right living and the desire to please God in daily life MUST be carried out
It is our duty after baptism to obey the commandments of our Lord:
“If ye love me, keep my commandments.” John 14:15
“Ye are my friends if ye do whatsoever I command you…I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit; and that your fruit should remain.” John 14:13-17
“If a man love me, he will keep my words; and my Father will love him, and we will come in unto him, and make our abode with him.” John 14:23
“To them who by patient continuance in well-doing seek for glory, honour and immortality (God will render) eternal life.” Romans 2:7
“Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” 2 Corinthians 7:1
“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 a 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 this God of peace shall be with you.” Philippians 4:8,9.
“But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man which is renewed in knowledge…” Colossians 3:8
To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.” 1 Thessalonians 3:13
“For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. 1 Thessalonians 4:7
“…if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.” 1 Timothy 2:15
“Teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. Titus 2:12-14
“Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering (for he is faithful that promised); and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works; not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another; and so much the more as ye see the day approaching.” Hebrews 10:23, 25
“And beside all 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 love. For if these things be in you and abound…ye shall never fall.” 2 Peter 1:3-11
We have almost concluded our “Bible Says” series and we have outlined the way of great salvation. It is vastly different to the common teaching of the churches. How can so many be wrong? Remember that the same question might have been asked by Noah and by the faithful in the days of Jesus. But the many were wrong and only few were right. Truth is truth regardless of whether few or many believe it. It is your privilege to believe and obey the Truth and then to walk worthy of its glorious end.
When it comes to serving the Lord we all feel the weakness of the flesh, but if the mind is willing, do not despair, for the God of Israel loves mercy. In His great mercy He has provided for us a high priest who has been “touched with the feeling of our infirmities, and was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” Hebrew 4:15. “In that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.” Hebrews 2:18, and he “ever liveth to make intercession for us.”
Affectionately we are addressed in the words, “My little children these things I write unto you that ye sin not. And if any man sin we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Thus we find that God is the God of truth, righteousness, love and mercy. Let us therefore respond to His gracious appeal
“Ho, everyone that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy and eat: yea buy wine and milk without money and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me…Incline your ear and come unto me; hear and your soul shall live; and I will make a covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.” Isaiah 55:1-3.