A. F irst of all, we certainly do not consider the Salvation Army a “sect.” General Booth, one of the truly great men of God in the last 19 centuries, the founder of the Salvation Army, was a tremendous soul winner. We could only wish that there were more like him today. We have nothing to do with one’s spirituality. We don’t criticize those who prefer not to have instruments, nor do we find fault with those who use them. It is a matter of personal preference. As a matter of fact, we teach band instruments here at Biola because we believe the stu dents can use them as more effective witnesses for the Lord Jesus Christ. Q. Nampa, Idaho — "Did Adam and Eve ever repent and get saved after they ate the forbidden fruit?” A. The answer is suggested in Genesis 3:15-21 where God indicates to the serpent that he is putting enmity be tween him and the woman. This is the first portion in the Bible which speaks of the coming of the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. God tells the woman about the pain and travail she must experience in childbirth. The word Eve may not appear to be much in English, however, it comes from the Hebrew word meaning .“living one.” This meant that Adam revealed his faith that he and Eve would not be cut off from the earth. He knew there would be descendents from them be cause Adam called his wife “the moth er of all living.” Verse 21 tells how the Lord God Himself made these first two inhabitants of the earth coats of skin. He clothed them. We see here in typical form the shedding of blood necessary for atonement. Our judg ment from this passage is that they were both saved. Q . Stockton, Calif. — “Is there Scrip ture that wiU prove God has given man dominion over the stars? WiU man ever reach the moon and live there?” A. Talking about unredeemed man is one thing. A regenerate soul, however, when he receives his resurrected body,
is entirely different. Actually there is nothing in Scripture giving any indi cation whether or not man will reach the moon. The Bible does tell us a great deal about astronomy, but the Scriptures are basically for our under standing in realizing man’s condition upon this earth. There is a time com ing, however, when we definitely will have the opportunity of v i s i t i n g planets. This will be with our resur rection bodies when we won’t be handicapped by the laws of time or space. In that time we are going to be able to enjoy all of God’s creation in a way man has never been able to fathom with his finite mind. We will be able to listen to the music of the spheres; the mighty organ of God’s celestial handiwork. You see, the trav el to the moon seems so relatively un important in the light of eternity with our Lord Jesus Christ. Q. Redding, Calif. — “ I ’m confused over Joshua 2i:15 where we read, ‘Choose you this day whom ye wiU serve.’ Yet, in verse 19 the words are ‘Ye cannot serve the Lord.’ Hoio are these pas sages reconciled?" A. This is the farewell address of Joshua, who led Israel f o l l ow i ng Moses. He helped the 12 tribes get settled in their land. At the end of his life, he again appealed to them to serve the Lord faithfully and sincere ly. Knowing their propensity to evil, however, he reminds them that they can’t please their own selfish desires and also expect to serve the Lord. These verses need to be understood in their context. Joshua is showing these people that in their own strength they will never be able to serve the Lord because of His infinite unapproachable holiness. He alone can give the divine enabling. Q . Redding, Calif. — "In Genesis 6:6 we read, ‘And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth.’ Why did God repent? Isn’t His mind al ways made up?” A. This Question, in addition to I Sam uel 15:11 and 29, simply means God
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