QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS with Dr. Samuel H. Sutherland. President, the Bible Institute of Los Angeles, Inc. and Dr. Charles L. Feinberg, Dean, Talbot Theological Seminary
Q . Yakima, Washington — P lease ex plain what Jesu s m eant when He said, “But the children o f the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness” (Matthew 8 :11 ). A. This concerns the incident where the centurion asks the Lord to heal his servant who was ill. with palsy. The soldier displayed a great measure of faith. He used the occasion to point out the weakness of Israel in a simi lar acceptance of the truth. We need to remember that he was not saying that the kingdom was to be taken away. It does mean, however, that those who miss the opportunity to enter in to the kingdom promised them, will be cast into outer darkness. These are those who refused to believe in Christ. Salvation is always based on an ‘individual and personal level. This does not refer to the future res toration of the nation of Israel. Q . San Francisco, Calif. — “I would be interested in knowing what your far vorite texts are as m inisters. I have made it a hobby o f m ine to collect fav orite verses o f outstanding Chris tian leaders." A, (Dr. Sutherland) Hebrews 12:1-2 is my life stand, although it is difficult to choose just one verse. This presents the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ in such a wonderfully challeng ing manner. Others I especially enjoy are, Galatians 2:20, Romans 12:1-2, and John 10:27 and 28. (Dr. Fein berg) If I were limited to one verse,
I believe I would select Job 13:15. (Mr. Sanders) My wife and I have as our life verse together Hebrews 10:36. Certainly the Lord has proven Him self over and over again as this por tion suggests. Q . Seattle, Washington — “Why isn’t the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit fo r given?” (Matt. 12 :81 ; Mark 8 :2 9 ; Luke 12:10). A. Blasphemy is a sin of the mouth. It is calling the Holy Spirit, Satan. When the ungodly in the day of our Lord saw Him performing miracles in the power and the strength of the Holy Spirit, they said the one within Him was the devil. This shows the extreme depths to which unbelieving people will go naming the blessed Per son of the Trinity after such a sinis ter, devilish one. Q . Livingston, Calif. — “Why do most churches use instrumental music when it is forbidd en by God in Amos 6:5, and it is never mentioned in the New Testament?” A. Amos does not condemn instru ments. He is pointing out the sinful ness of misusing them. When such are used for the devil instead of for the glory of God, the individual is tread ing on dangerous ground. I Chronicles 23:5 shows that David made instru ments to praise the Lord. They were not condemned. We believe instru ments may be used to the glory of God as they are in so many instances. 15
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