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• Question: Is fornication only sexual immorality or can it also mean being unfaithful to God?
  • Does fornication mean only sexual immorality or can it also mean being unfaithful to God?
• Answer: (click here to see the answer)
  1. Kris,
  2. Not only does it mean unfaithful to God, but some of the strongest passages dealing with God’s sinful nation, Israel, use this metaphor to show God’s displeasure. One of the most important is found in Jeremiah.
  3. Jer 3:6 The Lord said also to me in the days of Josiah the king: “Have you seen what backsliding Israel has done? She has gone up on every high mountain and under every green tree, and there played the harlot.
  4. Here we see that idolatry, serving other gods who aren’t gods at all is compared to harlotry. God was sure that Israel would return to Him. He even said she would, but God was disappointed. She did not return.
  5. Jer 3:7-14 And I said, after she had done all these things, ‘She will return to Me.’ But she did not return. And her treacherous sister Judah saw it. 8 Then I saw that for all the causes for which backsliding Israel had committed adultery, I had put her away and given her a certificate of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah did not fear, but went and played the harlot also. 9 So it came to pass, through her casual harlotry, that she defiled the land and committed adultery with stones and trees. 10 And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah has not turned to Me with her whole heart, but in pretense,” says the Lord. 11 Then the Lord said to me, “Backsliding Israel has shown herself more righteous than treacherous Judah. 12 Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say: ‘Return, backsliding Israel,’ says the Lord; ‘I will not cause My anger to fall on you. For I am merciful,’ says the Lord; ‘I will not remain angry forever. 13 Only acknowledge your iniquity, that you have transgressed against the Lord your God, and have scattered your charms to alien deities under every green tree, and you have not obeyed My voice,’ says the Lord. 14 “Return, O backsliding children,” says the Lord; “for I am married to you. I will take you, one from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion.”
  6. God shows His love to them anyway. If they will only repent. This is a wonderful picture of the love of our God. He would even take His wife of harlotry back if she were repentant.
  7. This metaphor is used again by God in Hosea. Read that book with the love of God in your mind as God is willing to take the adulterous nation back as His wife. What an awesome God.
  8. In Christ,
  9. Bob
• Question: Does the Bible say/insinuate that dancing is wrong or a sin? Where does it say this?
  • Does the Bible say/insinuate that dancing is wrong or a sin? Where does it say this?
• Answer: (click here to see the answer)
  1. Emilee,
  2. The Bible does not say or insinuate that dancing is wrong or a sin. However, it does show dancing in a good light in Psa 30:10-12, “Hear, O Lord, and have mercy on me; Lord, be my helper! 11 You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, 12 To the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever.” Also, in Lk 15:23-27, it is mentioned in a positive setting: “‘And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; 24 for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry. 25 Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.’”
  3. The thing that could be wrong would be in the area of making provision for the flesh. I know why I wanted to dance before I was saved. It was for sensual reasons. Each one of us has to make that decision in the sphere of pleasing the Lord. It may be completely all right for one person but not for another. If you are focusing on loving God, and He is filling you with His “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Gal 5:22,23), you can do as God guides you. But, be sure you’re following God. Rom 13:11-14 And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. 12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.
  4. In Christ,
  5. Bob
• Question: What is blood atonement?
  • What is blood atonement? Can you give some information on this?
• Answer: (click here to see the answer)
  1. Randy,
  2. Blood atonement was commanded by God if man was going to have any fellowship with our holy God. I have given an edited entry from the Brown Driver and Briggs Hebrew Lexicon of the word, kipper using HebraicaII font. rP,Ki verb. cover over (fig.), pacify, make propitiation. 1. cover over, pacify, propitiate; pacify the wrath of a king (e.g. by a gift). 2. cover over, atone for sin, . . . treat as covered, view propitiously, . . . of sin. It is conceived that God in his sovereignty may himself provide an atonement or covering for men and their sins which could not be provided by men. 3. cover over, atone for sin and persons by legal rites; . . . .by the great sin-offering of the day of atonement), (by the blood of the sin-offering). . . . of things, e.g. of the altar to which the blood of the sin-offering was applied; and specifically the horns of the altar; the holy place of the tabernacle (by the great sin-offering, because of . . . the uncleannesses of the children of Israel and because of their transgressions); for your persons, yourselves, e.g. by the payment of atonement-money . . . by ministry of priest through the blood of the sin-offering; of the trespass-offering; the whole burnt-offering; by the oil used in purifying a leper; by the priestly ministry in general; by the substitution of the Levites for the firstborn. Underlying all these offerings there is the conception that the persons offering are covered by that which is regarded as sufficient and satisfactory by Yahweh. (The purpose of the covering is stated shall atonement be made for you to cleanse you, from all your sins shalt ye be clean before Yahweh.)
  3. God is an atoning God. He clothed Adam and Eve when He sacrificed an animal to provide skins taken from a substitute. Later, God accepted Christ’s sacrifice and clothes us in His righteousness. Rom 3:21-26 “But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God, through [the] faithfulness of Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, (This is what was atonement in the OT.) through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, 26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.”
  4. In Ex 25:17-22, A cover, mercy seat, was put on the ark of the covenant. The mercy seat would have two cherubim on the cover. It would be pure gold. The cherubim’s figures were woven into the tapestries that covered the tabernacle. God would meet the representative of His people above the mercy seat between the two cherubim. On the Day of Atonement, the high priest sprinkled blood on the mercy seat. The blood covered Israel’s sin. This all prefigured what Christ did for us by His shedding His blood.
  5. The sacrificial atonement covered the sins of the people for the previous year. We find from Rom 9:30-10:4 that these yearly sacrifices had to be done in genuine faith. If it was not done in faith it was just vain formality. They could really only approach God by faith.
  6. Atonement did not apply to all sin. Some sins were not forgivable. Only sins of ignorance were forgiven. Willful, high handed sins, that would be breaking one of the ten commandments would not be forgiven. The sinner laid his hands on the head of the animal so it would be accepted to make atonement for him. The sinner identified himself with the animal that was about to be sacrificed. This was a constant reminder to the Israelites that they were sinners.
  7. The animal’s death was the most significant part of the ritual because the soul or life was poured out in death to make the atonement. The blood was then taken by the priest and splashed on the sides of the altar. This resulted in atonement and forgiveness before God.
  8. When the blood was applied to the mercy seat of the ark of the covenant God was able to dwell among his sinful people. When we get to the NT, God is propitiated by Christ’s blood. He is the propitiation for our sins. The words for mercy seat and propitiate are similar in Greek. God connects the continuous passing over of the sins in the OT to the once for sacrifice Christ made, in Rom 3:25: “whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed.” God presented Christ, the perfect flawless Sacrifice of atonement. Christ’s death was the ultimate sacrifice which completely satisfied God. Propitiation means to satisfy. Christ’s once for all propitiation was boldly set forth, contrasting with the tabernacle’s continuous sacrifice. Christ’s faithfulness is what provided the righteousness by His blood. Rom 5:8,9 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.
  9. This righteousness is, then, appropriated by our faith, Rom 3:22-26: “even the righteousness of God, through [the] faithfulness of Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, 26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. By Christ’s shedding of His blood in death, the penalty for sin was paid. God has been propitiated.
• Question: Is the promise God made with Abram in Gen 15:5 unconditional?
  • Is the promise made with Abram in Gen. 15:5 unconditional? I always thought it was unconditional. But I was reading in Deut. 28:62 "You shall be left few in number, whereas you were as stars of heaven in multitude, because you would not obey the voice of the Lord." It seems from this passage that God had already made Abram's descendants as the stars of heaven (Deut. 10:22), but now the Lord is saying "You shall be left few in number" and again in Deut. 28:63 "And it shall be, that just as the LORD rejoiced over you to do you good and multiply you, so the LORD will rejoice over you to destroy you... This is similar to Jer. 18:7-10 where it talks about conditional prophecy. It appears to me that the promise made in Gen. 15 is conditional.
  • God Bless You
  • Louis
• Answer: (click here to see the answer)
  1. Louis,
  2. You present an interesting question. When we read all the Scripture succeeding Deu 28:63, we see that it indeed was unconditional. Please read all the following Scripture with special emphasis on the bold print. You’ll see what I mean.
  3. Deu 30:19,20 "I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; 20 that you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them."
  4. 2 Ki 13:23 But the Lord was gracious to them, had compassion on them, and regarded them, because of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not yet destroy them or cast them from His presence.
  5. 1 Ch 16:16-21 The covenant which He made with Abraham, and His oath to Isaac, 17 And confirmed it to Jacob for a statute, to Israel for an everlasting covenant, 18 Saying, "To you I will give the land of Canaan As the allotment of your inheritance," 19 When you were few in number, Indeed very few, and strangers in it. 20 When they went from one nation to another, and from one kingdom to another people, 21 He permitted no man to do them wrong; Yes, He rebuked kings for their sakes,
  6. Jer 33:25,26 "Thus says the Lord: `If My covenant is not with day and night, and if I have not appointed the ordinances of heaven and earth, 26 `then I will cast away the descendants of Jacob and David My servant, so that I will not take any of his descendants to be rulers over the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. For I will cause their captives to return, and will have mercy on them.' "
  7. Mat 3:7-9 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, "Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, 9 and do not think to say to yourselves, `We have Abraham as our father.' For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.”
  8. Gal 3:6-9 just as Abraham "believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." 7 Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. 8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, "In you all the nations shall be blessed." 9 So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham.
  9. Gal 3:16-19 Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, "And to seeds," as of many, but as of one, "And to your Seed," who is Christ. 17 And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect. 18 For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise. 19 What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator.
  10. Gal 3:29 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
  11. Let me know what you think,
  12. Bob
• Question: Questions about Timothy and Titus
  • how many personal letters are in the New Testament?
  • to whom were they addressed?
  • Who was the traditional writer in those letters?
  • who was Titus serving?
  • Who is named in 2 Timoythy 1:5 and what relations is these persons have to Timothy?
  • What parables do we find between 1 Timothy 3, and Titus 1?
• Answer: (click here to see the answer)
  1. Answers to each question individually:
  2. “how many personal letters are in the New Testament?”
  3. There are none. The letters to Titus, Timothy and Philemon are all written to Overseers of the churches (Timothy and Titus) about how the churches should be run.
  4. 1 Ti 3:2-10,14,15 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; 3 not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; 4 one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence 5 (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); 6 not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. 7 Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. 8 Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for money, 9 holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience. 10 But let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, being found blameless. 14 These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly; 15 but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
  5. 1 Ti 5:16,17 “If any believing man or woman has widows, let them relieve them, and do not let the church be burdened, that it may relieve those who are really widows. 17 Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.”
  6. Or possibly a leader in the church (Philemon) about his runaway slave who has been saved, Phi 1-3 “Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our beloved friend and fellow laborer, 2 to the beloved Apphia, Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house: 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
  7. Question: “Who was the traditional writer in those letters?”
  8. Answer: Paul.
  9. Question: “who was Titus serving?”
  10. Answer: He was discipled by Paul and appointed to be the overseer in Crete. Tit 1:5 “For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you.”
  11. Question: Who is named in 2 Timoythy 1:5 and what relations is these persons have to Timothy?
  12. Answer: Timothy is named. Notice the context: 2 Ti 1:2-5 “To Timothy, a beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. 3 I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my forefathers did, as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day, 4 greatly desiring to see you, being mindful of your tears, that I may be filled with joy, 5 when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also.
  13. Question: What parables do we find between 1 Timothy 3, and Titus 1?
  14. Answer: You probably meant parallels between them. They both give many qualifications for elders (This name describes the spiritual maturity.) and bishops, overseers, (This name describes the function of their duties.).
• Question: Questions on Philemon
  • I have some questions about Philemon.
• Answer: (click here to see the answer)
  1. Question: Why was Paul writing to Philemon?
  2. Answer: Paul was appealing to Philemon to receive his runaway slave, Onesimus, as a brother in christ. Onesimus was now “begotten” while Paul was in chains. Paul was sending him back. He asked Philemon and his wife Apphia to receive him as they would receive Paul himself. Onesimus, had no rights, but he was now a child of God just as his owner, Philemon. Onesimus was now a brother of Philemon in Christ.
  3. Question: What offence had Onesimus commited?
  4. Answer: He had run away from Philemon. Paul was making this appeal on the basis of his relationship with Philemon asking him to show Christian love. Slavery was not the abusive thing at the time of Paul as it was at other times in history, but it was something that God inspired Paul to write about with an emphasis on Christian love.
  5. Question: What action did Paul hope philemon would take?
  6. Answer: When you read this short epistle, you’ll see Paul treats Onesimus as his own son. He wants Philemon to do the same.
  7. Question: Who was Philemon, and Onesimus and what was their past reelationship?
  8. Answer: It’s obvious. Philemon was the owner of Onesimus.
  9. Question: The letter Philemonm is open-ende. How do you think Philemon responded to pauls plea?
  10. Answer: I believe Philemon responded the way Paul wanted him in love to Onesimus.
  11. Question: What became of Onesimus?
  12. Answer: We don’t have a clue.
  13. Question: Why do you think that Paul stopped short of denouncing enforced servitude and calling for the end of slavery?
  14. Answer: Paul was an apostle who was given the job of freeing men from their sin. A saved slave was freer than an unsaved master. God did not send us to preach a social gospel. He wants us to evangelize, disciple and teach.
• Question: to abortion is when the mother’s life is imminently in danger and that in these instances...
  • Also (if I may ask another question?), I will be writing a letter to a large Christian organization that claims the “only exception” to abortion is when the mother’s life is imminently in danger and that in these instances, “the mother’s life must be preserved.” Will you please give me the explanation of the morality/immorality of this claim?
  • Thanks again!
  • Karl
• Answer: (click here to see the answer)
  1. Karl,
  2. I do not think the Scriptures cover this question explicitly. The first problem we are confronted with, is the use of this idea to abort a child when the mother’s life is not really in danger. If that could be guaranteed with certainty, I think we can make a case, although not a strong one, that the mother’s life should be the top priority. My wife and I are past the time in life that we can have any more than the six we have, but if something severe happened in a pregnancy, I would want to be able to save my wife’s life.
  3. The incident in 2 Sam 12:10-25 is interesting and still somewhat puzzling. Why did God take the child’s life and allow the sinners to live? God told David, “‘Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.’ 11 Thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, I will raise up adversity against you from your own house; and I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. 12 For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, before the sun.’ 13 So David said to Nathan, ‘I have sinned against the Lord.’ And Nathan said to David, ‘The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die. 14 However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also who is born to you shall surely die.’ 15Then Nathan departed to his house. And the Lord struck the child that Uriah’s wife bore to David, and it became ill. 16 David therefore pleaded with God for the child, and David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground. 17 So the elders of his house arose and went to him, to raise him up from the ground. But he would not, nor did he eat food with them. 18 Then on the seventh day it came to pass that the child died. And the servants of David were afraid to tell him that the child was dead. For they said, “Indeed, while the child was alive, we spoke to him, and he would not heed our voice. How can we tell him that the child is dead? He may do some harm!” 19 When David saw that his servants were whispering, David perceived that the child was dead. Therefore David said to his servants, “Is the child dead?” And they said, “He is dead.” 20 So David arose from the ground, washed and anointed himself, and changed his clothes; and he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. Then he went to his own house; and when he requested, they set food before him, and he ate. 21 Then his servants said to him, “What is this that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while he was alive, but when the child died, you arose and ate food.” 22 And he said, “While the child was alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, ‘Who can tell whether the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live? 23 But now he is dead; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.’ 24 Then David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in to her and lay with her. So she bore a son, and he called his name Solomon. Now the Lord loved him, 25 and He sent word by the hand of Nathan the prophet: So he called his name Jedidiah, because of the Lord.”
  4. This is a tough question. Every life is precious.
  5. Love, In Christ,
  6. Bob
• Question: What role does the US play in the "end days" and the second coming?
  • What role does the US play in the "end days" and the second coming?
• Answer: (click here to see the answer)
  1. Brad,
  2. This is a good question.
  3. We may want to think that the US has a role in the "end days" scenario, but there is absolutely no Scripture that shows us this. I'm not saying there is no conjecture by many who speak about the end days, but I have not found anything of substance to prove that the US is involved.
  4. If you have any specific questions on any passages of Scripture, I would be willing to examine them and give you my opinion.
  5. In Christ,
  6. Bob Hill
• Question: What is the difference between a disciple and an apostle?
  • I would like to know the difference between a disciple and an apostle. I have looked up scriptures on it, but I need a precise answer. Were the disciples also apostles?
• Answer: (click here to see the answer)
  1. Carolyn,
  2. There is a great difference between a disciple and an apostle. The word apostle in the Greek means, "One sent with a mission." In the Greek lexicon used more than any other by scholars, The Bauer, Walter, Gingrich, F. Wilbur, and Danker, Frederick W. A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1979, gives a number of meanings. I will edit out all the Greek words and sources that are irrelevant to you. In the NT, it can mean delegate, envoy, messenger. Of Epaphroditus, messenger of the Philippians Phil 2:25. In 2 Co 8:23, perhaps, missionary. It is especially used of God's messengers Lk 11:49; Rv 18:20; Eph 3:5. But the Bible uses the word predominantly for a group of highly honored believers, who had a special function. Even Judaism had an office known as apostle, shaliach. From it the expression may have been borrowed to designate one especially commissioned. At first it denoted one who proclaimed the gospel, and was not strictly limited: Paul frequently calls himself an apostle Ro 1:1; 11:13; 1 Co 1:1; 9:1f; 15:9; 2 Co 1:1; Gal 1:1; Eph 1:1; Col 1:1; 1 Ti 1:1; 2:7; 2 Ti 1:1, 11; Tit 1:1. Of Barnabas Ac 14:14. Of James, the Lord's brother Gal 1:19. Of Peter 1 Pt 1:1; 2 Pt 1:1. Then especially of the 12 apostles: Mt 10:2; Mk 3:14; Lk 22:14; Ac 1:26; Rv 21:14. Peter and the apostles Ac 5:29. Generally the apostles 1 Co 4:9; 9:5; 15:7; 2 Co 11:13; 1 Th 2:7; Ac 1:2; 2:42f; 4:33, 35, 37; 5:2, 12, 18, 40; 6:6; 8:1, 14, 18; 9:27; 11:1; 2 Pt 3:2; Jd 17. As a governing board, with the elders Ac 15:2, 4, 6, 22f; 16:4. As possessors of the most important spiritual gift 1 Co 12:28f. With prophets Eph 2:20. Christ and the apostles as the foundation of the church Eph 2:20.
  3. In contrast, the meaning for disciple is the Greek word learner, mathaytays emphasize the bold part of the word for the pronunciation of the word. We get our English word, math, from this word. Every person who believes in Christ would be called a disciple.
  4. I hope this helps,
  5. Bob Hill
• Question: Does 1 Co 15:54 show a post-tribulation resurrection?
  • Hi Bob:
  • I believe in a pretibulation rapture. Lately I was asked a question from 1 Cor. 15:54 "...then shall be brought to pass the saying...
  • The question posed to me is from a Post tribulation position. He believes the Church is Israel spiritualy and since this is a quotation concerning Israel, and Israel's hope is the 1st ressurrection, and since Paul is saying when this mortal, and when this corruptible have put on etc, then this old testament quotation is fulfilled. If it is fulfilled, then there must only be a post tribulation ressurrection.
  • Can you give me some help here and show me your take on the verse.
  • Thanks, Dan
• Answer: (click here to see the answer)
  1. Dan,
  2. To begin, I want to print the whole passage of 1 Co 15:50-55: Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— 52 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. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?”
  3. This whole event is called a mystery, something hid in God, a secret. The secret in 1 Co 15:51,52 is not the concept that some will not see death, for our Lord expresses this idea clearly in John 11:25-26: “He who believes in Me will live even if he dies, but he who lives and believes in Me will never die.” The secret, here, is the event itself. In contrast, the second coming, including the gathering of the elect, is well prophesied in Mat 24: 29-31, “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”
  4. This event was no mystery to Paul. Let us recall here the precise definition of “mystery”. A musthrion (I’m using the GraecaII font.) is not an ambiguous or mystical revelation but an unrevealed truth. The LXX of Dan 2:19 employs musthrion to render the Aramaic raz, “secret”, in reference to Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. Daniel did not receive from Nebuchadnezzar a vague or shadowy revelation of the dream. Rather, until the God of heaven revealed the secret to His prophet, the content of the dream was completely concealed to him.
  5. Likewise, the secret of the rapture was not the subject of ambiguous or shadowy revelation before Paul, but was concealed in God. This mystery was revealed to Paul early in his ministry, and Paul discusses the rapture in his earliest epistles, Galatians and Thessalonians. Further, the musthrion of Ephesians is also discussed in Romans and 1 Corinthians. Since the rapture is a musthrion, the disclosure of the church’s hope prior to the revelation of the secret church through Paul is also a mystery – not revealed.
  6. God did not form the body of Christ by bringing believing Gentiles into the covenant blessings of His people, Israel. He did not bring Gentiles into equality with Jews, but equalized the two groups by concluding Israel in the same state of unbelief as the Gentiles because of her disobedience. The following Scripture from Rom 9:31-10:3; 11:32, establishes this: “But Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness. 32 Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone. 10:1 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. 2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. 11:32 For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all.”
  7. Therefore, the church is an entirely new creation (Eph 2:15). Since the church was formed only after Israel was removed from her position of privilege, the body of Christ cannot be the result of including the Gentile believers in Israel’s blessings. The body of Christ is not an extension of Israel’s privileged status to the Gentiles. Likewise, the ministry of Paul, to whom the truth of the body of Christ was entrusted, was not an extension of the circumcision apostles’ commission. Paul’s gospel of grace and his apostleship to the Gentiles represented a new course of divine action (Gal 1:1, 11-12; 2:7-9). Therefore, a tribulation specifically applied to Israel has nothing to do with the church which is His body.
  8. Under the law dispensation, which includes the tribulation and kingdom (Isa 2:3), Israel enjoyed a position of high privilege: “The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth” (Deu 7:6). The law covenant brought about this special status (Deu 4:7-8; 10:15; 26:18-19; 32:8). The Abrahamic covenant accorded his descendants a unique access to God’s salvation (Psa 3:8; John 4:22; Eph 2:11-13). God’s purpose for the redeemed Jews was to make them a royal priesthood, mediating between the Lord and the righteous nations (Isa 61:5; Zec 8:23; 1 Pe 2:9).
  9. In the dispensation of grace, God has abolished Israel’s privileged status. But He will never forsake His covenant with Abraham and David. He will ultimately elevate Israel again to primacy over the Gentiles, but in this dispensation, He declares that “there is no distinction.”
  10. In the world, Jews and Gentiles stand before God as equally condemned unbelievers (Rom 3:23). Now, they have equal access through the gospel of Christ (Rom 3:22; 10:12) to an equal salvation in His body (Eph 2). Speaking about the elect, Paul does not even find it sufficient to repeat, “there is no distinction between Jew and Greek.” Why? Because, “in Christ, there is no Jew or Greek” (Col 3:11; Gal 3:28). In the church, God has gone beyond “separate but equal” in reconciling both into one new man. Now, circumcision is of no value either for our position in Christ (Gal 5:6) or for our walk in Him (1 Co 7:19).
  11. If we cannot apply Israel’s law to the church. How then can we adopt her prophecy? The body of Christ was concealed in God until He revealed His secret through the apostle Paul (Eph 3:6; Col 1:24-27). The tribulation saints are clearly the subject of Old Testament prophecy (Dan 7:27). The saints who endure the tribulation and inherit the kingdom cannot be members of the unprophesied church, the body of Christ. Further, we see no evidence of Old Testament prophecy being fulfilled during the dispensation of grace. Our Lord’s prophecy of Jerusalem’s destruction can only pertain to the time of the end, for only then will “all things written be fulfilled” (Lk 21:22).
  12. The purpose of the tribulation is the purification of Israel, so that “he who is left in Zion and he who remains in Jerusalem shall be called holy” (Isa 4:3). This purpose is illustrated by the difference between the salvation experience in the two dispensations. In Paul, eternal salvation is instantaneous upon belief and assured by divine sealing (Eph 1:13; 4:30). Justification is by God’s grace, provided entirely by the faithfulness of Christ (Rom 3:25) and realized by faith alone on the part of the individual, apart from covenant status or works (Tit 3:5; Rom 4:4-5).
  13. In contrast, the circumcision Scriptures present the salvation experience as the culmination of an extended process of faith manifested in works. James asserts boldly that faith alone cannot save (2:14-26). Salvation, to the Jew, did not involve a point-action conversion from false religion to the true, but a progression from old covenant Judaism to Messianic Judaism.
  14. God’s respective promises to the body and to the remnant illustrate the contrasting views of salvation described above. Paul assured us that Jesus Christ is already our deliverer from “the coming wrath” (1 Th 1:10). We are not destined for that wrath (1 Th 5:9). He said that God’s plan for the body of Christ from the beginning was for us to be saved from it (2 Th 2:13). He instructed us not to make an issue of the day of the Lord, for it will not overtake us (1 Th 5:4). The certainty of our future deliverance is based upon the surety of our past justification (Rom 5:9). The Lord’s word to Israel, though, is conditional: “seek righteousness . . . perhaps you will be hidden in the day of the Lord’s anger” (Zep 2:3). “Be vigilant . . . that you may be deemed worthy to escape . . . and to stand before the Son of Man” (Lk 21:36). “Because you have kept My command to endure, I will also keep you from the hour of trial” (Rev 3:10).
  15. These Pauline references indicate that the church “will not suffer the wrath of God.” This point forces post-tribulationists to make a sharp distinction between the tribulation period and the day of the Lord, for that day is “the day of His fierce anger” (Isa 13:13). The post-tribulationist position must maintain that God’s wrath is absent from the seven-year tribulation. They must maintain that the day of the Lord does not commence until Christ’s actual return at Armageddon. This analysis restricts that day to a very short time frame, perhaps even a literal 24-hour day. This arrangement is wrong for the following reasons:
  16. 1. The day of the Lord is a period of substantial duration.
  17. 2. The day of the Lord and the tribulation coincide.
  18. 3. God will be in control during the tribulation. It’s His day.
  19. 4. The wrath of God is present during the tribulation.
  20. If the day of the Lord were limited to Christ’s second advent, the Thessalonians could hardly have been led to believe it had already arrived. At least several months would have passed from the time they were troubled by false teachers until Paul dispatched his epistle to them (2 Th 2:2). Joel’s extended description of that day could not transpire within 24 hours: “The seeds rot under the clods . . . the grain has dried up . . . the livestock are perplexed for lack of pasture . . . for the rivers of waters have dried up” (Joel 1:17-20). He then describes a military campaign against Jerusalem which will require greater than one day’s time. Ezekiel extends the battle through Egypt to Ethiopia and Libya (30:3). Obadiah predicts that the “nations will drink continually” of God’s wrath (v.16). According to Zec 14:8, the day of the Lord will take place during summer and winter, implying at least a year’s duration, “And in that day it shall be that living waters shall flow from Jerusalem, half of them toward the eastern sea and half of them toward the western sea; In both summer and winter it shall occur.”
  21. The major post-tribulationist argument to restrict the day of the Lord is based on Joel 2:31, which places a series of great heavenly signs “before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord.” Our Lord, in Mat 24:29, places these signs at the conclusion of the tribulation. This order is confirmed by the sixth seal of Rev 6:16-17. On this basis, I believe the Lord’s day cannot begin until the end of the tribulation. Yet Joel 2:10 and 3:9-14, as well as Isa 13:9-10, place the great heavenly signs during, not before, the day of the Lord. How can this be explained?
  22. Joel begins his presentation of the day of the Lord with a description of general tribulation judgments: famine, drought, flame (1:15-20). After an extended description of the armies which converge on Jerusalem, the day culminates with the heavenly signs (2:10), and finally reaches the crescendo: “The Lord will give the command to His army . . . for the Lord’s day is great and very awesome – who can abide it?” Although God is always supreme, He has delegated sovereignty on earth to man under “man’s day” (1 Co 4:3). The Lord’s day is when God, in the person of Jesus Christ, moves to reclaim direct sovereignty over the earth, “for the Lord alone will be exalted in that day” (Isa 2:11). Joel applies the day of the Lord not only to His return but to the series of events which culminate in His return. Subsequently, “the great and awesome day of the Lord” is used to denote specifically the day of His advent in Joel 2:31 and Mal 4:5.
  23. Zechariah presented the day of the Lord as commencing prior to Christ’s return. God will “gather all the nations against Jerusalem for battle . . . and half the city will go forth into captivity . . . then the Lord will go forth and fight against those nations . . . and His feet will stand in that day on the Mount of olives” (14:1-4). Christ’s return is not the initiation of that day, but its climax. John sees all the nations already gathered [Greek perfect] at Armageddon (Rev 19:19), but the armies are still in the process of being gathered during that day (Joel 3:9-14). Israel will battle the nations in that day (Eze 13:5), but Christ will fight at Armageddon without human assistance (Isa 63:6).
  24. Since the tribulation falls within the day of the Lord, we know that God’s wrath is executed during the tribulation. In fact, Jesus Christ called the tribulation a time of “wrath upon this people [Israel]” (Lk 21:23). He encouraged His disciples to rejoice when they see this wrath, for “your redemption is drawing near” (v.28). The tribulation saints are still on earth during the outpouring of God’s wrath in the bowl judgments, for Christ exhorts them from heaven to endure (Rev 16:15). With all of this information, it should be possible to see that God promised to deliver Christ’s church, the body of Christ, from His wrath with the pre-tribulation rapture.
  25. Therefore, I don’t agree with your friend.
  26. In Christ, the one who will rescue us from that day,
  27. Bob
• Question: ...thief on the cross saved without water baptism and without doing the works of the law?
  • How was the thief on the cross saved without water baptism and without doing the works of the law?
• Answer: (click here to see the answer)
  1. Josh,
  2. First the easy answer: The thief on the cross was saved without water baptism and without doing the works of the law because Christ said he was.
  3. Then, the thief on the cross was saved because God looks at the heart. Jer 17:9,10 "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; Who can know it? 10 I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings." Since there was no possible way for the thief on the cross to be water baptized, God was merciful. He says in James 2:13, that "mercy triumphs over judgment."
  4. Further, the thief on the cross was saved because the Law is mostly negative, and he did not break any commandments after he believed Christ. According to Christ, the most the most important law of all of them, was one the thief kept while he hung on the cross with Christ, "Love the Lord with all your heart."
  5. I believe people are saved in every dispensation by God's grace, their belief and Jesus Christ's death on the cross for sin. The way God requires man to express that belief changes in some dispensations. Works of the law and baptism were important requirements in many dispensations, but because God is God, He can save someone anyway by making an exception. He made an exception for David according to Rom 4:5-8 "But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, 6 just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works: 7 'Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; 8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin.'" Therefore, I believe he was saved by God's grace, the thief's faith and the death of our Lord Jesus Christ.
  6. In Christ,
  7. Bob Hill
• Question: What to do about Ying Yang necklace
  • Bob thank you for very good and fast answer, and your advice to just tell the story of Jesus to the JW.I am doing that its just sometimes I get sidetracked by other questions. Just like this new
  • one, do you know anything about the Ying Yang being a satanic symbol, or anything to do with evil at all?? Why I ask is, theres a young man in my church that weres a Ying Yang necklace and at some time some where I read or heard that it was a sign of satan in some way???? Can you help? Thank you again so much.
• Answer: (click here to see the answer)
  1. Ed,
  2. The Ying Yang thing has to do with Chinese philosophy and of course can be satanic. I think the more important thing you should do with this young man in your church who wears this necklace is to get to know him better. Build a healthy loving relationship with him. Help him grow in the Lord. Maybe see if he would like to get together on a weekly basis. Then see if he would be willing to spend time in the word of God. If so, spend the time focusing on how to love God more and understand His word. After you have a good relationship with him, then ask him about his necklace. Maybe it is completely innocent. Maybe he just likes the style. You won’t really know until you have a good enough relationship with him that you can ask these kinds of questions. Remember, 2 Co 5:14-21 “For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; 15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. 16 Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. 21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
• Question: Does everyone have the opportunity to hear the word of God?
  • Do you think that everyone has the oppertunity to hear the word of God. And if not what happens to the people that don't hear it?
• Answer: (click here to see the answer)
  1. Michael,
  2. After Adam sinned, God seems to have given him the plan of redemption. (See E. W. Bullinger, The Witness of the Stars.) Was there any witness to God and this plan of redemption for the first 2,500 years? I believe there was. How did God do this? I believe He used three ways.
  3. He used the stars. Rom 10:17,18 “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. 18 But I say, have they not heard? Yes indeed: ‘Their sound has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.’” Paul quoted this portion of Scripture from: Psa 19:1-6 “The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork. 2 Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge. 3 There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard. 4 Their line has gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them He has set a tabernacle for the sun, 5 which is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoices like a strong man to run its race. 6 Its rising is from one end of heaven, and its circuit to the other end; And there is nothing hidden from its heat.” This is not just a heritage to Israel, it’s for the whole world. Deu 4:19 “And take heed, lest you lift your eyes to heaven, and when you see the sun, the moon, and the stars, all the host of heaven, you feel driven to worship them and serve them, which the LORD your God has given to all the peoples under the whole heaven as a heritage.”
  4. He used His handiwork, creation: Rom 1:18-23 “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.”
  5. Isa 40:21-26 “Have you not known? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? 22 It is He who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers, Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them out like a tent to dwell in. 23 He brings the princes to nothing; He makes the judges of the earth useless. 24 Scarcely shall they be planted, Scarcely shall they be sown, Scarcely shall their stock take root in the earth, When He will also blow on them, And they will wither, and the whirlwind will take them away like stubble. 25 ‘To whom then will you liken Me, Or to whom shall I be equal?’ says the Holy One. 26 Lift up your eyes on high, and see who has created these things, Who brings out their host by number; He calls them all by name, by the greatness of His might and the strength of His power; Not one is missing.
  6. He wrote His law in the hearts of man. Rom 2:9-16 tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; 10 but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 11 For there is no partiality with God. 12 For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law 13 (for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified; 14 for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, 15 who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them) 16 in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.
  7. However, from Gen 11:4 it seems that man corrupted the original zodiac God gave to Adam. God gave His written revelation to Moses. Then, He progressively gave further revelation until the canon was closed with the book of Revelation. Gen 11:4 “And they said, ‘Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top with the heavens [All the stars of the zodiac; a representation of the heavens. Towers of these types have been found in Babylon.]; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.’”
  8. That’s why Psalm 19:7-14 finishes with the written word.
  9. Psalm 19:7-14 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; 8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; 9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. 10 More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. 11 Moreover by them Your servant is warned, And in keeping them there is great reward. 12 Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults. 13 Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; Let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, And I shall be innocent of great transgression. 14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.
  10. This showed two ways God revealed His word. The written word seems to be better for evangelism and Christian growth, but remember, there were 2,500 years before there was any written word validated as inspired. The only conclusion I can make at present is that Paul refers to this gospel of the stars in Col 1:23, “if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached in [en] every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.” He also referred to the gospel in Col 1:5,6 “because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel, 6 which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth.”
  11. His handiwork still shows His eternal power and deity. Men are without excuse. They have always had the witness of the stars and God’s handiwork: Rom 1:16-20 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven upon all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is evident in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible things are clearly perceived, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and deity, so that they are without excuse.”
  12. I must reiterate, even those who have not heard the spoken gospel are mentioned in Rom 2:14-16 “for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, 15 who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them) 16 in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.” The potential is still there for men who have not heard the written gospel to be accused or excused by the law written on their hearts. However, there is only one name “under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). The death of our Lord Jesus Christ has provided redemption for everyone.
• Question: What is Jesus referring to in John 10:28-29?
  • What is Jesus referring to in John 10:28-29? It appears that He is supporting eternal salvation, but this would contradict what He said in the beginning of John 15, and passages in Hebrews and 2 Peter, which indicate no eternal salvation for circumcision believers.
• Answer: (click here to see the answer)
  1. When we look at the context, we can see that the sheep are believing Israel, John 10:24-29,
  2. Then the Jews surrounded Him and said to Him, “How long do You keep us in doubt? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.” 25 Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father’s name, they bear witness of Me. 26 But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you. 27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.”
  3. Further, Luke 12:32 shows us that the Apostles are the little flock, “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Are the sheep, sheep because they were elected or predestined to be sheep, or are they sheep for some other reason?
  4. We must ask, whom did the Father give to Christ? Christ said in John 6:37, “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.” Further, He said in John 10:26, “But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep.” Is this saying others couldn’t believe because they were not of the elect? According to these and other statements, many believe there are two groups of people in the world, the elect and those not elected. They use these portions to prove that belief. And, because they are His sheep, does that mean they cannot be lost?
  5. Christ called His disciples His “little flock,” in contrast to the rebellious nation. Christ had two works. This is clear from two accounts in John. One is in the description of Christ’s crucifixion, in John 19:28-30.
  6. Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!” Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.
  7. When He said, “It is finished!” in 19:30, Christ meant the work of redemption had been finished. But, what did He mean in John 17:4 when He said, “I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.”? Let’s read the context, John 17:1-5.
  8. Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, 2 as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him.
  9. Now, who are these that the Father has given Him? Are they elect or predestined to be His sheep and given to Christ because they are elect? My answer is no! As we search further, we will find that they are the 12, but not all of the 12 remained saved. Don’t forget Judas. Christ continued in verse 3,
  10. And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. 4 I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. 5 And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.”
  11. We must ask, what work did He finish in John 17:4? Obviously, that work was different from the work of John 19:30 accomplished on the cross.
  12. Notice, in John 17:2, Jesus quoted a recurring theme first found in Isaiah 8:13-18, “The LORD of hosts, Him you shall hallow. Let Him be your fear, and let Him be your dread. He will be as a sanctuary, but a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense to both the houses of Israel, as a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 15 And many among them shall stumble; They shall fall and be broken, be snared and taken. 16 Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples. 17 And I will wait on the LORD, who hides His face from the house of Jacob. And I will hope in Him. 18 Here am I and the children whom the LORD has given me! We are for signs and wonders in Israel From the LORD of hosts who dwells in Mount Zion.
  13. Notice, the children whom the Lord gave Him would produce signs. Those signs were demonstrated by the apostles when Christ sent them out in Matthew 10. He also promised that signs would follow them in Mark 16.
  14. The first reference to the work of Christ is in John 5:16,17. One group, the Jews, made a choice. They did not believe. “For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath. 17 But Jesus answered them, ‘My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.’” In John 5:37-47, He showed why the Jews were unbelievers [And thus not His sheep]. They didn’t want to come to Christ.
  15. And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form. 38 But you do not have His word abiding in you, [Why?] because whom He sent, Him you do not believe. 39 You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. 40 But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life [ou qelete elqein pro" me, ina zwhn echte GraecaII font]. 41 I do not receive honor from men. 42 But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you. 43 I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive. 44 How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God? 45 Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father; there is one who accuses you; Moses, in whom you trust. 46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. 47 But if you do not believe [ou pisteuete] his writings, how will you believe My words?
  16. Christ was showing the apostate nation that they were not His sheep because they were unwilling to come to Him for eternal life. In Mat 8:12, He told them of their fate, “But the sons of the kingdom [unbelievers in the elect nation] will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” In contrast, the little flock would sit on twelve thrones, judging Israel, and the rest of redeemed Israel would inherit the kingdom. However these promises were conditional. According to the words in Mat 19:27-29, they had to follow Him.
  17. Then Peter answered and said to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?” 28 So Jesus said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life.”
  18. Let’s look at Ezekiel 34:20-31 with this little flock in mind.
  19. Therefore thus says the Lord GOD to them: “Behold, I Myself will judge between the fat and the lean sheep. 21 Because you have pushed with side and shoulder, butted all the weak ones with your horns, and scattered them abroad, 22 therefore I will save My flock, and they shall no longer be a prey; and I will judge between sheep and sheep [believing and unbelieving]. 23 I will establish one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them; My servant David. He shall feed them and be their shepherd. 24 And I, the LORD, will be their God, and My servant David a prince among them; I, the LORD, have spoken. . . 30 Thus they shall know that I, the LORD their God, am with them, and they, the house of Israel, are My people,” says the Lord GOD. 31 “You are My flock, the flock of My pasture; you are men, and I am your God,” says the Lord GOD.
  20. Who was this “flock of My pasture” of verse 31? At the beginning, they were just the twelve, the little flock. When He said “I will judge between sheep and sheep,” He judged between the apostate nation and the little flock. In Matthew 21:43, it says, “Therefore I say to you [the chief priests and the elders of the people according to vs. 23], the kingdom of God will be taken from you [According to vs. 32, For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him; but tax collectors and harlots believed him; and when you saw it, you did not afterward relent and believe him] [now back to verse 43] the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it.” At first this nation was just a little flock, the twelve disciples. They were not even a nation. Moses predicted in Deuteronomy 32:21, “They have provoked Me to jealousy by what is not God. They have moved Me to anger by their foolish idols. But I will provoke them to jealousy by those who are not a nation. I will move them to anger by a foolish nation.” In Isaiah 8:18 when it said, “Here am I and the children whom the LORD has given me! We are for signs and wonders in Israel From the LORD of hosts who dwells in Mount Zion,” who were those children? How did the Lord give them? Was that a prophecy of the coming Messiah and His people?
  21. As we examine the Scriptures, we’ll see that Jesus, the Messiah, quotes this passage, Isaiah 8:18, “Here am I and the children whom the LORD has given me!”, repeatedly when referring to the little flock. Notice further what it says in Hebrews 2:9-13,
  22. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone. 10 For it was fitting for Him [the Father], for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. 11 For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, 12 saying: “I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You.” 13 And again: “I will put My trust in Him.” And again: “Here am I and the children whom God has given Me.”
  23. If the Father gave Christ some children, then we can understand why Christ had a two-fold job to do. He had the job of preparing the little flock for their future work. He completed this part of the work in John 17:2-4. The other work, redemption, was finished on the cross.
  24. How did He accomplish the first work? Let’s look closely at John 6:33-45. Christ was talking with the ones He fed (John 6:26).
  25. For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 Then they said to Him, “Lord, give us this bread always.” 35 And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. 36 But I said to you that you have seen Me and yet do not believe.”
  26. By this unbelief, they put themselves into the apostate nation. Then, in verse 37, He said, “All [pan]” — The extent of this all [pan] depends. The Father gives all those of verses 44,45, everyone who hears and learned. But not those of verses 64,65, who do not believe. Further, according to John 17:12, one of the chosen doesn’t continue in belief. “While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition.” Judas was one of “those whom You gave Me.” But he did not continue and was lost. Compare this with the potential loss of salvation in John 15:6.
  27. John 17:12 ends, “that the Scripture might be fulfilled.”[Many expositors say this should be translated, “that the Scripture might be illustrated.”] When I said that one, Judas, did not continue in belief, implying that he was a believer, I based that on the inspired statement of John in John 2:11, “This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him.” When it says His disciples believed in Him, this would include Judas. Mat 13:16 shows they were all blessed by Him. “But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear.” So, they all were blessed by Him. They all believed in Him. Remember, Christ promised they would all sit in judgment on Israel in Mat 19:28, So Jesus said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”
  28. Of course Judas didn’t follow Him all the way. Therefore, he will not sit on one of the twelve thrones. Let’s continue reading John 6:37-39.
  29. All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. 39 This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day.
  30. When He says, “This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing,” this “all” referred to the apostles. Notice how John 17:6 and 18:9 substantiate this. John 17:6 “I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word.” John 18:8-9 Jesus answered, “I have told you that I am He. Therefore , if you seek Me, let these go their way,” 9 that the saying might be fulfilled which He spoke, “Of those whom You gave Me I have lost none.”
  31. He is quoting John 6:37-40 and 10:29, which we have already read. What does “Of those whom You gave Me”, mean? John 6:44 says, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws [elkush/ drags] him.” Yet John 12:32 says, “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, [will draw, drag, all to Myself, pavnta" elkusw pro" emauton].” The way the Father draws them is by teaching, because John 6:45 says, “It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me.” If, and it’s a big if, they will listen and learn from God, they will be drawn by the Father. Once they are drawn, they will be given to the Son by the Father. This group of apostles is the little flock of Luke 12:22&32. At that time, Judas was included.
  32. Then He said to His disciples, “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on . . . 32 Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”
  33. Was He referring to Mat 19:28, “you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel”? Yes He was, because there was a strong condition. In Luke 22:3,4, Judas had already left to betray Christ. “Then Satan entered Judas, surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve. 4 So he went his way and conferred with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray Him to them.” Then, Christ spoke to the remaining disciples in verses 28-30, [In contrast to Judas,] “you are those who have continued with Me in My trials. 29 And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me, 30 that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” The twelve are apostles of the circumcision with the earthly hope of the kingdom which was promised to David. Our hope is heavenly.
  34. Later, Peter wrote to the extended little flock. He told them about the prophecy of Ex 19:5-6, which said,
  35. Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. 6 And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.
  36. In 1 Pe 2:8-10, he wrote that Jesus was “A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense. They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.” Notice! According to the Greek syntax, they were appointed to stumble when they were disobedient to the word. Instead of believing it they stumbled. They refused to believe. But in fulfillment of Ex 19:5,6, he wrote in 1 Pe 2:9, to these circumcision believers who expected the kingdom,
  37. But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy (Cf. Hos 1:9,10; 2:23).
  38. They are the nation. The apostate nation has been rejected. The kingdom was taken from the apostate nation and given to the little flock which has grown into the Israel of God.
  39. Remember, in 1 Ti 2:4, God “desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” John 7:17 shows who will know the Lord. “If anyone wants [qelei, is willing] to do His will [to qelhma autou, the will of Him], he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority.” John 6:40-45 shows who will know Him:
  40. “And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees [o qewrwn] the Son and believes [pisteuwn] in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.” 41 The Jews then complained about Him, because He said, “I am the bread which came down from heaven.” 42 And they said, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How is it then that He says, ‘I have come down from heaven’? 43 Jesus therefore answered and said to them, “Do not murmur among yourselves. 44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. 45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall all be taught by God. Therefore everyone who has heard [Therefore everyone who is hearing, pa'" ou\n oJ ajkouvwn The Majority Text supports this reading contra Nestle-Aland, Scriveners, and TR.] and learned [kai maqwn] from the Father comes to Me.
  41. And John 5:38-40 shows it negatively: “But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe. 39 You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. 40 But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.”
  42. Now we know how it was granted by the Father. Everyone who was willing to hear and learned was granted by the father in John 6:61-65 to come to Christ.
  43. When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this, He said to them, “Does this offend you? 62 What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before? 63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. 64 But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning [The beginning of their unbelief.] who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him. 65 And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.”
  44. All are able to believe the gospel, but according to 2 Pe 1:5-11 their salvation is conditional. They must make their election sure.
  45. But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. 10 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; 11 for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
  46. Therefore, my conclusion is, God took the kingdom from the apostate nation of Israel and gave it to the little flock. This little flock grew into a great multitude. But, because of continued unbelief (Rom 11) the nation was set aside and a new program was begun with Paul. However, in the tribulation the little flock will grow and eventually become united with the other sheep of John 10:16, and grow into a great nation. They will have one Shepherd. The little flock was, at first, the twelve. But it grew to be thousands of Jews who willingly believed before God set aside His program for Israel and raised up the Apostle Paul with a new stewardship and the message of grace. After the rapture and the tribulation, they will receive their long awaited kingdom.
• Question: My neighbor uses marijuana and I want to try to convince him that it is the same as sorcery.
  • My neighbor uses marijuana and I want to try to convince him that it is the same as sorcery. I know that pharmakia in the Greek means sorcery or witchcraft. And I know that marijuana is psycho-active, distorting reality and is an "enchantment". My question is, what verses could I show my neighbor (a Catholic) to convince him that he is doing sorcery by getting high on marijuana?
  • In Christ,
  • Mark Carson
• Answer: (click here to see the answer)
  1. Mark,
  2. It is true that the word farmakeia is found 3 times in the Bible and is translated sorcery. This is the reason drugs are named pharmaceuticals. But it is a leap to make your case from this. Here are the verses: Gal 5:20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies. Rev 9:21 And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts. Rev 18:23 “The light of a lamp shall not shine in you anymore, and the voice of bridegroom and bride shall not be heard in you anymore. For your merchants were the great men of the earth, for by your sorcery all the nations were deceived.
  3. Along with this stuff, though, I would make sure he understands what a saving relationship with Jesus Christ is, first. That’s more important than whether he smokes dope or not. Once he knows Christ as his Savior, but not until then, I would appeal to his desire to live for God. Paul wrote in 1 Co 6:12 “All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.” Marijuana certainly has the power to alter the mind.
  4. In Christ,
  5. Bob Hill
• Question: What was in the forest that claimed more lives that day than the sword?
  • 2 Samuel 18:8b (NIV),and the forest claimed more lives that day than the sword. What was in the forest that would do that, or is this a metaphor?
• Answer: (click here to see the answer)
  1. Bruce Blackmon
  2. Bruce,
  3. You hit the nail right on the head. Metaphors tell us what happened in a more dramatic way than just saying more died in the forest because of the terrain that died from sword wounds.
  4. Bob Hill
• Question: from scripture with regard to gambling to a friend who has concerns about family...
  • I was recently trying to quote something from scripture with regard to gambling to a friend who has concerns about family members, and voting. What does the Bible say?
  • Scot R. McGehee
• Answer: (click here to see the answer)
  1. Scott,
  2. The only gambling I know of in the Bible besides the casting of lots for Christ's robe, was in Judges 14:10-20 when Solomon made a wager.
  3. Judges 14:10-20 So his father went down to the woman. And Samson gave a feast there, for young men used to do so. 11And it happened, when they saw him, that they brought thirty companions to be with him. 12Then Samson said to them, "Let me pose a riddle to you. If you can correctly solve and explain it to me within the seven days of the feast, then I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothing. 13"But if you cannot explain it to me, then you shall give me thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothing." And they said to him, "Pose your riddle, that we may hear it." 14So he said to them: "Out of the eater came something to eat, And out of the strong came something sweet." Now for three days they could not explain the riddle. 15But it came to pass on the seventh day that they said to Samson's wife, "Entice your husband, that he may explain the riddle to us, or else we will burn you and your father's house with fire. Have you invited us in order to take what is ours? Is that not so?" 16Then Samson's wife wept on him, and said, "You only hate me! You do not love me! You have posed a riddle to the sons of my people, but you have not explained it to me." And he said to her, "Look, I have not explained it to my father or my mother; so should I explain it to you?" 17Now she had wept on him the seven days while their feast lasted. And it happened on the seventh day that he told her, because she pressed him so much. Then she explained the riddle to the sons of her people. 18So the men of the city said to him on the seventh day before the sun went down: "What is sweeter than honey? And what is stronger than a lion?" And he said to them: "If you had not plowed with my heifer, You would not have solved my riddle!" 19Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon him mightily, and he went down to Ashkelon and killed thirty of their men, took their apparel, and gave the changes of clothing to those who had explained the riddle. So his anger was aroused, and he went back up to his father's house. 20And Samson's wife was given to his companion, who had been his best man.
  4. God empowered him after this event as you can see in the 19th verse, but I don't think that condones gambling.
  5. I don't know what you mean about voting.
  6. In Christ,
  7. Bob Hill
• Question: How does God deal with mentally incompetent and children who murder?
  • How does God deal with those who lack the mental capacity to make decisions for Him?
  • What punishments does the Bible give for dealing with children who commit crimes like murder?
• Answer: (click here to see the answer)
  1. Josh,
  2. How does God deal with those who lack the mental capacity to make decisions for Him?
  3. In other words, does a young child have sin? If he dies, does he go to heaven? If there is a certain age of accountability, what is it? And, finally, is there a scriptural basis for an age of accountability?
  4. In the OT we find that little children had no knowledge of good and evil. Deu 1:39 “Moreover your little ones and your children, who you say will be victims, who today have no knowledge of good and evil, they shall go in there; to them I will give it, and they shall possess it.” The fulfillment of God’s promise was held over for the next generation, those who were still children. They were too young to make responsible choices (they today have no knowledge of good and evil).
  5. In the Immanuel prophecy found in Isaiah, we find that the age of accountability, knowing good from evil, was part of the account. Isa 7:14-16 “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. 15 Curds and honey He shall eat, that He may know to refuse the evil and choose the good. 16 For before the Child shall know to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land that you dread will be forsaken by both her kings.”
  6. In the prophecy of Jonah, we have an interesting account of the number of people in the city. Jonah 4:11 “And should I not pity Nineveh, that great city, in which are more than one hundred and twenty thousand persons who cannot discern between their right hand and their left.” It is generally calculated that the young children of any place are a fifth of the inhabitants, and consequently the whole population of Nineveh would amount to about 600,000.
  7. Further, when Christ called a little child to Him in the gospels, He showed they were innocent. They believed unquestioningly. When they reach the age of accountability, they become responsible for their own sins because that’s when they start sinning. Mat 18:2,3 “Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, 3 and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.’” This concept was reiterated shortly after, in Mat 19:13,14 “Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 But Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.’” An account similar to the Matthew 18 incident is found in Luke 18:16,17 “But Jesus called them to Him and said, ‘Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. 17 Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.’”
  8. Rom 9:10,11 attests to the innocence of the very young. “And not only this, but when Rebecca also had conceived by one man, even by our father Isaac 11 for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls.”
  9. Rom 5:12-18 shows that Christ died for the original sin of Adam that had “spread to all men, because all sinned in Adam.” “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned—13 (For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come. 15 But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. 16 And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification. 17 For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. ) 18 Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life [for Adams original sin].” Just as Adam caused all to be sinners, including little children, the 18th verse shows that Christ’s death resulted in justification from Adam’s original sin for all men. Therefore, if a child dies before he reaches the age of accountability, he will go to heaven.