Correspondence

 •  4 min. read  •  grade level: 8
Answer: Joel 2:2828And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: (Joel 2:28) is a prophecy concerning Israel. It will take place when Israel will be restored, that is, in the great and terrible day of the Lord. It concerns Zion and Jerusalem in that future day when the Son of Man comes to reign. The apostle Peter quotes it to show that it was the coming of the Spirit of God to dwell in the believers that made them preach the gospel in languages which they had never learned. The people thought they were drunken, and he adds “this is that,” meaning that it was of the same kind (Acts 2:15, 1615For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. 16But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; (Acts 2:15‑16)). The wonders in verses 19, 20 have not come yet.
It was the beginning of the church, and Paul, led by the Spirit, wrote 1 Timothy 2:1212But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. (1 Timothy 2:12) and 1 Corinthians 14:3434Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. (1 Corinthians 14:34) which tell us that in public, women are not to speak. One goes against God’s Word who does preach or teach man in spiritual things. God has used women in Scripture to help in the gospel (Phil. 4:33And I entreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlaborers, whose names are in the book of life. (Philippians 4:3)), also to carry a message (John 20:1717Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. (John 20:17)), and in other ways, (also Acts 9:36; 18:26; 21:936Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did. (Acts 9:36)
26And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly. (Acts 18:26)
9And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy. (Acts 21:9)), but there were no women preachers or evangelists.
Question: Is Christendom the great house? P. T.
Answer: Christendom is the kingdom of Christ in profession—all who have been baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. (Gal. 3:2727For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. (Galatians 3:27)).
This vast professing multitude containing both real and nominal Christians, is compared in 2 Timothy 2:2020But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honor, and some to dishonor. (2 Timothy 2:20) to “a great house,” wherein is a mixture of vessels—all in confusion. The Christian who seeks to walk with God, though he cannot get out of it, is told to purge himself from these, that is: the mixture—to walk in a clean path, which is pointed out in 2 Timothy 2:2222Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. (2 Timothy 2:22).
The Holy Spirit came down at Pentecost, and dwelt in the House of God on earth. That house was composed of people, believers, who were sealed by the Holy Spirit, and though millions have professed Christianity who do not know their sins washed away by the blood of Christ, the Holy Spirit still dwells in every true believer, and will do so till the day of redemption, by the power of Christ, when our bodies are changed like His glorious body, so that it is still true, “In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit,” and each individual is told, “Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost?” (Eph. 2:2222In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. (Ephesians 2:22); 1 Cor. 6:1919What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? (1 Corinthians 6:19)).
Answer: Isaiah 1:1818Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. (Isaiah 1:18) is God appealing to the sinner to take his place as such before God to have His pardoning grace, that could make the scarlet sins all disappear, and the crimson also—stains of deeper dye would be removed leaving the soul whiter than ever it could be in innocence, for the pardoned sinner is clothed with the righteousness of God (2 Cor. 5:2121For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (2 Corinthians 5:21)). Revelation 1:55And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, (Revelation 1:5) is the saint bursting out in praise at the mention of Jesus Christ’s blessed name, Who by dying on the cross and there making atonement, had cleansed all his sins away.
Revelation 7:1414And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. (Revelation 7:14) is the elder describing the faithful who in the great tribulation will be faithful to the Messiah, and will claim Him as their King and Savior. These are saved Gentiles who are faithful to Christ during the great tribulation, in separating themselves from those in rebellion against Him. This is how it is said, “They washed their robes.” These are earthly saints, blest on earth. We, in this day of grace, are heavenly.
Question: What is meant by “Let the dead bury their dead,” as found in Matthew 8:2222But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead. (Matthew 8:22)? W. C.
Answer: In Matthew 8:1919And a certain scribe came, and said unto him, Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. (Matthew 8:19) to 22, and Luke 9:5757And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. (Luke 9:57) to 62, we find discipleship—that is, following Christ. In these scriptures we are taught to put Christ first in all we do, in our business, and in all our relationships in life, as Paul said in Philippians 1:2121For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. (Philippians 1:21). “To me to live is Christ.” The Lord instructs in caring for our husbands, our wives, our children, our parents, our servants, and our masters. (See Eph. 5:2222Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. (Ephesians 5:22) to 6:9; and Col. 3:1818Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. (Colossians 3:18) to 4:1). Our duty to the Lord is caring for them all according to His Word.
This man in Matthew 8:2222But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead. (Matthew 8:22) did not want to follow the Lord till his father was dead and buried. So the Lord answers, “Follow Me; and let the dead bury their dead.”
Unconverted men are dead in trespasses, and sins; they are spiritually dead; they cannot do anything to please the Lord; they put their own interests before the Lord’s interests; they are the dead that bury their dead without desiring to please the Lord? for they do not know Him.