riencing daily the “washing of water by the word” (Eph. 5:26), he need have no fear of the power of de mons over his life. Demon possession is much more apparent in heathen lands than elsewhere, for in the lands where Christ is named and honored— even to a limited extent— a. restraint is exerted over the awful power of the evil one. Why does God punish men with eternal death? One might just as well ask why God punishes men at all. We know that God is a just God. “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” (Gen. 18:25). His righteous wrath falls upon the ungodly, and particu larly upon the ungodly who reject His grace and mercy. However, we need to remember that God has placed the cross of Christ between every sinning son of Adam and eter nal punishment. “The Lord is . . . not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repent ance” (2 Pet. 3:9). God created man with an undying personality, and if he does not choose to identify him self with Christ and His atonement, he is eternally lost (Rev. 20:15). We are taught that “ the Lamb” is Christ, but from Revelation 21:9 to the end of the Chapter, it seems to me that the passages speak. of Israel, although still speaking of the Lamb’s wife. I understand that the Gentiles who are saved during this age are the Bride of Christ. Will you please explain? One of the names of Christ is the Lamb of God. John the Baptist, refer ring to the Lord Jesus, said, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). The Lamb of God is the One who has provided atonement (1 Pet. 1:19). Throughout the Book of Revelation this name for Christ is used. You will enjoy taking your pencil and mark ing every time in Revelation that Christ is called the Lamb. Revelation 21:9, to which you liefer, says: “Come hither, I will show .thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife.” Then John was shown the Holy City, the New Jerusalem, in which the bride, the Lamb’s wife,
Please explain the difference be- tween believing with the head and with the heart. The theologians of old used to say that faith is composed of three things: First, the acknowledgment of the head; second, the assent of the heart; and third, the affiance of the life. I think this definition can not be improved. Believing with the head is a part of saving faith, but that kind of belief alone cannot save. You remember that even the de mons believed and trembled (Jas. 2:19). There are thousands of unre generate men and women who be lieve intellectually in Christ, but they have no saving faith. To believe with the heart involves the affec tions. That is where the word love comes in. The Holy Spirit, through- Paul, said, “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness” (Rom. 10:10). The expression, affiance of the lifej shows that faith always in cludes action. It is not a dead intel lectual thing, but it is a living, puls ing, acting, expressive affair. Paul and James agreed thoroughly. James, said, “Faith without works is dead” (Jas. 2:20), but a living faith that produces works, is the only kind of faith that Paul ever preached. We fear that there are multiplied thou sands in the churches today who have been taken in on a mere assent of the mind. The Old Testament word for faith is trust. Because the word faith has been profaned by misuse, it is often helpful to use the word trust. Yes, it is sadly possible for a be liever on the Lord Jesus Christ to be come a tool of Satan (Matt. 16:22, 23; 1 John 4:1-3). But this need not be, and it is never the case if the believer avails himself of the means of grace and victory which Christ freely provides. The adversary is a wily foe, and the child of God is ex horted to beware “lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices” (2 Cor. 2:11). If a believer is an obedient fol lower of the Lord Jesus Christ, feed ing upon the Word of God and expe- SEPTEMBER, 1947 Is it possible for a Christian to become possessed o f a demon?
E D IT O R ’S N O T E : For several months this department will be replaced by special articles on the false cults. Watch for -these timely and helpful exposes of man-made religions which deny God’s way of salva tion through faith in His Son. dwelt. He does not say who the Lamb’s wife was; in this passage he merely is showing where she dwells. We believe that the Bride of Christ includes all believers of this dis pensation. Paul’s writings make this clear. Read Ephesians 5:23-27; 2 Corinthians 11:2. What is the meaning of Philip- pians 2:12, “Work out your own sal vation with fear and trembling” ? Mark you, this verse does not say, “Work for your own salvation," but “Work out your own salvation.” Sal vation is the gift of God; it cannot be earned. It is your own salvation that you are to work out, or manifest. The text must be considered in connec tion with the verse which immedi ately follows: “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” The entire pas sage means that the Christian is to manifest, to show to the world, the salvation that Christ has inwrought —a salvation shown by a godly and careful walk. This he cannot do in his own strength. He can do it only by the power of God. “Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts” (Zech. 4:6). Does the world with its wealth belong to God, or to Satan? The world and all it contains be long to God. “The earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof” (Psa. 24:1). However, the devil and his people possess much of it. There is a differ ence between ownership and posses sion. I own my umbrella, but some one else possesses it! Christ will one day come and take possession of all things, and the uttermost parts of the earth will be included in His king dom. “He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth” (Psa. 72:8). ; PAGE TWENTY-FIVE
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