one claiming to be of Apollos, an other of Paul, still another of Christ. They knew nothing of the headship of Christ. A carnal Christian has no testimony for Christ. It is a tragedy for one to be a carnal Christian, and he will be judged by the Lord for it if he does not turn from that way. According to the Bible his fleshly, carnal life will reap “ corruption.” It is unthinkable that a Christian can enjoy living that way, but it is cer tain he will not enjoy the reaping at the end of the life he lived for self and the flesh. The Promised Land Q. Joshua 21:43 puzzles me: “And the Lord gave unto Israel all the land which he sware to give unto their fathers; and they possessed it, and dwelt therein.” Has there ever been a time when Israel possessed all the land promised them? A. No, the children of Israel have never possessed all the land included in the Abrahamic covenant. In Joshua 1:4 we read that the promised land extends from the great sea (that is, the Mediterranean) to the great river, the river Euphrates. Many people consider the promised land to be that area included in the maps of Pales tine you find in the backs of Bibles. They raise the question about large numbers of Jews returning to Israel, and wonder how this new nation can ever in the future sustain 17 millions of people. Well, when it extends to the Euphrates there will be plenty of room for all. A 100-Year-Old Child Q. After the Jews are restored to their own land during the millen nium, what does it mean that “ a child will live to be 100 years old” ? A. You are referring to Isaiah 65:20 which reads: “There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old
Games and Dances Q. Our church is planning to erect a b u i l d i n g for games and square dances. To me this is wrong. What is your opinion? A. I can see some profit in the erec tion of a building for gymnastics, pro viding it is used as a means to an end — that is, to bring young people under the influence of the gospel. However, the program including square dancing is something differ ent. It is my firm conviction that such a use of a building belonging to the church would not please God, for it marks the church as a club, not as a church at all. During the Millennium Q. What will Christian people do during the millennial period? Will they be on earth and if so, what will be the nature of their life, seeing they live in a different body? A. We do not know. All the Word of God reveals is that we shall reign with Him. It is clear, however, that in some way we shall be associated with Christ in the government of the earth for 1,000 years and with the universe after the millennium. What is a Carnal Christian? Q. What does the expression “ carnal Christian” mean? How can one be carnal and be a Christian? As I un derstand it, to be a Christian you must have the Spirit of Christ or the new birth. A. A carnal Christian is one given over to fleshly things. A spiritual Christian is one who is given over to the things of the Spirit. The marks of the carnal Christian are described in the seventh and eighth chapters of 1 Corinthians. The Corinthian Chris tians were in the carnal class. They walked as men (unconverted men). There were divisions among them, 30
man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed.” The prophet is here stating that dur ing the millennial reign of Christ life will be greatly prolonged, so that one who is 100 years old will seem a child in age. Many people will doubt less live right through the millenni um. Death will be a judgment and will come only upon rebels who open ly defy the King. There will be some who will dare to do this very thing. Baptism by Water Q. In the great commission Christ said: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost” (Matt. 28:19). Does this mean baptism by water or bap tism by the Holy Ghost? A. It means baptism by water. Men do not baptize with the Holy Spirit. Only God does that. Is the Thought of Sin, Sin? Q . If two Christian people agree to do something and God stops them from doing it, is it a sin in God’s sight just as if they had done it? A. Yes, the thought of sin is sin as well as the deed in God’s sight and it too must be repented of. “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the un righteous man his thoughts . . .” we read in Isaiah 55:7. These Christians should be very thankful that God pre vented this plan from materializing into action. They should obey 1 John 1:9 and be restored to God. The re mainder of this verse in Isaiah reads: “ ■ . . and let him return unto the Lord . . . for he will abundantly pardon.” Readers are invited to submit questions to Dr. Louis T. Talbot, The King’s Busi ness, 558 So. Hope St., Los Angeles 17, Calif. — ED. THE KING'S BUSINESS
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