nection to what we find in Genesis 10 and 11 where the earth was divided according to languages, tribes and peo ples. This came as a result of the wic kedness perpetrated in connection with the building of the tower of Babel. Q t Vancouver, British Columbia. “What does it refer to in Ephesians 3:19 where in we read that we should know the love of God which passeth knowledge. How can we know something that can not be known? It seems to be a para dox.” A. There are degrees of knowing the love of Christ. It is true that in the final analysis the love of Christ passeth all human understanding, but that doesn’t mean we can’t know the love of Christ. We also read in this verse Paul’s prayer that we might be filled with all the fullness of God. As finite creatures, however, we can and should know His love. It is a part of our spir itual maturity. Q . Bakersfield, California. “The apostle Paul scad ‘If we deny him, he w ill also deny US’. Yet Peter denied Him three times, and still he was saved. What did Jesus mean by this warning in Mat thew 10:33?” A. This passage has to do with the sending forth of the twelve. Our Lord Jesus gives them directions, and in forms them in the manner in which they may be expected to be treated. “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 10:32, 33). There are degrees or aspects of denial. In II Timothy 2:12, Paul has reference to the one who denies in an absolute and outright sense. This is a man who has never exhibited any degree of belief or saving faith. This was certainly not true of Peter. It is a fact that he did deny our Lord. He was a backslider. We read that Peter did repent and ask the Lord’s forgive ness. He was reinstated by the Saviour. 12
Panel Discussions (continued) God has ordained the means as well as the end and we are exhorted to pray. God is never found in error or mistake. If this will be any comfort to you, every notable and less notable theologian in the world has wondered about this very fact as well. It is one of those things in the Bible that we must take by faith and hold in proper proportion. He has told us to come into a marvelous partnership with Him: to ask that we might receive a blessing and see Him do the work. Q , Portland, Oregon — “A verse in Acts chapter 4 has been pointed out to me as evidence that the early church prac ticed communism. W ill you explain this please?” A. The entire passage of Acts chapter 4:32 through 6:4 tells of the church at Jerusalem and the people holding things in common. But the practice did not spread, nor did it continue long. Not only does it show they had all things in common, but also it shows the failure of that method of living. Ananias and Sapphira give a picture as examples of the failure of this sort of system. But mark you well that there is a vast difference between this passage and communism as we know it today. Communism has as its basic tenant the idea that there is no God. The early church certainly did not practice communism in this form. Their common bond was love; communism speaks of hate and force. Q . San Bernardino, California. “There is a strange statement in 1 Chronicles 1: 19 in reference in Peleg. The words are given, ‘For in his days the earth was divided.’ What is the meaning of this phrase?” A, Some people believe that this is the time when the earth was divided into continents. That theory, however, does not fit in with what we have in th.e early chapters of Genesis. There the water was made to flow off the dry land so that it appeared in definite form. No doubt the reference is in con
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