Q . Anaheim, California — “W ill you please explain II Corinthians 5:10 stat ing, ‘For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.’ ” A. This has to do with believers. It is not a judgment as to whether we are going to be saved or not. It is a judg ment of works. Q . Anacoitea, Washington — “If Acts 2 and I Corinthians 12 are not for the church today, how can we be sure that salvation by faith is for us today?” A. We don’t cut out Acts 2 or I Corin thians 12 from our Bibles. But we must remember that not all of the Scriptures are to us. As an example, Psalm 23:1 was written first of all to Israel. Yet it has a wonderful spiritual application to our own hearts. There were events which happened at the birthday of the Church recorded in Acts 2. In I Cor inthians 12 there are certain early gifts given to the Church. This does not mean that everything that happened in. those days are to happen today. For one thing how could Acts 2 be rein- acted. As an example we don’t have apostles today. The gift of apostleship is not in the Church today. There is only one Gethsemane, only one Cal vary, only one rapture, and only one Pentecost. But this same does not hold true in relation to salvation. A man today, and throughout t h e entire Church age, is saved by grace through faith. Acts 2 is a certain chronological period while dispensational features are given in I Corinthians 12. Salvation by faith, however, has always been true since the time of Abel. Q , Mountain View, California — “Do you think that those in heaven now can see what we are doing down here on earth?” A. No, we do not believe Scripture teaches this. Some believe Hebrews 12:1 indicates they do, however, this portion of Scripture refers to the testi monies of the great “heroes of the 31
faith.” They are not seeing us but are testifying to the saving and keeping power of the Lord Jesus Christ. Heaven is a perfectly delightful place where those there are happy, contented and satisfied. How could they, at the same time, look down upon the earth and see the hopeless mess in which the world finds itself? * While the Christian may prepare for the future he need never fear it. THE PERISHING ONE Stories of heroism are frequently giv en on the pages of our newspapers. While walking along the edge of an icy lake a man saw three others strug gling in the water. Immediately he plunged in, successfully rescuing two of them. Exhausted he got ready to go back for the third. A woman standing nearby pleaded, “Don't Go! You’re al ready over taxed. Yoiill never make it.” But ignoring her advice, he swam out to rescue the last drowning man. When he had safely brought him to shore, he saw his face for the first time, and quickly realized that he had sewed his own brother. What if he had failed to make that one last final effort? Similarly, there was a zealous per sonal worker who had witnessed to men on the street, in stores, hotels, wherever he found them, seeking to win them to Christ. One day while working on skid row, he found his own long lost brother and with tears of persuasion won him to Christ. His brother wept, “YoiCre the only person who s ever talked to me about my soul. Yodve witnessed to others, but I never really knew the way.” As we look about us there are loved ones who per haps have never heard from our lips the message of eternal life. Who w ill tell them if we don’t? The Bible says that “Andrew first findeth his own brother.” “God is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” and to a personal knowl edge of Jesus Christ, the only way to peace, satisfaction, heaven and eternal life. * *
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