21. “R.,” Beaconsfield. We certainly could not advise the Revised Version of the New Testament to be used instead of the Old Version. Some corrections have been made which are valuable, and have been long used by all well-taught Bible Students. We regard it on the whole as the production of men who may be scholars but without knowledge of God’s mind, and, as you will observe in the preface, without any acknowledgment of the Holy Ghost. It is not then to be wondered at that it contains many serious mistakes One of the most competent critics we know says, “I believe that a person who takes it up for his daily use will injure his own soul.” Your letter we regret to say was mislaid, which must account for its not having been answered before.
22. Alpha. “I suffer not a woman to teach” is as plain an expression as can well be used, and means just what it says. For aged women to be exemplary in conduct, to be teachers of good things, to teach the young women to be sober and to love their husbands and children, &c, is more, we judge, the giving of counsel to individual cases as may be needed, than taking formally the place of a teacher. (Titus 2:3-5.)
23. “C,” Abingdon. The reason why the Gentile believers were to abstain from meats offered to idols according to the testimony of the Holy Ghost and of the assembly, in Acts 15, is rather explained in 1 Cor. 8. It was not that the idol was anything but a senseless block of wood or stone. Meat therefore offered to it could not possibly be changed in itself, and was in nowise different from other meat. But to eat it, or to induce others to eat it, as a thing offered to an idol would be sin. Idolatry sets aside God. Moreover “the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” (Rom. 14:14-21.)
Not only Gentile believers, but all men are forbidden to eat “blood.” “Things strangled “have blood in them. “But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.” (Gen. 9:4.)
1 Tim. 2:9, teaches Christian women to avoid the costly adornments and fashions of the world, and that their deportment and dress should be with modesty and sobriety, fearing God, and practicing good works.
To walk in the light is to be in the presence of God who is light, and where the blood of Jesus which cleanseth from all sin has brought us. Here too, it is that we have fellowship one with another. (1 John 1:7.) If there be disobedience, and the putting away of a good conscience, how can there be walking in the light? Can there be the sense of being in the light until in self-judgment such go into God’s holy presence, who is light, where Jesus Christ the righteous is our Advocate, and the propitiation for our sins? “If we say we have fellowship with him and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth.” (1 John 1:8.)
This is not “walking up to our light” as people say. It is really having to do with God who is light. In the light there is no darkness, and therefore no uncertainty. As long as a person is walking in darkness, he knows not where he is going, there is constant uncertainty as to the future; for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither lie goeth, because darkness hath blinded his eyes. (1 John 2:11.) But when in the light, as He” is in the light, we know Jesus the Lord is there our life and righteousness, that He went into heaven itself by His own blood, thus giving us title to be forever in the presence of God without a spot on the conscience. There, too, the Spirit of God gives us to know that “our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.” Our having “the flesh” in us need not hinder our fellowship, but if we walk after the flesh, and thus sin, it positively hinders our fellowship. But, through the advocacy of Jesus Christ the righteous with the Father, who made propitiation for our sins, we are taught by the Spirit to judge ourselves, to “confess our sins” and we are forgiven, cleansed from all unrighteousness, and our fellowship restored. How richly and blessedly God in His grace has met us! Happy are those who know consciously what it is to walk in the light as He is in the light, where grace has brought us, which surely ought to be the experience of every child of God!
24. “B.,” Dublin. No doubt the injunction for the sick to call “the elders” is how God would have His saints act in cases of bodily sickness. But how little is it regarded in the present day! We have known most blessed results when it has been acted on. It is well however to observe that the sick one is to call the elders of the assembly. This is faith on the part of one sick. On the other side, the elders should go in faith, and pray in faith over him; and the promise is that the prayer of faith shall heal the sick, that the Lord will raise him up, and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Sometimes the excuse of unbelief is that the church is in ruins, and there are no officially recognized elders now. This is quite true; but are there not those who have some qualification for eldership, though not officially appointed by an apostle, or his delegates, because we have none? Cannot the sick then call for such? It may be, however, when sent for some may hesitate to go, or, as we have known, decline to go, saying they could not go in faith. But does not all this show how both on the part of the sick, and those who pray over him, it should be all done in faith?
Whether “anointing him with oil” was literally the use of oil as a remedial agent, or only stated to warrant our using remedies in cases of sickness we cannot say. At any rate, it is quite clear that this passage does not mean send for a priest that he may anoint, but send for “elders” and let “them” anoint. There is no thought here of confessing sins to a minister, or any official person, but of ministers and all confessing faults “one to another.’’ (Jas. 5:13-16.)
25. “W. C.,” Durham. “Behold I stand at the door and knock,” &c, is certainly the Lord’s word to the assembly at Laodicea, and appeals to them to open the door. It is sometimes used as a gospel text by those who are not accustomed to expound scripture, or, alas! to read the Bible through with the view of knowing, and being subject to, God’s mind.
Adam was clearly innocent. Holiness implies separation from evil, and until he sinned there was no evil to be separated from. We are commanded to be holy, and to follow holiness, because we are in relationship to God as His children, and are surrounded with all kinds of evil.
26. “Η.,” Oxford. It is well to keep strictly to scripture when speaking of the great mystery of the sufferings and death of our adorable Savior. What his righteous soul passed through when he cried out “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” we are not told, and, perhaps, if we were told, we should be unable to comprehend it. Enough is recorded for our profit and blessing, through God’s abundant grace. His name be praised for all that He has revealed concerning the death of His beloved Son for our comfort and peace.
27. “A. B.” Suffolk. We see no connection between 1 Cor. 12:13, and Acts 8:36, 37. The former shows how the body of Christ, the church, was formed; while the latter is water baptism. They are two very different things. The “one baptism” in Eph. 4:5, is, we judge, water baptism. We heartily thank the Lord for the profit you speak of having derived from this little magazine.
28. “Α.,” Hull. Matt. 28:11, is retained by some authorities. Paul is certainly “present with the Lord,” though waiting for His coming to have a glorified body. (1 Thess. 4:16-18.)
29. “G.,” Shrewsbury. The Lord be praised for the soul-refreshment and comfort you mention through our replies! We have little hope of brethren who are engaged in the Lord’s precious service going on happily together, unless they are accustomed to go before the Lord together about the matters which may exercise them. Next to being alone with God, we know nothing more important. Let not beloved brethren expect to glorify God with one mind and one mouth, if going thus before Him is habitually neglected. (Rom. 15:5,6.) How truly He is the “God of patience!”