yet true, that feelings often enter into the picture. Strangely enough, some times the person to whom the confes sion is made isn’t in the same frame of mind and conviction by the Spirit of God. All that you can do, and all you’re responsible for, is following the Word of God in your own life. Reaction of others is between them and the Lord. But let it all be in the true spirit of Christian love. Q , San Mateo, California — “It has been ■said in our church that home missions are more important than foreign mis sions? True?” A. The Lord said, “The field is the world.” With God there is no such thing as home missions or foreign mis sions. “Ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, (that is right in our locality), and in all Judea, (that is in our area), and in Samaria (that is in the surrounding territory), and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8). Those who say foreign missions are more important than home mis sions have a good point. It is only fair that everybody should hear the plan of salvation and redeeming love at least once, before others hear it over and over again. On the other hand, it is necessary to keep the “home fires burn ing” before we can send out mission aries and financial help for the work. But there is no difference in the sight of God between home and foreign mis sions. Let us get the word out wher ever we possibly can. Q , Los Angeles, California — “M y hus band was married before he married me. Although we have five children and have been married 12 years, our minister insists that we are living in adultery. I am beginning to believe that he’s right. 1 find myself wanting to get a divorce from my husband.” A. This question has many facets. It should be dealt with in private. The minister, insisting that these are living in adultery, is going quite far indicat ing she should get a divorce from this man after being married for 12
years. Five children are in that home. Have they been taken into considera tion? Think of their future, stability, emotional equilibrium, and spiritual outlook. Seek the counsel and opinion of another minister; one who perhaps has been in the ministry for a longer period of time. Search the Scriptures and see how God does indicate that which pleases Him. Two wrongs will certainly not make a right! Q . Santa Monica, California — “In He brews 10:26 and 27, we read, ‘For if we sin w illfully after that we have re ceived the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.’ Does this mean that there is no hope for one if he sins after accepting Christ?” A. We must understand the purpose and intent of the Epistle to rightly see God’s truth. Hebrews does not have in view believers only. Saved individ uals are not spoken of in this 10th chap ter. The writer says, “If there are any among us who sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of. the truth.” It doesn’t say, “If we sin will fully after that we have been saved.” This is a graphic picture of a man who has had merely head knowledge. No believer will sin willfully, or as the Old Testament word suggests, “pre sumptuously.” Now this doesn’t mean that a believer will not sin. This pas sage doesn’t indicate that at all. First John 1:8 takes up the subject in a thor ough manner. “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” Such is just fooling ourselves, “If we say that we have not sinned (sinned in practice), we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” (I John 1:10). Thus we read, “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not (that you don’t live a life of sin). And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (I John 2:1). Nowhere does the Bible (continued on next page) 11
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