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Lord's Day 44
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113   Q. What is God's will for you
in the tenth commandment?
A. 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.1

1 Ps. 19:7-14; 139:23-24; Rom. 7:7-8
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114   Q. But can those converted to God
obey 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
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115   Q. No one in this life
can obey the Ten Commandments perfectly:
why then does God want them
preached so pointedly?
A. 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.1

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.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
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