Biola Broadcaster - 1962-05

questions and answers

Q. From Tucson, Arizona we have this request: “In Genesis 1:5 there is the reference to a ‘day’ — does this mean an actual 24 hour day? I would like to know.” A. Students of God’s Word, equally or­ thodox, are divided on this. Some in­ sist that it refers to a 24 hour day, others that it might well be geological ages. I think the main reason for the latter view is that the word “day” oc­ curs in more than one designation. For instance, it calls light the day and then it mentions all about the days of creation in Genesis 2, as in the day when the Lord created the heavens and the earth. Day does have more than one designation as when we would speak of the day of Grace. The panel member, however, feels that the designation “evening and morning” lends credence to the fact of the 24 hour day. Mr. Lee Chesnut, an officer in one of the great electrical companies of the East, said in his book, “The Atom Speaks and Echoes the Word of God”, that it is indicated that all of the atoms that go to make up our created universe could have come into being in a matter of less than 4 hours. The matter of many days being necessary in the cre­ ation is therefore cleared away. Their panelist recommends that all readers of the BROADCASTER get this book from your library and read it. The basis of its material is from leading scientific journals. This panelist accepts the 24 hour day.

Q . Seaside, California. “What is the name of King David’s mother, and where in the Bible is it given?” A. There are two references: Psalm 86:16 and Psalm 116:16, to which we would refer you. However, only the term “thine handmaid” is used, but scholars generally feel that David, here, refers to his mother in a very tender manner, although her name is not men­ tioned in Scripture. Q. From Yakima, Washington we have this question: “In reading Acts 2:38, does this mean that we have to be bap­ tized before we can receive the Holy Spirit?” A. In answering this question, let us read Acts 2:38 — “And Peter said unto them, (his sermon on the day of Pen­ tecost) Repent ye and be baptized ev­ eryone of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins and ye shall receive the gift of. the Holy Spirit.” May we say that the Greek there actually is a participle showing the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the believer is in exactly the mo­ ment in which he believes. No, we do not have to be baptized before we re­ ceive the Holy Spirit for we see in I Cor. 12:13 we are immediately, upon faith, baptized into the body of Christ by the Holy Spirit, and then there are Scriptures which indicate that we are to have water baptism. The repenting is to be there, and the receiving of the Holy Spirit is to be there — this to be followed by bap­ tism. This particular order we find 34

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