Ans. The real secret of the difficulty felt by so many in this scripture is that they seek to make it a question of life and security, whereas it is simply a question of fruit bearing. If we do not abide in the vine we shall prove fruitless branches, and all such branches the Husbandman removes from the place of fruit-bearing. The question of salvation is not touched.
Ques. What is the difference between conversion and regeneration? G. G. H.
Ans. You must distinguish between "conversion" and "regeneration." A man can be regenerated only once; he may be converted repeatedly. Hence when our Lord says to Peter, "When thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren," He simply alludes to his restoration, after his terrible fall. What marvelous grace, that one who had so terribly fallen should be called to such high and holy work!
Ques. What was the length of each day in Gen. 1?, W. F. G.
Ans. We understand the word "day," in the first chapter of Genesis, to mean simply our ordinary 24 hours; and we do not consider it scriptural to believe that each of those days may include a long period of time. But we must remember that, between the first verse of Gen. 1, and the commencement of the actual six days' work, millions of years may have intervened, leaving ample room, most surely, for all the facts of geology. "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." Then we are told, "the earth" not the heaven "was without form and void." We are not told how the earth fell into this state; but most surely God had not so created it. And then begins the record of the six days of creation. It is not the object of the Bible to teach us geology or astronomy; but we may rest assured that there is not a single sentence in that divine volume which collides with the facts of geology or any other science. We must, however, draw a very broad line of distinction between the facts of science, and the conclusions of scientific men. Facts are facts wherever you find them; but if you follow the conclusions of men, you may find yourself plunged in the dark and dreadful abyss of universal skepticism.