Ques. In Isa. 60:9, who are the "sons from far"? R. R.
Ans. That chapter describes some of Israel's blessings and prosperity during the reign of Christ. The "sons from far" are Jehovah's people brought back and enriched by the Gentiles who share the blessing with them. Notice the Gentile stranger mentioned in, so many verses.
Ques. Will you please explain Eph. 4:13? A. D.
Ans. Eph. 4:13 tell us how long the ministry of Christ will continue. His love cannot fail His assembly, for which He gave Himself, and these permanent gifts continue, "till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.”
Verse 12 tells us what they were given for; and Verse 14 tells what the present result is to be. It is therefore quite evident that this result will be reached when the last member is added to the body of Christ.
Verses 15, 16, show us the healthy action of the members to each other, and this is very important. If each one of us is going on happily with the Lord, and enjoying His love in communion, then we are helping, "making increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love." We can think of, and pray for, and seek the good of the whole Church of God.
Ques. Please explain Matt. 27:44 with Luke 23:39-43. C. E. W.
Ans. Matt. 27:44 asserts that both the thieves joined with the priests in mocking and reviling the Lord.
Luke 23:39-43 witnesses that one repented and believed on Jesus, calling Him Lord, ant owning that He was the true King of Israel, and asking a place in His Kingdom in the future when He would come to reign. His genuine repentance, and conversion are seen in the way he condemned himself, and reproved the other, and in looking to the Lord for His forgiving love to bless him. The Lord's answer bears it out. Jesus said unto him, "Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with Me in paradise." This was immediate blessing. He was sure to be in paradise that very day with the Lord.
2 Cor. 12:2-4 calls the third heaven paradise: that is where the spirit of Jesus went, and that is where the thief went when the spirit left his body. Jesus said in Verse 46, "Father, into Thy hands I commend my spirit," then He died. The martyr Stephen, in. Acts 7:59 said, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
2 Cor. 5:8 witnesses to the same blessed truth. It is not true that the spirit is unconscious after death. Nor is it true that the Lord went into prison when He died. His spirit went to the Father, but He did not ascend till forty days after He rose from the dead. Ascension is of spirit, soul and body, the whole man.
Ques. What is the meaning of Matt. 12:31, 32? W. D. I.
Ans. Read from Verses 22 to 32. Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost was the Pharisees' saying that Jesus did His miracles by the power of Beelzebub, the prince of the devils. (See also Mark 3:22-30.) "Because they said He had an unclean spirit." This showed the wickedness and malicious hatred of their hearts. They have "never forgiveness," "neither in this world" (or age, dispensation of law), "neither in the world to come" (the dispensation that follows after the Church is caught up).
Now we live in the period when God is dealing in grace. Now we preach the gospel to every creature, "Whosoever believeth in Him, shall receive remission of sins." (Acts 10:43.) There are men now living who once professed to believe on Christ, and have become apostates They have not been born again. They have only a name to live, but are dead; and there are true believers who have sunk into worldly ways. To them, God calls, "Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from (among) the dead, and Christ shall give thee light," not life, for every believer has eternal life. He may lose his happiness, and cease to enjoy his salvation, but the Great Shepherd will look after every blood-washed one.
This "blasphemy of the Holy Ghost" has no reference to true believers who have back-slidden. 1 John 2:1 says to God's children, "If any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous." He maintains our place before the Father in all the blessed efficacy of His own finished work.