A correspondent (C.) takes exception to the expression on page 4, that those saved “now stand in heaven without spot or stain in the holy presence of God,” on the ground that departed spirits are 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 true, but we must also remember the scripture, “Absent from the body, present with the Lord,” and in the general sense in which the word heaven is used it is quite legitimate to say that believers when they die go there; the word “stand” is purely and necessarily figurative, because they are merely departed spirits, and will not receive their bodies until the resurrection morning. Accuracy is valuable, and we are glad of the remark, but do not think the expression would mislead any. C. also asks what scripture speaks of the Lord working as a carpenter. We would refer our correspondent to Mark 6:33Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him. (Mark 6:3), which we think is sufficient ground for saying that during His retired life at Nazareth, He worked at His father’s trade. As to the sin unto death, C. must send a more definite query.
“M. N. M.” has not time to join the Bible Class, but at a private class of young friends studies the month’s subject, a plan we would recommend to many. We feel the members of the class lose greatly if they confine their study of the subject to the portion allotted to them. They should work this out, then study the entire subject as printed, and lastly the notes on it given in the following month.
“F. P. S.” questions whether “truthfulness” is a Christian virtue, and whether it is not rather a moral quality found also in the unsaved. We can only say that we think the same objection might fairly be raised against at least four of the nine spiritual graces in Galatians 5:2222But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, (Galatians 5:22). Truthfulness is inculcated as a Christian virtue in Ephesians 4:2525Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor: for we are members one of another. (Ephesians 4:25). We quite grant that an unsaved man may be naturally truthful, but many are not, and truthfulness developed in their character after conversion is a true fruit of the Spirit. In the same way some may be naturally kind and gentle, others not. In these cases the only way to distinguish natural from spiritual graces is to discern which have been developed since conversion.
A correspondent sends a most interesting query on “Christ our example,” which, however, we must leave over till next month for discussion, as our space is so fully occupied.
We trust our more advanced students are carefully noting down all Bible Queries only partly or imperfectly answered, and searching out better replies, and we trust to receive such as soon as arrived at, as it will be seen that there are several queries each month where no full answer is given.