Ques. Is it possible for one to be a believer in Christ, and not bear fruit? N.
Ans, "The Lord knoweth them that are His." We are glad to see fruit, but fruit is for the Father, and He can see what we cannot see. Fruit makes no noise; it is the life of Christ seen in our behavior (Gal. 5:22, 2322But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. (Galatians 5:22‑23)). Even Lot is called a righteous man (2 Peter 2:7, 87And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: 8(For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;) (2 Peter 2:7‑8)), but he was not a happy saint.
Ques. What will become of the Jewish people who die without Christ in this present time? R.
Ques. What will become of the Jews after the Church is caught up to meet the Lord in the air? O.
Ans. Both Jews and Gentiles may hear the gospel of the kingdom, and become true subjects of the King of kings, and live to people the earth during the reign of Christ.
But the Jews or Gentiles and the professing Church which will be left behind,-all these who neglected, refused, or despised the gospel when they heard it,-will fall victims to the strong delusion, and will be eternally lost.
Ans. We can easily see in these verses that an unforgiving spirit is a sad hindrance to prayer. It is a remarkable thing that when we get into the presence of God, our failures begin to come up before us. And in this scripture we are exhorted to deal with every unforgiving thought against any person, that our prayers be not hindered.
We also see that such forgiveness is of a governmental kind. It is not eternal forgiveness. This we have once for all (Heb. 10:1414For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. (Hebrews 10:14)), but it is what is needed to keep us going on in happy communion with the Father. It is therefore of great importance for us to see that we are not harboring unforgiving thoughts toward any.
Ques. What are bishops, deacons, and prophets in the New Testament? A. N.
Ans. Bishops, elders, overseers, are the same (Acts 20:1717And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church. (Acts 20:17), called elders; ver. 28, called overseers). Their character was to be as in 1 Tim. 3:11This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. (1 Timothy 3:1).7, and Titus 1:6-96If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. 7For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; 8But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; 9Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. (Titus 1:6‑9). They were to look after the spiritual state of the Assembly. It does not say how many were appointed.
Deacon is a servant to minister to needy ones, and to serve tables, as in Acts 6. Their character was to be as in 1 Tim. 3:12, 1312Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. 13For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus. (1 Timothy 3:12‑13). They were chosen and appointed by the apostles or their delegates Timothy and Titus, but not by the Assembly. The scriptures were not completed and collated at that time.
We have no appointment of elders and deacons now. We have no authority to appoint them, and the assembly now is broken outwardly into sects, which the Word of God deplores (1 Cor. 1:12, 13; 3:3-512Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. 13Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? (1 Corinthians 1:12‑13)
3For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? 4For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal? 5Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? (1 Corinthians 3:3‑5)).
A prophet now is only one speaking the truth. Prophesying now is speaking unto men to edification, exhortation and comfort (1 Cor. 14:3, 293But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. (1 Corinthians 14:3)
29Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. (1 Corinthians 14:29)). We have no revelations now, for the Word of God is completed (Col. 1:2525Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; (Colossians 1:25)). There is no need therefore of tongues of interpretations. We are now living in the last day, and awaiting the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Let our loins be girded and our lights burning.
Ques. What meetings are Assembly meetings where we can count on the Lord Jesus being in our midst? Please make it plain about any other meetings also. C. M. S.
Ans. All meetings arranged by the gathered saints where all, both sisters and brothers, are to be present, are Assembly meetings with the Lord in the midst, as in Matt. 18:2020For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:20).
The Lord's day meeting to remember the Lord in His death, in worship and adoration, is the highest.
The prayer meeting ranks next; there we express our interest in all that are His, and desire mercies from Him.
The reading meeting is for instruction, yet we count on Him to teach us through whom He will. Sisters are to be silent.
Meetings for addresses where two or three only are allowed to speak (1 Cor. 14:2929Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. (1 Corinthians 14:29)), there also we should wait on the Lord for His ministry.
Meetings for discipline, called specially by the Assembly, are also to be carried out by the Lord's presence as our authority, we waiting in prayer on Him for what is to be done in His name (Matt. 18:18-2018Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. 20For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:18‑20); 1 Cor. 5:7, 12-137Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: (1 Corinthians 5:7)
12For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? 13But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person. (1 Corinthians 5:12‑13)).
Brothers' meetings are useful to conduct business matters, to consider questions that may arise, to gain information that needs to be brought before the Assembly, but they have no authority to act. Their action, if any, is not the act of the Assembly. We must therefore be careful not to set aside the authority of the Lord Jesus in the midst of His gathered saints. Brothers' meetings are not Assembly meetings.
Ans. From verse 22 we see that carefulness was urged upon Timothy about those he might receive. If he laid hands on (that is identified himself with) people too quickly, he might find himself associated with evil workers. Verse 23 is remarkable as showing that God allows us to take what we think necessary for our health, and thus does not set aside the use of medicine for those who are afflicted. Then in verses 24 and 25 he returns to the subject of carefulness in receiving. Some men's sins go beforehand, can easily be seen; others are not so easily seen, they follow after. And the same applies to the good works of some that are manifest; others who do not tell what kindnesses they do, but they cannot be hid. How wise the scriptures are!
Ques. Has the Lord Jesus Christ one Headship as the Creator, and another through resurrection? C. W. Ans. Yes. In Col. 1:1515Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: (Colossians 1:15) to 17, His glory as Creator and Sustainer of the universe is unfolded, and there He is spoken of as "The firstborn of every creature", or all creation. "Firstborn" means the highest or Head of it. He took part in it at His birth as Son of God (Psa. 2:77I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. (Psalm 2:7); Luke 1:3535And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. (Luke 1:35)), that is, His holy humanity, God manifest in flesh. He was also the Son of God from all eternity with the Father (John 1:11In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1).3; Heb. 1:10, 1210And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands: (Hebrews 1:10)
12And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail. (Hebrews 1:12)).
Then in Col. 1:1818And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. (Colossians 1:18), He is the Head of the body, the assembly, that in all things He might have the pre-eminence (compare John 12:2424Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. (John 12:24)). It is thus that He is the beginning of the creation of God (Rev. 3:1414And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; (Revelation 3:14)). As "the Faithful and true Witness" He is alone, but in resurrection we are raised with Him, and united to Him,-one Spirit with the Lord (1 Cor. 6:1717But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. (1 Corinthians 6:17)).