3 D r . T e t l l o o t ’ s Q u e s t i o n B o x
Too often we miss the very heart of the God-given object-lesson in type: That one day God would send His only begotten Son, and offer Him upon a mountain of Israel for the sins of the whole world. Jesus Him self said when He was on earth: “ Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad” (John 8:56). Surely one of the times when, by faith, Abraham saw the day of Christ, was this occasion when he was willing to offer his “ only begotten son” of promise (Heb. 11:17). Note other striking analogies: The journey of three days, during which Abraham’s heart was sad; compare the fact that Christ was three days and three nights in the tomb; Isaac’s carrying the wood for the altar up Mount Moriah, even as Christ bore His cross up Mount Calvary; Abra ham’s faith in a resurrection hope, pointing forward to Christ’s resur rection (cf. Heb. 11:19); Isaac’s obedience to his father, even as our Lord Jesus was “ obedient even unto death,” ever performing His Father’s will. But Isaac was saved from death, the ram being his substitute. Not so our blessed Lord; He was our Substitute on Calvary, bearing the shame and curse and suffering in our stead. IN F A N T BAPTISM Q. W hy do you not baptize infants and very young children? A . Because it is my firm conviction that baptism should follow conver sion. I am happy to dedicate infants and young children to the Lord, in the Lord’s house or in the home. In fact, it seems to me that every Chris tian parent should dedicate his child to God, both as an act of devotion to Him and as a safeguard to the child. But dedication is not baptism. Dedi cation is the act of the parent, in which he presents his child to God and assumes responsibility for the training of that child for Him. Bap tism, however, is the act of the be liever himself, in which he confesses faith in the Lord Jesus who died for our sins and rose again for our justi fication.
made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself . .. . whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven . . .”—here you will note that noth ing is said of reconciling things under the earth, although the things under the earth w ill be subjugated to Christ. L ITERAL OR F IGURA T IVE Q. Is it literally true that “ the lion and the lamb shall lie down to gether” in Christs kingdom on earth, or is this figurative language? A . Yes, we believe that it will be literally true. A ll ferocity will be taken away from the beasts of the field; there will be peace in the ani mal kingdom, as well as among men. “ They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea” (Isa. 11:9). These words from God, as well as many other passages, tell us what to expect when Jesus reigns in righteousness. Read all of this eleventh chapter of Isaiah. There were no thorns in Eden, and in that coming day, “ instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree” (Isa. 35:1). The nations of the earth shall “ beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more” (Isa. 2:4). “The creation itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corrup tion into the glorious liberty of the children of God” (Rom. 8:21 A.S.V.). SACRIFICE OF ISAAC Q. Since human sacrifices were an abomination unto the Lord, why did God tell Abraham to offer Isaac on Mount Moriah? A . God was teaching Abraham and Isaac and future generations a won derful lesson in regard to the coming Redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ. Moreover, God knew what He in tended to do, and that He would not let Abraham offer up his son Isaac.
W IL L S A T A N BE SAVED? Q. Some ministers claim that every one, even the devil, w ill be saved when Christ gives the kingdom back to the Father after His millennial reign on earth. These ministers base this teaching on Phil. 2:9-11, where we read “ that every knee shall bow ” before God. If that is so, why was Christs great sacrifice necessary, if after a few years? punishment, all are to be saved anyway? A . What some ministers believe and what the Bible teaches are often two different things. There is a difference between re conciliation and subjugation. It is true that “ God also hath exalted 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 under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil. 2:9-11). Here Paul is speaking of subjugation. 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 universe. These words give no intimation, however, of a saving faith on the part of the unregenerate, nor does any other portion of Scrip ture. On the contrary, many passages prove just the opposite. Rev. 20:10 is enough to show what will become of Satan, the Antichrist, and all his fol lowers: “ And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever?' What Phil. 2:9-11 does teach is that men, angels and demons, even Satan, will bow the knee before Jesus of Nazareth, acknowledging 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 matter of love and heart-allegiance, even salvation, that is another matter entirely. Read Col. 1:20: “ Having
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THE KING'S BUSINESS
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