How Could Cain Know? Q. How could Cain know what kind of an offering to bring if God did not tell him? A. He did know and so did Abel, and of course they were told by their parents, Adam and Eve. One took the way of faith and the other, man’s unbelieving way. This is fully explained in Hebrews 11:4. Naturally, Adam and Eve would relate to their sons the story of the fall and of the redemption prom ised through the woman’s seed in Genesis 3:15. So their sons knew of the Redeemer to come. God made clear to them that sin carried with it a penalty to be atoned for only by the shedding of blood. God also told Gain to bring the animal sacrifice. In Genesis 4:5-7, note especially the words, “ . . . if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. . . .” In Hebrew the word for “ sin” and “ sin offering” is the same. Thus Cain’s sin is iden tified with the sin offering, the animal sacrifice, that crouched at his tent door. Working Out Our Salvation Q. What is the meaning, of the verse, “ . . . work out your own sal vation with fear and trembling” ? (Phil 2:12.) A. The best comment on this is the verse that follows, “ For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” Note it does not say, “work for your own salvation,” but “work out your own salvation.” The entire passage means that the Christian is to man ifest or show forth to the world his salvation by a godly and a careful walk. This he cannot do in his own strength; he can do it only by the power of God.
of intoxicating liquor, would have no part in creating a thing that would cause one of His own crea tures to sin. Evidently the wine made at Cana was like the fresh, first press of the grapes — a lus cious, delicious grape juice superior to all the drink the guests had up to that time. The best was saved to the last, as in the Christian life. As for use of liquor see Rom. 14:21. Baptismal Regeneration Q. Is baptismal regeneration taught in the Word of God? A. It certainly is not. You have only to turn to such vers'es as John 1:12; John 1:29; John 3:16; John 5:24; Acts 16:31; Ephesians 2 :8 ,9 and hundreds of other verses to know that one is saved by faith alone. The thief on the cross had no opportunity to be baptized and yet we read: “And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.” Baptism is the “ outward sign of an inward work” and has no saving power whatsoever. It is the blood of Christ, not water, that washes away our sins. The Lord's Supper Q. If you are not required to do anything to be saved, how do you explain Matthew 26:27,28 which describes the Lord’s supper where Jesus says, “ . . . Drink ye all of it” ? A. Jesus was not speaking to those who needed salvation when He spoke these words but to those who already possessed it. He said, “ This do in remembrance of me” . . . “ Ye do show the Lord’s death until he come” and He was speaking to those who already knew His saving pow er and the forgiveness of their sins through His shed blood. 11
Intermarriage Q. Should races intermarry?
A. I think each race is happier to marry within its own race. The child born to parents of different races is the one who suffers most for he belongs to neither. Mission aries often tell of the heartache of the offspring of mixed blood in for eign lands. It has been proven that couples similar in tastes, in educa tion, in social position, in purposes and dreams are happiest. The few er gaps there are to bridge, the more contentment is experienced. Are Infants Who Die Saved? Q. Do you believe that all infants and children who die are saved? A. Yes, I do. All infants, including stillborn babies and young children who have not yet reached the age of accountability at death, go im mediately into the presence of God. Christ died for the world and His atonement provides for them; “ . . . of such is the kingdom of God” (Mark 10:14). Was The Wine Fermented? Q. Was the wine the Lord made at the marriage in Cana of Galilee fermented? A. Luke 1:15 sheds light upon the question you ask. This verse con cerns John the Baptist: “For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. . . .” Here a dis tinction is made between “wine” and “ strong drink,” obviously the wine being a soft or unfermented drink, and the strong drink fer mented. This I know, that our sinless Saviour, who throughout His in spired Word warns against the use
JANUARY 1957
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