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INDEX: Main Article - Be Ye Holy (1 Peter 1:16) Monthly Bible Thought - The Reason Why Health Article - Meals In General Bible Study and Last Month's Answers Questions on 'Tis the Season Answers to Can one be saved, then be lost, then be saved? Questions and Answers #1 Why did God say that David was a man after His own heart? David committed adultery and murder. #2 Why is a blessing placed upon the dead in Revelation 14:13? #3 Did Jesus replace the Ten Commandments with the two great commandments? Antichrist PICTURE: A single pillar, automatically tiled in the index box, represents "the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth." (1 Timothy 3:15).

BE YE HOLY (1 Peter 1:16)

The full command is "Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy" (1 Peter 1:16).

What does this command entail? 1 Peter 1:15 "But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation." Even the very words from our mouths should always be holy.

Does God really expect us to be holy? "Follow peace with all [men], and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord" (Hebrews 12:14).

Is holiness just given to people? Hebrews 13:12 "Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate." In a sense it looks like it is just given to people. Besides, salvation is free (Ephesians 2:8). Wait! Where is the word holy? What does sanctify mean? Leviticus 20:7 "Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I [am] the LORD your God." The Bible definition of sanctify is to make holy.

But did you know that we are to provide evidence of accepting salvation? Matthew 5:16 "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." James 2:18 "Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works." 1 John 2:6 "He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked." And there are many other similar verses.

Will there be holy people living on the earth before Jesus returns? Revelation 22:11 "He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still." Evidently, character is evaluated and those who are holy and righteous will remain that way for the fulfillment of the next verse. Revelation 22:12 "And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward [is] with me, to give every man according as his work shall be." So at some point, before Jesus comes, people will be holy.

Is there record of any people in history being holy? 1 Thessalonians 5:27 "I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren."

How does one become holy? 2 Corinthians 3:18 "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, [even] as by the Spirit of the Lord." The more we behold God, the more we will be like Him. Since God's principles are universal, that means the reverse would be true. The more we behold sin and Satan, the more we will sin and become like Satan. This is why "true" Christians will draw away from many of today's entertainments. Television, theaters, clubs, and the like are showing more and more of how glamorous sin is so as to even entice the Christians to give up the walk.

How can we behold, that is, to look at God? John 17:17 "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth." Regularly getting into the Word, not for the sake of reading, but for applying, one will be made holy. James 1:22 "But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves." Romans 2:13 "For not the hearers of the law [are] just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified."

Is there anything else that we may behold that is holy? Romans 7:12 "Wherefore the law [is] holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good." This is why they are called the "Holy Ten Commandments" and not the "Ten Suggestions."

Anyone who doubts that by beholding the Word, the Law, and God they can be changed into a better person, even a holy person, is just fulfilling prophecy. 2 Timothy 3:5 "Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away."

Let us not fulfill this prophecy but rather look to Jesus, who is Holy and True (Revelation 3:7), Who provides the way to fulfill the command "Be ye holy."

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THINK ON THESE THINGS (Philippians 4:8)

THE REASON WHY: Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

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THAT THOU MAYEST PROSPER AND BE IN HEALTH, EVEN AS THY SOUL PROSPERETH (3 John 1:2)

NUTRITION

MEALS IN GENERAL: The table at all meals should be inviting, attractive, and supplied with the good things God has provided. As we enjoy the gifts of God, we should remember with grateful praises the Giver.

Did you know ... ?

• For proper digestion, mealtimes should be a cheerful, happy time.
• The stomach needs time to rest and for the gastric juices to form before another meal is eaten.
• A big meal is fully digested within 4 or 5 hours. After it has rested, the stomach is then ready for the next meal in 5 or 6 hours.
• You should feel hungry during the hour that the stomach is resting and the gastric juices are preparing for the next meal.
• Drinking water at least 30 minutes prior to the meal alleviates the hunger pains and helps supply the necessary water intake for the day.
• If a bite of anything is eaten between the regular meals, the stomach will not be rested and the gastric juices will not be ready.
• Sleep is disturbed by digestion and you will awake unrefreshed and not hungry if anything is eaten before going to bed.
• Food should be masticated (chewed) 50 times before swallowed. This eases digestion and allows all of the nutrients to be received.

Very hot or cold meals and beverages do much harm to the stomach and energy is wasted as the body adjusts the temperature of the food.

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SEARCHING THE SCRIPTURES (John 5:39)

And who is my neighbour?

`Tis the Season

1. What did Christ bring? Luke 2:14

2. What is the focus of it? Colossians 1:20-22

3. What is the name of the group associated with it and promotes it? Matthew 5:9

4. What is this group to do with it? Acts 10:36

ANSWERS TO LAST MONTH'S STUDY:

Can one be saved, then be lost, then be saved?

1. Was the Spirit with Samson from childhood? YES. Judges 13:24-25 "And the woman bare a son, and called his name Samson: and the child grew, and the LORD blessed him. And the SPIRIT OF THE LORD BEGAN TO MOVE HIM at times in the camp of Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol." Judges 14:6 "And the SPIRIT OF THE LORD CAME MIGHTILY UPON HIM, and he rent him as he would have rent a kid, and [he had] nothing in his hand: but he told not his father or his mother what he had done." Judges 14:19 "And the SPIRIT OF THE LORD CAME UPON HIM, and he went down to Ashkelon, and slew thirty men of them, and took their spoil, and gave change of garments unto them which expounded the riddle. And his anger was kindled, and he went up to his father's house."

2. Did the Spirit depart? YES. Judges 16:20 "And she said, The Philistines [be] upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that THE LORD WAS DEPARTED FROM HIM."

3. Did the Spirit return? YES. Judges 16:28-30 "And Samson called unto the LORD, and said, O Lord GOD, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes. And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars upon which the house stood, and on which it was borne up, of the one with his right hand, and of the other with his left. And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with [all his] might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that [were] therein. So the dead which he slew at his death were more than [they] which he slew in his life." Hebrews 11:32 "And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and [of] Barak, and [of] Samson, and [of] Jephthae; [of] David also, and Samuel, and [of] the prophets." In God answering the prayer of Samson, and he being in the list of saved people, the answer is yes.

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YE HAVE HEARD THAT ANTICHRIST SHALL COME (1 John 2:18)

In continuing the Biblical definition of blaspheme, Mark 2:7 "Why doth this [man] thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?"

REVIEW OF THE IDENTIFYING MARKS:
1 ... would deny Jesus is the Christ either by words, actions, or both (1 John 2:22, Titus 1:16).
2 ... is in a populated area of the world (Revelation 131-2, 17:15).
3 ... would wear titles attributed to God (Revelation 13:6, Matthew 23:8-12).
4 ... is a kingdom (Revelation 13:1-2, Daniel 7:23).
5 ... derives it's authority based on satanic principles or paganism (Revelation 13:1-2, 12:9).
6 ... is a little kingdom (Daniel 7:8).
7 ... would conquer three kingdoms (Daniel 7:8, 20, 24).
8 ... a single person would be leader of this kingdom (Daniel 7:8).
9 ... the leader's name or title would add up to 666 (Revelation 13:18).
10 ... would embrace non-Christian theology (Revelation 18:2; 1 John 4:1, 3; 1 Timothy 2:5).
11 ... would not be just another political kingdom (Daniel 7:20, 24).
12 ... would deny the single sacrifice of Christ (1 John 4:3, 2 John 1:7, Hebrews 9:28).
13 ... have seeds in the apostolic age. (2 Thessalonians 2:7, 1 John 4:3).
14 ... recognized as a kingdom after 476 AD (Daniel 7:4-8, 5:28, 8:20-21, Jeremiah 50:17, John 11:48).
15 ... is located in Europe (Daniel 7:7-8, 7:24)
16 ... is located on seven mountains (Revelation 17:9)
17 ... is a religious power (2 Thessalonians 2:4, Revelation 13:4)
18 ... set up a counterfeit service to Christ's true service. (Daniel 8:11, Hebrews 9:11)
19 ... set up a counterfeit to God's tabernacle in heaven. (Daniel 8:11, Revelation 13:6)
20 ... rules from what is recognized to be one of the most holiest places on earth (2 Thessalonians 2:4).
21 ... is in the Christian fold. (2 Thessalonians 2:3, John 17:12)
22 ... would speak blasphemously. (Daniel 7:8, 20, 25; Revelation 13:5-6)
23 ... would declare to be as God. (2 Thessalonians 2:4, John 10:32-33, Daniel 8:11)
24 ... would think to have power to forgive people their sins. (Mark 2:7)

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ANSWERS FOUND IN THE SCRIPTURE OF TRUTH (Daniel 10:21)

QUESTION #1 - Needmore - Why did God say that David was a man after His own heart? David committed adultery and murder.

ANSWER #1 - No doubt you are referring to 1 Samuel 13:14 "But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart," but the rest of the verse answers the question, "and the LORD hath commanded him [to be] captain over his people, because thou hast not kept [that] which the LORD commanded thee." Who is not keeping the Lord's command according to this verse? The answer is in the verse prior. 1 Samuel 13:13 "And Samuel said to SAUL, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever." Saul is still king! David did not commit adultery or murder until later when he was king. At this point, David was a man after God's own heart in contrast to the current appearance of Saul.

QUESTION #2 - Duncannon - Why is a blessing placed upon the dead in Revelation 14:13?

ANSWER #2 - Revelation 14:13 "And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed [are] the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them." There are only two times when Satan can no longer tempt the saints and that is at their death (or translation like in Enoch's and Elijah's case) and at the second coming. That is why the blessing is only placed upon those who "die in the Lord" for they are guaranteed to life eternal. Likewise, there is an implied curse in death -- those who die not in the Lord. That is a guaranteed lost state.

QUESTION #3 - Harrisburg - Did Jesus replace the Ten Commandments with the two great commandments?

ANSWER #3 - No doubt you are referring to Mark 12:28-31 "And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all? And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments [is], Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this [is] the first commandment. And the second [is] like, [namely] this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these." Now many take the fact that when Jesus added, "There is none other commandment greater than these," that none of the Ten Commandments are as important as these two new commandments.

Well, to answer this, we must take into consideration all of the accounts of this situation including Matthew 22:37-40 "Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second [is] like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." In this account, we see the words "On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." That is because the law and the prophets tell us how to love God and our neighbor. To love God and our neighbor is not to replace the commandments but instead are explained by the commandments. For instance, if you truly love God, you will put no gods before God, not create any graven image, not use His Name with disrespect, and remember to keep His Sabbath day holy. If you truly love your neighbor, which covers every relationship on earth, you will honor your parents, not kill, not commit adultery, not steal, not lie, and not covet what they have. Are we sure? John 14:15 "If ye love me, keep my commandments." John 14:21 "He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him." 1 John 5:2-3 "By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous."

Besides, Jesus was just quoting the Old Testament: Deuteronomy 6:5 "And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might." This verse appears right after the Ten Commandments in chapter 5 with further directions given in Deuteronomy 6:6-9, "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. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates."

So, no. The two great commandments do not replace the Ten Commandments, but rather, to fulfill the two great commandments, we look to the Ten Commandments to see how God (not man) expects us to love Him and our neighbors.

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