takes time to emphasize this matter. It is a blessed truth to know that God realizes every gift we make to His cause. He does not overlook or bypass anyone, Q . Redding, Calif. — "What does Psalms 6:5 mean? Also help me with John 3:18.” A. The first reference states, “For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?” This is parallel to what we find in Ecclesiastes. The writer looks at the situation from man’s view point. When we die, it will then be too late to praise the Lord here on earth as a witness for Him. David is calling for deliverance before physical death that his life may be used to testify to others of God’s redeeming power. John 3:13 tells us, “And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.” This passage does not rule out Enoch and Elijah. Remember that Enoch walked with God and the Lord took him. He did not go up under his own power. The same was true with Elijah who went up in a whirlwind. This was not true of our Lord Jesus Christ for He was and is very God. He rose from the grave and ascended on high. This is the difference between a human be ing and One who is divine returning to His own place. Q . Long Beach, C alif. .— “Please explain Christ’s going into heU, after He died on the cross. What did he accomplish there and what is meant by the phrase ‘lead captivity captive’? In I Peter it speaks of the fact that the Lord preached to those who were in prison. Was this the time when He went into heU? Did He preach the Gospel to those who had rejected faith before His coming?” A. When our Lord decended into “hell” (the word is actually “hades”) this was the abode of the dead. (This corresponds to the Old Testament He
brew word “sheol.”) This was the place of departed spirits. Hell we be lieve is still an unoccupied place, awaiting the final judgment of God upon satan, his fallen angels, and all unregenerate individuals who by their own choice choose to go there instead of receiving Christ’s way of salvation. In Ephesians 4:8 we read of the phrase, “He led captivity captive.” This means that the Lord took those who were in hades, in the abode of the righteous dead, to be with Him in glory. The spirits of the righteous dead who depart today are with the Lord. I Peter 3:19 and verses follow ing, does not indicate that an individ ual has a second chance of accepting Christ after his physical death. Christ proclaimed or heralded the good news that His mission on the cross had been accomplished. He then led the right eous dead, in their spirits, to be for evermore with Him. Q . San Diego, Calif. — “Are we New Testament Christians still under the storehouse tithing law found in Mala- chi 3:9, 10?” A. This command is definitely to Is- Two good friends get together for frequent fellow ship. Dr. Samuel H. Sutherland (in the apron). Biota president, chats with Dr. Charles L Felnberg, dean et the Talbot Theological Seminary at a recent breakfast provided ter the entire student body of the Seminary. Dr. Sutherland prepared it all him self to the delight of the young people. (The Jewish outfit, incidpntly, was an appropriate gift from Dr. Felnberg.)
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