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Dr. Louis T. Talbot
This is a matter which depends much upon the character of the sin and backsliding. If the sin is against the church, and the church has suf fered unjustly because of it, then the confession should be made to the church as well as to God.' The con fession in 1 John 1:9, is confession to God. If the sin is against an indi vidual, or individuals, then confession should be made to the person, or per sons injured. In James 5:17, it is written—“Confess your faults [sins] one to another.” Comparing the Resurrection of Christ and Lazarus What is the difference between the resurrection of Lazarus and the resur rection of Jesus Christ? We know nothing about the resur rection o f ' Lazarus except what is written in John 11. There was cer tainly a vast difference between the record in this chapter, and the resur rection of our Lord who was raised from the dead with a glorified body. It is on account of His death and resurrection that we are assured of a glorious resurrection. There is no in dication that Lazarus was raised with a glorified body. Whether he died again or was taken to heaven in the body in which he was raised, we are not told in the Scriptures, and where the Scriptures are silent we cannot presume to make any definite state ment. The presumption is very strong that he went through death the sec ond time. Can Conscience Be Our Guide? How far can we depend upon con science? Only so far as it has been educated according to the Word of God. The Word is the only infallible guide to action. If your conscience troubles you on any question, to violate it would be sinful. But we must seek to educate our consciences, not ac cording to the standards of other peo ple, but by the Word itself. One thing we dare not do, however, is to judge another for doing something which our conscience will not allow us to do. “Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind,” but fol low Romans 14 concerning others.
Tiberias, or the lake of Tiberias. This town was the capital of Galilee for some time and it was near this place that Jesus had fed the five thousand with the lunch provided by a little boy. Here He walked on the sea, and on the day following He gave His great discourse on the bread of life. Through these miracles many believed. The news of these unusual incidents had traveled great distances and the people came to see for them selves that these things were true. The Gift of Grace In Ephesians 2:7, 8, Paul speaks twice of grace. Explain the meaning of grace to a new Christian. Grace is favor—we often say it is unmerited favor, because it is some thing that we cannot earn, or obtain in any way by our own effort. Grace is a gift, and salvation is by grace because it is God’s gift to anyone who is willing to take it. Let us praise God for salvation by grace. The Inhabitants of Heaven Do you think there will be any Catholics in heaven? All born-again folks will go to heaven whether they be Roman Cath olics or Protestants. And all are bom again who confess Jesus Christ as Lord, and believe in their hearts that God hath raised Him from the dead. This involves a definite reception of the Lord Jesus as one’s personal Sav iour (Romans 10:9,10; John 1:11,12). Russellism What is Russellism? This is a sect of many names, changing frequently as occasion de mands. It has been known as Millen nial Dawnism, International Bible Students’ Association, and Jehovah’s Witnesses. The late “Pastor Russell” was the founder, and for the .most part its teachings are erroneous and to be avoided, as they are contrary to the infallible Word of God. Is Public Confession Always Necessary? If a Christian backslides, or com mits some sin, must he go before the church to make confession, or may he go to God in secret, confess to Him, and be forgiven? Some men claim public confession should be made.
Is Elijah a Witness in Revelation? Do you believe that Elijah is one of the two witnesses described in Revelation 11:3-12? Who is the other? If you will turn to Malachi 4:5, reading it with Matthew 17:11, com paring it with Mark 9:11-13 you will see why it is believed that one of the two witnesses in Revelation is be lieved by many to be Elijah. There is much difference of opinion among teachers of the Word of God as to the identity of the second witness. Some are of the opinion that it is Moses; others believe it will be Enoch, but the Bible does not make a plain statement in this matter, and where the Word of God is silent we can make no definite statement but await the day when all these things shall be revealed. Did Christ Heal Without Saving? Christ healed the man who was blind from birth, and shortly after ward healed his soul. Did Christ ever heal without saving also? Not to my knowledge. Compared with salvation bodily healing is a very small thing. The sinning be liever mentioned in First Corinthians 5, was sentenced by apostolic com mand to be delivered “unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.” This does not say that all bodily suffering is the im mediate result of sin (John 9:2,3); sometimes it results from very dif ferent causes (2 Cor. 12:7). But after all is said and done, bodily affliction, as compared with the future glory of the saved, is a very small thing (2 Cor. 4:16-18). Miracles Spread to Tiberias In John 6:23, I read—“There came other boats from Tiberias nigh unto the place where they did eat bread, after* that the Lord had given thanks.” What does this mean? There is nothing unusual about this statement. It is merely announcing that the miracles performed by Jesus had been spread abroad and other people came to investigate. Tiberias was a town on the sea of Galilee, which according to the first verse of this chapter is also called the sea of
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TH E K IN G 'S BU SINESS
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