Correspondence: 1 Cor. 9:27; 1 John 3:9; Lev. 7:13; 2 Cor. 2:14-16; Luke 9:26; 2 Tim. 2:12

From: Young Christian: Volume 25, 1935

Correspondence: 1CO 9:27; 1JO 3:9; LEV 7:13; 2CO 2:14-16; LUK 9:26; 2TI 2:12

Luke 9:26; Leviticus 7:13 • 2 min. read • grade level: 9

Question: Does Paul refer to his eternal state in 1 Corinthians 9:27²⁷But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. (1 Corinthians 9:27)?

Answer: Yes, Paul referred to damnation in 1 Corinthians 9:27²⁷But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. (1 Corinthians 9:27), but yet other scriptures show us he had no doubt as to the certainty of his salvation, and glory with Christ at the end.

Question: Why does 1 John 3:9⁹Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. (1 John 3:9) read, “Whosoever is born of God... cannot sin”? If it said “ought not to sin” I could understand it.

Answer: This passage identifies the believer with the spotless new nature that he possesses by the new birth. The epistle regards the believer at the height of his proper standing in Christ. Every Christian is looked at here as acting solely in the power and energy of the new nature. But you may say he often does not. This is true, otherwise there were no need for 1:9, but this is not the subject here. It could not say “ought not to sin” for it is solely speaking here of what is born of God, and it is plain that nothing born of God can sin. The reason we ever sin is because we allow that within us to act which is not born of God. Such a Christian is not contemplated here.

Question: Please explain why leaven was to be excluded from all offerings but that of Leviticus 7:13¹³Besides the cakes, he shall offer for his offering leavened bread with the sacrifice of thanksgiving of his peace offerings. (Leviticus 7:13).

Answer: Leaven throughout Scripture is a type of what is evil, never of what is good—of hidden “malice and wickedness.” Leaven was not to be burned before the Lord; the offering of Leviticus 7:13¹³Besides the cakes, he shall offer for his offering leavened bread with the sacrifice of thanksgiving of his peace offerings. (Leviticus 7:13) was not burned by fire, (see Lev. 2:11¹¹No meat offering, which ye shall bring unto the Lord, shall be made with leaven: for ye shall burn no leaven, nor any honey, in any offering of the Lord made by fire. (Leviticus 2:11)), and the offering of it there shows that though we are not in the flesh, it is still in us.

Question: Kindly explain 2 Corinthians 2:14-16¹⁴Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savor of his knowledge by us in every place. ¹⁵For we are unto God a sweet savor of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: ¹⁶To the one we are the savor of death unto death; and to the other the savor of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things? (2 Corinthians 2:14‑16).

Answer: The sweet savor is that of Christ’s name which is spread abroad by preaching, whether the result of that preaching to man be life by receiving it, or death by rejecting it. In either case Christ is proclaimed.

Question: Please explain, “Whosoever shall be ashamed of Me,” Luke 9:26²⁶For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels. (Luke 9:26), “If we deny Him, He also will deny us,” 2 Timothy 2:12¹²If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: (2 Timothy 2:12), and other similar passages.

Answer: Those who are ashamed of, or deny Him—through fear or shame refuse Christ, choosing rather the approval and applause of the world—their end is seen in Revelation 21:8⁸But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. (Revelation 21:8),

“But the fearful and unbelieving,... shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone.”

Click here to show subject links in the text for more information.