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regretted that it should be so. There is a difference between rec onciliation and subjugation. It is true that “ God also hath highly ex alted him [Jesus], and given him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things un der the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil. 2:9-11). Paul here is speaking of subjuga tion; therefore the three realms are named: Things in heaven, things in earth, and things under the earth. Even Satan and his demons know that Jesus Christ is Lord; but the day will come when they will have to confess it before all of God’s uni verse. The words here give no inti mation, however, of a saving faith on the part of the unregenerate; nor does any portion of Scripture. On the contrary, many passages might be cited, to prove just the opposite. Revelation 20:10 is enough to prove what will become of Satan, the Anti christ, and all his followers: “ And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brim stone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.” What Ph i l i pp i an s 2:9-11 does teach is that men and angels and demons, even Satan, will bow the knee before Jesus of Nazareth, ac knowledging Him as King of kings and Lord of lords. This passage is a wonderful proof of the deity of Christ. But when it comes to a mat ter of love and heart-allegiance, even salvation, that is another matter entirely. Read Co l o s s i ans 1:20: “ Having made peace through the blood of the cross, by him to record die all things unto h im s e l f . . . whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven . . .”—here you will note that nothing is said of recon ciling things under the earth, al though the things under the earth will be subjugated to Christ.
Again, the inspired Apostle wrote to the Roman Christians, saying, “ The kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but r igh te ou sn e s s , and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost” (Rom. 14:17). Let us consider briefly, how the animal with the cloven hoof chews the cud, then we shall see the spirit ual lesson God has for us in this chapter. The cow belongs in this classification; she goes into the meadow and stores away much food ; she then lies down to rest and to chew the cud — to assimilate what she needs for strength and growth. This is the picture, my friend, that God has for us in this matter that has puzzled you. THE SON OF MAN Q. Is the Lord Jesus Christ still a Man? I know that He is truly God as He ever was but has He laid aside the humanity He assumed in the In carnation? A. Jesus is still the Son of Man. It was not a temporary state, His be coming man; however, He has now resumed the glory that He had with the Father before the world was and is glorified in His human, resurrec tion body. Q. Some ministers claim that every one, even the devil, will be saved when Christ gives the kingdom back to the Father after His millennial reign on earth. These ministers base this teaching on Philippians 2:9-11, where we read “ that every knee shall bow" before God. If that is so, why was Christ’s great sacrifice nec essary, if after a few years’ punish ment, we all are to be saved any way? A. What some ministers believe and what the Bible teaches are two dif ferent things, although it is to be RECONCILIATION AND SUBJUGATION
SALVATION OF CHILDREN Q. Are babies and young children who die saved? A. This question has torn the hearts of many who have been called upon to lay their little ones away in in fancy. Be comforted, friends, all in fants, including the stillborn, go im mediately into the presence of God. Young ch ild ren who have not reached the age of accountability at death are included. Christ died for “ the world,” and His atonement provides for these. (Read Mark 10:13-16.) DIETARY REGULATIONS Q. I am puzzled by the restrictions placed upon the food the children of Israel were told to eat as described in L e v i t i c u s , chapter 11. Verse three names but one beast to be eat en by man. A. God often illustrates deep spirit ual truth in simple terms that we can understand; hence many of the figures and comparisons that are found throughout the sacred pages of His Book. Such are the typical laws concerning Israel’s food as set forth in this chapter. In Paul’s let ter to the Colossians (2:17) we un derstand that these laws are a “ shadow of things to come.” To take these dietary laws literally and bind them upon the Christian, thus mak ing them a part of a religious cere mony, is what Paul calls “ the doc trine of demons.” Listen to his words of exhortation to the young minister of the gospel (Timothy) whom he loved to call his “ son.” “ Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils (demons) . . . commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth” (Tim. 4:1, 3).
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JUNE, 1966
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