DK. TALBOT’ Baptismal Regeneration Q. How would you show one who believes in baptismal regeneration the error of his teaching? A. By pointing out the dozens of references in the Bible that tell us plainly how to be saved — by faith in the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Some of these are: John 1: 29; 3:16, 36; 5:24; Acts 16:31. There are hundreds of passages which definitely state that faith in the Lamb of God, and faith in Him alone, saves the soul. The thief on the cross had no time to be bap tized; yet the Lord Jesus promised that he would go with Him to par adise. Of course, we should obey the Lord’s command by being baptized. But this ordinance is a testimony before men, angels, and demons, that we are trusting the blood of Christ; it is not essential to salva tion. It follows salvation. There fore, to claim that it is essential to salvation, is to limit the efficacy of Calvary’s cross. Judas Converted? Q. Was Judas saved before he was lost? A. There is not the slightest sug gestion in any portion of Scripture to intimate that Judas was ever a saved man. In fact, the very con trary is taught. In John 6:64, 65 we read: “ But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed 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 Fa ther.” Here we learn that Judas, with the others who rejected Him, was an unbeliever. And then the Lord Jesus added these words, re
corded in the same chapter: “ Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?” Ministry of the Holy Spirit Q. Where will the Holy Spirit be after the translation of the church? A. The church is “ the temple of the Holy Spirit” ; and when the rapture takes place, the Holy Spirit will go with the church. However, He is omnipresent; for He is God, equal with the Father and with the Son. Because He is God, and be cause God never leaves Himself without a witness in the world, the Holy Spirit will operate in the earth during the tribulation period, even as He did in Old Testament times. He came upon certain indi viduals then, anointing them for service. His mission for the church age, indwelling the members of the body of Christ, wh i c h is the church, will end at the rapture. But He will seal the 144,000 Jews during the tribulation period, and empower their testimony. The church, however, will have been completed; and He will not operate then as He does now in the world. It will be a different ministry. Let it be remembered that there can be no conversion, in any age, without the quickening power of the Holy Spirit. Baptism by Fire Q. What is meant by the words of John the Baptist, r e c o r d e d in Matthew 3:11: “He that cometh after me is mightier than I. . . . He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire” ? Is a believer baptized with fire, as well as with the Holy Spirit? A. Not at all. John was speaking to a mixed company of the saved
and the unsaved. The saved were to be baptized with the Holy Spirit. The unsaved were to be baptized with the fire of judgment at the re turned of Christ. Verse 12 makes it very clear that this is the mean ing of John’s words: “Whose fan is in his hand, and he will through ly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will bum up the chaff with unquench able fire.” The doctrine concerning the church, revealed later by Paul, comes in between the preaching of John the Baptist and the return of Christ in glory. Converting the World Q. Becently I heard a denomina tional youth leader urging us as young people to go out and bring in the kingdom. How can I do that? A. To me that is a very moving question and I am sure it is in the minds of many young people who hear inspiring, but unscriptural, messages along this line. Let me say to this young person that God never intended we should go out and “ bring in the kingdom.” This is the prerogative of the Lord Jesus Christ who will personally bring the kingdom with Him when He comes again. You can’t have a king dom without a king and our King is still in heaven. However, we can all be witnesses for Christ, and by our life and words try to win others to Him. Then they too will be ready for the Lord when He comes. I would advise this young person to go to a Bible school and get a good training in the Word of God as the best preparation for winning souls. Christ is calling out a people for His name from all nations of the earth. But the world will never be converted. (Readers are invited to submit questions for Dr. Talbot's consideration.)
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THE KING'S BUSINESS
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