Did Mankind Eat Animals before the Flood?

We cannot ascertain conclusively from the Bible whether mankind ate animals before the worldwide flood of Noah’s day. Neither can we answer the more finely tuned inquiry whether faithful children of God ate animals—irrespective of what non-faithful humans may have done—prior to the universal deluge. Here is what we do have in Scripture regarding a God-authorized diet. Following creation, God permitted Adam and Eve as well as the animal kingdom to eat vegetables. “And God said, ‘See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food. Also, to every beast of the earth, to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is life, I have given every green herb for food’; and it was so” (Genesis 1:29-30 NKJV). Then, after the global inundation, Noah was told, “Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. I have given you all things, even as the green herbs” (Genesis 9:3). God made several changes to the environment of earth (1) as a consequence of sin in the Garden of Eden and (2) as a consequence of sin leading up to the universal flood. Paradise or an Edenic existence no longer prevailed on earth after God made changes to His original creation because of man’s sin. Adam and Eve were advised that (1) women would experience labor pains in childbirth …

Can a Church Leader Have Physical Infirmities?

Can a eunuch, a lame person, a blind person, and a cripple or a mute lead the church in any position like a preacher, a deacon, an elder or a song leader? May You support it with the Scripture. The biblical qualifications for a man to serve as an elder or as a deacon pertain to his character and experience (1 Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9), rather than inclusive of his physical prowess. The apostles did not stipulate any physical criteria in Acts 6:1-6 for the selection of deacons to serve widows of the Jerusalem church. Regarding a eunuch, some of the qualifications for elders and deacons require them to have children, which a eunuch could not father. However, a man can be a father to children despite them not being his seed offspring (e.g., adoption). Biblical references to preachers, likewise, pertain to their appreciation of “sound doctrine” (Titus 2:1) and their proclamation of the Gospel of Christ (Romans 10:13-15), rather than consideration of whether they are an ideal specimen of physical perfection. The apostle Paul, for instance, apparently had poor eyesight (Galatians 6:11) and additional physical imperfections (2 Corinthians 12:5-9). Timothy had some kind of stomach ailment (1 Timothy 5:23). Song leaders are only instructed in Scripture to lead “psalms and hymns and spiritual songs” (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16) and to take turns to avoid confusion (1 Corinthians 14:26-33), rather than required in the New Testament to be perfect examples of manhood. Under Judaism in the Old Testament, priests were …

What Is the Second Death?

The phrase “second death” appears in four verses (Revelation 2:11; 20:6, 14; 21:9). The first death is the physical death with which we are all too familiar and over which we sorrow when our loved ones pass away. “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27 NKJV). Physical death occurs when the physical side of man—his fleshly body—and the spiritual side of man separate. “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also” (James 2:26). The body returns to the earth and the spirit or soul returns to God at death. “Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, And the spirit will return to God who gave it” (Ecclesiastes 12:7). The second death will occur following final Judgment when the unrighteous are separated eternally from God. “Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death” (Revelation 20:14). “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death” (Revelation 21:8). At the Second Coming, Jesus Christ will approach the unrighteous “in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power” (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9). The …

Are Babies Born in Sin?

Are babies born in sin? There are popular religious dogmas that affirm that babies are born in sin. The doctrine of “original sin” supposes “the imputation of Adam’s first sin to his posterity, and also that native depravity which we have derived by inheritance from our first parents” (“Original Sin”). The view of original sin, then, is that babies are born into this world with the imputed sin of Adam and Eve on their souls, and additionally, as a consequence, babies are born with an inherited depravity and propensity to commit sin because of the sin of Adam and Eve. “Original sin” is usually associated with Catholic doctrine. Calvinism regarding “Heredity Depravity” maintains a similar doctrine to “original sin.” “All men are conceived in sin, and born the children of wrath, indisposed (inepti) to all saving good, propense to evil, dead in sin, and the slaves of sin; and without the regenerating grace of the Holy Spirit, they neither are willing nor able to return to God, to correct their depraved nature, or to dispose themselves to the correction of it” (“Calvinism”). “We all come into the world stained with sin, possessed, as Adam’s posterity, of a nature essentially depraved, and incapable, in ourselves, of aiming at anything which is good…” (Calvin). Calvinism, attributed to John Calvin and modified over the years, underlies the tenets of several Protestant denominations (e.g., Baptists, Presbyterians, etc.). However, does the Bible teach that babies are born in sin? Though not embraced by Catholicism as …

Why Did Jesus Die?

“…I have a question in my mind that if Jesus Christ was the Son of God, incarnation of God, why He was crucified. People would cure from the diseases by getting the mere touch of Him. He emancipated many persons from troubles and miseries. How He was crucified? Was the king mighty [mightier] than Him? Why Jesus not showed any miracle at that time? — J.N. (New Delhi, India) These are very important questions. What does the Bible say about the reason Jesus died? Did Jesus Desire to Die? Jesus was the Son of God, but He was also human like you and me. He did not desire to suffer the agony of being whipped by Roman soldiers. He did not desire the torture of being nailed to a cross and left there to die. It was a bitter “cup” for Him to drink. In the night before His death, Jesus prayed, “‘Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.’ Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground” (Luke 22:42-44). He “…offered up prayers and supplications [earnest requests] with vehement [strong] cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death…” (Hebrews 5:7). Jesus did not enjoy suffering, but He chose to obey the will of God and “endured the cross” …

The Associated Churches of Christ

Until someone inquired, I do not recall having heard of the term “Associated Churches of Christ.” Upon looking up the phrase on the Internet, I became aware of this phrase which has been appropriated by at least a couple of different religious groups to themselves—one group associated with the Disciples of Christ and one group associated with the Pentecostal movement. Neither of those represent the churches of Christ (Romans 16:16). From the middle of the 19th century in the United States of America through the beginning of the 20th century, internal strife over the missionary society, adding instrumental music to Christian worship, open fellowship and other doctrines troubled the churches of Christ, often also known as the Christian Church. In 1905, the US government recognized a distinction between the churches of Christ and the Christian Church. The latter introduced and retained the missionary society and instrumental music in worship. In 1968, the Christian Church split into the Christian Church and the Disciples of Christ. They both retained instrumental music in worship, but the former gave up the missionary society. Both maintained additional denominational practices, such as the use of religious titles. From the middle of the 19th century onward, the Christian Church and the Disciples of Christ continued to refer to themselves as the Church of Christ. The foundation stones of some older church buildings still have inscribed on them “Church of Christ,” though they may be occupied by the Christian Church, the Disciples of Christ or some other religious …

What about Salvation Issues?

Recently, while discussing whether handclapping is an authorized avenue of worship, the question was asked, “Is that a salvation issue?” Of course, the answer is yes! Worship as a “salvation issue” is confirmed beyond doubt by Nadab and Abihu (Leviticus 10:1-2) and by Jesus’ statement about the scribes and Pharisees: “in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men” (Matthew 15:8). If God has regulated worship, then He determines how He is to be worshiped. If God has not regulated worship, then anything goes! This question, however, does force some serious thought about the term “salvation issue.” This term is sometimes brought up by those studying questionable practices. What Are Salvation Issues? Basically, everything that God obligates people to do is a matter of salvation. For those who are not yet in Christ, God obligates them to believe in Jesus (John 8:24), repent of their sin (Acts 17:30), confess their faith in Jesus as the Son of God (Romans 10:9-10), and be baptized into Christ (Acts 2:38). If accountable people outside of Christ do not do these things, they will be lost. God’s plan of redemption is a salvation issue! Those who have been baptized into Christ must “walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4), which includes worshiping God “in spirit and truth” (John 4:24), putting off sin while cultivating the “new man” (Colossians 3:1-10) and continuing to be “conformed to the image of His Son” (Romans 8:29). This, of course, does not mean those in Christ …

Deacons without Children?

Someone inquired whether it is permissible to appoint as deacons men who do not have children. The sole list of qualifications for those who may be considered for appointment as deacons appears in 1 Timothy 3:8-13. Everyone who reveres God and submits to His authority will make every effort to abide by what God stipulated in the Bible on any and about every subject. Anyone who does not revere God and refuses to submit to His authority need not bother visiting Scripture regarding any topic, because he or she is unconcerned about doing what God decreed or in the way God may have commanded; such a person will do what he or she desires, despite God and His Word. First Timothy 3:12 answers the question as to whether candidates for appointment as deacons must have children. “Let deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well” (NKJV). This verse requires that a man being considered for appointment as a deacon to be married to “one wife.” He is not a polygamist. There is no less of a stipulation or an exceptive clause in the verse to excuse him from also having children. If the verse is authoritative, and it is, the deacon must be a married man with children. The likely reason is the same as to why God expects candidates for appointment to be elders to have children: “for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take …

Does God Exist?

I heard this story this week and thought you might enjoy the “insight.” The story went something like this. A gentleman was seated in his barber’s chair. During the course of the haircut, the topic of the existence of God came up in conversation. The barber stated, “I do not believe that God exists.” The gentleman, shocked at this statement, asked “Why not?” “Well,” replied the barber, “all you have to do is go out into the street and see the pain and suffering that humans endure. If God existed, He would not allow this to happen!” The gentleman did not want to engage in an argument, so he did not respond. After the haircut, the gentleman left the barber shop. He saw, sitting on the sidewalk, a man with dirty clothes and long hair. He turned and went back into the barber shop. “Barbers do not exist!” he exclaimed. “What do you mean?” said the barber. “Of course we exist! Here I am standing right here to prove it!” The gentleman replied, “There is a man with long hair sitting on the street! If barbers existed, he would not have long, unkept hair!” “That’s a ridiculous conclusion” said the barber. “People don’t always come to me to get their hair cut!” “That’s right” the gentleman responded, “and people don’t always come to God!” If all people always went to God and submitted to His Will, then every person on the planet would not be hungry! All the sick and dying would be well cared for! There would …

Is Salvation by Faith Only?

The greater segment of the denominational world believes in and teaches that the alien sinner comes into possession of salvation, complete with eternal security, by faith alone or only. A causal examination of the creed books written by men readily affirm this statement. It is certainly scriptural to teach that one is saved by faith, but not even one passage of Scripture teaches salvation by faith only. The Scriptures, however, speak of many kinds or levels of faith. Scriptures speak of faith in these terms. The faith mentioned in this last list would be utterly useless in a “faith only” doctrine. For instance, if one subscribes to this false doctrine, he has no need to walk in faith, be sound in faith, keep the faith or live by faith. Each of these statements have verb action, a thing that “faith only” does not require. At this point, we ask two questions, to be followed by a third one. (1) Do the Scriptures teach that an accountable person can be, and actually is, saved by faith? (2) Do these same Scriptures teach that an accountable person can be, and is, saved by faith only? Logic and common sense tell us that the same answer cannot be given to both questions. We have limited our questions to accountable persons because the Scriptures do not teach anywhere, as some doctrines of men teach, that infants are sinners at the time of birth—a most unscriptural and despicable doctrine (Ezekiel 18:20). Question number three is …

What Is a Sin Unto Death?

The apostle Paul wrote these inspired words, “If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. All unrighteousness is sin; and there is a sin unto death” (1 John 5:16-17). What is the proper understanding of this verse? This passage needn’t be puzzling to us. The subject is praying on behalf of a brother or a sister in Christ. In doing so, our prayer may be effective or ineffective, depending on the circumstances. One thing is certain, there is “a sin unto death.” Yet, what sin is it, and what is meant by the term “death?” The sin is not classified and should be understood as sin in general, since any sin could be “sin unto the death.” Even though any sin could be engaged in impenitently up until the moment of physical death, “death” here refers to spiritual death. It is this sin for which it is useless to pray because the sinner will neither confess it nor repent of it (James 5:16ff; 1 John 1:9; Revelation 2:5). His or her persistent sinning has brought about spiritual death, and he or she will physically die enslaved in sin if failing to turn from the sin. Thus, the “sin unto death” is an attitude of heart. Any Christian who sins and steadfastly refuses …

Is One Church as Good as Another?

Someone asks, “Is one church as good as another?” That depends. Churches originating in the minds of men are relatively equal to each other. Hundreds of years after the first church was promised by (Matthew 16:18) and established upon Jesus Christ as its foundation (1 Corinthians 3:11), deviations from the church appearing in Acts 2:47 occurred, as foretold (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4; 1 Timothy 4:1-3; 2 Timothy 3:1-5; 2 Timothy 4:3-4). Over the centuries, deviations from the church of the Bible continued to diverge more radically from the church belonging to the Lord Jesus Christ. In addition, a couple millennia after the establishment of the Lord’s church in Jerusalem in about A.D. 33, literally thousands of manmade churches or denominations now exist. All of them differ from each other, and more importantly, they differ from the church about which we can read upon the pages of the New Testament. The Lord’s church still exists, but it is more difficult to discern that church from the great number of counterfeit, manmade churches. Often, the church of our Lord is obscured by the sheer number of human religious organizations. Due to the popularity of contemporary religion in so-called Christendom, sometimes members of the Lord’s church desire to fit in with denominationalism—much the same way that Israel of old desired an earthly king to become like the nations around them (1 Samuel 8:5, 19-20). The identifying characteristics of the church that Jesus Christ established are clearly observable in various New Testament passages. For instance, …

New Heavens and a New Earth

The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless. ( 2 Peter 3:9-14 NKJV) The context of 2 Peter 3:9-14 is an end of time passage. This physical earth and the entire universe are only temporary. They will be utterly destroyed; even the basic elements of physical matter will cease to exist—indicated by “pass away,” “the elements will melt” (twice), “burned up” and “dissolved.” This earth, however, is presently mankind’s dwelling place. After this earth and the universe are destroyed—after man’s present dwelling place no longer exists—mankind will need a replacement dwelling place. Peter described …

Why Was the Law Given Only to the Jews and Not to the Gentiles?

“Why was the Law given only to the Jews and not to the Gentiles?” The Master’s master plan for the redemption of humanity unfolded over 4,000 years from creation and the Garden of Eden through the ministry of Jesus Christ, His death, His resurrection, His Ascension and the establishment of His church. In those 4,000 years, God introduced three successive religious law systems—Patriarchy, Judaism and Christianity. Patriarchy was a family-type religion; Judaism was a national religion; Christianity is a universal religion. The first two law systems were preparatory for and foreshadowed the third law system—Christianity—which has been in place for nearly 2,000 additional years so far. Especially Judaism was ‘wiped out, taken out of the way and nailed to the cross of Christ’ (Colossians 2:14), being “…a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ” (Colossians 2:17 NKJV; cf., Hebrews 8:5; 9:9; 10:1). The three law systems were related to one another and progressive toward the unveiling of the Messiah, through whom actual forgiveness of sins is possible. Regarding Judaism or the Law of Moses, the Master’s master plan for human redemption began with one man—Abraham—to whom God made promises (Genesis 12:1-3; 18:18; 28:18) and through his descendants the Messiah was to come. Between Abraham and the coming of Jesus Christ into the world the promises were repeated to Abraham’s son Isaac (Genesis 26:4) and grandson Jacob (Genesis 28:14), also called Israel, (Genesis 32:28). Ultimately, the children of Jacob or Israel became a nation on the move after they exited Egyptian captivity and trekked to …

Did the Apostle Paul Baptize?

Plainly, the apostle Paul acknowledged that he personally baptized some individuals. Now I say this, that each of you says, “I am of Paul,” or “I am of Apollos,” or “I am of Cephas,” or “I am of Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, lest anyone should say that I had baptized in my own name. Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas. Besides, I do not know whether I baptized any other. For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect. (1 Corinthians 1:12-17 NKJV) The reason that Paul stated that he was reluctant to personally baptize people was to avoid criticism that he was baptizing persons into his name or making disciples for himself instead of for Jesus Christ. It was the apostle’s purpose in the passage cited above to dispel rather than to propel a sectarian spirit among members of the Lord’s church. Paul was not minimizing the essentiality of New Testament baptism but merely diffusing the party spirit that had arisen in the first-century church at Corinth. After all, our Lord Himself taught that belief + baptism = salvation. “He who believes and is baptized will be saved…” (Mark 16:16). Likewise, the apostle Peter emphasized the necessity of being baptized to be saved. “The …

Days of Unleavened Bread

Some may ponder the relationship of the feasts of Passover and of Unleavened Bread or if they refer to the same Jewish feast. They were different, but related. The Passover and the Feast of the Unleavened Bread were among “the feasts of the Lord” (Leviticus 23:4; cf., Mark 14:1). They were consecutive or back-to-back feasts—the Passover day beginning at twilight (Leviticus 23:5; Numbers 9:2-5), followed by seven days of the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Leviticus 23:6). Consequently, the feasts of the Passover and of the Unleavened Bread were viewed as one, protracted event (Exodus 12:1-20; Matthew 26:17; Luke 2:41-43, “Passover” and “days”; Acts 12:3-4, “during the Days of Unleavened Bread” and “after the Passover”). “Now on the first day of the Feast of the Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying to Him, ‘Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?’” (Matthew 26:17 NKJV; cf., Mark 14:12; Luke 22:7-9). “Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called Passover” (Luke 22:1). The Passover reminded the Israelites that the Lord passed over their homes when He visited death upon the Egyptians (Exodus 12:21-30). The feast of Unleavened Bread caused the Israelites to remember their impromptu and hasty departure from Egyptian slavery—so suddenly and swiftly that they had no time for leavened bread to rise (Exodus 12:39). Therefore, the feasts of the Passover and of the Unleavened Bread were different, but related. Depending upon the perspective in which one may refer to them determines …

What Day of the Week Did Paul Arrive in Troas?

Someone inquired, “What day of the week did Paul arrive in Troas?” More than one commentator on Acts 20:6 takes the reference to “seven days” literally. As such, then, the apostle would have arrived on Monday. He then purposely waited seven days until the first day of the week came around again—at which time, he and other Christians assembled to worship (Acts 20:7; cf., 1 Corinthians 16:1-2). Prior to arriving in Troas, the apostle Paul sailed for five days from Philippi. The apostle and others of his day were obliged to make use of the schedules of merchant ships for their passage, and they were further reliant upon the winds, which expedited or hindered travel. Thus, the apostle did what he could to arrive in Troas in time to assemble with the saints of that city, necessitating him to linger seven days for the Lord’s Day to come.

What’s Wrong with Instrumental Music in Christian Worship?

“I don’t see anything wrong with instrumental music in Christian worship, and I like it,” is the sentiment sometimes expressed. Well, I like instrumental music, too, and if God had asked me for my input, I would have recommended it. However, God stipulated, a long time before I or anyone else who has lived in the last nearly 2,000 years was born, precisely how we in the Christian Age are authorized to worship Him musically. Specifically and exclusively, Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16 authorize “singing.” Note that singing is not only distinguishable from instrumental music, but it is also distinguishable from vocal expressions other than singing (e.g., humming, whistling, extraneous noises, etc.). The very next verse following Colossians 3:16 pertains to authority in religion. While the passage applies generally to the authority of God’s Word, in its context, Colossians 3:17 applies first to singing being authorized for Christian worship. “16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of [by the authority of] the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (Colossians 3:16-17 NKJV). Some Old Testament Bible characters could have said that they, too, didn’t see anything wrong with doing something in an alternative way to what God stipulated or authorized. For instance, Nadab and Abihu—sons of Aaron and priests themselves—could have …

Breaking an Engagement Today

Read your article and agree what you wrote down concerning Jesus’ teachings of the exceptive clause about fornication, which was addressing the Jewish custom. As for Christians, though, it will best to divorce during the betrothal or engagement stage… In western, contemporary society, civil laws governing marriage do not include an engagement or a betrothal in the legal proceedings of a wedding. Biblical Judaism overshadowed cultural, religious and civil circumstances, and it lumped together the engagement or betrothal—a legal contract—with the officiation of the wedding. The Bible does not designate a wedding as a religious activity other than that a man and a woman may marry to avoid immorality (1 Corinthians 7:2, 36). Therefore, people must address the laws of the land under which they live (Romans 13:1-7) respecting the legal proceedings of obtaining and defining a marriage. Whatever legal procedure required in a nation to constitute a marriage is obligatory upon couples intending to wed (as long as man’s laws do not conflict with the laws of God, Acts 5:29, e.g., so-called “homosexual marriages”). However, once a marriage has occurred, Deity requires that the marriage continue, except that a separation or divorce from marriage may occur due to fornication (Matthew 5:32) or because of desertion (1 Corinthians 7:12-15). Jesus Christ set a precedent for the Christian or Gospel Age regarding divorce from a marriage, stipulating that only the innocent party to fornication may remarry (Matthew 19:9). New Testament teachings concerning marriage, divorce and remarriage are not confined to consideration …

Can a Woman Officiate a Marriage?

Hello. Is ok for a female pastor/minister/officiant to marry a couple? It doesn’t specifically say in the Bible, however, it does say females shouldn’t be pastors etc. I am really confused on this. If the woman officiant isn’t preaching in a church but is only ordained to perform marriages is that ok as well? Please advise; doing this correctly under God means a lot to me. Thanks, Ms. Robinson You are correct that the Bible does not authorize a woman to preach the Gospel to an assembly in which men are present. The New Testament makes a distinction between the religious roles of women and men. For instance, sisters in Christ must remain silent in the worship assemblies (1 Corinthians 14:34), except for their part in congregational singing (Ephesians 5:19), confessing their faults (James 5:16) and professing Christ (Romans 10:9-10). Further, Scripture forbids a woman to teach or have dominion over a man (1 Timothy 2:12). The New Testament makes no provision for female preachers, teachers, elders, deacons, song leaders, leading prayer, Scripture reading or any other religious activity in which men are subject to a woman. (Women, of course, may preach, teach, lead singing, etc. in the presence of women exclusively, e.g., Ladies’ Days, Ladies’ Bible Classes.) In addition, a woman may participate in teaching God’s Word to a man in a private setting as long as the man is not subjected to her (e.g., Bible study, conversation, etc.) per the examples of Priscilla (Acts 18:26) or a grandmother …

Can a Wife and Mother Work Outside the Home and Be Pleasing to God?

I am an engineering student, studying computer science/software engineering. Is it wrong for a daughter of God to go into such a predominately male field? I want to be a homemaker and a good wife and mother if God blesses me with a family. The above question was posed by a young lady two years into a program of study for her chosen career field. In other comments not included above, she expressed an admirable desire to be obedient to God’s will, even if it means abandoning her last two years of work. As in all religious matters, one can only know the will of God by studying His Word (2 Timothy 2:15). The young woman’s question concerning the appropriateness of her working outside the home probably arises from reading Titus 2:5. “To be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed” (NKJV). The word “homemakers” is translated as “keepers at home” in the KJV and “workers at home” in the ASV. The larger context of this verse, Titus 2:1-10, reflects the instructions that the apostle Paul wanted the young preacher, Titus, to give to his fellow Christians. Notice that men and women, young and old, as well as slaves were directed how to conduct their lives. Paul also provided the reason for such conduct: “proper for sound doctrine” (v. 1), “that the word of God may not be blasphemed” (v. 5), “showing yourself to be a pattern of good …

What Is Meant by Being Judged by Idle Words?

“What is meant by being judged by idle words?” a reader ponders. “But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned” (Matthew 12:36-37 NKJV). Both the words “idle” and “word” in this text have negative connotations. Jesus was not talking about utterances that are either positive or neutral, but rather He spoke about negative or evil speech. See that there are only two categories under consideration—words that justify or words that condemn. Compare Matthew 12:36-37 with Ephesians 5:4, which reads, “neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.” Once more, there are two categories of words—words that justify or words that condemn.

Can a Christian Sin and Be Lost?

Someone asks, “Can a Christian sin and be lost?” Writing to Christians, the apostle Paul said, “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12 NKJV). “Fall,” here, refers to a spiritually fallen condition—or becoming lost. The same word in Greek and in English appears also in Revelation 2:5. “Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.” Clearly, in this case, a congregation of Christians were at risk of being lost unless they repented. The apostle Peter declared the certainty of Christians who turn from the practice of Christianity returning to a worse condition of being lost. For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: “A dog returns to his own vomit,” and, “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.” (2 Peter 2:20-22) Receiving the forgiveness of one’s past sins is conditional upon obeying the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Mark 16:16). Not obeying the Gospel of our Lord leaves non-Christians …

Attending a Funeral with a False Teacher

Sometimes good and godly people try too hard to do the right thing—to a fault, one might say. While little harm occurs when one unnecessarily restricts himself, harm occurs when one’s personal opinion, which he binds upon himself, he also binds religiously on others (Romans 14:1-2). Consider a remarkable example from antiquity whereupon honest efforts to do the right thing were exaggerated to the point of being ridiculous. “If pure water in a pure vessel is poured into an [ceremonially] impure vessel, the water in the impure vessel certainly becomes impure; but does the impurity travel up the poured stream of water so that the remaining water in the pure vessel also becomes impure (along with the formerly pure vessel)?” (Magen). Yes, 2 John 9-11 restricts normal social interaction with false teachers. ”Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds” (NKJV). The relationship is under consideration in the text, not necessarily the location or the occasion for being in a public location. Can a faithful Christian attend a funeral at which in attendance are also erring brethren, non-Christians, sinners in general and even false teachers? If the place and the occasion require Christians to abstain from participation in an event (e.g., a funeral), what are …

When Did Joseph, the Father of Jesus, Die?

“When did Joseph, the father of Jesus, die?” someone asked. Scripture does not indicate when Joseph the father of Jesus died. Yet, Scripture implies the death of Joseph through his absence in the life, the ministry and at the time of our Lord’s death. “It is not easy to determine when Joseph died. That event may have taken place before Jesus entered on his public ministry. This has been argued from the fact that his mother only appeared at the feast at Cana in Galilee” (McClintock and Strong). The final reference to Joseph alive was when Jesus was 12-years-old as He accompanied His parents to Jerusalem for worship (Luke 2:41-51). Joseph may have died during the interim between that event and the commencement of Jesus’ public ministry, a period compressed into a single verse of Scripture (Luke 2:52). The absence of Joseph at the crucifixion of our Lord and Jesus’ assignment of His mother’s care to His disciple John (John 19:25-27) strongly implies that at least by then Joseph was no longer available to assume that care, and that he most likely had passed away previously. Unlike today when other scenarios might commonly absent a father from his family, first century Jewish culture and customs would have obligated the husband to provide for his wife if he were alive. If Joseph were much older than Mary, as often was the case among peoples anciently, it would not be unusual for the mother of Jesus to be a widow during the …

Did Jesus Have Siblings?

Someone posed the question, “Did Mary bear additional children after the birth of Jesus?” Some people want to make the brothers of Jesus His cousins instead of His half-brothers. Most Bible students, though, take the words in the Gospel records and New Testament epistles at face value, recognizing that Jesus had brothers and sisters. “Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?…” (Mark 6:3 NKJV; cf., Matthew 13:55-56; 1 Corinthians 9:5; Galatians 1:19).

Was Joseph a Widower before Marrying the Mother of Jesus?

“Was Joseph a widower before marrying the mother of Jesus?” someone asked. The biblical record says very little regarding Joseph. Joseph, the carpenter (Matt 13:55), was a “just man” (Matt 1:19 the King James Version), who belonged to Nazareth (Luke 2:4). He was of Davidic descent (Matt 1:20; Luke 2:4), the son of Heli (Luke 3:23) or Jacob (Matt 1:16), the husband of Mary (Matt 1:16), and the supposed father of Jesus (Matt 13:55; Luke 3:23; 4:22; John 1:45; 6:42). (ISBE) However, some uninspired, extra-biblical historical documents portray Joseph as an aged widower at the time of his engagement and marriage to Marry, the mother of Jesus. According to McClintock and Strong Encyclopedia, the Apocryphal Gospels record that Joseph was an 80-year-old widower at the time he wed Marry. Works Cited International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia (ISBE). CD-ROM. Seattle: Biblesoft, 2006. McClintock and Strong Encyclopedia. CD-ROM. Seattle: Biblesoft, 2006.

How Can We Know that We Are Saved?

How can one have confidence in one’s salvation? There are many schemes of redemption presented by a myriad of church organizations around the world—besides other world religions. The problem arises in that these plans of salvation conflict with each other. In what way, then, can a person be sure how to be saved from one’s sins? Most world religions resemble polytheism and offer no more spiritual promise of human redemption than characteristic of Greek or Roman mythical idol gods. Some of these predate Christianity, but they do not precede God-authored religion. Instead, they are corruptions of original God-given religion (Romans 1:18-23). One particularly militant world religion, though, developed about 600 years after Christianity began. However, only Christianity relates to God-given religion from the time God placed man on earth through the present. Christianity is God’s third and final phase in a succession of three religious systems through which mankind can come once more into the presence of a sinless, holy God. Patriarchy—a family-type religion—began with Adam and Eve after they were expelled from the Garden of Eden. Judaism—a national-type religion—was given to the Israelite nation in Moses’ day, which for its members replaced Patriarchy. Finally, nearly 2,000 years ago, Christianity—a universal-type religion—replaced Judaism for Jews and Patriarchy for non-Jews. Together and in harmony with each other, Patriarchy, Judaism and Christianity provide, in an interconnected way, the pathway from sin into which the world of men was thrust post-Garden to having the promise and prospect of living forever in God’s heavenly house. The Bible, a collection …

Why Did God Create Man?

“Why did God create man?” someone asked. King David posed a similar question in the long ago. “When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained, What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him?” (Psalm 8:3-4 NKJV). Genesis 1:26 notes the collaboration by members of the Godhead to create mankind, and it was so. A reason why God created mankind does not appear there. Elsewhere in the Bible, we see that we were created to glorify God. “Everyone who is called by My name, Whom I have created for My glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him” (Isaiah 43:7). In any case, righteous or wicked, man was created for God. “The Lord has made all for Himself, Yes, even the wicked for the day of doom” (Proverbs 16:4). One might also observe that the creation of man represents the outpouring of God’s inexhaustible love (Jeremiah 31:3; 1 John 4:8). For those who comply with God’s Word, they will bask in the love of God eternally in His presence. Though God does not need anything from mankind (Acts 17:24-25), He is willing to share His eternal home with the faithful. Those individuals, our Lord Jesus will return to retrieve someday (John 14:1-3; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17).

How Old Was Jesus When His Father Joseph Died?

There is nothing in the New Testament that indicates the age of Joseph at any point in the life of Jesus. As far as his death, the New Testament does not supply any details on that account either. Based on Luke 2:41-51, Joseph was still alive when Jesus was 12. Based on the words of Jesus on the cross, giving the care of Mary to the apostle John, a fair implication is that Joseph was not alive at the end of Jesus’ ministry (John 19:25-27). Any ages presented by scholars are based on culture of the time or historical literature, but are ultimately pure speculation.

Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs

Presently, I will also like to know what are Psalms, hymns and spiritual songs as provided in Colossians 3:16. How can we identify a psalm, a hymn and a spiritual song in a typical Hymn book. The basic definitions for the Greek words translated as “psalms,” “hymns” and “spiritual songs” are as follows. “Psalm” means a religious ode set to music, particularly the Book of Psalms. “Hymns” means a religious ode, such as from the Book of Psalms. “Spiritual songs” refers to religious singing. As one can see from these preliminary definitions, it is difficult to distinguish between psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. However, collectively psalms, hymns and spiritual songs represent a category of music that stands in distinction from secular (non-religious) songs as well as from base or vulgar lyrics (Colossians 3:8). Rather than attempting to categorize songs in our songbooks based on their identity as psalms, hymns or songs, we would do better to ensure that what we sing religiously corresponds to the category represented by “psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.” Other venues outside of a worshipful setting are suitable for secular songs, and vulgar or base songs ought never be sung by or listened to as a choice of entertainment by faithful Christians.

Who Came First?

“Did Job live before Abraham or before Noah?” The commentary Barnes Notes estimates that Job lived “about 1,800 years before Christ, and about 600 years after the deluge.” Smith’s Bible Dictionary supposes that Abraham lived from 1996 B.C. to 1822 B.C. If the calculations are correct, Job would have lived after Noah and slightly before or nearly contemporary with Abraham. Other resources likewise place Job on a timeline of biblical characters between Noah and Abraham.

Thou Shalt Not Kill

“Thou Shalt Not Kill” (Exodus 20:13). This very commandment in the Old Testament and its application in the New Testament has generated a lot of controversy in its interpretation and application in this New Testament dispensation. Thus, I want you to answer the following questions with relevant Scriptures especially from the New testament: (1) Is thou shalt not kill referring to murder or any type of killing including manslaughter, killing by accident, killing in self-defense, etc.? (2) Is there legal and lawful killing in this New Testament [dispensation]? (3) Are worldly governments justified if they mete out capital punishment to criminals, terrorists, murderers, etc.? (4) Can a Christian enlist in the army, police and other paramilitary agencies who are licensed by state governments to kill when necessary? (5) Can nations in this New Testament dispensation go to war? (6) Can Christians who are enlisted in the army fight for their countries during war? (7) Can a Christian kill in self-defense? These questions are very relevant to my spiritual growth and biblical understanding. Therefore, they demand your urgent response. The word “kill” in Exodus 20:13 as it appears in the King James Version of the Bible, for instance, is translated as “murder” in several other translations (e.g., New King James, New International, English Standard Version, Young’s Literal Translation). Even in the Old Testament, there was a distinction between murder and other reasons for which someone might be killed. God provided six cities of refuge to which someone who had committed manslaughter …

Submission of a Wife

Please, could you help me explain what it means for wives to submit to their husbands? Or, does submission have limits, and if yes, what are the limits? A husband is the head of his wife (1 Corinthians 11:3). As such, wives must submit to their own husbands (Ephesians 5:22; 1 Peter 3:1). Ephesians 5:24 says that wives are to submit to their husbands “in everything.” Colossians 3:18, though, reads, “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord” (NKJV). It is proper for wives to obey their husbands, but this obedience extends only to what is proper “in the Lord” or as a Christian.

Were the Apostles Baptized?

There is sufficient implication in Scripture to affirm, “Yes, the apostles were baptized.” Both John the Baptist (Matthew 3:1-6) and Jesus Christ (John 4:1) made and baptized disciples. Some of the apostles had been disciples first of John the Baptist (John 1:35-40; Matthew 10:1-4). Though Jesus was credited with baptizing more people than John the Baptist had baptized, our Lord did not personally baptize anyone, but His disciples performed the baptisms (John 4:2). Since the apostles were involved in both the ministries of John the Baptist and of Jesus Christ, which included baptisms, it is logical to infer that the apostles themselves had been baptized, too. The reason that our Lord gave for His submission to be baptized was “to fulfill all righteousness” (Matthew 3:15). Therefore, the apostles of John the Baptist as well as the apostles likewise needed to be baptized to fulfill all righteous, meaning that baptism was required to be pleasing to God since the time of the ministry of John the Baptist. Further, since the apostles were administering baptism, it is reasonable to conclude that they had received what they were dispensing. The baptism received by the apostles and the disciples of John the Baptist was before the cross and different in purpose from the baptism of the Great Commission (Mark 16:16), which was implemented after the cross of Christ (Acts 19:1-7). The baptisms of John the Baptist and of the Great Commission were the same in form, but they differed in purpose. The difference between the two …

What about Paul and the Sabbath Day?

Question: Didn’t the apostle Paul and his associates observe the Sabbath many times? As these are recorded in the New Testament, shouldn’t we observe the Sabbath too? Answer: There are several passages in the New Testament that tell of the apostle Paul and his preaching partners going to Sabbath meetings (Acts 27:1-4). The question is, why were they going to the meetings? A little background is necessary here. The apostle Paul had been a devout Jew and persecutor of the church of Christ until he saw Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus. From that time forward, he went about preaching Jesus Christ as the Son of God. Acts 13-28 record the work of Paul preaching Christ throughout the world. Notice first of all that Paul was looking for people that were interested in the true God. Therefore, naturally he went into the Jewish synagogue on the Sabbath where people gathered to worship God. There was another reason. It was the custom in those days that if a stranger, who was a Jew, appeared in synagogue worship, after the reading of the Law and the prophets (Old Testament), the ruler of the synagogue would ask the strangers if they had any word of exhortation. Of course, Paul always had Gospel exhortations for those present. He would always preach about Jesus Christ and His will, the New Testament. If you will study the context of Acts 13 through the rest of the Book of Acts, you will find that Paul and …

Women Wearing Pants

Someone inquires if it is appropriate for women to wear pants—slacks or trousers. This section of Gospel Gazette Online is dedicated to providing biblical answers to religious questions. However, the Bible does not specifically speak to this question. To answer this inquiry, we will need to appeal to biblical principles, culture and modesty. Following the sin of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, God determined that men and women must wear clothes. God replaced the unsatisfactory fig leaf aprons that Adam and Eve fashioned for themselves instead with animal skins, which covered them more fully (Genesis 3:7, 21). Moving forward from Patriarchy under which Adam and Eve lived, under Judaism, men and women were prohibited from wearing clothing of the opposite sex (Deuteronomy 22:5). This verse is likely the basis of the question posed herein. Despite the teaching of this passage, both the garments and the adornments worn by biblical era people often resembled that of the opposite sex. Sometimes, the differences were subtle, as is still the case around the world where men and women persist in wearing clothing comparable to biblical era clothes. For instance, in one Asian nation, both men and women wear a garment comparable to a skirt; whereas men tuck and secure their garment in the front, women tuck their skirt on one hip or the other. There may be a difference, also, in the print of the skirts respectively for men and for women. Nevertheless, there is a distinction between the appearance of men …

How Can I Know that I Am Saved?

Someone asks, “How can I know that I am saved?” It is no wonder that anyone would ask such a question in view of multiple world religions and thousands of so-called Christian denominations—all of which offer their own solutions to the need for salvation. Therefore, no one ought to depend on manmade—but rather divine in origin—answers to so important an inquiry. Forget what mere man has to say, and instead, resort to what God through His inspired revelation has recorded for our inspection and application to our lives. First, it is possible to know that one is saved. By “know,” we refer to knowledge rather than to simply feelings, which can be shifting, unstable and unreliable. “Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments” (1 John 2:3 NKJV). The “Him” in this verse refers to Jesus Christ (v. 1), who saves from sins (v. 2). The sense is that we know that we know Jesus Christ as our Savior “if we keep His commandments.” Thus, keeping the commandments of our Lord is essential to receive the forgiveness of sins. Not only can one know that he or she is saved initially from sins by Jesus Christ upon keeping the commandments of our Lord, but continued obedience to the commandments of Jesus Christ result in continual or ongoing salvation. “But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us …

Were Some First Century Christians Polygamists?

“Based on one of the qualifications for elders that a man must be ‘the husband of one wife’ (1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:6), were some first century Christians polygamists? Can Christians today be polygamists?” In short, the answers to these two questions are “maybe” and “no.” Religiously, the first century was a period of transition from Judaism (and Patriarchy for non-Jews) to Christianity. As an example, the apostle Paul and other Christians evidently had initiated Jewish vows at a time when Judaism was effective, but they fulfilled those vows after Judaism was no longer God’s religious law in effect and after the commencement of Christianity (Acts 18:18; 21:23). Since Judaism and Patriarchy have both been replaced with Christianity about two millennium ago, the transition between Judaism and Patriarchy has long since ceased. Polygamy was practiced by some under both Judaism (e.g., Solomon, 1 Kings 11:3) and Patriarchy (e.g., Abraham, Jacob). Polygamy, though, was not God’s ideal plan for marriage, evident from His creation of one man for one woman—Adam and Eve. The original instructions for marriage only allowed for one husband and one wife (Genesis 2:24-25). During His earthly ministry, Jesus restored God’s original plan for marriage when He was asked about the subject of divorce (Matthew 19:4-5). Nevertheless, some in the first century may have been polygamists at the time when they became acquainted with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They, then, found themselves in the situation of having entered into polygamy at a time (under Judaism or Patriarchy) …

Was the Lord’s Supper Observed on Monday?

Regarding Acts 20:7, was the Lord’s Supper account therein observed on Monday? Acts 20:7 reads, “Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight” (NKJV). All standard English translations of the New Testament agree that the church in Troas (Acts 20:6) came together on the first day of the week to observe the communion or the Lord’s Supper. In the first place, irrespective of whether the apostle Paul’s preaching extended beyond the first day of the week into the next day, it remains that the church assembled to observe the Lord’s Supper on the first day of the week—Sunday on our calendars, today. In the second place, the Jewish concept of when a day began and ended differed from how Romans viewed the beginning and the ending of a day. Jewish reckoning of a day considered the day as beginning approximately at 6 p.m. or at sunset (Genesis 1:5, 8); to them, a day was from sunset to sunset (Leviticus 23:32). Therefore, if Jewish understanding of a day were applied to Acts 20:7, the day under consideration had begun at sunset or at about 6 p.m., in which case there was only six hours between the beginning of the day and “midnight.” From the Jewish perspective, then, even after midnight would have been still the same day—the first day of the week. Regardless of whether Roman time—comparable to the contemporary …

Acts 20:7 and Biblical Authority

Several articles about biblical interpretation appear in the archived pages of Gospel Gazette Online. Following are some links for a few of those pages. In addition, in the free digital biblical library on Gospel Gazette Online are several books as PDF files. One of those books is about biblical interpretation, which you may read by selecting the following link. Biblical interpretation involves three different ways of communicating the will of God to man: direct command, approved example and implication (from which we are obligated to infer only what is implied in Scripture without taking from or adding to it). These are the same three ways by which people communicate with each other, too. Sometimes people attempt to disallow approved examples and divine implication in the Bible, supposing that only direct commands equal biblical authority. That is a serious error because it carelessly disregards divine instruction from God to mankind. For instance, without accepting implication from which man must infer what is implied in Scripture, not even direct commands found in the Bible would apply to anyone today, since no Scripture in the Bible was specifically written to anyone now living. For even a direct command to apply to anyone today, one must first see a biblical implication from which he correctly infers that the command not only applied to those to whom it was originally given, but that the same command also applies to people living today. Commands cannot apply today unless one accepts that biblical implication is authoritative. Likewise, approved examples teach …

Resurrection

As far as I can see, your thoughts on resurrection do not teach that Christ is bringing back the spirits to be united with the former body and then “changed.” From 1 Thessalonians 4:13 and 1 Thessalonians 3:13, are not the “spirits from hades” brought back to be reunited with former bodies, which conquers death, the last enemy of Christ. Possibly I missed this in one of your articles? Would be thankful for thoughts. Thank you. I do not know to which article or articles the questioner refers. However, I’m certain that I have never exhausted all that could be said about any subject on which I have spoken or written. Simply not mentioning something or not addressing it as fully as an auditor might prefer does not imply an aversion to some aspect of biblical instruction. The fullest single treatment in the Bible of the resurrection appears in 1 Corinthians 15. In particular, consider the following verses therein. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed — in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and …

Sign Language

If it’s OK, I want to ask a question regarding worship and those who have speaking disabilities (or something similar to that). When we (at our congregation) teach about not using mechanical instruments of music in worship to God, a brother usually brings up the fact that there are disabled people who may not be able to worship as we do. I believe he was talking about those who can’t sing VOCALLY (or some with similar disabilities), but still understand the need to worship. The brother says we shouldn’t leave them out, and I believe his point is that the disabled may understand the words sung in worship by other signals (which the average person may consider an addition or something unauthorized when he himself worships) besides VOCAL. Just want to see if you would comment on this. Thanks. Obviously, Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16 refer to the vocal music of singing (i.e., would not include other vocal sounds such as humming, whistling, etc.), which is comprised of audible words. The purpose, in part, is that by those audible words Christians in worship are “speaking to one another” (Ephesians 5:19) and “teaching and admonishing” (Colossians 3:16). Certainly, instrumental music is both an addition to what is authorized for worshipful music and it is incapable to “speaking” as well as “teaching and admonishing.” No one of whom I am aware believes that God requires of anyone what he or she may be physically or mentally incapable of doing. For instance, when …

Please Explain Ephesians 4:11

A Friend asked a question regarding Ephesians 4:11, which reads, “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers” (NKJV). Context is immeasurably important in every communication, and it is no less significant regarding biblical interpretation. In the case of Ephesians 4:11, part of the context pertains to the first century when true miracles occurred. Within its context, Ephesians 4:11 concerns different leadership roles in the early church wherein each of them was assisted by miracles, namely, apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors or elders and teachers. After miracles had served their purpose (Mark 16:20; John 20:30-31; Hebrews 2:3-4) and were no longer available (1 Corinthians 13:8-12; Ephesians 4:13), all church leaders must rely on the written Word of God rather than miraculous assistance to fulfill their respective duties. Since the qualifications to be an apostle cannot be achieved by anyone living today (Acts 1:21-26; 22:14), there are no longer any living apostles. Besides, the miracles with which they were equipped are no longer available by which they could function as they did prior to the availability of the written Word of God. Prophets, in the sense of forth-tellers, are no longer available either in the absence of modern-day miracles. Although evangelists, pastors (elders) and teachers remain in the church in our time, they are no longer assisted by ongoing miracles. Instead, they must rely upon the Word of God both for their guidance in their congregational functions and for their teaching and leadership …

Can a Pastor Be an Elder?

Someone posed the question, “Can a pastor be an elder?” I know what the inquirer means, but the query, nevertheless, needs some additional explanation. We will address both the actual question as well as the intent behind the question. First, note that there are several synonyms or interchangeable terms in the New Testament for the same office of responsibility. The Greek word “pastor” appears 18 times in the New Testament and is translated as “shepherd” each time, except in Ephesians 4:11 where it is translated as “pastor.” In the context of church leaders, “shepherd” is equivalent to “elder” (1 Peter 5:1-4) or “bishop” (1 Peter 2:25). The same office of responsibility is cited in Scripture as an “overseer” (Acts 20:17, 28). A “pastor” is an “elder,” which is the same as a “shepherd” or a “bishop.” Secondly, now to the intent of the question. Can a minister, an evangelist or a preacher also be an elder? Scripture answers the question in one of the citations in the previous paragraph. “The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed” (1 Peter 5:1 NKJV). The apostle Peter was a minister, an evangelist or a preacher as well as an elder. Yes, a pastor can be an elder, since the two words refer to the same church office of responsibility. Yes, a preacher can serve also as an elder if he …

Are Kitchens Authorized?

Someone poses the question, “Are kitchens authorized?” Presumably and based on past and current “church doctrines,” the inquiry does not refer to cooking appliances in one’s home, but rather in a church building. The question, then, is, “Are kitchens authorized to be in church buildings?” By the word “authorized,” we understand the petitioner to refer to what is “authorized” in the Word of God, and even perhaps more refined to what is authorized in the New Testament portion of the Bible. Doubtlessly, anyone who ever pondered this question has done so sincerely and only wants to do what is right according to the Word of God. I would not criticize such an admirable desire. Yet, sometimes apparently mankind troubles himself over matters that do not have their origin in biblical doctrine, or they concern themselves with inconsequential things rather than with clear doctrinal teaching. Our Lord found some in His day during His earthly ministry who exhibited these characteristics. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!” (Matthew 23:23-24 NKJV). Certainly, we neither mean to judge anyone’s motives nor to call him a Pharisee. We would simply point out the tendency for humans to show a lesser regard for distinct biblical doctrine while showing an inordinately heightened interest in …

New Jerusalem Coming Down from Heaven

I read the article on New Jerusalem, and I was wondering how you would explain Revelation 21:2 where it says that the holy city, New Jerusalem, would be coming down out of heaven. Thanks. The person pondering “New Jerusalem coming down from Heaven” refers to a previous Question & Answer in the February 2017 edition of Gospel Gazette Online (https://www.gospelgazette.com/gazette/2017/feb/page14.html#article2). Aside from repeating information contained in the previous article, we turn specifically to providing an explanation for the phrase, “…New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God…” (Revelation 21:2 NKJV). Last month, I contrasted the earthly home of literal Jerusalem with the heavenly home to come, figuratively a spiritual Jerusalem. Earthly Jerusalem, a place of bodily habitation, will be replaced with a figurative or spiritual Jerusalem, a place of habitation for spirits. “…New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God…” doubly identifies the origin of this eternal abode of righteous souls—“out of heaven”—“from God.” As such, the phrase also confirms the spiritual nature of the New Jerusalem, since “flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God [Heaven]” (1 Corinthians 15:50) and “God is a Spirit” (John 4:24). Hence, the “New Jerusalem” is figurative or spiritual and not a literal city in which humans in their physical bodies will abide on a physical earth, which will be utterly destroyed—even to the eradicating of the smallest building blocks of creation (2 Peter 3:10-11).

What is Right with the Church?

“What is right with the church?” is an interesting question. At first, I misread the inquiry and thought that it read, “What is the right church?” Actually, some of the responses to either query would be the same. First, the church about which one reads in the Bible originated in the mind of Almighty God before the creation of anything. To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Ephesians 3:8-11 NKJV) If one is referring to the church about which we read upon the pages of inspiration, one thing that is right with the church is that it originated in the mind of God. In addition, only that church is the right church. This ought to be obvious, in part, because the church of the Bible was the only church that existed for hundreds of years before the establishment of the Catholic Church and hundreds of years later with the development of denominationalism as the outgrowth of the Reformation Movement. The divine origin of the church of the Bible …

Sinful Nature

“What is wrong with the expression, ‘Sinful Nature’?” someone inquires. First, standard, tried and reliable Bible translations do not use that phrase in the biblical text (e.g., KJV, ASV, NKJV, ESV, etc.). Rather, the words “sinful nature” appear in a small number of translations of the New Testament (e.g., NIV, TEV, and Wuest New Testament), in contradistinction from long revered Bible translations that were brought about by universally recognized scholarship and proficiency in the biblical languages. That alone may be worthy of reconsidering one’s use of some Bible translations, such as the NIV, regarding their fidelity or lack thereof in communicating God’s message from the original languages in which the Bible was penned to contemporary languages. Secondly, the phrase “sinful nature” represents a doctrinal error that is associated with John Calvin, namely, what is popularly referred to as Calvinism. This doctrine crosses denominational lines and is observable in such modern churches as the Presbyterian and most Baptist denominations. Calvinism is summarized and committed to memory through the acrostic, TULIP—which stands for Total Depravity, Unconditional Election, Limited Atonement, Irresistible Grace and Perseverance of the Saints. Note the following quotation for the association between Calvinism and the expression “sinful nature.” “All of us have a sinful nature, and it affects every part of us. This is the doctrine of total depravity…” (“What is…”). The appearance in a translation of the Scriptures the words “sinful nature” and that for which it stands—Total Depravity of Calvinism—is an example of denominational doctrine from denominational bias—rather than from scholarship—making its way …

Is Everything in a Christian’s Life Worship?

The basic question indicated in the title of this article has been answered thoroughly in three articles already appearing in the Archive for Gospel Gazette Online. Please note the following links to those articles. https://www.gospelgazette.com/gazette/2014/oct/page4.htmlhttps://www.gospelgazette.com/gazette/2001/may/page18.htmhttps://www.gospelgazette.com/gazette/2005/oct/page13.htm Someone asked in addition to the basic question above whether Romans 1:25 teaches that everything one does in life is worship. The premise put forth about which the one asking the question ponders is whether the apparent human disposition to worship proves that everything in the life of a child of God is worship. Romans 1:25 reads, “Who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen” (NKJV). There is nothing in either Romans 1:25 or in its surrounding context that legitimizes the proposition that everything done in one’s life is worship. Yes, from observation of this verse and from observation of historical societies, it appears true that mankind has a built-in inclination or is hardwired to worship. However, having a disposition to worship does not prove that all of one’s life is worship. Rather, Romans 1:25 and personal observation of worship practices of former societies around the world only prove that mankind having the predisposition to worship will worship someone or something—an object of worship. Instead of teaching that all of life is worship, Romans 1:25 teaches that worshippers may correctly choose as the object of their worship the true and living God, or they may choose another object of their …

Remaining Single or Marrying

What “traits” (so to speak), if any, would you see in the Scriptures that would lead one to the conclusion that a person may be better fitted to be single rather than married? (I’m not speaking specifically of those who aren’t eligible to marry or to date, Matthew 19:9.) From the second chapter of the Bible, Scripture anticipates that ordinarily a family will consist, initially, of a man and a woman (i.e., a husband and a wife). It was not God’s plan for man to be single or alone (Genesis 2:20-25). Yet, a person does not sin by remaining single (1 Corinthians 7:1, 7-8) as long as he or she neither violates New Testament prohibitions (1 Corinthians 15:34) or fails to perform directives in the Gospel of Christ (James 4:17). Since even conscientious Christians sometimes sin, though, there is a remedy in Jesus Christ for such times (1 John 2:1). However, we Christians dare not excuse ourselves from righteousness to commit sin while presumptuously relying on the grace of God (Romans 6:1-2). Especially the young marry (Proverbs 5:18). Both testaments of the Bible address moral purity, especially as it pertains to youth. For instance, the Book of Proverbs is particularly addressed “to the young man” (1:4). The New Testament also contains instruction for young men. “Likewise, exhort the young men to be sober-minded, in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who …

Seeking to Become a Christian

If you knew someone who is in the music industry (doesn’t have to be someone famous, but can include the famous), yet was seeking to become a Christian, what biblical advice would you give to him (precautions, encouragements, etc.), given what you know about the industry (good or bad) in modern times? Generally speaking, irrespective of who one is or what it is that one does (including vocationally), the same Gospel message and prescription for redemption applies to one and all alike. The apostle Paul represented the Christians at Corinth to have become the children of God although they had been guilty of any number of and any manner of sins—many of which sinful ways are especially represented in contemporary mankind. Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Corinthians 6:9-11 NKJV) In addition, the apostle Paul spoke regarding the integrity and honorableness of one’s chosen vocation. In other words, there are some livelihoods even though they be legal and socially acceptable nevertheless involve sin—from which faithful Christians ought to distance themselves (e.g., bartender, abortion provider, etc.). “Let him who stole …

New Jerusalem

Someone inquires, “To what does ‘the new Jerusalem’ in Revelation 3:12 refer?” The phrase “new Jerusalem coming down from God out of heaven” also appears in Revelation 21:2. To correctly answer the question introduced above, one must first recognize that the Book of Revelation is mostly comprised of figurative language rather than literal language. A common mistake made by religionists is not “handling aright the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15), which includes distinguishing between figurative and literal language. Secondly, noting the context in which a verse of Scripture appears is essential to the proper understanding of the Word of God. For instance, Revelation 3:12 appears in our Lord’s address to the seven churches of Asia and particularly in the segment thereof dedicated to “the church in Philadelphia” in Asia Minor (contemporary Turkey). “New Jerusalem” there refers to the eternal reward of victorious saints who “persevere” (Revelation 3:10). Thirdly, “new Jerusalem” is comparable to “Jerusalem which is above” (Galatians 4:26), “the heavenly Jerusalem” (Hebrews 12:22) and “the holy Jerusalem” (Revelation 21:10). Otherwise, “the new Jerusalem” is “the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God” (Hebrews 11:10). As such, “the new Jerusalem” stands in contrast to the earthly Jerusalem in old Israel. The former city, which housed Solomon’s Temple, is contrasted with its replacement—new Jerusalem, a city whose builder and maker is God, rather than constructed by the hands of mere mortals. The latter is spiritual and pertains to one’s eternal heavenly habitation. The new Jerusalem is the replacement for earthly Jerusalem. …

Did God Choose Donald Trump to Be President?

Recently, the preacher was talking about God in control and that government is under God’s control. He stated that Donald Trump was God’s choice to win; so because God is in control, Donald Trump won. I understand God rules, and that in times past He has selected certain individuals to serve His purpose, but how can we make a statement that God chose Donald Trump over Hillary Clinton? If God chose Donald Trump to be president over Hillary Clinton, it is certain that God would have His way. We know from explicit biblical teaching that in the past God has chosen specific persons or nations through His providence to rise to prominence. “By me kings reign, And rulers decree justice. By me princes rule, and nobles, All the judges of the earth”(Proverbs 8:15-16 NKJV). “…He removes kings and raises up kings…” (Daniel 2:21). “…the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, Gives it to whomever He will…” (Daniel 4:17). “…the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses” (Daniel 4:32). The replacement of King Saul with King David is one example of Divine intervention in the human governance of mankind (Acts 13:21-22; Hosea 13:11). Romans 13:1-7 confirms that God still authorizes the existence of governments, though He sanctions no particular form of human government over another. For instance, the type of government ruling the Mediterranean world in the first century when the Roman epistle was penned was not a democracy. Still, Christians were …

Current Location of Satan and Demons

A reader posed the question, “Is there any verse that addresses the current location of Satan and demons?” Yes, we can reasonably discern from Scripture the current location of Satan and the demons. An incident during the ministry of Jesus gives us the first clue to the current location of Satan, his evil angels and demons. “When He had come to the other side, to the country of the Gergesenes, there met Him two demon-possessed men, coming out of the tombs, exceedingly fierce, so that no one could pass that way. And suddenly they cried out, saying, ‘What have we to do with You, Jesus, You Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?’” (Matthew 8:28-29 NKJV). In the first century—parallel with the time miracles were occurring and revelation from God through the Holy Spirit was being received by mortal penmen (Mark 16:17-18, 20)—Satan and his minions, fallen angels and demons, were loose. They knew, however, that the time was coming when they would enter “the abyss,” and the demons of Matthew 8:28-29 (cf., Mark 5:1-20; Luke 8:26-39) pleaded with Jesus not to assign them to that destination ahead of the appointment time. “And they begged Him that He would not command them to go out into the abyss” (Luke 8:31). The “abyss” refers to the “bottomless pit” of Revelation 20:1-3; it is comparable to the punitive side the Hadean realm—the abode of departed spirits awaiting Final Judgment and sentencing to Hell. “The demons asked Jesus …

Illegal Immigrants

What should be the Christian’s response to or interaction with illegal immigrants? While Christians have the religious obligation to obey the laws of the land in which they live (Romans 13:1-7; 1 Peter 2:17)—except when the law of God and the laws of men directly contradict each other (Acts 5:29), Christianity does not have a political preference. The harsh, iron-fisted Roman Empire dominated the Mediterranean world of the first century when the epistles of Romans and 1 Peter were penned. Primarily, the Gospel of Christ is about human redemption—not politics. Whenever and wherever a Christian encounters a non-Christian, his first obligation is to acquaint him or her with the Gospel of Christ, whereby he or she has the opportunity to become a citizen of heaven itself. Subsequently, in the course of teaching beyond redemption, one will eventually teach such passages as Romans 13:1-7 and 1 Peter 2:17, too. The activism characteristic of either side of an immigration issue is not the focus of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Remotely similar, perhaps, the apostle Paul noted that a first century runaway slave had been converted to Christianity during the absence from his master. Nevertheless, he was directed to return to his master (Philemon 10-19). Teach one the Gospel of Christ, and then teach him to do what is right, even if we personally disapprove of the legal circumstances, which themselves do not directly conflict with the Gospel of Christ.

Why Was He Born Blind?

Why was he born blind? Because he is clay! And as Jesus passed by, He saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. (John 9:1-5) The man was born blind. The disciples had thought about this sort of thing before. They had come to the conclusion that sin was the reason for such a horrible thing. The question was, “Who sinned, the man or his parents?” Certainly one of them was being punished! Jesus explained that sin was not the reason at all! If sin was not why he was born blind, then why was he? Jesus said, “…but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. I must work the works of him that sent me.” In other words, the man was born blind so that Jesus could heal him and show the world that He worked the works of God! Does this sound unreasonable? Should God allow a man to be born blind and live his whole life suffering only because He wanted to show …

Using Unbaptized Boys in Services

#1 A question about using the non-baptized young boys to read Scripture on Wednesday nights as “training” has come up. This will be during the regular Bible study time. Please let me know your thoughts on this matter and any Scriptures… #2 Sometimes in the brotherhood there is a practice of using our young men including children to lead in services on Sundays with the aim of developing leadership. …In my aim to ensure that I am not violating any scripture I am asking if this practice is right or wrong. I know that children are innocent since they are not at the age or stage of accountability. I also know that teenage young men can lead. I know that there is a question of those who are not children, since they are older and are not yet Christians. Seeking knowledge. I am not aware of a biblical precedent for children leading in aspects of Christian worship. Neither am I aware of a biblical precedent for non-Christians leading in aspects of Christian worship. Granted, small children are innocent, and it is a noble goal to develop leadership and inclusiveness of youth in Christian worship. Yes, various congregations sometimes permit children to lead songs, for instance, in Christian worship (e.g., Sunday evening or in the devotional associated with Wednesday Bible class). It seems to me that it is biblically unauthorized for a non-Christian male who is perceived to be old enough to have obeyed the Gospel to lead in some aspect …

One Church or Many Churches?

Someone inquired as to how many churches Jesus Christ has in view of the biblical statement in Romans 16:16, “…The churches of Christ salute you” (KJV). Does our Lord have one church, or do many churches belong to Him? The English word “church” is translated from the New Testament Greek word “ekklesia.” The Greek word appears 114 times and is uniformly translated as “church,” except in Acts 19:39 where it is translated as “assembly.” “Ekklesia” is a compound Greek word meaning “out of” and “a calling”—the called out. Depending on the context in which it appears, it refers in the Bible to Israel in the wilderness following the Exodus (Acts 7:38), to a lawful assembly of citizens (Acts 19:39), to a mob (Acts 19:32, 41), to the whole of Christianity (Matthew 16:18), to a particular Christian congregation (1 Corinthians 1:2) or to the worship assembly of a congregation (1 Corinthians 14:4-5, 12, 19, 23, 34). Historically and biblically, there was only one church, and there were no denominations yet, when Romans 16:16 was penned by the inspired apostle Paul. There were, though, several congregations of the one church, and that is how “churches” (congregations) is used in Romans 16:16, as well as in Romans 9:31. Furthermore, the apostle Paul wrote that the words “church” and “body” refer to the same thing. “And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all …

May Worship Be Directed to the Holy Spirit?

All we can know about acceptable worship is what is revealed upon the pages of inspiration—the Bible (1 Corinthians 4:6). For those living today, the New Testament is the portion of the Bible to which one must turn for instruction regarding Christianity (2 Corinthians 3:6; Hebrews 8:13; 10:9), including to Whom and what worship is authorized. There are five activities of worship about which we can read in the New Testament: praying and singing (1 Corinthians 14:15), breaking the bread of the Lord’s Supper and preaching (Acts 20:7), and giving (1 Corinthians 16:1-2)—in no particular order. Specifically, the fuller question is whether it is proper or permissible to offer worship through prayers or singing to the Holy Spirit. Theoretically and technically, one could endeavor to worship the Holy Spirit through the other three acts of worship, too. If it were conceded that preaching, the Lord’s Supper and giving are inappropriate activities of worship to offer to the Holy Spirit, then it would be logical that neither are prayers and singing suitable activities of worship to offer to the Holy Spirit. Where in the New Testament does it instruct its readers to worship the Holy Spirit in one or more of the acts of Christian worship? Certainly, as a member of the Godhead (Matthew 28:19; Acts 17:29; Romans 1:20) the Holy Spirit possesses all of the qualities, characteristics, traits and the essence of being Deity or God as also do the Father and the Son (Colossians 2:9). Whether the Holy Spirit is worthy of worship is …

The Spirit at the
Baptism of Jesus

Brother Rushmore, I appreciate so much all of your good work and learn much from your writings. One of our members posed a question recently that I would appreciate your thoughts regarding. The question basically was: Did Jesus not have the Holy Spirit prior to the Spirit descending on Him at His baptism? Or, did Jesus have powers after this event that he did not have before (e.g. ability to perform miracles, etc.)? I have searched for and read some of your writings regarding Jesus’ baptism, but did not find anything directly on point with this. Thanks for your many efforts for the Kingdom. In Him, Mark Albert Barnes made the following observation on Matthew 3:16. The gift of the Holy Spirit, in this manner, was the public approbation of Jesus (John 1:33), and a sign of his being set apart to the office of the Messiah. We are not to suppose that there was any change done in the moral character of Jesus, but only that he was publicly set apart to his work, and solemnly approved by God in the office to which he was appointed. (Barnes’). Certainly, it is true that the baptism of Jesus Christ inaugurated His earthly ministry. It is equally certain that His ethic of righteousness remained the same excellence after His baptism as it had been likewise flawless – sinless – prior to His baptism (Hebrews 4:15). However, the question remains, “Did Jesus of Nazareth possess miraculous powers before His baptism at the …

Is It Possible to Repent after Death?

No, repenting after death is not an option presented in the Bible. Numerous passages call upon the living to repent of their sins (Matthew 3:2; 4:17). “Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead” (Acts 17:30-31 NKJV). Repentance, we see from this verse, precedes judgment and is not something that dare be put off until after death and when judgment is imminent. In addition, the rich man of Luke 16:19-31 was very much interested in repentance for his brothers who were yet alive (Luke 16:30). Yet, he was not afforded an opportunity after death to repent whereby he could change his eternal destiny. His eternal disposition following death was fixed and unchangeable (Luke 16:26). Hence, the culminating point of the first recorded Gospel sermon is a divine message regarding repentance that every man and woman urgently needs to embrace. “Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins…’” (Acts 2:38).

Cornelius’ Prayer

Questions concerning the prayer of Cornelius were answered previously in the pages of Gospel Gazette Online. See the following URL. https://www.gospelgazette.com/gazette/2008/aug/page20.htm To that, I merely add the observations of the following commentators. “…having acted according to the light which he had, his prayers were heard, and his alms were accepted” (Barnes). “He was heard because he was yearning for light and using all the light he had” (Johnson). Aside from the miraculous trappings that existed in the first century since such does not persist in the present age (1 Corinthians 13:8-13), God’s providential (behind the scenes) response to earnest truth-seekers does still continue (Hebrews 11:6). Works Cited Barnes Notes. Seattle: Biblesoft, 2005. Johnson, B.W. The People’s New Testament. Georgetown: Wordsearch, 2008.

The Spirit of Truth vs. the Spirit of Error

Someone inquired how can one know the difference between “the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.” Doubtless, the question arises from 1 John 4:6, which reads, “We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error” (NKJV). The first part of 1 John 4:6 defines the difference between references to “the spirit of truth and the spirit of error” in the latter portion of that verse. There are two opposing personalities and sources respecting “the spirit of truth and the spirit of error” – God and not God or respecting the initiator of opposition to God – Satan. Likewise, spokesmen for God derive their message from God and thereby represent “the spirit of truth.” Doctrines put forth, teaching and preaching contrary to God and His revealed Word are proclaimed by spokesmen for Satan, thereby representing “the spirit of error.” Several New Testament passages serve as divine commentary on the thoughts and principles that are embedded in 1 John 4:6. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the …

Absolutism versus Relativism

Someone inquired about the two words “absolutism” and “relativism.” Merriam-Webster defines “absolutism” as “2 : advocacy of a rule by absolute standards or principles. 3 : an absolute standard or principle.” Dictionary.com says of “absolutism” that it is “any theory holding that values, principles, etc., are absolute and not relative, dependent, or changeable.” On the other hand, “relativism” is defined thusly. “Relativism is the belief that there’s no absolute truth, only the truths that a particular individual or culture happen to believe. If you believe in relativism, then you think different people can have different views about what’s moral and immoral” (vocabulary.com/dictionary/relativism). “The theory that value judgments, as of truth, beauty, or morality, have no universal validity but are valid only for the persons or groups holding them” (thefreedictionary.com/relativism). As an example of the contrast between absolutism and relativism, the American Constitution and its Amendments are viewed by the Judiciary in the United States in accordance with relativism and not according to absolutism. As such, the Constitution and its Amendments are seen as a living, not fixed document that is subject to the interpretation and application of Federal judges and the U.S. Supreme Court, which may and often varies widely from what the framers of those documents clearly intended in the beginning of the United States of America when they were adopted. Religiously or theologically, many professing Christianity view the Bible – God’s Holy Word – in the same way – not fixed, not absolute and changeable per the whims of contemporary people. Almighty God, through …

Worship Style

Thank you for your faithful study. Louis, here’s my question. Please direct me to the Scriptures. Which are the non-negotiables when making the decision to extend fellowship or not? I have no other desire than to follow Scripture, but the details that we focus on sometimes in our brotherhood leave me confounded. Can a church look different in things like worship style, for example, and still be given our hand? “Non-negotiables,” as the one posing the question above wrote, most surely are delineated in “the apostles’ doctrine” (Acts 2:42). Just as was true regarding the Old Testament prophets (2 Peter 1:20-21), “the apostles’ doctrine” was not of their own origin, but they were given it from God in heaven (Matthew 16:19) through the Holy Spirit (John 14:26; 16:13). For clarification, commonly translations of Matthew 16:19 do not adequately convey that God made doctrinal decisions that were passed on to the apostles versus the apostles making decisions that were passed on to God. The verse purposes to teach that the apostles’ doctrine was not their own, but that they received it from God. Somewhat awkward in English and not flowing smoothly, nevertheless, the following two translations more accurately reflect that the apostles’ doctrine which they proclaimed pertained to what God in heaven had already decided. “And I will give to thee the keys of the reign of the heavens, and whatever thou mayest bind upon the earth shall be having been bound in the heavens, and whatever thou mayest loose upon the …

Benevolent Institutions

Our church as a community effort could help an “adult assisted living/retirement home,” but we found out the Presbyterian Church is behind this effort. Can we visit/help out this home in any biblical way and be correct? I know we are not to “help out or support” in any way other religions. I guess the question ends up being, “Are we helping out their cause?” I am sure that many of these people are really not members of “this church,” BUT would we be helping out “their cause” in the end? Thank you and respond as soon as possible. These days, we often find Catholic, Presbyterian, Methodist and Baptist hospitals, especially in metropolitan areas. These clearly wear the monikers of denominational churches. At the same time, they typically receive public funds as well as charge for their services. These benevolent institutions exist generally because of the effect of Christianity on society and specifically perhaps because of the initiative of some aspect of benevolence promoted by various denominational churches. Yet, such hospitals may be the only hospital services available in some communities, and irrespective of that, usually people do not suppose that receiving treatment from them or even being employed by them is recognized as an endorsement of denominational religious tenets. Additional benevolent institutions may or may not be identified by their names as associated with religious denominations (e.g., personal care homes, nursing homes, hospice houses). Their existence, too, must be attributed generally with the positive effect of Christianity on society, …

Does Infidelity Make an Unscriptural Marriage Scriptural?

Does infidelity to an unscriptural marriage transform the unscriptural marriage into a scriptural (God recognized) marriage? That would seem to be the conclusion embedded in the following question about which someone else asked me to reflect. Brother Louis, I need your insight on the following: (1) A man marries, with normal vows to remain faithful, into a non-scriptural adulterous relationship. May he repent, leave that adulterous relationship, and then scripturally remarry another who is free to marry? That question leads into the following questioned position taken by an unnamed elder. While not scripturally married to the first woman, the above man had a second sexual relationship during his first adulterous relationship! The elder holds that had the man not had a second sexual relationship during his adulterous marriage, he could have repented, left that adulterous marriage and scripturally could have been remarried to another. However, his position also taken is that since the man had additional sexual activity outside that first unscriptural, but civil, marriage, he then must remain celibate on the basis on Matthew 19:9? His position seems to hinge on the fact that though God did not approve of the first marriage, He did recognize the relationship as a marriage and the first woman as his wife as He recognized the foreign women of Ezra 10 as wives! Your thinking would be quite helpful, if you have time! I have never heard that position taken by any in the last 70 years. How would you answer? I have …

Did Jesus Preach in Hell?

Someone inquires, “Did Jesus preach in Hell?” The short answer is, “No.” It may be that the question arises from either of these two verses that were penned by the apostle Peter. “For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit” (1 Peter 4:6 NKJV). For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. (1 Peter 3:18-20) The point of 1 Peter 4:6 is that the Gospel “was preached” (past tense) to those who “are dead” (present tense) so that it is appropriate for judgment (for righteousness or for sinfulness) to come upon them. The people of 1 Peter 4:6 had been alive when they heard the Gospel, but at the time of the apostle’s writing they were dead. Afterward, final judgment will occur (Hebrews 9:27). The same sort of thing is true respecting 1 Peter 3:18-20. The Holy Spirit (1 Peter 3:18) preached to the spirits who were in prison. However, like with 1 Peter 4:6, those “in prison” had …

Are Christians Obligated to Vote?

Hello Louis, I have a question that I would like for you to address for me. I look forward to reading your response. Question: Does a Christian have a responsibility to God to vote in Presidential elections and perhaps all elections of governmental officials? I am deeply concerned by the direction our country has been going for many years. I want to address this topic on Facebook and encourage all Christians and members of denominations to get out and vote, but I need your assistance saying the right things. I certainly do not want to make a mistake as I address this issue. Please help. Darrell G Pratt Regarding the question at hand and Christian obligations, one needs to remember that Christians find themselves in virtually every nation under heaven and amenable to all manner of forms of government. Strictly speaking, Christian obligations are absolute (based on biblical instruction) and the same for every child of God irrespective of where he or she lives and regardless of the form of government under which one lives. With just a little reflection, it is clear that not every form of government under which Christians live affords a person the privilege of voting for candidates in elections. In addition, neither the Old Testament nor the New Testament specifically addresses such an obligation to vote in democratic elections. However, there may be pragmatic reasons for which Christians and other Bible believers would do well to involve themselves by voting for candidates wherever such democratic elections are afforded them. We may rationalize, …

If They Had Known

Please help me to better understand what is stated in I Cor. 2:8 in that ”if they had known, they would not have crucified Christ.” “If they had known” that their actions would bring in the Gentiles to salvation, or “if they had known” that Jesus was the Savior they would not have killed him? Thank you Jack Phillips Albert Barnes in his commentary made an excellent observation regarding 1 Corinthians 2:8. In so doing, his reference to Acts 3:17 provides a perfect divine commentary on 1 Corinthians 2:8 also. Their ignorance arose from not understanding the prophecies, and from an unwillingness to be convinced that Jesus of Nazareth had been truly sent by God. In Acts 3:17, Peter says that it was through ignorance that the Jews had put him to death… Had they fully understood his character, and seen the wisdom of his plan, and his work… Had they seen the… fact that he was the long expected Messiah of their nation, they would not have put him to death. It is incredible that they would have crucified their Messiah, knowing and believing him to be such. They MIGHT have known it but they were unwilling to examine the evidence. They expected a DIFFERENT Messiah, and were unwilling to admit the claims of Jesus of Nazareth. For THIS ignorance, however, there was no excuse. If they did not have a full knowledge, it was their own fault. Jesus had performed miracles which were a complete attestation to his …

Missing the Name

Brother Rushmore, I am a member of the Church, and have been all of my life. I am thankful for your appeal to the truth of Scripture. I read an article you wrote on Denominations, and I have a question. What about churches that do everything according to the Scripture and have a strong foundation regarding the inerrancy and authority of scripture, BUT do not have “Church of Christ” in their name? Mike Hays, Boyd Church of Christ, Boyd, TX The name “Church of Christ” (Romans 16:16) is one of a few scriptural designations that appears in the New Testament to identify the Lord’s church. For instance, “Church of God” (1 Corinthians 1:2) is just as scriptural as “Church of Christ.” Due to denominational confusion, though, the churches of Christ generally do not represent themselves by other even scriptural names lest the Lord’s church be misunderstood as being a religious organization of manmade rather than divine origin. It would not be sinful for a local congregation of the Lord’s church to be known by another biblical designation. Yet, it might not be practical for distinction from other churches by fellow Christians and congregations of the Lord’s church, by denominational people and even non-religious persons, and by government and legal perspectives. It has been rumored from time to time that congregations have been discovered which have achieved the duplication of New Testament Christianity without being aware of other congregations of the Lord’s church previously. Certainly, that is entirely possible, and in …

Why Were They Called Christians?

In Acts 11:26, we find an interesting statement, “And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.” Peter said that we should be proud of wearing that name. “Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter” (1 Peter 4:16). Why were the early disciples first called Christians in Antioch rather than in Jerusalem? After all, the church had been in existence for several years (possibly 10 years), so why would the name be given or taken in Antioch after several years rather than in Jerusalem? At first, the church was composed of only Jews and was considered to be a sect of the Jews. However, in Antioch, this designation would not work because this was the first predominately Gentile church. They were no more Jews than they were pagans. Both Jews and Gentiles now met on equal terms, so a new name was needed to identify these people. Now ethnicity was replaced by an identity with Christ. Luke’s message in Acts 11:26 is that the church was so identified with Christ that even outsiders could find no better label to characterize this group. We need to be so intimately connected to Christ that the same would be true today. When people see us and look at our lives, they should immediately think about the teachings of Jesus and identify us with Him. Is this true of your life?

The Voice of God

Someone asks for an explanation of John 5:37 in light of Matthew 3:17 and Matthew 17:5. The petitioner is concerned that there is a biblical contradiction between John and Matthew. John 5:37 reads, “And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form” (NKJV). Matthew 3:17 records the voice of God at the baptism of Jesus Christ, and says, “And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’” Matthew 17:5 pertains to the Transfiguration of Jesus Christ and reads, “While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!’” First, we need to identify to whom Jesus was speaking in the context of John 5. In John 5:16, we see that those to whom our Lord was speaking were His enemies, fellow Jews who “sought to kill Him.” Secondly, Jesus did not say that God had not spoken to mankind, but on the contrary, He did affirm that especially those to whom Jesus was speaking on that occasion had not listened and heeded the voice of God. God “testified” (John 5:37) of Jesus, but those Jews in particular did not listen to God. Through the centuries on occasion, God did speak to mankind. In the third place, the human auditors of the voice of …

Are the Church and the Kingdom the Same Thing?

The inquiry under consideration herein comes from India where an American’s writings are leading to confusion and religious conflict among members of the churches of Christ. Assertions therein include: “God’s kingdom has always existed… no starting or ending.” “Before created the angels God ruled Jesus and Holy Spirit.” “The Old Testament prophecies did not foretell that Jesus would establish a kingdom, but prophecies taught that Jesus would be a new king in God’s kingdom. Jesus did not establish the kingdom because God’s kingdom always existed.” “Jesus established the church to enter in to the kingdom… The church is not the kingdom.” The foregoing affirmations represent a gross misunderstanding and perversion of Old Testament and New Testament Scripture. The word “kingdom,” much like most words in the Bible or even in contemporary conversation, depends for its specific meaning and application on the context in which it is used. There is a sense in which the kingdom of God predates the kingdom that is the topic of Old Testament prophecies (Psalm 103:10), but it also differs from the kingdom prophesied and ultimately established in fulfillment of those prophecies. As Creator, God rules all as does a king reign over his realm (Isaiah 66:1). God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit are coequals; they each possess the essence or characteristics of Deity or God. Jesus Christ, for instance, was and is equally Deity or God as is the Father. “Who, being in the form of God, did not consider …

Is Everything Christians Do Worship?

Hello, my question is, “Should Christians believe in Karma yoga ‘laborare est orare,’ which means ‘work is worship’? Is everything we do in a week (e.g., 24/7) considered worship (i.e., ‘work worship’)?” In karma yoga, it is believed that doing ordinary things such as mowing the lawn, if dedicated to God, the work becomes worship to God. What does the Bible say? Is there a difference between “service” and “worship” to God in our daily activities? Thank you! The Latin phrase “laborare est orare” literally translates, “to work is to pray.” The motto was associated with the Rule of Saint Benedict, and it was applied to monks with respect to their communal living about 1,500 years ago (Wikipedia). The same slogan since then has been adopted by others as well, such as the Freemasons (Skhet-Maat Lodge). Some decades ago while on vacation and visiting a church, I personally have heard a Gospel preacher who was teaching a Bible class in a congregation of the churches of Christ specifically say that when we mow grass that we are worshipping God. Obviously, the sentiment of “laborare est orare” is widespread. The one posing the query above asks some very important questions. “Should Christians turn to any source other than the Bible for religious instruction and practice?” “Is everything a child of God does (24/7) worship to God?” “What does the Bible say?” “Is there a difference between ‘service’ to and ‘worship’ of God?” The best and most concise, as well as biblically accurate …

Who Was the Wretched, Miserable, Pitiable, Unhappy Man?

Who was the wretched, miserable, pitiable, unhappy man in Romans 7:24? Was he Saul the unregenerated Pharisee or the redeemed Paul the apostle? The apostle Paul wrote in Romans 6 concerning a person who had become a disciple of the Lord. By using the personal pronoun, he included himself in the following: In Romans 7, Paul spoke of the followers of the Lord as being delivered from the Law of Moses in this manner: The apostle continued in Chapter 8 to describe the life of a Christian who is led by the Spirit of God. In Vverse 1, he made a contrast between what is previously recorded in Chapter 7 when he wrote: “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” Paul had been writing about the power of the Law and its inability to provide freedom and deliverance from sin, which he personified as controlling the life of one under law. The “flesh” can represent the Law because of its nature as well as the body with its passions and appetites, which within themselves are not sinful; only the abuse and misuse of the same are sinful. In Romans 8:2, Paul wrote that “the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus” had made him “free from the law of sin and death.” In Verse 4, he declared that he and others did not “walk according to the flesh but according to …

What Is a Christian?

What does it mean to you to wear the name Christian? How do you identify with that term? One might answer, “I have been immersed into Christ.” Of course, this is where we contact the cleansing blood of Christ. The terms disciple and Christian are used synonymously in Acts 11:26, where the disciples were first called Christians at Antioch. Jesus said to be His disciples, one must be immersed (Matthew 28:19). Yet, is that all there is to it? Someone else might respond, “Well, I go to church,” meaning he assembles with fellow Christians on the first day of the week. Of course, this is God’s desire for His people, that we might honor and glorify Him and His Son, and by doing so together be built up and edified. This is what the early Christians did (Acts 20:7; Hebrews 10:22-25). Yet, is that all there is to it? Others might respond, “I have the hope of eternal life.” What greater blessing is there than having the promise of life after death? God has placed eternity in human beings’ hearts, but not all understand it or seek it. Most people long for something beyond today, but they don’t know how to go about finding it, or to even know if it’s real. As children of God, we have sure promises about what lies beyond the grave (1 John 3:1-2). Yet, is that all there is to it? You see, all of these responses are correct, but being a Christian is …

What Are the Marks of a Disciple?

A disciple is a student, learner and follower. Furthermore, a disciple conforms all of his mind, words and actions to that of his Teacher – Jesus (Luke 6:40). Jesus lives in His disciples who conform to Him (Galatians 2:20). It is the responsibility and privilege of the disciple to be like Jesus. So we ask, “What are the marks of a disciple?” First, a disciple of Christ must abide in the Word (John 8:31; 14:14, 23). There are three things involved in abiding in the Word. (1) One must receive it (Psalm 1:2). (2) One must meditate on it (Galatians 2:20). (3) One must apply it (James 1:22). Secondly, disciples of Christ must love one another (John 13:34-35). Why is it a new commandment? (1) It is new in object (John 4:20). (2) It is new in measure (Matthew 5:43-45). (3) It is new in purpose (John 13:35). It is this love one for another that attracts others to become disciples of Jesus also. Thirdly, disciples of Christ must bear fruit (John 15:5-10; 1 Corinthians 3:6-9). There are three things taught in John 15. (1) One must abide in the Father’s love (John 15:10). (2) One must keep the Father’s commandments (John 15:16). (3) A disciple must bear fruit (John 15:16). These three are like a three legged stool. They all help support each other! In conclusion, we ask, “Do you bear the marks of a disciple?” “Is Jesus living in you so that you will make other disciples for Him?” “Are you truly a disciple of …

The Question of Instrumental Music

The question of the use of instruments of music (other than the human voice) in worship to God continues to plague sincere seekers of spiritual maturity in Christ. On the one hand, these students of the Word are cognizant that the Lord deplores unnecessary division in His body, the church (1 Corinthians 1:10; Ephesians 4:1-16). They, wanting to be good neighbors and friends to other religious seekers, do not wish to be divisive but as tolerant and as accepting as God will allow. On the other hand, they know the need to submit willfully and fully to God’s authority. If division then comes, so be it (Romans 16:17-18; Luke 12:51-53; 1 Timothy 6:3-5). The question of instrumental music then pits the conscientious between a love of friends and a love of God. If he accepts instrumental music in order to keep peace in the religious community, is he doing so with or without God’s approval? If he rejects it, is he binding the doctrines of men as commandments of God (Matthew 15:7-9)? The question of the instruments, then, is ultimately determined by the authority of God. Once the question of how God authorizes is understood, the question of instruments is understood as well. God authorizes by general (generic) commands. When God says to do something but does not specify limitations, men are free to make choices. God commanded men to “Go” into the world to preach. He did not specify how. Men are thus free to go by boat, car, …

How Are We Saved?

Ephesians 2:8 is a favorite passage of mine. It tells me that I do not have to earn a salvation that is beyond my ability to deserve. God’s grace saves me. Grace is not giving something for nothing, but it is giving something unearned. Naaman did not earn his cure, but if he had ignored Elisha’s commands, then he would have died a leper. In the same way, we must obey the teachings of Jesus to be saved since He is the “way, truth, and life” (John 14:6). Most agree that faith is essential to salvation (Hebrews 11:6). Yet, faith does not happen without human effort (Romans 10:17). That does not mean that we have earned salvation, but rather, it means that we are saved because of God’s plan of grace. Most agree that one must obey the Gospel of Christ or he or she will not be saved (Romans 10:18-21). Jesus said that repentance is essential if we are to avoid perishing (Luke 13:3-5). Further, Jesus Himself made it clear that a person will be rejected if he does not confess our Lord’s name before men (Matthew 10:32-33). All of these are necessary acts of faith that do not negate God’s grace, but instead, they place us in line with His grace. The same Bible that tells us to hear God’s Word so that we can build our faith, to repent of our sinful lives and to confess the name of Christ also says that baptism saves us (1 …

Did Christ’s Blood Atone for Sins?

I studied that the word “atonement” as found in Lev. 17:11, and specifically the original Hebrew word (Strong’s #3722) found there is defined as (1) to cover, (2) to conceal or (3) to hide. That makes sense as the blood of animals ONLY concealed, hid or covered the sins of the people UNTIL Christ could come. Then through His blood were their sins “actually removed” as found in Heb. 9:15? My question, then, is “Why do writers so often speak of Christ’s atoning blood?” I have often wondered, based upon the specific meaning of the word “atonement.” Christ’s blood “did not atone” in the sense of just covering or hiding; rather His blood REMOVED COMPLETELY our sins, did it not? Christ’s blood did not ATONE as the word meaning covers as far as I understand; it actually REMOVED, did it not? I would like your thoughts. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, YOUR EFFORTS, SO GREAT OF A WEBSITE. I ENCOURAGE SO MANY TO GO “HERE” IF THEY HAVE QUESTIONS. ~ Jack Phillips The Hebrew word for “atonement” that appears in Leviticus 17:11 means “to cover (specifically with bitumen); figuratively, to expiate or condone, to placate or cancel” (Strong). It is variously translated throughout the KJV Old Testament as “appease, make (an atonement, cleanse, disannul, forgive, be merciful, pacify, pardon, purge (away), put off, (make) reconcile (-liation)” (Strong). Regarding the summary of teaching in both testaments of the Bible, it is true that absolute forgiveness of sin was not generally available to …

Mechanical Instrumental Music in Worship? Grasping for Straws!

…how you would respond to one who says that mechanical instruments can have meaning according to 1 Corinthians 14:7-8? This passage was used by one who was responding to a brother who said that mechanical instruments don’t have meaning (the implication really was that mechanical instruments can’t teach or express a message according to what’s required in Ephesians 5:19-20 and Colossians 3:16). …Also, …commenting on whether a mechanical instrument, which conveyed a certain sound (whether rhythmic or not) that all understood as conveying the message of Ephesians 5:19-20 and Colossians 3:16, whether this would be an argument a person could use for justifying mechanical instruments of music in worship. First Corinthians 14:7-8 reads, “Even things without life, whether flute or harp, when they make a sound, unless they make a distinction in the sounds, how will it be known what is piped or played? For if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare for battle?” (NKJV). The context in which these two verses appear addresses the necessity of teaching and preaching using words that can be understood by their auditors, rather than speaking in “tongues” or “languages” (Acts 2:5-11) that are unfamiliar to an audience. The references to instruments of music, that they make different sounds and that they could signal such things as “Charge!” or “Retreat!” are an illustration to teach that comprehension of divine instruction is necessary. Put as charitably as possible, lifting this illustration from its intended purpose by proponents of instrumental music in Christian worship is grasping …

Are the Gospel Records Old Testament or New Testament?

Sir, I thank you and the group of Gospel Gazette very much for the marvelous work you guys are doing in America, and we in Nigeria are so proud of you. My question is as follows: I met a preacher, and he said that all the commandments of Jesus Christ and all of His teachings in all the books of the account of the Gospel before His resurrection are not for Christians. He said anyone who is quoting anything Christ said before His death as an authority is not a Christian and is guilty of following the Law of Moses. For example he said that we are not supposed to quote Christ in Matthew 19:4-12 when we are discussing marriage; likewise we are not supposed to quote Matthew 18:15-17 when we are resolving disputes with our fellow brethren. He also said that the Lord’s Supper command of Christ in Luke 22:16-20 is not a command but prophesy. He said that the reason is that Christ never revealed any of His New Testament doctrines to anyone before He died, and he supported his believe with Ephesians 3:3-5 and John 6:38. Please sir, help me out on this because I am really confused. There is only one reason for anyone to deny that the Gospel records are part of the New Testament. The sole reason that even some Christian brethren deny the place of the Gospel records in the New Testament is in an attempt to set aside what our Lord taught very clearly on the …

Can a Christian Worship Anywhere on the Lord’s Day?

Someone posed the question, “Can a Christian worship anywhere on the Lord’s Day?” Though not entirely sure what the person asking the question had in mind, there are some things that we can answer respecting the query. In the first century, Christians worshipped with each other, of course. The first benchmark for Christian worship is that Christians assemble together for the purpose of worshipping God in spirit and in truth (John 4:23-24). “Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight. There were many lamps in the upper room where they were gathered together” (Acts 20:7-8 NKJV). “…when you come together as a church…” (1 Corinthians 11:18). “…come together in one place…” (1 Corinthians 11:20, 33). “…the whole church comes together in one place…” (1 Corinthians 14:23). The writer of Hebrews cautioned first century Christians against failing to assemble with each other (Hebrews 10:25). The location or where Christians assembled in the first century varied between public places (Acts 2:46; 3:1, 6; 5:42; 20:20) and private homes (Romans 16:5; 1 Corinthians 16:19; Colossians 4:15; Philemon 2). There were no church-owned meetinghouses for the first 200 years after the establishment of the Lord’s church. The place of worship was not as significant as the Christian worship itself. The place of worship wasn’t especially holy, but the worshippers were holy (2 Corinthians 1:1; Ephesians 6:1) as well as in the presence of Deity during worship (Matthew 18:20; …

Why No Response?

A listener to my radio program wrote, “You have been coming down pretty hard on the denominational preachers in town, and with good reason.” He then asked the question, “Why haven’t they answered you?” To say the least, this is an interesting question. Oh, I know that some hide behind the “I don’t believe in controversy” argument. Even in this position they are unscriptural; Jesus and His apostles were constantly in controversy with the religious leaders and false teachers of their day (Matthew 23). Every Christian is to put on the armor specified by God (Ephesians 6:11-17), and then he is to engage in fighting “the good fight of the faith” (1 Timothy 6:12). So, my answer to my listener’s question is simply this. If they could answer, they would. They can’t, so they don’t try. The pity of the situation is that they know they can’t defend the false doctrines that they teach by using the Scriptures. I suppose that they hope that their members won’t notice their inability. How sad! “But sanctify the Lord Godin your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear” (1 Peter 3:15 NKJV).

Why Doesn’t God Stop Evil and Suffering in the World?

What are the causes of evil and suffering? Sinful people cause some suffering directly through such things as lying, anger, divorce, drugs, crime, etc. Sin causes suffering indirectly, because of sin this earth is corrupted, deteriorating, painful and evil (Genesis 3:14-19; 4:1-15; Romans 8:20-22). We conclude, then, that God is not the cause of suffering; He is the Author of good (James 1:13-17). Some people incorrectly conclude that since God made everything, He made evil too. Note St. Augustine’s reasoning, which seems to be correct. 1. God is the Author of everything in the created universe. 2. Evil is not a thing or a substance; it is a privation or lack in things (e.g., blindness is lack of sight, pain is lack of health, hate or murder is lack of love). 3. Therefore God did not create evil. Why doesn’t God end all evil immediately? To end evil God would have to destroy the cause of evil – people. In His good plan for people, it, therefore, is not good to end all evil immediately. Why doesn’t God make people unable to cause suffering? To do that, God would have to take away our ability to choose. Yet, choice – free will – is a good thing. In order to love, one must be able to choose to love. Forced love is not love. So to have a universe that included love, God had to make us with choice, which includes the choice not to love, and that makes sin, …

Will There Be Animals in Heaven?

The only information that anyone can definitively and accurately give regarding any religious question is limited to what is revealed in the Holy Scriptures – the Bible. “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law” (Deuteronomy 29:29 NKJV). In the absence of biblical evidence for the presence of animals in heaven, therefore, one cannot confidently affirm that animals will inhabit heaven. Furthermore, heaven is a spiritual place in which spirits or souls dwell. The only exception presently is Jesus Christ who through the incarnation took on a physical body, too. However, not only was His body changed and adapted to habitation in heaven, but the bodies of the righteous at the end of time will also be changed and fashioned for a home in heaven where spirits dwell. “Who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself” (Philippians 3:21). Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed — in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and …

Setting Up Israel in 1948

What, if any, was the significance to Christianity of the setting up of Israel in 1948? If there was no significance, why? A lot of individuals (particularly premillennialists) teach that the setting up of the political state of Israel in 1948 was an important steppingstone in the restoration of the kingdom to Israel (Acts 1:6). However, those who hold such a view fail to realize that the apostles said that very thing was being done in their day through their inspired preaching! The result of that work is the church (Acts 2:47)! Notice this prophecy from Isaiah. “And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth” (Isaiah 49:6). Does this seem familiar? “Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth” (Acts 13:46-47). [Editor’s Note: There are innumerable references in both testaments of the Bible that identify the promised kingdom of God with the …

Dating

Hello, Sir. …am from Nigeria worshipping in Church of Christ. … How can I fine a right one without dating? Please, Sir help with scriptural portion. A dictionary definition for “dating” is “to go out socially.” Cultures differ around the world regarding marriage. Some cultures still practice wholly or partially arranged marriages where the couple to wed may not know each other or may have not even met each other prior to the wedding. A modification to arranged marriages is that in some cultures presently either candidate for marriage may decline the particular arrangement. Arranged marriages have for centuries preserved tribal, clan or family cultural norms and values. From observation, arranged marriages appear to be as successful or even more so than marriages that are not arranged by the families of those marrying. Affection and love in many arranged marriages is no less than that in non-arranged marriages. Arranged marriages have a predisposition to permanence by the acknowledgement of the parties being married, and the spouses learn to love each other and work together for the good of the immediate as well as the extended family. In much of the world, though, marriage partners each choose to marry the other. This occurs after social interaction where the parties come to know and appreciate each other. Love or physical attraction occurs prior to marriage and becomes the basis of entering into marriage. This social interaction is what dictionaries call “dating.” However, dating or social interaction must be morally pure for God …

Parbole versus Paroima

I am a church member of Hiroshima Baptist Church, Hiroshima, Japan. I would be very happy if you would be kind enough to reply the following question: (1) Why did John use the Greek word “paroima” and not the word “parabole”? (2)What is the difference between the two words? Sincerely yours, Makoto Watanabe The King James Version (KJV) uses the English word “parable” for the Greek “paroima” in John 10:6. The New King James Version (NKJV) translates the Greek word instead as “illustration.” The Greek definition for “paroima” is similar to the Greek word “parabole,” which is most often translated as “parable;” “parabole” is translated once as “comparison” (Mark 4:30 KJV), once as “proverb” (Luke 4:23 KJV, NKJV), once as “figure” in Hebrews 9:9 (KJV) or “symbolic” (NKJV) and once as “figure” (Hebrews 11:19 KJV, NKJV). “Paroima” appears a total of five times in four New Testament verses (John 10:6; 16:25 [twice], 29; 2 Peter 2:22). The KJV translates it as “proverb” in John 16 and 2 Peter 2:22; the NKJV renders the Greek into English as “figurative language” (John 16:25) and “figure of speech” (John 16:29). Both “parabole” and “paroima” are compound words, both using the Greek preposition “para,” which means “beside.” The Greek “bole,” the second word in the compound word “parabole,” means to cast or to throw. Hence, “parabole” from which comes the English word “parable” means throwing or placing two things alongside of each other. Jesus did this in His parables for the purpose of comparison. From knowledge of the …

Evangelistic Organizations

Dear brother Rushmore, …I am a member of the Lord’s Church in …Nigeria. …Is it scriptural for a group of individual brothers to form an association, with a name registered with the relevant government authority, having the aim to preach the Gospel or doing charity [work] or both? For instance: Association of Nigerian Brethren in the US, with the mission to evangelize and establish congregations of the Lord’s Church in remote villages in Nigeria. Brothers in my locality are having contrary views. Those who resist the strategy say that only the church/local congregation should preach the gospel, that other associations/names cause divisions. The only organization authorized and charged with the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the world is the one church for which Jesus died to establish (Acts 20:28), over which He is the Head (Colossians 1:18) and that bears His name (Romans 16:16). That being said, the church is comprised of individual members (1 Corinthians 12:12-27) who are responsible for church growth (Ephesians 4:16). The Great Commission to evangelize the world was given initially to the remaining eleven apostles of Christ (Mark 16:15-16). The responsibility of the church relies upon the individual element, and the church can do nothing without the activity of Christians. Therefore, it would be biblically correct for a church program to be organized under the oversight of a congregational eldership to evangelize as the work of the church. However, there is no scriptural authority for an organization outside of the church to …

Who Is Going to Heaven?

“You are the ones who think you are the only ones going to Heaven.” All members of the Lord’s church have probably been accused of that at one time or another. Faithful Christians do have the expectation of entering that heavenly home. Let’s look at some of God’s teachings on the subject of heaven and that eternal peaceful rest. We read in John 3:16, “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” It is an elemental fact that to have eternal life one must believe in the Savior. God loved His creation enough that He sent His Son to be sacrificed and to shed the blood that could take away “the sins of the whole world” (1 John 2:2). Jesus Himself came to earth, teaching about the fate that would come to all men. To the faithful He said, “Come, you blessed of My Father; inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” To the unfaithful He said, “These shall go away into everlasting punishment” (Matthew 25:34ff). From the beginning, God has taught that the faithful will be rewarded and the unfaithful will be punished. That’s what most parents teach their children as they begin to learn and to understand what is expected of them. It’s really a simple teaching. The offspring must decide whether they want to be rewarded or punished and act accordingly. Jesus taught this same lesson …

Can a Woman Pray During Worship?

Every Christian woman is obligated to pray during Christian worship in the assembly. Likewise, every Christian man is obligated to pray during Christian worship in the assembly. However, women may not speak in the worship assembly (1 Corinthians 14:34), and only one man at a time is permitted to speak in a worship assembly (1 Corinthians 14:27-31). Yet, one does not have to speak audibly to pray, and the public prayers that are led by Christian men in the assembly are the prayers in which all Christians present participate; the public prayers are led on behalf of the assembled Christians. Prayer itself is an act of worship, which also occurs outside of worship assemblies. As such, outside of a worship assembly, both Christian men and Christian women pray several times daily. Again, prayers may be audible or silent. By themselves or in the presence of other women or children, Christian women can also pray aloud without violating the respective roles that God assigned to men and to women. In the first century and preceding centuries, culture distinguished men from women and signified the submission of women to men by women wearing a veil, which covered the head. Consequently, women who prayed were to wear a veil covering their heads when they prayed (1 Corinthians 11:5). Many societies today no longer have the custom of veiling women in public to signify their submission to men, and hence, women in those cultures do not wear veils when praying either inside or outside …

To the Lost Sheep of the House of Israel

Someone inquired about the statement of our Lord Jesus in Matthew 15:24, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (NKJV). Similarly, Jesus Christ sent His newly appointed apostles only “to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” “These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: ‘Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel’” (Matthew 10:5-6). Historically, the person of the Godhead that we know as Jesus Christ has had several different roles or missions over the centuries. He participated in a very significant way in the creation of the universe and everything in it (Genesis 1:26; John 1:1-3, 14; Ephesians 3:9; Colossians 1:16; Hebrews 1:2), and our Lord also is responsible for the continued existed of all creation (Colossians 1:17; Hebrews 1:3). He interacted with patriarchs (Genesis 32:24-30; Matthew 12:26) and the children of Israel in their wilderness wandering (Acts 7:30; 1 Corinthians 10:1-4). The statement of our Lord in Matthew 15:24 pertains to yet another role in preparation for the beginning of Christianity; “the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). Therefore, Jesus instructed His apostles in Matthew 10:7, “And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’” Jesus Christ preached the same message (Matthew 4:17). The establishment of the eternal, spiritual kingdom about which …

Are Sinners Saved in Answer to Prayer Alone?

But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Acts 2:16-21) Too often people try to interpret passages from a 21st century mindset, and they forget to put on their first century glasses. Due to this, many use this passage to promote the idea that simply calling out Jesus’ name will immediately place them into Christ. This logic is flawed, however, when we see how those that heard this sermon reacted. “Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for …

Acts 9:17

I was discussing with someone, and I said that only the apostles can lay hands on people before they could get the spiritual gift of the Holy Spirit. The person cited Acts 9:17. I am very sure Ananias was not an apostle. Please help me explain this verse. Acts 9:17-18 reads, “And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, ‘Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.’ Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized” (Acts 9:17-18 NKJV). Obviously, Ananias was instrumental in some way (1) for Saul of Tarsus (later known as the apostle Paul) to receive his sight, and (2) for him to receive miraculous ability, and we know that the miraculous ability that he later demonstrated was that degree afforded to apostles (2 Corinthians 12:12). However, Ananias stated the reasons for which Jesus sent him to Saul, but he did not attribute to himself the ability to transfer miraculous ability to him. The passage does not stipulate when or how Saul (Paul) received the miraculous ability of an apostle; the first century gift of the Holy Spirit differed in degree from the baptism of the Holy Spirit, which the apostles alone received. All the passage confirms happening at the meeting of …

Can We Trust the Bible?

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Timothy 3:16-17 KJV). Nevertheless, a very common charge made against the Bible today is, “You can’t trust the Bible. It’s full of all kinds of contradictions and errors.” You may have heard this kind of thing from a friend or coworker. Maybe you have even heard this stated on TV, but is it true? Is the Bible an unreliable book full of errors and contradictions? To answer this question, let us look at some of the more commonly cited “proofs” for the assertion that the Bible contains contradictions and errors. Some, in an attempt to prove the Bible contains contradictions, will point to the number of horse stalls that Solomon is said to have had in 2 Chronicles 9:25 (4,000) and 1 Kings 4:26 (40,000). On the surface this does appear to be a contradiction, but is it really? The 4,000 mentioned in 2 Chronicles is most likely speaking of horse stables while the 40,000 mentioned in 1 Kings is speaking of individual stalls. If each stable housed 10 stalls, then that would account for the supposed contradiction. Another supposed contradiction has to do with John 20:12, which mentions two “angels,” and Luke 24:4, which mentions two “men.” Those who present these texts as contradictions ask us, “Were there two men or two angels …

Do You Believe My Mother Is Lost?

I preached my first sermon on the second Sunday of August in 1959. If I had the choice to make again, I would most assuredly make the same one again. The privilege has been granted to me to meet and associate with the very best people in the world – New Testament Christians, and I do not blink when I say that. This does not say nor imply that there are not many good people in the world who have good morals and ethics. It does say that there are no better people inhabiting this planet than those who through faith, have obeyed from the heart the glorious Gospel of Christ and were added to God’s Book of Life and to His church. It is true, however, that some of these have chosen to renounce their kingdom citizenship and have become entangled again in the evils of the world. We sincerely ask the question, “If this world continues for yet many thousands of years, will there be a better people than those who are true children of God, those who have submitted to the authority of God, Christ and the Holy Spirit?” Without hesitation I would reply with a resounding, “No!” In the ranks of these righteous ones are those of great education and of great influence among men and women. Also in these ranks are those that we generally refer to as “common folks.” These are those who labor every day among their fellow men, and as they do …

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