siah had not yet come in the Old Testament times, they could not asso ciate such things with their cere monial acts. These great truths can only be meaningful and understood after Christ had accomplished His wonderful work of redemption. Q . Los Angeles, Calif. — "As a child I was taught it was wrong to buy things unnecessarily on the Lord’s day. A t my church, however, many Christian people go out and eat on Sunday thinking nothing of it. I ’m asked to go along many times and yet this seems to be very unnecessary. Is it desecrating for the Lord’s day?” A. If you feel that eating out on Sun day is not right, then you are violat ing your own conscience to go ahead and do it. State your views positively to others, not beligerently but in love, and they will not bother you further. This is one of those areas about which Christians may differ. We are thor oughly sympathetic with this individ ual since we, too, were brought up this way. We certainly should endea vor to keep the Lord’s day holy. Q . Eugene, Ore. — "Please explain the application of the pearl of great price given to us in Matthew 13:A5 and i6.” A. This is one of the most important of parables in Matthew. Our Lord Jesus had been tremendously opposed 17
Q . Leavenworth, Kans. — "What is your definition of a Christian?” A. A Christian is an individual who in simple faith has accepted Jesus Christ as his own personal Saviour. He recognized first of all that he is a sinner and that he cannot save him self. In essence he says, “Lord Jesus, take me now and receive me unto Thy self. I’m accepting Thee as my Lord and Master” (John 1:12). A true Christian does not try to do anything to merit salvation. He does everything good that he can afterwards. Christ is the One who earned our way into heaven (John 3:18). A Christian is one who believes in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and receives Him as Saviour, instead of trying to work out his own salvation. The Gospel is summarized in I Corinthians 15:1-4. Q . Watsonville, Calif. — "Were the Old Testament Israelites familiar w ith baptism as we know it: death, burial and resurrection?” A. They knew about it as a manner of washing and cleansing. Certain such foundational matters were found in Judaism as well as Christianity. Just as the body was cleansed so it spoke spiritually or figuratively of the cleansing which comes from washing inwardly through Christ. They were not familiar with baptism, however, as we know it in the sense of death, burial and resurrection. Since Mes
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