age of the law. They just do not know that it is a yoke of bondage as Paul tells us in Galatians. The law requires obedience which you and I can never fulfill because we were born in sin. Then, if there is not obedience to the law death is demanded, no matter how small the infraction may be. Instead of worrying about keeping the laws and ordinances that Jesus did, thank God that the Lord cancelled forever the handwriting of these ordinances (Colossians 2:14, 15). Q. Phoenix, Ariz. " God seemed to approve of war in Old Testament times such as when the Israelites went into Canaan and killed the inhabitants. This seems inconsis tent with much teaching today that war and killing is wrong." A. You must understand why God seems to approve of war in Old Testament times. He used one na tion in judgment against another. The Israelites were commanded to go into the land of Canaan because of the Lord's condemnation on the wickedness of the inhabitants. Ar cheology has helped us understand something of why this was neces sary. Ancient records discovered in more recent years have shown the utterly debased religion of the peoples who were demon worship pers. They engaged in all kinds of vile practices which could have polluted the entire human race if left unchecked. Unfortunately, the Israelites did not obey God in ev ery detail. As a result, nothing but misery and disorder came to the Jewish camp because of their lack of obedience. The Lord could very easily use another nation to bring judgment upon our own beloved land. When one considers the im
morality and corruption on every hand it would be no wonder. Q. Wichita, Kans. "In John 20:17 Jesus told Mary, 'Touch me not, for I am not yet ascended to my Father.' Then in Luke 24:39 He tells the disciples to handle Him. Can you explain the reason for this?" A. The reason is explained in the text first quoted since Christ had not yet gone into the presence of God. A Bible teacher once asked his class, made up of believers, "What would you rather have, Christ at the right hand of the Father, as He is now; or right here in this room, just as He was in the first century?" Practically the whole class said they would rather have Him here on earth. He then ex plained, "In that case, you are go ing directly contrary to the Word of the Lord. He said that it was expedient for us that He go away." There is something of this in our Lord's remark to Mary. When He finally came to the disciples, He had completed His ministry of atonement for our sins. Q. "If Jesus were both human and divine at all times, why did He say while on the cross, 'My Cod, My Cod, why hast thou forsaken me'?" A. This is one of the great myster ies of the Trinity. Both the person and the work of our Lord Jesus Christ is unique in world history. There never was and there never will be another individual like Him. He was 100 percent divine through all of eternity. This w ill never change. At the appointed hour He came to this earth, born of a vir-
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