has been saved in belief, he should be baptized. Salvation will mean far more to him at this point. Q. Albany, Ore. "Would you please explain why there are 'mistransla tions' in the New Testament of some Old Testament scriptures?" A. Instead of "mistranslations" it would be best to call them "dif ferent wordings" or even "differ ent spellings" in some instances. As an example, the name "Elias" is comparable to "Elijah" in the Old Testament. The same is true of "Isias" which is "Isaiah." Allow ance has to be made for the par ticular nature of the Hebrew and Greek languages. Editors of the New Scofield Reference Bible have wisely transferred the Old Testa ment names into the New so there is no variation or confusion. The different wordings have occasioned the writing of volumes and the de livering of doctrinal dissertations. While some quotations are word- for-word, others seem far afield. One of these is Psalms 8:2 and Matthew 21:16. The notes in the New Scofield Reference Bible on page 1320 indicate the seven dif ferent ways in which New Testa ment writers, under the direction of the Holy Spirit, quote from the Old Testament. Invariably the authors attribute unqualified au thority to the inspired writers from Moses through Malachi. The 39 books of the Old Testa ment came into being by 400 B.C. at the latest. Because of the dis persion the Jews were scattered throughout the world, including the great community of Alexan dria. Those people had now begun to speak in Greek using the various colloquialisms of the area. So the
sage is from the so-called Sermon on the Mount. Our Lord, as the coming King of Israel, is offering Himself as the Son of David. He wonderfully outlines the essentials for a spiritual kingdom on earth. As we read the full doctrine of forgiveness in the New Testament we see how Matthew 6:15 is rec onciled with I John 1:9. They are not in the same area of the Scrip ture. Our Lord emphasized the matter of forgiveness in Matthew. I John 1:9 is the full revelation for this day in which we live. Actually there are two phases to forgiveness just as there are to sanctification. When we accepted Christ as Sav iour we received the complete for giveness for all sins, past, present and future. This does not mean in dulgences. It tells us that Christ died for all our sins. As a matter of fact, all our sins were future when He died on Calvary (Ephesians 1:7). Q. Castle Rock, Colo. "Two minis ters have been telling me that one cannot be saved until he is bap tized. But I know I was saved and had my sins forgiven before I was baptized. What is the answer1" A. Such a view as these ministers have put forth is not scriptural, and is known as baptismal regenera tion. Water baptism is not a means of salvation. It is merely an outward sign to the world of an inward change of heart. These ministers may be sincere in their convictions yet there is not correct scriptural interpretations to back them up. Our Lord said to the dying thief who accepted Him as Saviour, "Today thou shalt be with me in Paradise." There is no indication that this repentant man had been baptize dat any time before or af ter those words. Once a person
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