must be eternal suffering for those who transgressed and rejected God’s means of eternal life. Q , Cheraw, Colo. — “ Would you please explain what a carnal Christian is? Is the spiritually immature Chris tian only a babe in Christ and has never grown into maturity? When David fell into adultery and com mitted murder, would you say that he became a carnal man again?” A. A carnal Christian is one who is spiritually immature; he is a babe in Christ. Carnality speaks of that which pertains to the flesh. An un saved person is one of the flesh for he does not have a born-again spirit within him. He has no connection with the Christian life. The state of a Christian living under the influ ence of the old nature is clearly re vealed throughout the seventh chap ter of Romans. (See, as an example, verse 14.) A carnal Christian will be wretched for he is trying to sat isfy two natures. It does not work for long. Mature Christians can be come carnal when they backslide and sin. Thank God, however, we need not remain in that unfortunate state (I John 1:9). Whenever we are out of fellowship and unhappy, we can depend upon it that it is our fault, not the Lord’s. Q . Studio City, Calif. — “Luke 10:20 tells us that the seventy returned and Jesus said, ‘Rejoice rather that your names are written in heaven.’ In John 7:39 Jesus said that the Spirit had not yet been given. How was it that their names were written in heaven when the Holy Ghost had not yet been given? Can you explain the difference?” A. There is actually no discrepancy here. The incident occurred after the seventy returned, expressing their enthusiasm over the ministry. In their happy anticipation, the Lord told them something which would give cause for real excitement. Their 24
eternal suffering for the transgres sor.” A. Again, you must look at the con text on this portion. There was a very strange proverb in Israel. The fathers had misbehaved and the chil dren received the punishment. God said it wouldn’t be like that in the future but would rather be a matter of individual responsibility. This does not convey, however, that the wicked would be finally consumed. There is no such passage in the Bible. This is certainly not the sec ond death either. Death is so impor tant that God has carefully defined all forms of it. When the body is without the soul, that is physical death. Spiritual death is the body alive but the soul dead. It describes the unbeliever. The second death is eternal separation from God (Rev. 20:15). This does not mean being consumed but rather preserved in judgment. What you in your finite mortal mind can conceive is one thing. Do you think that the Lord enjoys seeing any of His creation suffer? This is why He sent His only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, into this world. Love is one of God’s prime characteristics. Be cause of the infinite necessity of His holiness and righteousness, there
Lyle Jacobson, president of the Associated Stu dent Bodyof Biola College, breaks ground in a big way by using a tractor on the site for the Student Union Building. The youngpeople themselves, through assessment, have raised funds o that the structure can be started. They unanimously voted to pay for the completion of the building overthe next several years. The project is expected to be ready for occu pancyin the Spring.
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