O x * . T a l b o t ’ s G i u e s t i o x i B o x
Old Testament. There is no promise in the Word of God that we shall es cape suffering or even violent death. John the Baptist, according to Jesus Himself, was regarded by Him as the greatest “bom of woman” (Matt. 11:11). We do not know WHY God permitted his death just how and when He did any more than we know why God allowed the deaths of thou sands in the early days of the church at the hands of heathen rulers and wicked religionists. We only know that they glorified Him in death as in life and this applies to John the Baptist as well. Some questions must await the day when we shall be in the presence of the Lord and able to ask Him personally the why and the wherefore. Who can “explain” the death of missionary Dr. Paul Carlson and others in our own day? Yet he believed Romans 8:28 and so do we. WHERE ARE THE CHRISTIAN DEAD? Q, Do the saved go immediately to heaven when they die? A. The Scriptures teach positively that a true child of God goes im mediately to heaven at the time of physical dissolution of body and soul. II Corinthians 5:8 gives us that assurance: “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” (Cf. Phil. 1:23 and other passages of Scripture.) Luke 16:22 tells us that the angels receive the spirits of the departing saints—a comforting thought: that they take our spirits home to heaven and the presence of God. They are our “ministers,” you know, “minis tering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of sal vation” (Heb. 1:14). They guard us here on earth, and take us to heaven when we die. “The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them” (Psa. 34:7). “For he shall give his angels
DEATH OF JOHN THE BAPTIST Q. Why did Jesus permit John the Baptist to be imprisoned and be headed when John could have been an asset in the spreading of the Gos pel after the crucifixion, as John seemed to be influential in gathering crowds about him and Matthew says that all were baptized who came to hear John preach? A. A principle of faith is involved in the death of John the Baptist as in all of God’s dealings with His children. Only the Lord knows why some die and some remain alive through persecution. Note in Dan iel 3:17-18 the wonderful answer which Shadrach. Meshach and Abed- nego gave to King Nebuchadnezzar: “If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burn ing fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, 0 king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.” Job, who underwent nearly every kind of mental suffering, physical pain and bereavement, declared, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him” (Job 13:15). Paul said to the Ephesian Chris tians, “What mean ye to weep and to break my heart? For I am ready not be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 21:13). When he knew his end was very near (history says he very likely was slain by Nero), he said, “I am now ready to be of fered and the time of my departure is at hand.” (I Tim. 4:6). Peter’s death was predicted by Christ in John 21:18-22 and evidently he also died the death of a martyr. But the Lord ended all speculation about how His servants should suffer or die in the words to Peter on that occasion concerning the death of John: “If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? Follow thou me.” Read Hebrews 11 for the account of what happened to the saints of the
charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone” (Psa. 91:11, 12 ) . BAPTISMAL REGENERATION Q. How would you show one who believes in baptismal regeneration the error of this teaching? A. By pointing out the dozens of ref erences in the Bible that tell us plainly how to be saved — by faith in the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Some of these are: John 1:29; 3:16, 36; 5:24; Acts 16:31. There are hundreds of passages which definitely state that faith in the Lamb of God, and faith in Him alone, saves the soul. The thief on the cross had no time to be baptized; yet the Lord Jesus promised that he would go with Him to paradise. Of course, we should obey the Lord’s command by being baptized. But this ordinance is a testimony before men, angels, and demons, that we are trusting the blood of Christ; it is not essential to salvation. It follows salvation. Therefore, to claim that it is essential to salvation, is to limit the efficacy of Calvary’s cross. It is but the outward sign of an in ward work of God’s Spirit. FATE OF JUDAS Q. Did God predestinate the fate of Judas? A. If by this is meant, “Did God arbitrarily foreordain that Judas could not believe and be saved ?” then our answer is emphatically, “No!” One who knows the God of the Bible could never believe in such predes tination. It was, indeed, foretold that Judas would betray the Lord, for God knows what men will do. But Judas was a free moral agent. What he did, he did of his own voli tion. Satan entered into him (John 13:27), but only because Judas yielded himself to the devil.
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THE KING'S BUSINESS
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