that there is but one explanation, and that is in respect to the “ unbe lieving g e n e ra tio n .” Note how verse 45 closes, “ Even so shall it be unto this wicked generation.” The word “ generation” is certainly to be understood in the sense of “ race.” The “ unclean spirit” in Israel in Old Testament times was idolatry. In the time of Christ, it had left the n a tion s for the captivities had brought God’s people to see the folly and sin of idolatry. Even now Juda ism is swept clean of that evil spirit, and boasts of reform. But it will not be so forever. The unclean spirit will return and bring “ seven others” with him. It will take pos session of the house again, and the last state will be worse than the first. Because Israel, as a nation, has rejected her Messiah, the Lord Jesus, she is still in spiritual blind ness. When she makes a covenant with the Antichrist, during the sev entieth week of Daniel’s prophecy, then she will be allowing the return of the demon, with seven other spir its, as it were. The Antichrist will try to force all the world to worship his image. That will be idolatry in its last, bold form. Israel will see that the Antichrist is a false Mes siah; will break her covenant with him; consequently, will have to go through the great tribulation. Only the return of the Lord in glory will save His chosen people, Israel, from annihilation from the earth. The Antichrist and his forces will seek the utter destruction of God’s peo ple, but the Lord will come and save them.
vide the “word of truth.” In the first place the church began on the Day of Pentecost as in Acts 2: and in the second place, “ the disciples were called Christians first in Anti och” (Acts 11:26). Concerning the beginning of the church, much might be said, but the Old Testament saints did not even know that the church, the bride of Christ, was in the mind of God. He revealed this “mystery” to Paul, as all New Testament teaching proves. Christ said, following Peter’s con fession that Jesus was the Son of the living God: “Upon this rock I will bu ild my ch u r ch ” (Matt. 16:18). Thus the church began at Pentecost, and will continue on the earth until the last member of the body of Christ is won to Him. God alone knows when that time will be. BAPT ISM OF THE SPIRIT Q. 1 have heard you say that every believer is baptized with the Spirit. Will you please tell me your author ity for such a statement? A. In his letter to the Corinthians (I Cor. 12:12, 13), Paul says, “ For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.” When the Apostle wrote, saying, “We are all baptized into one body” by the Spir it, he was writing to the Corinthi ans, the most carnal of all the apos tolic churches. Paul made it very clear that “ the baptism of the Spirit” is that opera tion of the Spirit, by which a be liever is made a member of the body of Christ. The baptism of the Spirit is not an experience following con version; it is a dispensational act, whereby God unites the born-again soul to the true Church, which is the body of Christ. There is no such thing as a Christian who is not a member of the body of Christ.
THE M IN IST R Y OF THE HOLY SPIRIT Q. Can you explain just what is the work o f the Holy Spirit?” A. The work of the Holy Spirit is as clearly set forth in the Word of God as is the work of the Father, and as is the work of the Son. The Holy Spirit convicts of sin, and re generates the heart of the believer as declared in John 16:8-11, and 3:8. First, every believer is indwelt by the Holy Spirit as Paul tells us in Galatians 4:6, “ B e cau se ye are sons,” not because of anything else, but “ because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying Abba, Father.” (John 14:16, 17, 26; 15:26; 16:7, 12-15; Rom. 8:14-17; I Cor. 12:3). This last verse is very striking. “ No man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Spirit.” In plainer words perhaps, you and I could not acknowledge that Jesus of Nazareth is Lord of lords, if we did not have the baptism of the Holy Spirit. He (the Holy Spirit) teaches us the truth of God as it is in Christ, in whom “dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily” (Col. 2 :9 ). UNBELIEV ING GENERATION Q. Please explain Matthew 12:43- 45: When the unclean spirit is gone out o f a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Then he saith, I wiU return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he find- eth it empty, swept and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.” A. All kinds of interpretations and applications have been made of this prediction. It is very clear, however,
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A B R A H AM BEGAN THE CHURCH
Q. I have heard some Christians say that the church really began with Abraham. What is your opin ion? A. It seems they do not rightly di
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