2.4 KiB
Lord’s Day 44
113. Q. What is God’s will for you in the tenth commandment?
A. That not even the slightest desire or thought contrary to any one of God’s commandments should ever arise in our hearts. Rather, with all our hearts we should always hate sin and delight in all righteousness.1
1 Ps. 19:7–14; 139:23–24; Rom. 7:7–8
114. Q. But can those converted to God keep these commandments perfectly?
A. No. In this life even the holiest have only a small beginning of this obedience.1 Nevertheless, with all seriousness of purpose, they do begin to live according to all, not only some, of God’s commandments.2
1 Eccles. 7:20; Rom. 7:14–15; 1 Cor. 13:9; 1 John 1:8–10 2 Ps. 1:1–2; Rom. 7:22–25; Phil. 3:12–16
115. Q. Since no one in this life can keep the Ten Commandments perfectly, why does God want them preached so pointedly?
A. First, so that all our life long we may more and more come to know our sinful nature and thus more eagerly seek the forgiveness of sins and righteousness in Christ.1 Second, so that we may never stop striving and never stop praying to God for the grace of the Holy Spirit, so that we may be renewed more and more after God’s image, until after this life we reach our goal: perfection.2
1 Ps. 32:5; Rom. 3:19–26; 7:7, 24–25; 1 John 1:9 2 1 Cor. 9:24; Phil. 3:12–14; 1 John 3:1–3