Q. 410. Did Christ create the world? (Col. 1:16) Does God, in the Old Testament, mean Father or Son? s. P. T.
A. Yes. In another sense it is also true that God made them by Christ (Heb. 1:2). God, in the Old Testament, means neither Father or Son specially, but the triune God. There is abundant evidence, however, that " LORD," or Jehovah, means the One whom we know as Christ the Son.
Q. 411. (Col. 2:1;3). Please explain " made a show of them openly." S. P. T.
A. As Christ Himself was made a gazing-stock when lifted up on the cross, so He, by His glorious work, so overcame the powers of darkness that their defeat became public, and shown, openly everywhere, by the preaching of the gospel.
Q. 413. What does " seasoning with salt" mean? (Col. 4:6.) S. P. T.
A. Containing not mere love and amiability, but that preservative principle of godliness and truth that renders it truly wholesome. Observe, it is not to be of salt seasoned with grace (often left out). That is to say, it is to be primarily of the grace that we ourselves have received. Caustic and bitter speeches would not come under the description.
Q. 414. Please explain how Christ dwells in the heart by faith (Eph. 3:17)? How can we know that He is there? S. P. T.
A.
" The love of Jesus, what it is,
None but His loved ones know "-
sang Bernard, hundreds of years ago. The soul that enjoys Christ's love by faith knows the treasure it possesses in Him. It is not that Christ is literally in the heart, but that faith so apprehends and enjoys Him, that the heart is filled with the spiritual effects of His presence. He is laid hold of by faith.
Q. 415. Kindly give the meaning of each piece of armor in Eph. 6:14-17. S. P. T.
A. In one sense, it is all Christ. He is our panoply (Rom. 13:14). He is truth (John 14:6); our righteousness (Jer. 23:6); our peace (Eph. 2:14); our shield (Psa. 27:7); our salvation (Psa. 28:1); and the Word of God (Rev. 19:13). The armor is spiritual, and consists of five defensive and one offensive part. We understand truth and righteousness as being practical; and we all understand what is meant, by the gospel, faith, salvation, and God's word.
Q. 416. Please explain " I know that this shall turn to my salvation "-what salvation? (Phil. 1:19). S. P. T.
A. Doubtless his bodily salvation in his coming trial. It does not appear that Paul is here speaking of the salvation of the soul.
Q. 417. (Phil. 2:12). Please explain " Work out your own salvation." S. P. T.
A. It is best explained by considering it in connection with ver. 13. It means, manifest or show your salvation by a godly and careful walk; which, however, you cannot do in your own strength, but by the power of God.
Q. 418. If the British nation were the lost ten tribes of Israel, what advantage or disadvantage could it be to us? L. N. R.
A. The above is hardly a Biblical question, though one widely discussed. When discussed by unbelievers, we greatly fear it is a device of the enemy n seeking to hide from them the results of neglecting God's present hope, in the vain delusion that they may yet come in for blessing as Jews; while if discussed by believers, it is manifestly of no advantage (though we admit the interest of the question), because in Christ there is neither Jew nor Gentile (Gal. 3:28).
Q. 419. What is the meaning of "It was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator"? (Gal. 3:19). s. P. T.
A. It refers to the law being given at Sinai into the hands of Moses, who acted as mediator, to a certain limited extent, between God and man. As to the angels, see Psa. 68:17.
Q. 420. Please explain Gal. 5:5. S. P. T.
A. We should think it embraces all that the believer hopes and waits for.
Q. 421. What is the difference between prayer and supplication in Phil. 4:6? E. L.
A. By the latter, we understand repeated prayers for the same subject; as our Lord's in Gethsemane.
Q. 422. Heb. 12:22. (1) Does Mount Zion mean heaven? It is often said, "I am on my way to Zion's hill": is it correct to say this? (2) In what way are we come to the spirits of just men made perfect? And (3) who are they? E. L.
A. (1) The passage refers generally to the position of saved Hebrews in grace, instead of being on legal ground-Mount Sion thus being contrasted with Sinai. In a general way, it means our heavenly privileges. (2) As having opened out to us the unseen world of spirits, and their abode. None of this was revealed in the Old Testament, and it is the peculiar privilege of Christians to have the veil of the land of spirits lifted, and to know what becomes of the soul after death.
Q. 423. If there is no heavenly portion for the Jews, what becomes of them after the Millennium? where do they dwell? E. L.
A. After the millennial period, we have no indication that God's people who have ever been connected with Palestine and the earth, will continue as a separate people after the earth and heaven have passed away. We do not know their exact position in the new heaven and earth, because it is not revealed.
Q. 424. Rom. 10:4.-In what sense is Christ the end of the law for righteousness? J. E. T,
A. Because in Christ the righteous requirements of the law, demanding the death of the sinner, are fully and finally met.
Q. 425. Matt. 18:20.-I often see this verse quoted as " unto my name." Is there any other passage it can be quoted from besides this? I cannot see why the in should be quoted unto. J. E. T.
A. " To " is believed to be a better rendering than " in."
Q. 426. Heb. 10:22.-Explain " Our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience "; and does " our bodies washed with pure water " refer to baptism? J. E. T.
A. The one refers to the blood of Christ, by which all conscience of sins is done away; and the other to the word of God, by which we are morally cleansed. The passage being addressed to Hebrews is framed in language they would readily understand, in connection with their rites and ceremonies.
Q. 427. Eph. 4:3.-How can the unity of the Spirit be preserved with those Christians whose teaching is (in our belief) contrary to that of God's word? J. E. T.
A. We do not understand your query. The answer seems self-evident.
Q. 428. Will you tell me if it would be wrong for me to save money, with the object of using it for a good purpose when I have enough? I do not mean with the mere desire of saving money: that is not my purpose at all, for it is something which I can do to God's glory when I have enough. W. B.
A. We cannot call yours a biblical query. It is purely a matter of faith and guidance from God.
Q. 429. Acts 3:6.-Why did Peter say " silver and gold,'' and not " gold and silver "? I have heard a reason given, but cannot recollect it. W. B.
A. The reason given is that silver then was rarer than gold. We are not, however, convinced of the truth of this.
Q. 430. (1) Explain Isa. 45:7. (2) Luke 12:58,59.- Who are the "judge " and the " adversary " spoken of here? J. G. S.
A. (1) See Q. 181, p. 187; also p. 336. (2) God was then pleading with His people by His Son; but if they refused to hear Him, He would judge them. Hence He is both judge and adversary.
Q. 431. Rev. 6:8. Explain the words " and I looked, and behold a pale horse, and his name that sat on him was death." T. H.
A. It is merely a figure of one of the judgments of God that will take place after the Church is taken to heaven.
Q. 432. Explain the first clause of Gal. 4:24.—T. H.
A. It means that we are not merely to consider the interest of the actual narrative, but to remember that all these things were written for our instruction and have a deep spiritual meaning.
Q. 433. Are we to understand from John 17:12 That Judas was to be lost from the beginning? T. H.
A. We are to understand that he never was saved, but not that he was lost for the purpose of fulfilling- Scripture. "That the Scripture might be fulfilled," should be read in parenthesis.
Q. 434. Explain John 12:19, " Behold the world is gone after him." T. H.
A. It merely meant how great a number followed and heard him gladly.
Q. 435. Explain (1) Luke 16:9, (2) also verse 16. F. H. W.
A. (1) It is better rendered " you may be received," and means so lay out your riches so as to show that you are a possessor of the true riches, and thus instead of living to yourself and leaving all behind when you die, you will live for others here, and be rewarded hereafter. (2) The kingdom of God was not definitely set up until the king (Christ) came.
Q. 436. Explain Isa. 42:19. Iota.
A. This text has been fully explained. See last year's B. S.
Q. 437. Is baptism necessary to salvation? see Mark 16:16; John 3:5; Acts 2:38, &c. IOTA.
A. No, or else the dying thief would not have entered Paradise. It is however God's appointment that it should accompany the profession of belief in Christ.
Q. 438. Why does not the Lord call His people out of the corrupt churches of Rev. 2 and iii.? and what lesson is there or us in the fact? Iota.
A. We cannot say " why ": at the same time there was ever a resource for individuals to walk with God, even in the darkest ages. Nothing can excuse partaking in known sin.
Q. 439. Has one any right to give money to the poor, &c. when just debts remain meanwhile unpaid? EDO.
A. Another non-biblical query. The answer surely is obvious. A man who so acts is not commonly honest.
Q. 440. Does Eccl. 3:1 1 mean that God has implanted in our hearts the desire to find out what are called " the secrets of nature." i.e., the laws which govern the material world, which we can never perfectly know? E. S. C.
A. See B. S., Oct., p. 336, Q. 340.
Q. 441. If Matt. 25:31 to 46 refers to the judgment of the living nations, according to the manner in which they shall have treated the Jew s, when the Lord Jesus comes with His saints to the earth, what is the explanation of v. 46? Here it would seem to be a question of salvation. jr. w.
A. So it is as far as they are concerned.
Q. 442. Explain Matt. 24:40,41.
A. One taken in judgment, the other left, i.e. spared.
Q. 443. Please explain 1 Tim. 5:24,25. M. v.
A. Even in this life some feel the effects as their sin, as Esau, or see the fruit of their good works.