Question 115

Why will God then have the ten commands so strictly preached, since no man in this life can keep them?

First: that all our life time, we may learn more and more to know our sinful nature,^a and thus become the more earnest in seeking the remission of sin, and righteousness in Christ;^b likewise, that we constantly endeavour and pray to God for the grace of the holy spirit; that we may become more and more conformable to the image of God, till we arrive at the perfection proposed to us, in a life to come.^c

1. a. 1 John 1:9; Romans 3:20; 5:13; 7:7

   1 John 1:9

   ^1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

   ^1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

   Romans 3:20

   ^3:20 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.

   ^3:20 Therefore no one will be justified in His sight by works of the law. For the law merely brings awareness of sin.

   Romans 5:13

   ^5:13 (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.

   ^5:13 For sin was in the world before the law was given; but sin is not taken into account when there is no law.

   Romans 7:7

   ^7:7 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.

   ^7:7 What then shall we say? Is the law sin? Certainly not! Indeed, I would not have been mindful of sin if not for the law. For I would not have been aware of coveting if the law had not said, "Do not covet."

   King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

2. b. Romans 7:24

   Romans 7:24

   ^7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

   ^7:24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?

   King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

3. c. 1 Corinthians 9:24; Philippians 3:12–14

   1 Corinthians 9:24

   ^9:24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.

   ^9:24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way as to take the prize.

   Philippians 3:12–14

   ^3:12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. ^3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, ^3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

   ^3:12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. ^3:13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, ^3:14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize of God's heavenly calling in Christ Jesus.

   King James VersionBerean Standard Bible