Correspondence: 1 John 10-11; Acts 8; Fasting

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He was always God and with God (John 1:11In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1)), and when He took manhood, He could not cease to be a man. So we find Him in resurrection, "the man Christ Jesus." (1 Tim. 2:55For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; (1 Timothy 2:5).) He is the sustainer of the universe. (Eph. 1:20-2220Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 21Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 22And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, (Ephesians 1:20‑22); Col. 1:16, 1716For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. (Colossians 1:16‑17); Heb. 1:2, 32Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; 3Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; (Hebrews 1:2‑3).)
2 John 1010If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: (2 John 10), 11 tell us how to treat those who deny the truth that Christ is truly God and man. The elect lady was not to receive such a one into her house, nor bid him God speed (salute him). For he that biddeth such God speed, is partaker of his evil deeds. Such a teacher is an antichrist. (1 John 2:2222Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. (1 John 2:22).) His teachings are blasphemy.
Ques. 129. Do you think Simon, the sorcerer was truly converted? Acts 8.
M. A. H.
Ans. Simon the sorcerer was the first one we read of being baptized with Christian baptism; so was nominally a Christian, but in reality was unconverted. He was the first tare in the wheat field. (Matt. 13.) The first one at the feast not having on a wedding garment. (Matt. 22.) The first of the foolish virgins who had lamps, but had no oil in their vessels with their lamps. He would illustrate the one described in Heb. 6:4, 54For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 5And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, (Hebrews 6:4‑5), as once enlightened, but without life; as having tasted of the heavenly gift, but did not feed on it; as a partaker of the Holy Ghost, being in the house of God (by baptism), where the Holy Ghost dwells, but he is not sealed; and as having tasted the good word of God, yet did not make it His own; he also saw the powers of the world (age) to come, the miracles wrought by Philip."
In verse 13 we read; "Simon himself believed," showing that his faith was only of himself, the natural mind, like those in John 2:23-2523Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did. 24But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, 25And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man. (John 2:23‑25), who believed when they saw the miracles, but the Lord did not commit Himself unto them. (See John 6:6666From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. (John 6:66).) We see in Eph. 2:88For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (Ephesians 2:8) where true faith comes from, "For by grace are ye saved, through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast."
Ques. 130. Is fasting useful now, or was it only under the law? C. M.
Ans. The Lord said: "This kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting." Matt. 17:2121Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting. (Matthew 17:21). Prayer expresses our dependence on God. Fasting, where it is real, expresses a lowly, contrite condition of soul that refuses self-gratification for the purpose of being more in the presence of God. This is not imposing a rule on oneself or on any one, but it is feeling the necessity of being more abstracted from things around, that we might be more alone with God. The passage before us warns us not to appear fasting before men, but in secret with the Father, in the realization of having to do with God. There is no satisfaction in it to the flesh. To boast about, or to be proud of it, is to show that it was a sham. We find it used both in the Old and New Testament times.