Question: What would you say of a teacher who claims to believe in the atonement, but denies eternal punishment?
Answer: Eternal punishment is clearly the truth revealed to us in Scripture. Awful as it is, the wrath of God ABIDETH on the unbeliever. (Matt. 25:4646And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. (Matthew 25:46); John 3:3636He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (John 3:36).) If a teacher denies this, then he believes nothing, because God says it is so. He neither really believes the atonement, as Scripture speaks of it, nor anything else. He may find when too late that the punishment in the lake of fire is not for a time, or temporal, but eternal. Scripture teaches that from this there is no escape. Give up the plain teaching of Scripture, and all is darkness.
There is indeed nothing vague as to the atonement. It was Christ, the holy One, forsaken of God, suffering the wrath of God due to us. Nothing can be plainer than Isa. 53 and abounding texts in the New Testament. God’s righteousness is revealed in it. And there is no other ground by which God can be righteous in justifying the ungodly.
On no account should the Christian have fellowship with the infidel who denies the statements of the Word of God as to eternal punishment.
Question: What knowledge had the nations who lived before Christ of sin and of judgment; and how will they stand in the day of judgment?
Answer: The oldest book now in existence, the book of Job, throws great light on that question. It is evident, that in the earliest ages, God communicated to men the clearest knowledge of the atonement. (See chap. 33:23-33.) Notice the marginal reading. Yes, in the oldest book known, God declares that He has found a Ransom, or Atonement, so that a man could say then, if He believed God, “I have sinned;” and “He hath delivered my soul from going down to the pit.” Blessed is that man even now who can so speak. Was not this truth known to Abel, and rejected by Cain? It is the truth most disliked and rejected, to this day for near 6000 years. Abraham and his spiritual seed, that is, all believers, believed God; and it, faith, was reckoned to them for righteousness, perhaps “the promise” was not dim to them. (See Heb. 11.) Surely all pointed forward to the death and resurrection of Christ.
Question: Is the Church mentioned in the Old Testament?
Answer: The Church is not spoken of in the Old Testament. It was the mystery kept hid, as stated in Eph. 3. The Song of Solomon may be used in illustration and meditation. But you will notice it never rises up to the heavenly position of the Church, the bride of the Lamb. It is more expressive of the yearnings of the Jewish remnant immediately before the coming of the Lord. Still Scripture is manifold, and no doubt the Spirit may use, in rich blessing to the Christian, such portions as speak of His having brought us into His banqueting house, and of His banner over us being love. But Christ is precious everywhere in the Word of God, is He not? The Book of Ruth may be used in a similar way. The call of Rebecca. The creation of Eve. But no one could have seen the Church in these until it was revealed, especially to Paul. Now the storms of darkness and tempest, like the destroying blizzard, are sweeping over the world. The Lord keep us holding fast the foundation truths of the Word of God.
Question: Where are the spirits of those who have died?
Answer: There are four passages of holy Scripture which furnish a distinct and definite answer to your question: namely first,
“Today shalt thou be with Me in paradise.” Luke 23:4343And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. (Luke 23:43). This is as clear as it is precious: “With Me in paradise.” That is where the spirit is during the intermediate state. Secondly, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Acts 7:5959And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. (Acts 7:59). Here we learn that the spirit will be in the keeping of Jesus during the intermediate state. Safe and blessed place! With Jesus, and kept by Jesus. How precious! Thirdly,
If it be a question respecting those who die in their sins, Luke 16:22, 2322And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 23And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. (Luke 16:22‑23) gives the solemn answer, in our Lord’s own words,
“The rich man died and was buried; and in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torment.” How awful! How truly appalling! What a contrast between the two states! O! dear friend, may we be solemnly in earnest in dealing with souls