Q . Phoenix, Arixona — “If a person drifts away from the Lord, ought he to be baptized in water again when he returns to the fold?” A. No portion of Scripture indicates that one ought to be baptized again. There are Christians who sometimes leave their first love, drifting away from the Lord. But returning, all they need to do is confess. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to for give us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (I John 1:9). David drifted away from the Lord and prayed, “Restore unto me the joy of thy salvatiqn.” It wasn’t his salvation that he lost, but rather the joy of this knowledge. Q . Billings, Montana — “What's the dif ference between being a Christian and being a disciple?” A. A Christian is literally a “Christ one,” a follower of the Lord Jesus. He has realized that there is no merit in himself for God has accepted Christ as his substitute and guarantee for all eternity. This does not mean, how ever, that he is a mature Christian as far as his service is concerned. Being a disciple has two different meanings. In John 6:66 there is an indication that a disciple can be an unbeliever. After our Lord gave His wonderful discourse on His being the Bread of Life many of his disciples went back and walked no more with him.” They were not trusting Him as Saviour, they were following Him for what they might get out of it. The term disciple is also used in the New Testament for one who is a believer and who has allowed his life to be under the disci pline of God. Basically, however, the word does refer to believers who have shown a willingness to deny them selves and who have taken up the cross to follow the Lord, whatever His per fect will might be. Q . Kansas City, Missouri — “I've been told that when Christ returns that the cemeteries will look like plowed fields. (continued on next page) 23
tion of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” There is no verse in the Bible more condemnatory than that one. Notice that it is every imagination, not just some, or even the majority of them. Man is apart from God in the totality of his being. Romans 7:18 states, “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.” Basically then, the doctrine of total depravity teaches that man is apart from God under the curse and bondage of sin. He is a rebel against God in body, mind, soul and spirit. Q . San Francisco, California — “Please give me help on Psalm 69:22 and 23, ‘Let their table become a snare before them: and that which should have been for their welfare, let it become a trap. Let their eyes be darkened, that they see not; and make their loins con tinually to shake'.” A. David is asking the Lord to save him from his enemies. They were not enemies of David’s on a personal scale but more importantly they were ene mies of the Lord, This is what is known as an imprecatory psalm where a curse is called down upon unbeliev ers. We today are not in any position to do what David did. This is an age of grace and we have the word of the Lord Jesus Christ. We are rather to pray for our enemies. Q . Albuquerque, New Mexico — “Jesus said that in hell 'their worm dieth not’ (Mark 9:45). What is the meaning of this statement?" A. In this passage our Lord is speak ing of that which awaits those who are unbelieving. The word “hell” here is the eternal abode of the lost. This is an unquenchable fire. The use of the word “worm” is not literal but that which acts in the manner of a worm burrowing through and through. In other words it is a reference to con tinuing, never-ending suffering and punishment.
Made with FlippingBook Annual report