comes again.

20. Of what will one be guilty when they partake of these emblems unworthily?

"Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord," verse 27.

21. What is really necessary before partaking of these emblems?

"But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup," verse 28.

22. What will one bring to himself by eating and drinking unworthily?

"For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body," verse 29.

NOTE: According to the Bible, the year commences with the new moon after the Vernal Equinox in the spring. Then fourteen days later than this is the time for the Passover, which should be taken during the first part of the night of the fourteenth day.

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