the Lord can’t overlook some one who hasn’t even begun to conform to His will in the acceptance of Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour. Q . San Bernardino, Calif. — “Can you give me some understanding as fa r as the scriptural teaching of mar riage in eternity? Does it continue? Will we know our mates up in glory ? I realize that there will be no mar riage there, but I ju st wondered if we would know each other and recall our experiences together.” A . Matthew 22:30 confirms the fact there is no marriage in heaven. Yes, we believe we will know our loved one up in glory. While it is not given in Scripture one way or the other, our relationship there will be quite different from what it is down here. We will be so occupied with the per son of our Lord Jesus Christ, so com pletely filled with His glory, that we will be altogether taken up with Him. Our central goal and purpose will be concentrated upon Christ Himself. Q. Orovilte, Calif. — “Did the Old Testament people experience the Spirit birth as we know it today at salvation? How was their nature changed? Were they born depraved, inheriting the nature of Adam, the same as we are?” A . The answer to your last question is a resounding “yes.” Romans 5:12 gives us ample proof of this fact. Look at the description of Jeremiah 17:9. Their nature was changed the same as ours is. It is always by the operation of the Spirit of God. “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you.” That is the new birth. Abraham was born again the same way we are. The difference was that he looked for ward to Christ’s coming. We look back by faith to the cross. It is never stated in the Old Testament that after a person was born of the Spir-
and agony of mind and heart. The words immortal and incorruptible are used only of believers. The unsaved will go on in their resurrection bodies forever throughout eternity. But that is never called eternal life. It is known as eternal death. Q. Eugene, Ore. — “Did Jesus fall beneath the cross when Simon was called to help Him?” A . None of the four Gospel accounts give us any definite information. We know Simon was compelled to bear Christ’s cross, The implication is that our Lord was so weak He couldn’t carry the cross Himself. Keep in mind that it was probably a very heavy, crude, piece of lumber. It may be that our Lord didn’t have the human strength to bear it Him self. Q. Nanaimo, B.C., Can. — “Could you please give me help on I Peter 4:18? I don’t quite understand the words ‘scarcely be saved.’ ” A . This has troubled some from the reading on the surface. It doesn’t mean that one is partly saved. The translation is really “with difficulty.” All of us are responsible to the Lord. If a man suffers as a Christian, that’s one thing. But some of us suffer also because we need to be sanctified. God wants His children purified. So, if the Lord brings us judgment in order to purify us, what will happen to those who obey not the gospel, trusting that they can go it alone? If we get to heaven through much trial and tribulation, what is going to be the condition of those who never obey the Lord Jesus Christ? Look at I Corinthians 3 where we see that a believer is saved and yet his works can be consumed by the fire of judgment. This has nothing to do with salvation. If there has to be this kind of judgment brought into our lives to conform us to the will of God, then certainly
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker