=Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his man-servant, nor
his maid-servant, nor his cattle, nor anything that is his.=
_That is_,
We should fear and love God, and not estrange, force, or entice away
from our neighbor, his wife, servants, or cattle, but urge them to
stay and do their duty.
_98. What do the ninth and tenth commandments forbid?_
All sinful desire to get what belongs to our neighbor.
_99. What does God require of us in the ninth and tenth
commandments?_
We must heartily wish our neighbor all good, rejoice in his success,
and help him to keep what he owns.
* * * * *
_100. What, then, does God require of us in His holy Law?_
Perfect purity and holiness in all our thoughts and desires, words and
acts.
=James 2:10. Whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend
in one point, he is guilty of all.=
=Matt 5:48. Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is
in heaven is perfect.=
_101. What does God say of all his commandment?_
=I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the
fathers upon the children unto the= =third and fourth generation of
them that hate me; and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love
me, and keep my commandments.=
_That is_,
God threatens to punish all who transgress these commandments; we
should therefore fear His wrath, and do nothing against them.
On the other hand He promises grace and every blessing to all who keep
these commandments; we should therefore love Him and trust in Him, and
gladly do according to His commandments.
_102. Of what does God remind us by these words?_
He reminds us of the fact that He is a just God, who in His holy wrath
punishes every sin.
_103. What is sin?_
Sin is any thought or feeling, word or act, which is contrary to God's
holy Law.
_104. What is meant by original sin?_
Original sin is the inborn wickedness, deep corruption, and evil
disposition, of the human heart.
=Ps. 51:5. Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my
mother conceive me.=
=Rom. 5:12. By one man sin entered into the world, and death by
sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.=
_105. What is actual sin?_
Actual sin is all evil thoughts and desires, words and acts, springing
from original sin.
_106. Is neglecting to do good as sinful as doing wrong?_
Yes, indeed; to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him
it is sin.
James 4:17.
_107. Do the children of God always live according to the will of
their heavenly Father?_
They hate sin, and heartily strive to keep the law of God; but it is
their experience that they sin every day, and that the new life within
them is weak.
=Ps. 19:12. Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from
secret faults?=
=Rom. 7:19. The good that I would I do not: but the evil which I
would not, that I do.=
_108. How do the children of God feel and act when they find that
they have sinned?_
They are deeply grieved, they ask their heavenly Father to forgive
them, and earnestly strive to put off sin.
_109. What do the children of the world think of sin?_
They love sin, and do not ask to be forgiven.
_110. How does God threaten those who transgress His commandments?_
He will visit, that is, punish, their wickedness.
_111. How does God punish sin?_
In soul and body; now and forever.
=Gal. 3:10. Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things
which are written in the book of the law to do them.=
_112. What does God promise all who keep His commandments?_
He will have mercy upon them in a thousand generations.
_113. What is here understood by mercy?_
Every blessing for soul and body, now and forever.
=1 Tim. 4:8. Godliness is profitable unto all things, having
promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.=
* * * * *
_114. What way of salvation does the Law then point out to us?_
It says, Keep the commandments and you shall be saved.
=Luke 10:28. This do, and thou shalt live.=
_115. Can any man, then, keep God's commandments so perfectly
that he thereby is justified and saved_?
No; every man is a sinner, and he lacks that perfect love which is the
fulfillment of the law.
=Rom. 10:3. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and
going about to establish their own righteousness, have not
submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.=
_116. But does the Word of God point out a way to us in which a
sinner may be justified and saved?_
Yes; in the blessed Gospel.
=Rom. 1:16. I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is
the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth.=
_117. What parts of the catechism treat about the gospel?_
The four last parts.