last days. We should recognize this fact, studying Scripture for a better understanding of their satanic force. Q. Salem, Ore. -— “Does the state ment in Matthew 5:48 which says, ‘Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect,’ demand sinless perfection on the part of the believer?” A. Keep in mind that good Bible study and interpretation always call for a comparison of Scripture with Scripture. Another example would be Leviticus 19:2, “Be ye holy, even as I, the Lord your God, am holy.” This brings us to I John 1 :8-10 which points out that we’re all sinners. God has put the ideal before us. Our sanc tification will not be completed until we see our Lord Jesus Christ (I John 3:2). Until then we need to go on in creasing in the grace and knowledge of our Saviour. Just because we can not attain the ideal in this life does not mean that we should fail to obey the Spirit of God as He exhorts us to live more godly, exemplary lives. The purpose is that ultimately we may be all conformed to the image of God’s Son. No, such verses do not demand sinless perfection. Q . Newton, Kans. — ‘‘What do you believe we should do about the false sects who deny the trinity and the deity of Christ? Is it every Chris tian’s duty to fight these errors? My wife feels that we should just send them away for fear we might get mixed wp with them. I feel we should seek to straighen them out.” A. In almost every instance the mem ber of a cult, who comes to your door, is quite an expert in his particular subject. He knows, for he has been trained, what all your questions will be. Many of us know a little about many things in the Word of God. But unfortunately not too many are ex perts in all of these particular and
important doctrines. Generally, the best idea is to send them away with out an argument or discussion. Testi fy to them that you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, as your personal Saviour, and that you are not interested in hearing their perversions of Scripture. Q. Stockton, Calif. — “/ can’t under stand why there are differences in the various Gospel accounts. In Mat thew 8, Mark 5, and Luke 8 there seems to be a contradiction about whether there were two or just one blind beggar near Jericho who had the demon.” A. The first Three Gospels are called synoptics because these three writ ers under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, saw our Lord much in the same light. John is out of that cate gory since his major emphasis is on the last week of our Lord’s life. Those who weigh evidence can tell truth often because at the first there seems to be a discrepancy. It is soon obvious that such is only superficial or an externa] seeming difference. Law courts realize that if two witnesses get together and say the same thing that their testimony is suspect. Mat thew reveals the Lord Jesus Christ as the fulfillment of Israel’s hope of the Jewish Messiah. In Mark the Holy Spirit shows Him as the alto gether obedient, humble, submissive One. In Luke He is unveiled as altogether Son of Man and in John as Son of God. But all overlap and give the full picture of the God-Man, our Saviour, Lord and King. There has to be differences, as an example, in the parables. When one gets all the facts they reveal all the more veracity and truth. While Mark states that there was one blind man, he doesn’t indicate that there are no others. Misery loves company and such often travel together. Mark and Luke emphasize just the one. Mat thew gives us the total picture that
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