Ans. Verses 16-24 show us that salvation is provided by God, as a free gift of grace to whosoever will.
Verses 24-33 is discipleship. It is following Christ, this costs us everything, that is, we own that we and all we have, belong to Him. He is our object to live for. Our parents, our husband, or wife, our children, our estate, our servants, our very life is His, and at His disposal. This we see in Ephesians 5:2222Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. (Ephesians 5:22) to 6:9; and in Colossians 3:1818Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. (Colossians 3:18) to 4:1.
Refusing to give them the first place, by putting Christ first, and owning His claims paramount, is hating them. They naturally come between us and Christ.
The believer is dead with Christ; that takes him out of all that he was as a man in the flesh. On this ground, a man owns nothing. Then he is risen with Christ, and now He gives him back all he has to love and care for for Him. An unconverted man is ruled by self, so the man in verse 20, says, "I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come."
Ques. What is the meaning of "the early and latter rain" in the Old and New Testaments?
Ans. In the Old Testament, the early rain prepared the ground for tilling; and the latter rain supplied moisture to fill and ripen the crops; it is therefore the blessing of the Lord. James 5:77Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. (James 5:7) uses it to exhort the laborer to long patience in waiting for the coming of the Lord.
Ques. What passages refer to miracles of healing in the Millenium?
Ans. Jehovah Rophi is Israel's Healer (Ex. 15:2626And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that healeth thee. (Exodus 15:26); Psa. 103; Heb. 6:55And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, (Hebrews 6:5)). The powers of the age to come are Millenial miracles (Isa. 33:2424And the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick: the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity. (Isaiah 33:24); Mal. 4:22But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. (Malachi 4:2)).
Ques. What is to blame for our lack of freedom at times in our ministry of the gospel?
Ans. One great reason is our lack of time spent in prayer. We should be in communion with the Lord, and in dependence upon Him, as a vessel emptied of self, for Him to fill; or as a clean channel for the Living Word to flow through; or as an instrument in His hands to be without a will of our own. Otherwise, we might be in circumstances that we should not be in, and the Lord might make us to feel it. Nearness of spirit to the Lord is the most important thing.