Ques. What saints will people the "new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness?" (2 Peter 3:13).
Ans. All the saints who live upon the earth during the thousand years of Christ's reign are earthly people, and are therefore those who are characteristically suited for the new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
Note also, that all the saints who have died from Adam to the end of the earth's history, live and reign with Christ (1 Cor. 15:23; Rev. 20:4), as well as all who are saved during the Church period,-that is, from Pentecost to, the coming of the Lord. All these are heavenly, and therefore will inhabit the new heavens where righteousness dwells.
Christ and the Church will be the center of it all (Eph. 3:21; Rev. 21:2-4).
Ques. Was Christ Jesus the first man that entered heaven? Did not Enoch and Elijah go there?
Y. B.
Ans. God, in His grace, did take Enoch and Elijah to heaven-trophies of what He could do with sinful mortal men, but it was on account of what God was going to do in the work of atonement (Rom. 3:25), that they, or any of us, could be there. Jesus could speak of His being there as the rejected Son of Man (Matt. 26:64; Mark 14:62; Luke 22:68; John 1:51); and referring to the mystery of His person, said (John 3:13), "No man hath ascended up to heaven, but He that came down from heaven, even the Son of Man which is in heaven.”
“When He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the majesty on high" Heb. 1:3. He passed through all the heavens (Heb. 4:14) (N. T.); He sat down (having finished the work) on the right hand of God (Heb. 10:12, Psa. 68:18; Heb. 9:12). He has entered in as our forerunner (Heb. 6:20).
“In all things He must have the pre-eminence." Col. 1:15, 18.
Ques. Are children of the heathen who die in infancy, lost? R.
Ans. Matt. 18:11 speaking of children who have not come to years of responsibility, says, "The Son of Man is come to save that which was lost." In that verse we see that, though lost as born of sinful parents, the death of Christ who died for all has purchased salvation for them, and for all irresponsible children of men. Luke 19:10 speaking of sinners who have sinned, says, "The Son of Man is come to seek, and to save that which was lost." These had gone astray in sin.
Ques. Why do we call Sunday, Lord's Day? Does not Scripture tell us not to esteem one day above another? (Gal. 4:10; Col. 2:16). N. Y.
Ans. In Christianity we have no days to keep as they did under the law, is the answer to these scriptures.
In the Word of God the days have no names,-as Sunday, Monday, etc. We have numbers instead. The seventh day was given to Israel as the Sabbath, the sign or seal of the covenant (Ex. 31:13-17).
It was never given to Gentiles to observe, except those who settled among the Israelites in the land of Canaan.
When Christianity began, it gave us the first day of the week, because the Lord Jesus Christ rose from the dead on that day; the Holy Spirit came to dwell on that day; the first gospel sermon was preached that day, and as time went on, the Christians came together to break bread on that day (Acts 20:7), and the apostle John, while alone in the Isle of Patmos, gave to it, by the Holy Spirit's inspiration, its name when he wrote, "I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day.”
We have no rules or commandments from the Lord how to observe it. That is left to those who truly love Him, to give Him the first place. The statutes of the country in which we live have made it a holiday, and what better could Christians do than to use it for the One who has loved them and given Himself for them?
Rom. 14:1.8 leaves every one free to please the Lord as he knows best, and does not put us under law to observe days. It is a great thing for us to please the Lord, and devote our hearts and time to how best to glorify Him.
Ques. What is the significance of 2 Cor. 4:4, 6 which speaks in verse 4 of "the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God;" and in verse 6 of "the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ?" Are these different? What is the difference? J. G.
Ans. The ministry spoken of from third to sixth chapter is the ministry of the gospel of the glory of Christ. It is the ministry of God's righteousness (chap. 3:9), in contrast with law, and excels in glory; but to the unbelieving Jews, this glory was hid, or veiled, the god of this world had blinded their eyes to the beauty of the glad tidings. Its radiance was lost on them. He was the image of God. God was seen in Him, but its light did not enter their hearts, it did not shine forth for them,-that is what we see in verse 4.
But in verse 6, God hath shined in our hearts for the shining forth of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. The knowledge of God seen in Christ is to shine forth in us. It is the same glory of God seen in Christ, not received by the unbelieving in verse 4; received into believing hearts, that it may shine forth again in verse 6.
Ques. Are only the believing Jews looked at by God as Israel in this present time? (Rom. 9:6).
Ans. Yes. As a nation, now, God has written upon them, "not My people." Those who own Jesus Christ as Lord, are called, "The Israel of God" (Gal. 6:16). "An holy. nation" (1 Peter 2:9), the people of God who have obtained mercy (verse 10). They are the remnant that have first, or pre-trusted in Christ in the present time (Eph. 1:12). In the future all Israel, that is, Israel as a whole, will be saved (not every individual) (Rom. 11:26).