possibly consider. It would take a book to do it justice. The Word of God is full of truths and prophecies concerning it. Perhaps the most solid result of World Wars I and II, has been the definite advance of the Jews returning to Palestine. After World War I, the Jews were given the Bal four Declaration. It declared in es sence, “The English government fa vors the establishment in Palestine of a homeland for the Jews, it being understood that the rights of minority religious groups would be preserved and that their sacred places would be kept inviolate.” When the Jews heard this, and when special funds became available, they did begin to return in sizable numbers. Colonies were being settled in different areas of the Holy Land. Then after World War II, in 1948, there was established the state of Israel. They have not been without their many and varied problems. They finally had the liberty, however, to divide this land into two parts. Some people erroneously think that the return of the Jews to their home land is just a matter of world politics. This is not true. It certainly does have a very definite place in world affairs but, as someone has said, “If there is difficulty in the world, it is because some people are not in their right place.” Israel is scattered all over the world while she ought to be in her homeland. The basis of this statement is shown in such passages as the 12th and 15th chapters of Genesis as well as abundant other Scriptural portions. Israel has been taking her rightful place in world affairs specifically since the State was founded on May 14, 1948. I t has representation in the UN. Their flag flies with all the others. But where does the return of Is rael come in in the Bible? Isaiah 49:17-21; Jeremiah 23:1-8 and other portions of Scripture give us clear evi dence. They will be brought back from every area of the world. Some one may say, “Well, they’ve been there before. It won’t last very long.” If it depended upon them you would be absolutely right. But God has a word 17
speaks of some in the visible church who were not doing a bit of good. They would have been a lot better off if they had never gone into it. They are distinctly vessels unto dishonor. “You want to be just the opposite,” Paul points out. “You want to be used by God.” In other words, he is show ing the two sides as compared with vessels, just as we have them in our homes. We should seek the way of blessing rather than allowing our selves to be led astray and leading others with us. Q . 'Lake Oswego, Oregon — “Our church believes that a child must be baptized because of original sin. Where does this thought come from?” A. Original sin has a specific connota tion in the theological thinking of orthodox groups. While these words do not actually occur in Scripture they certainly do represent a basic doc trine taught in the Bible. Look at such verses as Romans 5:12. “Where fore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” Original sin is that which has been transmitted and in herited to each of us from Adam. Some of the liturgical churches feel that baptism is necessary for the sal vation of these little ones. The only difficulty is, however, that there is no Scriptural basis for such a policy. Baptism is one thing, while dedica tion of infants is another. If any church believes that a child, when it is baptized, has been cleansed from original sin, it is contrary to Scrip ture! The reason we are baptized is because of our faith. It is an outward sign to the world of an inward change of heart. The belief has come from some of the theologies of the middle ages and earlier. It is a part of ritual ism and is not Biblical. Q . Ukiah, California — “Will you discuss the Jews returning to the home land in the place of world affairs?” A. This is one of the most marvelous and thrilling studies anyone could
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