ID r . T a l lD O t ’s d i a e s t i o n . B o x
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identified Himself with sinners, in order to fulfill “ all righteousness.” The Jordan River represents death, and Christ’s going down into it was a picture of His approaching sacrifice on the cross. Our Lord came into the world to die on behalf of sinners. Here at the beginning of His minis try He identified Himself with sin ners who were being baptized by John, and by so doing, He fore shadowed the purpose of His coming into the world. At Calvary He went into death on behalf of transgressors. He “who knew no sin” was made “ sin for us.” It was at the cross that all righteousness was fulfilled. Christ’s baptism was a picture of all this. It is noteworthy that in this event we have the Father’s voice from heav en, the Son in His human body, and the Holy Spirit, descending “ as a dove” upon the sinless Son of God. The Trinity is thus set forth co-equal, co-etemal. DATE OF SECOND COM ING Q . Is th ere any way w e can know th e exa ct date of Christ?s return? A. That question is asked very fre quently. I am very glad that We can give a clear and definite answer on this subject which has caused much confusion among God’s people. The Lord Jesus Christ stated unequi vocally in Matthew 24:36: “B u t of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven but my Father only.” This is one of God’s secrets into which we have no right to pry. Various cults have set dates for the Lord’s return and brought confusion and disappoint ment and heartbreak to the children of God, and embarrassment and dis grace to themselves. It is this very uncertainty that keeps us watching and waiting and working. I think of the words in Mark 13: 35, 36: “Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at mid night, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.”
SALVAT ION BEFORE CHRIST Q . How w ere m en saved b efore Christ died fo r the sins o f the world? A. By faith in the coming Redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ. The Old Testa ment is full of definite prophecies of His coming into the world to die for sinners. Throughout the entire Old Testament there is “ the scarlet thread of sacrifice,” by which God taught men that they could be saved only by faith in One who was to come. They were saved by putting their faith in the Christ of prophecy; we are saved by trusting in the Christ of history, who fulfilled the prophecies of His coming to die for the sins of the world. It is the blood of Christ alone that cleanses from sin in any age. Here are a few of the Old Testa ment prophecies of His coming to die for sinners: 1. Adam and Eve sewed fig-leaf aprons to make themselves fit for God’s presence—the work of their hands; but God made “ coats of skins and clothed them” (Gen. 3:21). The innocent animal had to die—a type of the innocent Lamb of God who died, that we might be clothed in the righteousness of Christ. 2. Cain brought the fruit of the ground; Abel brought the blood sac rifice—by faith! 3. Gen. 3:15 is the first promise of the coming Redeemer. 4. The passover lamb was a picture of “ Christ our passover” who “ is sac rificed for us” (I Cor. 5:7). 5. Isaiah 53 and Psalm 22 are graphic prophecies of the suffering Messiah. BAPTISM OF CHRIST Q. S ince Christ was sinless, why was H e baptized? A. Two reasons are suggested: (1) That this was the occasion of His public anointing by the Holy Spirit in His earthly ministry—thus prov ing to all the world that He was “ the beloved Son of the Father” in heaven; and (2) that in this act He
THE BLESSED HOPE Q. R ecen tly I saw a church letter head. containing this statem ent of their creed : “ W e b elieve in the blood, the book, and the blessed hope.” N ow 1 suppose the blood refers to the cruci fixion , and no doubt the book is the B ible, but what is th e blessed hope? Is that th e hope of salvation? A. We get that expression from Paul’s words in Titus 2:13: “ Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.” As the word blessed means “ happy,” this event should be looked upon as the most joyous thing that can ever occur. It was the great incentive to the early church. Paul, in writing to the Thes- salonians said, “Ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God and to wait for his Son from heaven.” It was this hope that comforted the early Christians and carried them through the terrible trials and per secutions and martyrdoms they en dured. It is of great concern to me that the imminent, personal, visible return of Christ is not such a source of comfort to many Christians today, and that some of the Bible teachers who should know better are Confus ing this teaching which was so clear to the early church and so clearly taught by Paul and the other writers of the New Testament. The blessed hope is the incentive to faithful, untiring labors for Christ. Nothing will so inspire us to get the task finished as the prospect of His near return. Nothing will so spur us on to holy living. John in his first epistle wrote: “ Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall he: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth him self even as he is pure.” What greater thrill than to know that any moment we may see face to face our blessed Lord “ whom having not yet seen, we love” ? It is a blessed hope.
THE KING 'S BUSINESS
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