Question 130:
What is the tenth Commandment
Answer:
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbors house, nor his wife, nor his
servant, nor his maid, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is
his. (a)
(a) Exodus 20.17.
Question 131:
What is God's will for you in the tenth commandment?
Answer:
That not even the slightest thought or desire contrary to any one
of God's commandments should ever arise in my heart. Rather,
with all my heart I should always hate sin and take pleasure in
whatever is right. (a)
(a) Ps. 19:7-14; 139:23-24; Rom. 7:7-8
Question 132:
But can those converted to God obey these commandments
perfectly?
Answer:
No. In this life even the holiest have only a small beginning of
this obedience.(a) Nevertheless, with all seriousness of purpose,
they do begin to live according to all, not only some, of God's
commandments. (b)
(a) Eccles. 7:20; Rom. 7:14-15; 1 Cor. 13:9;
1 John 1:8-10
(b) Ps. 1:1-2; Rom. 7:22-25; Phil. 3:12-16
Question 133:
No one in this life can obey the Ten Commandments perfectly:
why then does God want them preached so pointedly?
Answer:
First, so that the longer we live the more we may come to know
our sinfulness and the more eagerly look to Christ for
forgiveness of sins and righteousness. (a) Second, so that, while
praying to God for the grace of the Holy Spirit, we may never
stop striving to be renewed more and more after God's image,
until after this life we reach our goal: perfection. (b)
(a) Ps. 32:5; Rom. 3:19-26; 7:7, 24-25; 1 John 1:9
(b) 1 Cor. 9:24; Phil. 3:12-14; 1 John 3:1-3 |
