9 9 9 9 T e t l ì D o t ’ s GXii e s ti o n B o x
LIFE INSURANCE Q. Is it right for a Christian to carry life insurance? Does it show a lack of faith to do so? A. To carry life insurance is but to make a business investment, in order to provide for one’s family in the event of death. Paul wrote: “ If any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel” (I Tim. 5 :8 ). The life in surance companies do a legitimate business, in compliance with the law. It is entirely legal and business-like for Christians to take advantage of this means of fulfilling one’s obliga tion to his own. If any Christian feels otherwise about the matter, then let him follow the dictates of his own conscience. To us there seems nothing contrary to Christian prin ciples in such a business arrange ment. MISSION OF MARY Q. Do you not think that Mary, the mother of the Lord Jesus, was sent to earth for a special ministry? A. No, I do not. There is not one line of Scripture in any of the writ ings of the apostles in support of this false teaching of Romanism concerning a special ministry, the worship of saints, purgatory or pen ances. All their teachings concern ing salvation by works, prayer for the dead, the canonization of saints and adoration of Mary are unscrip- tural. ENOCH'S PROPHECY Q. Please explain Jude lb-15: “And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their un godly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him." How could Jude
say that Enoch prophesied accord ing to this verse when there is no record in the Old Testament that he ever made such a prophecy? A. It is true that there is no such prophecy recorded in the Old Testa ment, as having been made by Enoch, but Jude wrote by inspiration of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit knew what utterances Enoch had made, even though there is no record of them. “ All scripture is given by in spiration of God” (II Tim. 3:16). “ For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (II Pet. 1 : 21 ) . Enoch, who was translated that he should not see death (Heb. 11:5), thus became a beautiful type of the saints who will be living on earth when the church is translated. It is interesting to know that he preached the second coming o f Christ, with His saints, to judge sin and “ to exe cute judgment” upon the ungodly. Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world (Acts 15:18). The seventh from Adam, even Enoch, was God’s mouth piece many centuries ago, to warn men to flee from the wrath to come. JUDAS LOST? Q. Was Judas saved before he died? A. There is not the slightest sugges tion in any portion of Scripture that Judas was ever saved. In fact, the very contrary is taught in John 6 :64, 65. “ But there are some of you who believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that be lieved not, and who should betray him. And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.” In this passage we learn that Judas, with the others who re jected Him, was an unbeliever. The Lord Jesus then added these words recorded in the same chapter: “Jesus
answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil ? He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.” By this we are plainly taught that Judas was called a devil. With the greatest opportunity any man ever had, he turned from the Saviour and became an instrument of Satan; Sa tan “ entered into him” (John 13:27). CONTROL OF TEMPER Q. I have accepted Christ as my per sonal Saviour, but I often sin, par ticularly in losing my temper. Am I really saved? A. The assurance with which you speak of accepting Christ as your Saviour is a good testimony. Since you are confident of having per formed that act, you may be sure of having been bom again: the latter is an immediate result of the former. The Holy Spirit graciously enters the heart of the redeemed one the moment that person says “ yes” to Christ. “ After that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise” are the words of Paul to the Ephesians (1:13; cf. II Cor. 1: 21, 22). The entrance of the Holy Spirit into the Christian’s heart is instantaneous, and not progressive. His presence there is a divine provi sion for the believer, but the scope of His influence is limited by the permission and submission of the one in whose heart He dwells. In this truth may lie the secret of your occasional anger. Have you submit ted your “temper” to the rulership of the One who is willing to keep you at all times the poised and vic torious Christian you would like to be? Every Christian can join you in that regrettable admission, “ I often sin.” Victorious living is gloriously possible as we yield completely to Him, our divine Comforter, Com panion, and Guide. (Read John 14: 16, 17; 16:13; I Cor. 3:16; 6:19).
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THE KING'S BUSINESS
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