Practical Conversations With Our Young People: Conversations and Questions

17. This hour covers the whole Christian dispensation from the time of the descent of the Holy Spirit to His removal with the Church. (Acts 2:1-4; 2 Thess. 2:7.)

18. It is the present gospel hour when those dead in trespasses and sins are hearing the gospel and receiving eternal life. (Eph. 2:1.)

19. 1 Thess. 4:16 and Rev. 20:13.

20. (1) Those raised when the Lord Jesus comes again. (1 Thess. 4:16-17.)

(2) Those that were slain for the Word of God, and for the testimony which they held. (Rev. 6:9.)

(3) Those slain in war with the beast. (Rev. 13:7, 17.)

Practical Conversations With Our Young People: Our Daily Walk

"Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be?" (2 Peter 3:11.)

Dear Young Christian: If you really believe that the Lord Jesus is coming back again soon, how practical for your daily walk is the above question! Let us consider four scriptural admonitions which answer the question.

First, we ought to be SEPARATE Christians. (2 Cor. 6:17.) What would you think of an English soldier who liked the companionship of the Germans so well that he enjoyed fighting in their ranks part of the time, although he knew he was a part of the English army, and proud of it, too? You can easily see how impossible such a condition would be in human affairs. How much more impossible then ought it to be for the Christian to be found joining the world's ranks in its pleasures and companionship. We ought then, young Christians, to be separate in our walk.

Second, we ought to be SOBER Christians. (1 Thess. 5:6.) No railroad company will employ an engineer who uses intoxicating liquor, because he has in his trust the lives of hundreds of human beings who might be sacrificed by his lack of sobriety. So with us, God has entrusted to us, in great measure, the eternal welfare of those with whom we are thrown in association. How important then that our conduct should be such that those about us will have confidence in what we say as to eternal things. But if our attitude is light and trifling most of the time then, when we want to seriously impress others with the solemn reality of having to do with the Lord, they will doubt our words, We will be like Lot in Sodom when he warned his sons-in-law, "Up, get you out of this place; for the Lord will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons-in-law." (Gen. 19:14.) How important, then, that we be sober.

Third, we ought to be SIMPLE Christians. (2 Cor. 11:3.) God never requires superior intelligence or special gift in order that His children may walk in living daily communion with Himself. In fact, there is nothing more pleasing to the Father than to have His simple-hearted child lift his voice in guileless confidence and talk to his "Father". We may know very little, and yet be happy in our confidence in the Lord; or we may get much truth, and become cold and legal in our souls. O, let us seek then to cultivate a childlike simplicity before the Lord.

Fourth, we ought to be STRONG Christians. (Eph. 6:10.) What need there is in this day of lukewarm indifference to the work of the Lord Jesus, for strong-hearted young Christians to boldly and fearlessly stand for Christ. Stand for Him everywhere and all the time: in school, in shop, in recreation, in the home and on the street. What cowardly soldiers we often make, don't we? There is nothing that helps a Christian so much in boldness for the Lord Jesus as to show where he stands at the first opportunity. Never compromise the truth the first time you meet another, thinking to let your stand be known later. No! fly your colors all the time, come what may, and you will find, by God's grace, new power and courage given you for each new occasion as it arises.

In these closing days may He find standing for Him a company of separated, sober-minded, simple-hearted, strong young Christians!

Questions for November

NOTE.-As a reward to the young Christians sending in the most satisfactory series of answers to these thirty-five questions, a first, second, and third reward will be given, as announced in the June number of "The Young Christian."

Always give scripture for answers, as well as your own expressions.

26. Why is it wrong for Christians to set dates for the Lord's return?

27. What is the first thing Revelation gives us in time order that takes place after the Church is caught up.

28. What is meant by each of the four horses Rev. 6?

29. What is meant by the "great tribulation"? Rev. 7:14.

30. What is generally the symbolical meaning of sun, moon and stars in Scripture?

Answers to Questions for July

6. "Prevent" in 1 Thess. 4:15 means, "get there ahead of."

7. A moment, the twinkling of an eye. 1 Cor. 15:52.

8. They will be changed into bodies like the Lord's own body of glory. (Phil. 3:20, 21.)

9. The "dead in Christ" are all who have died in faith, for it is only in virtue of the Person and work of our Lord Jesus Christ that any could be delivered from the just judgment of God and have part with Christ. Heb. 11:13, in speaking of those of Old Testament times, whose names are given in previous verses of the chapter, says: "These all died in faith * * * " and then verse 40, " God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect." (See also Luke 20:35-38; John 11:25; 8:24.)

10. They will be left without a ray of hope, the ready victims of strong delusion, and will finally find their place in the lake of fire. (Matt. 25:10, 12; 2 Thess. 2:10, 11; Rev. 21:8.

Practical Conversations With Our Young People: Bodily Resurrection

The unconverted man hates the idea of bodily resurrection, for it means that the same body in which he has lived his Christless life, is to be reunited to his lost soul, to be brought before the bar of God. Accordingly there is a determined, relentless effort on the part of the enemy today to rob souls of the simple truth of the resurrection of the physical body. Even children of God have sometimes very hazy ideas about what kind of a body they will have in resurrection. But the simple truth for us to lay hold of is this: we shall have for eternity this very same body in which we have lived down here. God is not going to give us a newly created body, for, if He did, it would not be resurrection at all, for resurrection is the raising up again of that which existed before. It is true, the Christian's body will be changed into the fashion of the body of Christ, (blessed be God) but it will be the same body renewed.

On the other hand, the wicked will not have their bodies renewed like unto His body of glory, but will be raised again in their bodies to be cast alive into the lake of fire, there to suffer the doom of the eternally lost.

Yes, Europe's present holocaust of war has probably sent into corruption the bodies of three million men. But God does not forget, and everyone of those poor soldiers will yet stand bodily in God's presence. O, may we not pray, in the light of these solemn truths, that the Lord's warning might be heeded by these myriads of armed men; "Be not afraid of them that kill the body and after that have no more that they can do, but I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear Him, which after He hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear Him." (Luke 12:4, 5.)

Questions for September

Always Give Scripture for Answers, as well as Your Own Expressions.

16. What is the meaning of John 11:26?

17. How long a period is the "hour" mentioned in John 4:21?

18. What is the "hour" spoken of in John 5:25?

19. Give the passages of Scripture that mark the beginning and the end of the "hour" of John 5:29.

20. Who are the three classes of resurrected saints mentioned in Rev. 20:4?

Practical Conversations With Our Young People: "Even So, Come Lord Jesus"

The close of the year has come, and what a year it has been! The air has been thick with "wars and rumors of wars". Nation has arisen against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. Thousands have died of famine and pestilence; earthquakes have carried off thousands more, and tornadoes, tidal waves and awful catastrophies have greatly added to the toll of human life. What does it all mean? Is God in it, or is it only the working out of natural laws and political crises? Thank God, those of us who are in His secret, know that "the Lord God hath spoken, who can but prophesy?" (Amos 3:8.) Nor is this the end. God has said, "I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible. I will make a man more precious than fine gold, even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir." (Isa. 13:11, 12.)

To young people the world sometimes becomes tinged with a rosy hue, and their hearts become taken up with its promises of success and happiness. But remember, the Lord Jesus said three times that Satan was the "prince of this world." The apostle Paul called Satan the "god of this world," and tells us that "Christ gave Himself for our sins that He might deliver us from this present evil world."

A young man spoke to another on the street car recently, saying, "Well, how is the world treating you these days?" The reply was made, "I'm not expecting much from this world, for the Lord Jesus said, 'Because I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.' " (John 15:19.) The world hates the Lord, Jesus and God allowed it to go on in its ungodly, worldly, infidel, blasphemous, pleasure-mad course, until His holy hand could be stayed no longer. The year just closing tells its tale of what it means when God turns man over, for a little while, to his own depraved schemes. The world stands aghast at the result, and the great men, in awe, begin to ask, "What will be the end?" "What can stop this ever growing conflagration of war? "

We have now searched our Bibles for a year in connection with the subject of the Lord's coming, and, we trust, the result has been to kindle in each of our hearts a burning expectation that He is soon to appear and put an end to the reign of blood, and usher in that year of jubilee which shall envelope this gladdened earth for a millennium.

Everything points to His speedy return. " Even so, come, Lord Jesus." "And they that were ready went in with Him to the marriage." (Matt. 25:10.)

Answers to Questions for October

21. The Lord's supper. 1 Cor. 11:26.

22. "Day of the Lord" instead of the "day of Christ."

We should never be troubled because the "day of Christ" is approaching. That is the day for which we look and long. But the "day of the Lord" is the day of awful judgment for this poor world.

23. The transfiguration. (Matt. 16:28; 17:1-8.) It was a miniature picture of His future coming in glory to reign over Israel.

24. This verse refers to the ascension of Christ back to heaven, (Acts 1:9), but it also includes the catching up of the Church as the mystical "body of Christ."

25. Resurrection. (John 11:25.)

Questions for December

Always give scripture for answers, as well as your own expressions.

31. Who is the woman of Rev. 12:1?

32. When will the Devil be cast down to the earth?

33. Who are the two beasts of Rev. 13?

34. What people will be cast into the lake of fire without a throne trial.

35. What is the final proof that man can not be improved?

Answers to Questions for June

1. Matt. 25:5, 10.

2. John 14:3.

3. 1 Thess. 1:10; 2:19; 3: 13; 4:16; 5:23. 2 Thess. 1:10; 2:1; 3:5.

4. The word "rapture" comes from the Latin word rapture, and means "to snatch away". So, as applied to Christ's coming, it means His catching away from the earth His bride, the Church.

5. It will doubtless be daytime for the saints in one part of the world, and night time for others, as one half of the earth is in darkness all the time. But no one save the Father knows the moment set. So we may expect Him day or night. (Matt. 24:36.)

Practical Conversations With Our Young People: The Coming of the Lord, Part 5

The Word of God plainly tells us "that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of His coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation." (2 Peter 3:3, 4.) And what is the reason for such a state of things? The Word answers this question too. They are "willingly ignorant". (2 Peter 3:5.) It isn't because God hasn't been faithful through the centuries in warning men as to the end. He has. It may surprise some of our readers to know that the second advent of the Lord is referred to, more or less distinctly, 730 times in the Bible, viz., 345 times in the Old, and 385 times in the New Testament. Yet nine out of ten professed Christians not only do not know anything about the Lord's coming, but they do not want to know. They are "willingly ignorant". O, dear Christian, let none of us be willingly ignorant.

The world may be boasting of its GRAND WORLD'S FAIR, and there demonstrating the proud advancement of mankind in every, line of skill, education, and scientific achievement. They may even have the heartlessness to do it while one half the world is baptized in blood, even while civilization is tottering on its very base. But the true child of God knows that all this boasted progress is doomed. Christ is coming; wrath is on the way. Then "let us not sleep as do others; but let us watch and be sober, for God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Thess, 5: 6, 9.)

Questions for August

Always Give Scripture for Answers, as well as Your Own Expressions.

11. Will the Lord Jesus come in spirit or in body?

12. After we meet the Lord in the air, how long do we remain with Him?

13. Where will we be, when "the Son of man shall come in the glory of His Father and with His angels; and then He shall reward every man according to his works"?

14. What three little words in the book of Revelation give us an intimation of the point where the Church is viewed as caught up to heaven?

15. What topical company of people in Revelation represent the risen and glorified saints in heaven?

Practical Conversations With Our Young People: Hold Fast

Most young Christians are sufficiently familiar with their Bibles to know that one distinct mark of these last days in which we are living is the giving up of the truth of God. It is in keeping with such a condition as this that God gives the oft repeated warning, "Hold Fast." I believe it would be valuable to the spiritual life and experience of every young Christian to adopt those two scriptural words as his watch word in these ever increasingly evil days: "HOLD FAST!"

In the first place it is so essential that we hold fast to the truth of the inspiration of the Word of God. If you find yourself in the high school, college or university where the Bible is questioned or ignored, just look up to God for grace to be kept from it all, and stand true by the Book. "Holding fast the faithful Word as he hath been taught." (Titus 1:9). "But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; and that from a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." (2 Tim. 3:14-15). Look about you and tell me what gain has come to any young person as a result of his surrendering faith in the Scriptures? Is he any more happy in soul? Is he any more helpful in ministering comfort to his friends in their troubles? Is he any more respected in the hearts of his friends? No! I have known several who have failed to hold fast, and I know of no one of them today whom I would have cause to envy on account of what he has gained by surrendering of faith in the Word of God.

I believe it is well for the young Christian not only to hold fast the truth of the Word of God, but also when speaking of the things of God to confine himself as far as possible to the scriptural terms and expressions. One of the efforts of Satan in these last days is to induce Christians to alter the phraseology of the Bible, and to speak of these subjects of sin, hell, salvation, heaven, Savior, redemption, sanctification, piety, etc., etc., under new terms which rob these God-given concepts of much of their meaning. Let us then seek to abide by Bible terminology and not weaken the power of the inspired Word by pleasant sounding, conscience easing substitutions. Let us never get educated above our Bible phraseology. "Holding fast the form of sound words which thou hast heard." (2 Tim. 1:13.)

In the second place the Christian who adopts the motto, "Hold Fast" will want to be exercised not only to hold to scriptural expressions, but also to sound scriptural doctrine. Almost every old fundamental doctrine of the Bible has been either modified beyond recognition or totally rejected by the modern so-called "advanced thinkers" and "new theology" exponents. For the young Christian to give up along these lines is fatal. If you give up Christ I see no hope for you according to the Word of God. "If ye continue in the faith, grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which we have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven." (Col. 1:23.)

There is one phase of "sound doctrine" that we cannot pass by without special emphasis. That is the truth as to the Church. It is only in the Church that the complete manifold wisdom of God is seen expressed. (Eph. 3:10: New translation.) The Church is "the pillar and ground of the truth." (1 Tim. 3:15.) Accordingly, then, if we wish to walk in the truth we must hold fast the truth as to the Church. God would not have us surrender a bit of it as not being applicable now or as being out of date. Every scriptural doctrine and direction as to the Church must be held fast at all costs.

As a third consideration we would mention the necessity of holding fast an upright course and walk before the world. If we do not maintain an honest walk before the world we will not maintain a good conscience. The apostle tells us of two men, Hymenaeus and Alexander, who failed to hold a good conscience and made shipwreck of the faith. Scripture very plainly shows us that where the life of the professing Christian is not in accord with honesty and uprightness it causes not only the individual himself to be despised, but, far sadder, it causes the unsaved to blaspheme the Name and the Word of God. (1 Tim. 6:1; Titus 2:5.)

Is your conduct ever such that the unsaved who know you are given opportunity to say. "Well if he's a Christian, I'm sure I never want to be one. If he is a representative of the Bible, then I don't care to read it." Furthermore we must as Christians hold fast in our Christian activities. How many a young Christian started out brightly for the Lord-ever ready and anxious to speak a word to the unsaved or hand out a tract, who has failed to hold fast, and has actually drifted back into indifference as to the unsaved about him. If such is your case we trust you are saved and on the road to heaven, but in the face of many searching and solemn statements of Scripture we are made to question it. The apostle, speaking of the gospel, said: 'By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you unless ye have believed in vain. (1 Cor. 15:2.) Again he says: "So run that ye may obtain. * * * * I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection; lest that by any means, when I have preached to others I myself should be a castaway." (1 Cor. 9:27.) We cannot enjoy assurance of salvation when our lives have drifted into worldliness and indifference as to the claims of God. If we want to "make our calling and election sure" there must be godliness in our walk and ways. Paul could say at the end of his course, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith; henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness." (2 Tim. 4:8.)

Finally, I would exhort all young Christians to hold fast the truth as to the Lord's personal and imminent coming again. It is a fact-Jesus is coming back again! I must be ready for His return. The world steadily grows more hopeless as to its condition. War, with all its attendant horrors, continues to spread until now our own land, so long spared, is threatened with the same spirit of bloodshed. It should all make us look with longing expectancy for that heavenly shout that shall catch us away to meet the Lord Jesus in the air. Holding fast this truth in our lives will set all else right. "Behold, I come quickly, hold that fast which thou halt, that no man take thy crown." (Rev. 3:11.)

Answers to Questions for May

21. Hatred and persecution. Gal. 1:13; Acts 8:1; 1 Thess. 1:6; Heb. 10:33-34; Rev. 2:9-10.

22. One, the glorified Head in heaven. Eph. 1:22-23 Col. 2:19. (Scripture knows no such thing as an earthly "head" of the Church.)

23. Direct from the risen and glorified Head. Eph. 4:7-16; 1 Cor. 12:27, 28.

24. Apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, miracles, gifts of healing, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. 1 Cor. 12:28; Eph. 4:11.

25. "For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ." Eph. 4:12.

Questions for August

NOTE:-To the young Christians sending in the most satisfactory series of answers to these fifteen questions on the Church, a first, second, and third reward will be given, as announced in the July number of "The Young Christian".

Always give Scripture for answers, as well as your own expressions.

36. Give Scripture to show that an elder and a bishop are the same office.

37. What are the only two Scripture ordinances in the Church today?

38. What is the significance of the Lord's Supper?

39. Who have a right to partake of it?

40. What is enjoined on the individual before partaking of the Lord's Supper?

Practical Conversations With Our Young People: Separation, Part 3

Will not my influence be less? It is remarkable how often one hears this question put by those who see in the Word of God, that to act according to His mind there must be separation from existing ecclesiastical systems. To do so apparently denies access to the greater number of the children of God, and it seems, at first sight, plausible to decide that to get truth to the majority, you must be where they are.

Especially do such thoughts present themselves to those who have held prominent positions in such systems, and who have, up to the light they have had, been faithful. God has probably used much of their service, for. He will act in grace, in spite of man's failure: but willfully to remain connected with that which is not according to the Word, in order to benefit others, is saying that man has power in himself, and leaves God out of the question.

Scripture would always settle such questions in a positive way if we only had submissive hearts to listen to what God has to say. "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us." (2 Cor. 4:7.) "I (Paul) have planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase." (1 Cor. 3:6, 7.) Jeremiah, who prophesied when Israel's tribes were captives and scattered, gives the following important principal of action to those who would occupy a true remnant position: "Let them return unto thee, but return not thou unto them." ( Jer. 15:19.)

This is peculiarly applicable at the present time. The purposes and mind of God concerning the Church are seen in His Word. Its blessings and relationships rejoice the heart. In the manifest ruin of all corporate expression of what the Church is, the faithful child of God, while identifying himself with the ruin, and being humbled about it before God, weeping over it, leaves everything which practically denies that the Church is the body of Christ, and acts on 2 Cor. 6:17, "Wherefore come out from among them and be ye separate, saith the Lord.”

The most positive testimony against anything wrong, is to be separate from it. Identification advocates it. While in this separated position, those who occupy it do not ignore believers mixed up with the ruin of the Church, as to its practical expression of God's mind, nor can they own such as being other than His children and members of the body of Christ (which latter they virtually deny by their connection with divisions.) However, the true position is outside, on God's ground, expressing, though not manifesting, the oneness of the body of Christ; the Church not returning to them, but receiving with joy all who will come out to the Lord.

Let us look a little at the power of service. The fact that God's Word speaks clearly as to what the Church is, and as to the path of one who desires to express this by individual testimony, should be sufficient; for surely to do the will of God should be paramount with all His own. He could not identify Himself with that which is contrary to the Word. God acts in grace, as we have said, but He uses whomsoever He will, and we can only count upon Him using an empty vessel. One who believed that he had any power, and that his influence without God's power could effect anything would not be such.

But it is just here the enemy suggests, "But will not my influence be less?" It is a wile, and the more dangerous because there is an appearance of devotedness about it. Yet if the questioner were to examine himself honestly in the presence of God, it is most probable that he would find that the question arose from a lingering desire to stay where he is.

Granted that there are many associations hard to leave, yet the anticipation of such a step is more painful than the step itself, for the Lord does not give grace,' strength and comfort for those thoughts which hinder action, but for and after the step itself. The wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable. (James 3:17.)

First, such a question is one of expediency. Secondly, it is not complete subjection to the Lordship of Christ.

Thirdly, it proceeds from either ignorance of the personal presence and power of the Holy Spirit in the assembly of God here upon the earth, or from not attaching the importance which this blessed, yet ignored truth, not only deserves, but demands.

As to the first, we might take the action of Moses as an illustration. Humanly speaking, it would appear that to stay at the court of Pharaoh and exert his influence for the benefit of the Israelites from that powerful standpoint, would have been wisest; but that was not the question with Moses, and Heb. 11 records his step as one of faith; reasoning had not a place. So with all who serve the Lord. They should not reason, but act simply according to the mind and Word of God.

As to the second, the servants of men are not supposed to question their masters' commands, but to go and to do as they are told. How much more the servants of the Lord!

As to the third, it seems to have been forgotten that the Spirit of God, who is personally dwelling here upon the earth in the house of God, is the immediate source of power. He is the agent, so to speak, by whom everything is carried into effect, but nothing less than God, and this 1 Cor. 12:11 clearly proves; the same words referring to God in ver. 6, refer to the Spirit of God in ver. 11. He also "divides (distributes) to every man severally as He will," for "to one is given, by the Spirit, the word of wisdom, to another the word of knowledge," etc. (See verses 8-10.)

The result in blessing, of the action of the gift, is clearly to be attributed only to God (see 1 Cor. 3:6-7); but if one endeavors with a bad conscience to serve in a place he knows to be wrong, even though his activity is blessed of God to souls, it could not receive the Master's "well done." God will work in sovereign grace, and a Scripture mockingly quoted, has been used for a man's conversion, but such an instrument would not receive any one's approval, much less the Lord's.

It is plain that the gifts, of whatever character they are (for all believers have something to do; all members of the human body having their separate functions), come from the ascended Christ; they are distributed by the Holy Spirit, who is the energy and power in action and result, God being the source, but the Spirit is God; and the privilege of being the instrument used is man's. Surely it is sad as well as foolish to allow such reasoning as that our influence, would be less by leaving a wrong place because the majority are there, to prevent us taking a right place according to God. God says, separation from evil, not mingling with it.

There are many instances of those occupying the position of testimony to God's Word and will in the Old Testament; Enoch before the flood, Daniel and Elijah after, and in addition to Jeremiah, already referred to, we see in Isa. 1, where Israel is the subject of God's dealings, that He, in view of their apostasy, says, "Cease to do evil, learn to do well." (Read verses 10-20.) The evil here is not the mere depravity of human nature, but religious evil. There is also much teaching in the New Testament as to remnant testimony; and where Christendom, as a manifestation of what the Church is, is a ruin, there is a path for the faithful child of God distinctly marked out in the Word.

2 Tim. 2, already referred to, points out this path; and Heb. 13:13 clearly teaches that we should be outside the camp, bearing His reproach. If the professing church is a camp (and it surely is, for an earthly religion characterizes it rather than a heavenly worship), the place of the believer is outside. Moses pitched the tabernacle of the congregation outside the camp, and all who sought the Lord went out to it. (Ex. 33:7.) May all who are in the camp answer as Levi did, when Moses, standing at the gate of the camp, cried, "Who is on the Lord's side?" (Ex. 32:26.) They gathered themselves together unto him. It is not, of course, supposed that the Lord's people in the camp, or systems of man, would carelessly remain within if they saw their place outside, and it is because dear to Christ, that those who have the truth entreat them to come out and be separate. The place of power in testimony, however, is outside, testifying by a separate position as well as by word of mouth. May God grant that nothing may hinder any who are exercised from acting simply according to the Word alone, for "Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path" (Psa. 119:105); remembering that "to obey is better than sacrifice, to hearken than the fat of rams," and "that to him that hath shall be given, but to him that hath not (or does not act upon the light he has) shall be taken away even that which he hath.”

Answers to Questions for September

41. On the first day of each week. (Acts 20:7)

42. To put it away, and to purge herself from it. (1 Cor. 5:7-13.)

43. To separate from them, and have no fellowship with them. (2 Cor. 6:14-18; 2 Tim. 2:19-22; 3:5; 1 Cor. 5:11.)

44. The Holy Spirit. (1 Cor. 12:1-13; Acts: 2:4; 1 Thess. 5:19, 20.)

45. Because this is the privilege of the Holy Spirit to use whom He will. In a worship meeting no one is set above another, but "ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted." (1 Cor. 14:31.) He is pleased to use one brother one time and another at a subsequent time. Any brother at the Lord's table is qualified to bless the cup and loaf and break the bread. (1 Cor. 10:16, 17.)

Questions for December

Always give Scripture for answers, as well as your own expressions.

56. Why does the Spirit of God give us the account of the seven churches in Revelation two and three?

57. What are the two distinguishing marks of the Philadelphian church?

58. What will become of the false professors of Christianity after the true Church is removed at the coming of the Lord?

59. Give the Scriptural account of the end of the false church on earth.

60. What is the glorious office of the Church during the Millenium?

Questions for April

NOTE:-It is our purpose (D. V.) to offer as a reward a copy of some suitable book on Scripture truth, to each of the three young Christians sending in the most satisfactory series of answers to the fifteen questions for April, May and June.

Always give Scripture for answers, as well as your own expressions.

16. Give Scripture to show that water baptism is not necessary for admission to the Church.

17. Why should every believer be baptized?

18. What is meant by the Church being the "Body of Christ"?

19. Can one who is a member of the body of Christ ever cease to be such?

20. Why is it contrary to Scripture for any single company of Christians to call themselves the "Church of God"?

Answers to Questions for January

1. Matt. 16:18.

2. Future. "I will build.”

3. Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God. (Matt. 16:18; 1 Cor. 3:11.)

4. The word comes from two Greek words, meaning, "called out", and was used of those called to assemble themselves together,-hence the thought of an assembly of people. Look up Acts 19:32, 39, 41; Heb. 2:12; Acts 7:38; 1 Cor. 11:18; 14:19, 35, where the same word is used for assembly or "church".

5. Of believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, and each being sealed by the Holy Spirit. They are called living stones. "Ye also, as living stones," etc. (1 Peter 2:5; Eph. 2:21; 1 Cor. 3:16.)

Answers to Questions under Title of "Practical Conversations with Our Young People" are to be sent to The Young Christian, in care of 1306 Lyon Street, Des Moines, Iowa.

Practical Conversations With Our Young People: The Presence of the Holy Spirit

Perhaps there is no one line of Christian truth that is so easy to lose sight of, both for the individual Christian and for the Church of God as a whole, as that of the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit.

When the Lord Jesus was here on earth companying with His disciples, going in and out among them, it was not difficult for them to realize His personal presence. He was visible and tangible. Their ears heard His spoken words, their eyes beheld His bodily presence and their hands handled His person. (1 John 1:1.)

But the time came when the Lord could no longer be personally present with His own. He must depart out of the world and go to the Father. He recognized that He had been a Comforter to His disciples, and that they would miss Him keenly. But His care for them was such that He planned immediately for their loneliness. He said to them, I cannot longer remain with you as your personal Comforter, but as soon as I go to the Father, I will ask Him and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever, even the Spirit of truth. He said, "I will not leave you comfortless.”

According to the promise of the Savior, when the disciples on the day of Pentecost were all assembled in one place, the Holy Ghost fell upon them and they were all filled with His presence. The other Comforter had come, and that forever. Where is this Person today? Where is His dwelling place? Young Christian, listen to this solemn-this glorious answer-this third Person of the Godhead dwells inside that body of yours. You are His home.

Who is this divine Person who has taken up His abode in your heart? He is the Holy Spirit, and He is the Spirit of Truth. (John 14:17; 1 Thess. 4:8.) What does that mean for your life? It means, young Christian, that He can have no fellowship with anything that is not truth, nor with anything that is not holy. He is your Companion, your Guest. He insists on going with you wherever you go. You cannot go to the picture show and leave Him at home, for He is in your heart to abide forever. You can never shun His company. He is your seal unto the day of redemption. (John 14:16; Eph. 4:30; 1:13-14.) His purpose in coming into your heart was to comfort you, to help you in your weaknesses, to aid you in praying, and to enable you to understand your Bible. (Rom. 8:26-27; John 16:13.) But if you grieve Him, He will make you miserable until you confess your sin and repent of your wrong. He will insist that our talk one with another be holy. (Eph. 4:29.) He will lead us to seek the company of other people in whose hearts He has His dwelling. He will never lead us to seek an evening's enjoyment in the world's amusements, to don the world's gay fashions, read the world's fictitious trash, or join the world's clubs and societies. But every time we open our Bibles, He is present to teach us; every time we seek to speak to an unsaved soul, He is ready to give us utterance; (Acts 2:4.) if we walk in His ways, He will make our branches bend with the weight of His precious abiding fruits. (Gal. 5:22-23.)

Dear young Christian, as we thus meditate on this blessed abiding Friend, who dwells in our hearts, let us pray with the apostle, "Very God of peace, sanctify me wholly; I pray God my whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of my Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Thess. 5:23.)

Answers to Questions for March

11. Because believers, not the building, constitute the Church. (Eph. 1:22-23; 1 Cor. 12:27; Acts 8:1;17:24.)

12. The Church is the Body of Christ. (Eph. 1:22-23.) It is composed only of real born again believers, living stones. (Acts 2:47; 1 Peter 2:5; 1 Thess. 1:1.)

The Kingdom takes in all that professes to be real, even though it is false. Simon Magus in Acts 8:13 is a typical example of one baptized into the Kingdom, but still unsaved, and so never forming a part of the Church. Matt. 13:47-48 took in the bad as well as the good.

13. Of the Kingdom. He used them first to open the Kingdom to the Jews on the day of Pentecost, (Acts 2:14, 38, 39) and to open the Kingdom to the Gentiles in Acts 10:34-48.

14. The Holy Spirit, the Servant in Luke 14:17, typified by Eliezer who went to seek a bride (the Church) for Isaac (the Lord Jesus,) his master. The Jews in Acts 7 resisted His pleading with their hearts. (Acts 7:51.)

15. To be the pillar and ground of the Truth; (1 Tim. 3:15.) to be God's light bearer in the World. (Rev. 1:20; Phil. 2:15)

Questions for June

Always give Scripture for answers, as well as your own expressions.

26. What is the difference between a gift and an office in the Church?

27. To whom is the possessor of a gift responsible?

28. What two gifts are especially connected with the foundation of the Church?

29. What three distinct gifts do we have in the Church today?

30. Why is it wrong for one gifted to make a time or money contract concerning the exercise of his gift?

Questions for September

Always give Scripture for answers, as well as your own expressions.

41. How often did the early disciples meet for the eating of the Lord's supper?

42. What is the duty of the Church when she finds evil in her midst?

43. What is God's command to the believer who finds himself poked with unbelievers?

44. Who is the only authorized Leader in meetings of the Church?

45. Why does the Scripture not authorize any single individual to officiate at the Lord's table?

Practical Conversations With Our Young People: Separation, Part 1

A common truth of which young people hear a great deal spoken is that of separation. Yet we believe that many young Christians have very hazy ideas of just what is meant by the term. What is separation? Who does the separating? Who is to be separated? From what is he to be separated? Let us seek by God's grace to answer these questions from His word.

The Greek word constantly translated "separate" in the New Testament signifies, "to border off," or to fence off. It is as though a man decided to put a part of a big pasture into wheat. He separates this wheat portion, borders it off,-perhaps places a fence around it, and counts it dedicated for this special purpose. To introduce into it anything else but wheat would spoil it for the purpose he has in view. It is bordered off for the one definite end and a clear cut line is thrown about it marking it off from all the rest of the farm.

Now to apply the illustration,-the Christian has been marked off in a special way for a definite purpose. Who is the one who does this separating? In the first place, God is the One who separated us even before we were born. The case of the apostle Paul is a striking one. He tells us in Gal. 1:15 that God separated him even before he was born, and called him by His grace. God insists on it that His people are to be a separate people. His gracious and holy eve looks down on this wicked and ungodly world and He sees a Christian, and so can say, "There is one whom I have separated for Myself." In this sense every child of God is a separated one. He is marked off as being one of God's own "peculiar people." (Titus 2:14.)

But, sad to say, not every one of God's children is walking according to His separate calling. God never asks the unsaved young man or woman to be separate from anything, save to forsake their sins and come to Christ for salvation. But as far as their lives are concerned they are left strictly alone to enjoy all in the world as their desire shall lead them. They have their conversation in the lusts of the flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and are by nature the children of wrath. (Eph. 2:3.) God doesn't expect anything else from them.

When God calls a Christian out from the above condition, He separates to an entirely new position. The called one now becomes one of a "chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people, that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light." (1 Peter 2:9.)

Communion, or happiness in God depends on the degree of practical separation in the Christian's life. The Lord says, "Come out from among them, and be ye separate... and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be My sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty." (2 Cor. 6:17-18.) God cannot be happily at agreement with us if we are constantly defiling ourselves with worldliness. We expect the world to enjoy their theaters, dances, picture shows, cards, novels, circuses, concerts, waltzes, Lord's Day desecration: their gratifications of appetite, their tobacco and punch, their parties and clubs, dress and parades, their wars and politics. We would not deprive them of any of the "pleasures of sin." But we, as God's separated children, would seek to not even touch the unclean, that we might be vessels, "sanctified and meet for the Master's use." (2. Tim. 2:21.) It is only this that we can "joy in God," which is the highest of Christian privileges. (Rom. 5:11.)

We would observe before closing that for the young Christian there is a further truth beyond separation from the world-that is separation unto Christ. Christ has a gathering Center, or a rallying standard in this world. Christians are mixed up in every kind of religious sect and secular union. The separating power of God's call to the Christian would cause him to leave all this in answer to Heb. 13:13, "Let us go forth therefore unto, Him, without the camp, bearing His reproach." This would take us outside all that man has set up apart from the plain Word of God. It would lead us into a pathway of reproach and shame along with a rejected Lord. Young brother or sister, can you truly say, "Yes, I have gone outside the camp unto Christ. I bear His reproach, but I rejoice while I await His coming to take me to be with Himself"?

May the truth, then, of practical separation in our Christian walk be held in increasing power in each of our lives.

Answers to Questions for June

26. A "gift" was a distinctive ability and capacity to serve the Church of God on earth. It was universal in its scope of exercise, and was the direct bestowal of God Himself apart from and human mediation. (Gal. 1:1; Eph. 4:11 -13) An office was of only local administration and was accompanied by apostolic ordination. (Titus 1:5; 1 Tim. 3:1; Acts 6:5-6)

27. To the Giver, God Himself. (Gal. 1:15-17)

28. Apostles and prophets, as no longer needed now as distinct gifts. Eph. 2:20.

29. Evangelists, pastors, and teachers. Eph. 4:11.

30. Because there is no example in Scripture of any such practice. Because no servant of the Lord can know positively where the Lord is going to want him a day ahead. Because such a contract would nullify the leading of the Holy Spirit. See Acts 8:5, 26; Acts 16:6-7; 1 Tim. 3:14.

Practical Conversations With Our Young People: The Light of the World

When the blessed Lord Jesus was here He could say, "I am the light of the world." (John 9:5.) The world would not have Him, but chose "darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil." (John 3:19.) At Calvary's cross they blotted out the Light of the world and rejoiced in the darkness.

On the day of Pentecost God in His continued merciful dealing with man, set up a new light in the world-the Church. In the first chapter of the book of Revelation, we see the Lord Jesus walking in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks. Now a candlestick is for the purpose of holding a candle, and a candle is for the purpose of giving out light. Jesus, said, "Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house." (Matt. 5:15.)

What a solemn thing then for us to think that today the only divine light that shines upon this poor dark world is the light of the Church of God. Just in the measure that the Church is faithful to her position as light bearer, just in that measure does the truth of God shine out as a beacon for the lost world.

When the electricians come to wire our houses, why do they put the electric lights in the ceiling rather than in the floor? Why are street lights strung high above the thoroughfare rather than placed like the water plugs, along side of the walks? Why does not the government place its great search lights on floating buoys like the warning bells, instead of in the pinnacle of some great stone lighthouse? Is it not because the extent of illumination is in proportion to the elevation. The higher you place the light, the greater the territory illuminated. Does this illustration not bring before us, young Christians, the secret of the dim clouded light that shines out from the Church of God today? The Lord Jesus never intended the Church to be a part of the world, nor to take part in the world. James said in Acts 15:14, "God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for His name." In other words God is taking out from the world a people and forming them into one body-the Church, and the Head and Center of that Church is a living Christ in heaven. The promises set before this Church were all heavenly. (Eph. 1:3.) Her calling was a heavenly calling (Heb. 3:1); her destiny a heavenly destiny; (1 Thess. 4:13 to end); her citizenship a heavenly citizenship. (Phil. 3:20.)

In the beginning when God's Church maintained this place of separation from the world, her pure light revealing the ugly sores of the sin-cursed creation, the world sought to do to her what it had done to her Head. All the power and authority of the mighty Roman Empire was directed toward extinguishing this divine light. Christians were hounded like beasts; their burning bodies illuminated the gladiatorial contests of the emperors, and their bodies were rent limb from limb for no other reason than that their profession and life condemned the guilty conscience of the world.

But what a change soon took place! Satan, baffled in his efforts to snuff out the light of the world through persecution, turned himself to cunning flatteries. The world now made promises to the Church that if only they would cast in their lot with them they should become great among the institutions of the world. Christians were urged to accept offices in worldly government; to become politicians, and seek to manage the world according to Christian principles. The result was appalling. Instead of the Church elevating the world, the Church had descended from her high position as light bearer to the low level of the world. Instead of being a people taken out from the world they were now a great mass of profession, hopelessly mixed 110 with the world in such a manner that only God knew those that were II is. (2 Tim. 2:19.) The Church now must vie with the world. If the world had great governmental buildings, the Church must have grand structures in competition. The world had music and operas; the Church must have gowned choirs and orchestras. The world had silver tongued orators; the Church must have polished preachers. Nations boasted of conquest and increasing wealth; the Church then must have numbers and a rich membership among the rich.

In busying herself with the world's affairs, and the world's ways, the Church lost sight of her mission, and the sense of her responsibility to her Head in the glory. Now her energies were expended in abolishing drunkenness in the world; in putting good men into the world's governmental positions and establishing social centers, where the world might better gather for sports and plays. She sought the spread of education, thinking thus to lead men into more useful lives in the world. But the fact that she was here to testify to the truth, that this poor world was doomed; that wrath was coming; that judgment was about to break; that God was about to take vengeance on the world for the murder and continued rejection of His Son-all these things were practically forgotten. The result is the condition in which you and I find the professing Church today.

Now young Christian, if you and I by God's grace have had our eyes opened to see this sad, retrogression in the Church, does not God hold us responsible to get back to New Testament principles and practice; to trim our lamps; to take our place outside with the rejected Christ, waiting for Him to come from heaven. (Heb. 13:12, 13.) Let us then have done with the world, its policies, its schemes, its politics, its wars, its principles. Let our very stand in the midst of it be a testimony against it and our Christ be presented to it as its only refuge where to find peace and joy, safety and happiness. "Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be My sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty." (2 Cor. 6:17-18.)

Answers to Questions for February

6. Pentecost. See Lev. 23:15-21. Cf. Acts 2:1

7. On the day of Pentecost, Sunday, Lord's Day, the first day of the week, ten days after Christ's ascension, the "morrow after the sabbath." Lev. 23 Acts 2.

8. Jews dwelling in different parts of the world. Acts 2:5.

9. Jewish faith. No Gentiles admitted until Acts 10.

10. Because it the Lord's work to do the "joining." No man could join the Church of God. God adds to the Church daily those who believe the gospel of their salvation. Acts 2:47; 1 Cor. 12:13; Eph. 2:22; 1 Peter 2:5.

Questions for May

Always give Scripture for answers, as well as your own expressions.

21. What treatment should the Church expect from the World?

22. How many heads has the Church?

23. Whence came the gifts to the Church?

24. What are the gifts given to the Church?

25. For what purpose are gifts given to the Church?

Answers to Questions for April

16. The Church is formed by believers baptized into one body by the Holy Ghost. In Acts 10:44, 48 we see a company of believers receiving the Holy Ghost before they were baptized.

17. Because it was in the Lord's commission; Mark 16:16; because it was the practice of the apostolic church; (1 Cor. 1:13, 16) because it typifies the Christian's position as dead and buried with Christ. (Rom. 6:3, 4.)

18. Christ is looked at as the risen and ascended Head of His mystical body which is still on earth. As Head He directs the actions of His members on earth, just as the head to the human body directs the movements of the feet, arms, fingers, etc. (See Eph. 1:22, 23; Col. 2:19; Eph. 4:15.)

19. Never! He is vitally linked with the Head in heaven, and he can no more cease to be a member of that body than the Head can cease to be a part of the body. He possesses the same life as the Head. The Head is responsible to see that all His members are glorified with Him. (See John 10:28, 29; 1 John 5:11; Eph. 5:25, 27.)

20. Because the Church of God is composed of every member of the body of Christ. No single company of Christians can claim to be the Church of God any more than the state of New York can claim to be the United States. She may be a part of the United States, but that is all. So any company of real children of God may say they are a part of the Church of God. (1 Cor. 1:2.)

Practical Conversations With Our Young People: Questions

What is a Christian?

He is one who has received God's gift of a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. "Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift." (2 Cor. 9:15.)

Where did you receive the faith to take God's Savior?

It was God's gift to you. "Ye are saved through faith and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God." (Eph. 2:8.)

How did you receive the Holy Spirit?

He was given to you of God. "Who hath. given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts." (2 Cor. 1:22.)

Where do you get the means to supply your daily returning needs?

From God "who giveth us richly all things to enjoy." (1 Tim. 6:17.)

From whence do you receive everything that you count worth while?

From God! "For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why lost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?" (1 Cor. 4:7.)

Now young Christian, from the very start of your Christian life, God has been giving for you, and to you. Yes, blessed be His name! He has been giving, giving, GIVING, from Calvary's cross with the gift of His Son, to each breath of fresh air you breathe, and each morsel of food that you eat. But is God to do all the giving? Are we to sit like young birds in the nest, with ever strained necks and gaping beaks, crying, "More! more! more!"? Ah, no, young Christian, God expects some response from your heart- some return for His generosity. Did you never hear the Lord say, "Freely you have received, freely give"?(Matt. 10:8.) The Christian life does not consist alone in receiving, but in giving, giving, giving. God's order is that they "first gave their own selves to the Lord," and then their substance, their possessions; (2 Cor. 8:5.)

Why does a Christian work? Is it only to make an honest living? No-not if we believe what God says, "Let him labor, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth." (Eph. 4:28.) Yes. young Christian, in God's mind you are not laboring in order that you may make a living, but in order that you may have to give.

How much are you giving to the Lord? Take a pencil and paper and do a little figuring. Are you earning a dollar a week? How much of it goes to the Lord? Does He receive ten cents of it? That would be forty cents a month-or four dollars and eighty cents a year. Did you actually give that much to the Lord this past year? Maybe you are earning more than this-say, five dollars per week. If you were under the law you would be compelled to give two dollars per month or twenty-four dollars per year to the Lord. Ask your own heart the question-Did the Lord get twenty-four dollars from my pocket this past year?

Did you ever hear of a young Christian who actually spent more for his shoes, or his hats during a year than he did for the Lord? Some of us have met young Christians whose salaries amounted to one hundred dollars per month. How much did the Lord get? How much of the pay check went into the box Lord's Day morning? Was it only a poor silver dollar, out of the hundred? Do you think the Lord is pleased with one per cent generosity?

If you honestly want to give to the Lord, it must be at a cost to yourself. There must be self-sacrifice. God's way is not for us to take out all we want for ourselves, and the give some to Him. It is that we should first sacrifice for Him, and then see to our own needs. There is a positive exhortation in God's We. that says, "Upon the first day of the week 1, every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him." (1 Cor. 16:2.) Have you ever heeded this plain Scripture? O, young. Christian, in the light of the soon coming of Christ, compare your weekly, monthly, or yearly income with the amount you are consecrating for the Lord's service, and come to a knowledge in the presence of God as to where you stand in this very important truth of Christian giving. When He comes, may we not be ashamed before Him "who loved me, and gave Himself for me." (Gal. 2:20.)

Questions for July

Always give Scripture for answers, as well as your own expressions.

31. Why were pastors, teachers and evangelists never ordained?

32. How are pastors, teachers and evangelists to be supported?

33. What is the work of the elders and deacons in the Church?

34. Who alone had the power to ordain them?

35. Why do we not have elders and deacons ordained today?

Practical Conversations With Our Young People: Separation, Part 2

We read in Hebrews that "Moses when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing Him who is invisible." It seems a very simple matter to read through these verses and admire the faithfulness of God's servant Moses: But how many of us have ever traced through the history of Moses' departure from Egypt to see what a struggle he had with that wily Pharaoh before he was permitted to go? Every possible argument was used by the king to persuade Moses to compromise his purposes, and only a determined persistent faith could ever have withstood the subtle reasonings of this adroit monarch.

I suppose that most of us know that in Scripture Egypt is used as a type of this world away from God. Pharaoh we may look upon as a type of Satan in his opposition to the people of God. Keeping these two types in mind let us trace the Devil's four methods of compromise with God's children to keep them from giving up the world. To make our study the more plain will you turn with me in your Bibles to the book of Exodus and we will examine the experiences in Moses' conflict with Pharaoh.

God's call to His children throughout all ages has always been the same, "Come out from among them and be ye separate saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing." (2 Cor. 6:17.) Or, as God said to Pharaoh, "I will put a division between My people and thy people." (Ex. 8:23.) It was ever the purpose and plan of God that there should be a complete line of cleavage between His children and the world. Paul could say of the Cross, "Whereby the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world." (Gal. 6:14.)

Moses' request of Pharaoh was that the children of Israel might "go three days' journey into the wilderness, and sacrifice to the Lord our God, as He shall command us." (Ex. 8:27.) We remember that it was on the third day that Jesus arose from the dead, so that the naming of three days' journey would bring to our minds the desire of Moses to carry the people of Israel completely out onto resurrection ground where they might worship as God should command them. It is only a people who have "passed from death unto life" that can acceptably worship God. We were "dead in trespasses and sins, wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air." (Eph. 2:1-2.) "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2 Cor. 5:17.) Yes, dear young Christian, God wants us to worship Him on entirely new ground,-the place of resurrection,-three days' journey into the wilderness.

The first compromise that Pharaoh offered Moses was, "Go ye, sacrifice to your God in the land." (Ex. 8:25.) When the Devil realizes that any one has received the Lord Jesus into his heart and life, and has thus be. come a Christian, then he seeks to rob God of the worship of this Christian's heart. His first compromise is, "Yes, worship God if you must, but do it in the land, that is, in the world." The result is that many Christians are just in that place today. They have saving faith in Christ, but their lives are lived entirely for this world. For then there is no separation from the world at all. In fact they may be great world leaders-so much a part of the world that the latter could not well get along without them. They live like the world; they die like the world; they dress like the world; they manage their business affairs like the world; they read the world’s books, follow the world's amusements, manage the world's politics-in fact the whole outward tenor of their lives would tell us that they would be quite satisfied, if God didn't interfere with their worldly lives in taking them to heaven, to just remain indefinitely down in this world. What a victory it is for Satan when he can ruin a Christian's life by this compromise: "Sacrifice to your God in the land." But Moses is firm, and he tells Pharaoh it must be three days' journey into the wilderness. Nothing short of resurrection ground will satisfy him.

Now Pharaoh offers his second compromise. "I will let you go, that ye may sacrifice to the Lord your God in the wilderness; only ye shall not go very far away." (Ex. 8:28.) Here is the compromise that wins more converts than the first one. The majority of Christians realize that the Word of God teaches a certain amount of separation from the World, so they seek to adjust their lives accordingly. They brand certain pleasures as sinful and decide to give them up-generally of such character as card playing, dancing, drinking, and theater going, etc. But at the same time that some of these grosser forms of worldliness are sacrificed with a desire to satisfy conscience, a host of other worldly connections and affections are carefully retained and enjoyed. The world's social affairs are patronized; the world's sports are applauded; the world's wealth, ease, and luxury' are sought; its politics relished; its fashions aped; its vanities copied; its ambitions nursed; its smiles courted. Success in life is not measured by the extent to which God is being honored, but according to the proportion in which the world esteems them. Ah, young Christian, this is not the victorious life,-the resurrection life, the three days' journey in the wilderness. It is but a poor, beggarly compromise with the Devil, and he knows he is getting the best end of the bargain, for "whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God." (James 4:4.)

When Pharaoh saw that he prevailed not with this second consideration, he swung on to another tact. Now he proposed, "Go now ye that are men, and serve the Lord." (Ex. 10:11.) But as for the children, they should remain behind. How many of both parents and children have been caught by this compromise of Satan. How often parents excuse their children for their worldly ways by saying, "Well, you must remember that they are still young, and you cannot expect them to give up all these things," and so parents deliberately encourage children in worldly ways that they themselves know to be contrary to Scripture. Parents, it is wrong! "This persuasion cometh not of Him that calleth you." (Gal. 5:8.) No, faith says, "We will go with our young and with our old, with our sons and with our daughters." (Ex. 10:9.)

For the young people, too, there is an equally searching word here. To how many of us has Satan not said, "Yes, I know it is right for father and mother to be separated from the world, and for the married folks with families, but we young people have to have our fun, and when we grow up we will put aside these things and become separate you the world."

Ah, young Christian, don't you see again that this is the Devil's lie? The very same priceless ransom was paid for your soul at Calvary's tree that ransomed your parents. Do you think that Savior's love thus told out would be satisfied with anything less than your whole heart's affections? Do you want to hang out a sign above the door of certain little recesses of your heart, "No admittance" to the Lord Jesus? Some of God's greatest servants, preachers, and evangelists, were deeply engaged in active service for Him while still in their 'teens. You cannot afford to deny Him even a single year of your precious life. Jesus is coming back again -perhaps this is your last year of opportunity-don't deny Him entrance. Growth in grace is not measured by the calendar, but by depth of communion. God can and will use a surrendered young life to His glory.

As a last and final compromise Pharaoh suggested to Moses, "Go ye, serve the Lord, only let your flocks and your herds be stayed; let your little ones also go with you." (Ex. 10:24.) Then, how blessed was the reply of faith, "There shall not an hoof be left behind." (Ex. 10:26.) How the Devil would like to keep our possessions and our business in the world. I have heard people say, "If I attempted to run my business on Christian principles I would starve." Such a statement is an untruth. God expects every detail of the Christian's life to be regulated on Christian principles. To compromise our business relations or seek to hold our possessions on anything but a Christian basis is not of the Spirit of God, but of Satan. Whatever we have been entrusted with, is given us as stewards of `God, and God says, "Moreover, it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful." (1 Cor. 4:2.) How many a Christian, young and, old, has grown lean in soul, and parched in spiritual affections by seeking to deny to his Lord and Master complete control over his property and possessions. "Not a hoof shall be left behind!" How many a poor, struggling missionary would have' had his burdens lightened and his sphere of activity enlarged if only his brethren at home had taken their possessions with them "three days' journey." What a need there is on every hand for consecrated pocket books! Young Christian, God holds you responsible for this truth whether your purse contains a nickel or a double eagle. It is the Devil who keeps the mouths of our purses so tightly closed; it is the Devil who palsies our fingers when we attempt to write a check for the Lord's work. God give us grace to say with Moses of old, "Not an hoof shall be left behind." "He had respect unto the recompense of the reward." Yes, pay day is coming. Where do we stand in the light of that great pay day?

May God use these Scriptures to make us more out and out for the Lord, completely separated from this world. "Three days' journey in the wilderness!" Resurrection ground!

There is where communion and blessing are to be found.

Answers to Questions for August

36. The names are used interchangeably in Titus 1:5, 7;: Acts 20:17, 28.

37. Baptism. (Acts 2:41; 9:18; 10:47, 48; 19:4, 5.) The Lord's Supper. (Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 10:16-17; 11:23, 26.)

38. It is primarily the remembrance on the part of those who partake of it of the fact that Jesus gave His body and shed His blood in death to redeem His own. (1 Cor. 11:24, 25; Luke 22:19, 20.)

In the second place it is a witness to the world of the fact that Christ has died. We show His death. (1 Cor. 11:26) It was the death of Christ that ended man's probation before God. All ended in the death of Christ. Now there remains for the world nothing but certain judgment, save as individuals in it seek escape through the efficacy of this same dead and risen Christ.

In the third place the supper is the expression of the fellowship of believers. The word translated "communion" in 1 Cor. 10:16 is elsewhere rendered "fellowship". (viz. Gal. 2:9) There is no fuller expression of fellowship than eating the Lord's supper together.

In the fourth place the supper is the expression of the unity of the Church of God, the body of Christ. (1 Cor. 10:17.) The unbroken loaf speaks of the perfect unity of the body of Christ which is the Church, (Eph. 1:22, 23) composed of every believer in the world. (1 Cor. 12:13.) As each one partakes of that loaf broken, he thus expresses his part in that one body.

39. Only those who know themselves saved and who are living in separation from evil. (1 Cor. 5:11-13; 2 Tim. 2:22; 2 Cor. 6:14.)

40. He should examine, or judge himself that he may not be guilty of approaching the table of the Lord with unjudged sin in his life, and so bring upon him the hand of God in discipline. (1 Cor. 11.27-32.)

Questions for November

Always give Scripture for answers, as well as your, own expressions.

51. How can a Christian avoid being identified with divisions in the Church?

52. What scriptures show that the professing Church will depart from the faith?

53. Give five characteristics of the professing Church in the last daps.

54. What is the "blessed hope" of the true Church?

55. When will the true Church be completed?

Practical Conversations With Our Young People: Higher Criticism

Throughout all ages Satan has sought to destroy the souls of men. In the garden of Eden he tried to make Eve believe that God did not mean what He said. (See Gen. 3:1-5.) Satan succeeded in his foul plot and the fall of the race was the result. Since that day Satan has been using the same subtle scheme in trying to make men believe that God does not mean what He says, and during these last days he is making a great success of this awful delusion.

“Higher Criticism" is the name commonly given to this last method of attack upon the Word of God. The higher critics treat the Bible as a human book. Carried to its, logical conclusion, their position is summed up in these words, "What we cannot understand or explain by our reason, we reject." They place their reason on the judge's bench, and everything must be according to their opinion or it must be denied. In other words, whatever human reason cannot fathom, they reject with disdain. Not all of them go to this logical extreme, but they are all headed in the same direction, namely, the denial of the inspiration of the Holy Scriptures, Such men forget that human wisdom always leads away from God. (Rom. 1:22 and 1 Cor. 1:18-24.)

The acceptance of this method of dealing with God's Word has led to widely spread unbelief in the Bible, and as a result an awful apostasy from the faith. Many dear Christian souls have been perplexed and have been thrown into doubt and bewilderment in regard to the matter, by the rank utterances and denials of those who profess to be the preachers and teachers of God's. Word, But the child of God has no need to be troubled or in doubt, for the Spirit of God knew and told us of all this nineteen centuries ago. (See 2 Tim. 3:1-5; 1 Tim. 4:1, 2; 2 Tim. 4:2-4.)

The Colleges, Universities, and Theological Seminaries are almost without exception in the hands of these higher critics. As a result terrible havoc is being wrought in the lives of the young men and women who have gone under their teaching. We have seen some who, when they entered college, believed the Word of God and professed to be followers of Christ, but when they finished their course under some who are ordained preachers in one of the so called orthodox denominational schools, they were rank infidels, denying the Word and the Lord. Here is a sample of their teaching. One professor, an ordained orthodox (?) preacher in one of the largest Protestant denominations said that the story of Adam and Eve was an old grandmother's tale, handed down by our ancestors to explain the origin of the human race and that somehow it was put into the Bible. He also stated that the Hebrews got the ten commandments from the code of an old heathen king, "Hammurabi.”

How lame such explanations are when put alongside of the precious inspired Word of the Living God. Paul says, "Sin entered into the world by one man" and "Death reigned from Adam to Moses." (See Rom. 5:12-19.) If the story of Adam and Eve is an old grandmother's tale, then Paul was untrue in his statement, and thus the Word of God is made of none effect. But, "Let God be true and every man a liar." The falsehoods of men must give way before God's truth. "The Word of the Lord endureth forever.”

The terrible thing about these deceptions is that they are being sugar-coated and fed to the children in the Sunday Schools through the use of the S. S. Quarterlies, most of which are tainted with errors from beginning to end. One of the most awful errors is the widespread denial of the necessity for Christ's death on the cross. The blood is denied as the means of salvation, and salvation by character building and works is the accepted way among these deniers of the faith. (See 1 Peter 1:18, 19; Heb. 9:22.)

Our high school and public school teachers are also gradually joining, the ranks of these deniers of inspiration. In securing their own professional preparation, the teachers are all thrown more or less in contact with these unsound teachings in the colleges. The text books, too, are being poisoned in a covert way with the same unbelief. It is the rare thing, then, to have a young person get through even a high school education without being more or less tainted with this doctrine of doubts. If he goes on to finish the regular college course, the chances are that he or she will come out at the end thoroughly saturated with unbelief. When once the Word of, God is given up by a soul, that person is in a terrible condition, for he has thrown over the only thing that God can use to bring conviction of sin, and saving faith in Christ.

Parents cannot be too careful in guarding their children from these Satanic delusions.

Would not any Godly parent rather see his child go through life with an eighth grade education, and happy in his soul, than to see him rise, in the world through a university education, fatally blinded in his, soul by the poison of higher criticism?

Thank God that in these last days of departure from the faith, the true child of God has a refuge. In view of just this condition of things the apostle Paul said, "And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the Word of His grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified." (See Acts 20:29-32.)

Answers to Questions for May

1. GIVE THE DIFFERENT TITLES OF THE LORD JESUS IN CONNECTION WITH HIS COMING FOR His OWN.

The Bridegroom. Matt. 25:1.

The Lord. 1 Thess. 4:16.

The Lord Jesus Christ as Savior. (New Trans.)

(Phil. 3:20.)

Alpha and Omega. Rev. 22:13.

The Root and Offspring of David. Rev. 22:16.

The Bright and Morning Star. Rev. 22:16.

2. GIVE THE DIFFERENT TITLES OF THE LORD JESUS IN CONNECTION WITH HIS COMING TO REIGN.

The Sun of righteousness. Mal. 4:2.

The Son of man. Matt. 25:31,

The Lord Jesus. 2 Thess. 1:7.

The Lord. Jude 14.

Faithful and True. Rev. 19:11.

The Word of God. Rev. 19:13.

King of kings and Lord of lords. Rev. 19:16.

3. HOW MANY TIMES IN MATTHEW'S GOSPEL IS THE COMING OF THE LORD REFERRED TO? GIVE CHAPTER AND VERSE.

The Lord's coming is referred to twelve times in this gospel.

Matt. 3:12; 10:23; 16:27; 24:30, 37, 39, 42, 44, 46; 25:1-13, 31; 26:64.

4. WHOM ARE THE FIVE WISE AND FIVE FOOLISH VIRGINS REPRESENTING.?

The five wise represent those who are saved in the present dispensation. The five foolish represent those in the present dispensation who make a profession but have not the Spirit.

5. WHAT ARE THE MARKS OF DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE FIVE WISE AND THE FIVE FOOLISH VIRGINS.

The five wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps, but the five foolish took no oil. The oil is a type of the Spirit.

When the Bridegroom came, the five wise were ready and went in with Him to the marriage. The five foolish went to buy and had to hear that word: "I know you not."

Answers to Questions for December

Answers to Question 1.

1. Give scriptures, proving that Christ's body was actually raised from the dead.

(a) "But now is Christ risen from the dead and become the first-fruits of them that slept." 1 Cor. 15:20.

(b) "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." 1 Peter 1:3.

Answers to Question 2.

2. Give scriptures in regard to those who saw Him after the resurrection, and recognized Him as having the same body He had before, even to the wound-prints.

(a) "And He said unto them (the disciples),.... Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself: handle Me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see Me have." Luke 24:38, 39.

(b)" Then saith He to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger and behold My hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into My side: and be not faithless but believing." John 20:27.

Answers to Question 3.

3. Give five Scripture proofs that the Lord is risen:

(a) The empty tomb.

(b) The Lord's day.

(d) The New Testament.

(e) Five hundred and fourteen witnesses are recorded as having seen the Lord.

(a) "He is not here: for He is risen, as He said, Come, see the place where the Lord lay." Matt. 28:6.

(b) " Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week...." Mark 16:9.

"I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day." Rev. 1:10.

(c) "And what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us ward who believe which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead,.... and gave Him to be the head over all things to the Church, which is His body, the fullness of Him that filleth all in all." Eph. 1:19-23.

(d) "And for this cause He is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance." Heb. 9:15.

"After that He was seen of above five hundred brethren at once." 1 Cor. 15:6.

"After that He appeared in another form unto two of them as they walked, and went into the country." Mark 16:12.

"Afterward He appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat." Mark 16:14.

"Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene." Mark 16:9.

Answers to Question 4.

4. When and where must we give an account of our lives?

(a) "Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God." 1 Cor. 4:5.

(b)"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in the body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad." 2 Cor. 5:10.

Answers to Question 5.

5. Give five scriptures which tell us that the Lord will come again for His own.

John 14:3; 1 Thess. 4:16, 17; 1 Cor. 15:51-57; Phil. 3:20, 21; Titus 2:13,14.

Practical Conversations With Our Young People: Keeping Our Mouths

"I will keep my mouth with a bridle."—Psa. 39:1.

PSA 39:1A number of intimate friends being at dinner together on the Lord's Day, one of the company, knowing that some at the table knew not the Lord, in order to redeem the time, said, "It is a question whether we shall all go to heaven or not." This plain hint occasioned a general seriousness, and self-examination. One thought, "If any of this company go to hell, it must be myself;" and so thought another, and another; even the servants, who waited at table, were affected in the same manner. In short, it was afterward found that this one sentence proved by the special blessing of God upon it instrumental to their conversion. What an encouragement to Christians, to give a serious turn to conversation, and not to waste their time in needless remarks on persons and passing events. They should ever remember that to occupy the time with that which is uninteresting and unprofitable, is not only injurious, but an insult to the company they are in.

Questions for February

Always Give Scripture for Answers, as well as Your Own Expressions.

1. What would the Lord have us doing till He comes?

2. What state of soul would the Lord have us in when He comes?

3. What effect should" seeing the dap approaching," have upon us?

4. What will end the great tribulation?

5. When will the dap of the Lord begin?

Practical Conversations With Our Young People.: The Coming of the Lord, Part 2

We continue with our questions on the coming of the Lord again this month, as the desire is that this blessed truth in all its connections may be kept before our hearts, and that the searching of the Scriptures for the answers may enable each one of us to be better acquainted with it.

The coming of the Lord draweth nigh, and may we be like unto men who wait for their Lord.

This truth is calculated to cause us to be steadfast, unmovable, and always abounding in the work of the Lord. It can also comfort our hearts in the midst of sorrow, and will cause us to purify ourselves even as He is pure.

May our hearts be filled with the blessed prospect of seeing our Lord face to face, and praising Him as we would, and then saying from the depth of our hearts: "Even so, come, Lord Jesus."

Questions for May

NOTE: At the end of the year rewards for the three most satisfactory series of answers to these questions will be given as follows:

First Reward: A copy of the "New and Concise Bible Dictionary," Cloth edition.

Second Reward: A copy of J. N. D.'s New Testament. Cloth.

Third Reward: A copy of the music edition of "Messages of Love" hymn book.

Always Give Scripture for Answers, as well as Your Own Expressions.

1. Where is the first mention in the Word of the Lord's coming for His saints?

2. Where is the second mention of it?

3. To what church did Paul write two letters in every chapter of which the Lord's coming again is mentioned? Give references.

4. What is meant by the word "rapture," as applied to Christ's coming?

5. Will it be in the daytime or at night that the rapture will take place?

Practical Conversations With Our Young People: The Coming of the Lord, Part 3

Across the waters, in the beautiful city of The Hague, stands a great marble structure, proudly called the "Palace of Peace." Millions of dollars were expended in its erection, and it was purposed to peaceably adjust within its walls the quarrels of all nations. Great men said, "War is no more. Peace reigns." But God is not mocked. He had said, "I will overturn, overturn, overturn it; and it shall be no more, until He come whose right it is; and I will give it Him." Ezek. 21:27. As if to mock the wisdom of man, there rages almost within the shadow of this deserted palace the greatest conflagration of war this earth has ever witnessed. Perhaps before its flames are extinguished, they will lick the very domes of the proud structure.

Young people, God is speaking in all these things. To the unsaved He is saying, "Flee from the coming wrath." (Matt. 3:7.) To you, young believer, He is saying, "The end of all things is at hand, be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer." (1 Peter 4:7.) In view of the awful condition in which the world finds itself today, how fitting and good for the young Christian to be occupied with the Word of God and with looking into its promises with reference to the coming again of his blessed Lord.

Answers to Questions for April

1. IN WHAT CHARACTERS WILL THE LORD COME TO THE WORLD?

(a) As a thief in the night. (Matt. 24:43; 1 Thess. 5:2; 2 Peter 3:10.)

(b) As Son of man. (Matt. 24:30, 44; 25:31.

2. WHAT SCRIPTURE IN 1 Thess. SHOWS US THAT WE SHOULD NOT BEAR THE CHARACTER OF THE WORLD WHICH IT WILL MANIFEST WHEN THE LORD COMES TO IT?

(a) "Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober." 1 Thess. 5:6.

3. WHO WILL BE SAVED AFTER THE CHURCH IS TAKEN UP?

(a) Evidently some of those who have not heard the gospel of God's grace, as 2 Thess. 2:10-12 shows what will happen to those who did not believe the truth.

(b) Rev. 7:1-8 gives us the symbolical numbers of the Israelites who will be saved during that time, and verses 9-17 gives us the saved out of the nations.

4. WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THOSE WHO BELIEVE NOT THE TRUTH, WHEN THE LORD TAKES HIS OWN AWAY?

"For this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: that they all might be damned who believe not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. 2 Thess. 2:11, 12.

In Rev. 19:20, 21 we have first the beast and the false prophet, which deceived the people, cast into the lake of fire; and then the deceived people slain with the sword that will proceed out of the mouth of the Lord, which would be His word.

5. OF WHAT CLASS OF PEOPLE WILL THE MAN OF SIN BE?

(a) He will be a Jew, as Dan. 11:37 reads: "Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers."

(b) 2 Thess. 2:4 shows us that he will sit in the temple of God; only a Jew could get that place.

Answers to Questions for January

Answers to Question 1.

Show the difference, by Scripture, between the Lord's coming for His saints and His coming with His saints.

FOR HIS SAINTS.

(a) "If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." John 14:3.

(b)"The Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." 1 Thess. 4:16, 17.

WITH HIS SAINTS.

(a) The Lord cometh with ten thousands of His saints to execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him." Jude 14,15.

(b) " His wife hath made herself ready. and to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white.... and the armies which were in heaven followed Him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean," etc. Rev. 19:7-21.

Answers to Question 2.

Where will we meet the Lord when He comes for His own?

(a) “To meet the Lord in the air." 1 Thess. 4:17.

(b) "While they beheld, He was taken up; and a cloud received Him out of their sight..... This same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven." Acts 1:9-11.

Answers to Question 3.

Will the world hear the shout?

(a) The dead in Christ and those who are alive and remain are all who answer to that shout, therefore we judge the rest do not hear His voice at that time. 1 Thess. 1:16.

(b) The words "shout," "voice of the archangel" and "trump of God" are all connected with the dead in Christ. 1 Thess. 4:16. But all shall hear his voice, those who are saved at the resurrection of life, and those who are lost at the resurrection of damnation. John 5:28, 29.

Answers to Question 4.

For what purpose will we appear at the judgment seat of Christ?

"We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that everyone may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad." 2 Cor. 5:10.

"If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved, yet as by fire." 1 Cor. 3:14, 15.

Answers to Question 5.

Give Scripture, showing the different views of the judgment thrones, the places and the character of those who shall appear at each period.

First throne judgment will be in heaven, and only saved people appear at it, to have their works tested and they to receive rewards or suffer loss. 1 Cor. 3:13-15.

Second throne judgment will be the throne of His glory, on earth, when the Lord shall return with His saints, and the saved and lost of the living nations at that time will be gathered before Him. The saved will be brought into the kingdom, and the lost sent into everlasting punishment. Matt. 25:31-46.

Third throne judgment will be the great white throne, in space, heaven and earth having fled away, and the unsaved dead who have not had their throne trial, will be raised and tried according to their works and cast into the lake of fire. Rev. 20:12-15.

Questions for March

Always Give Scripture for Answers, as well as Your Own Expressions.

1. What will take place in heaven with us after we are caught up to be with the Lord?

2. When will the marriage of the Lamb take place?

3. What will the bridal robe be composed of? (See New Translation.)

4. When do we make the bridal robe?

5. What is the first thing given us that is to take place on this earth after the Church is in heaven?

Practical Conversations With Our Young People: Meditation

There is not over-much meditation in these times. The spirit of haste and rush, which urges all on in a course of doing, lest they should be left behind, is contrary to the cultivation of meditation. But nothing is more helpful to the Christian than to sit still and calmly consider what God is for him. It will be found an ever-availing tonic for the soul to ponder over, even for five short minutes at a time, such facts as these, "God is my Father," "The Son of God loved me and gave Himself for me." The Christian will rise up from his meditation strengthened in spirit, and will go on his way as a man who, upon a sultry journey, has slaked his thirst at the wayside spring.

"My meditation of Him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the Lord." (Psa. 104:34.)

Answers to Questions for March

Answers to Question 1.

What will take place in heaven with us after

we are caught up to be with the Lord?

(a) "He shall see of the travail of His soul, and shall be satisfied." Isa. 53:11.

(b) "That He might present it to Himself a glorious Church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish." Eph. 5:27.

The judgment seat of Christ. (1 Cor. 3:13-15.) The marriage of the Lamb. (Rev. 19:7.)

Answers to Question 2.

When will the marriage of the Lamb take place?

(a) The marriage of the Lamb will take place before the bride comes out of heaven with the Lord to reign over the earth. (Rev. 19:7-9.)

Answers to Question 3.

What will the bridal robe be composed of?

(a) The bridal robe is composed of fine linen, which is the righteousnesses of the saints. (Rev. 19:8.)

Answers to Question 4.

When do we make the bridal robe?

(a) As the bridal robe is composed of the righteousnesses (new translation) of the saints, it must embrace all the works which they have done in this life that will meet with the Lord's approval at the judgment seat. (1 Cor. 3:14.)

Answers to Question 5.

What is the first thing given us that is to take place on this earth after the Church is in heaven?

(a) When the Lamb opened the first seal, John describes what he saw. "Behold a white horse, and he that sat upon it having a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went forth conquering and that he might conquer." Rev. 6:1, 2.

We give here a quotation by way of explanation of this last answer:

"The first is the white horse, the symbol of triumphant and prosperous power. He that sat on him had a bow.' (Ver. 2.) The bow is the symbol of distant warfare. His course is evidently that of unchecked victory. The moment he appears, he conquers. The battle is won without a struggle, and apparently without the carnage of the second judgment, where the sword, the symbol of close hand-to-hand fighting, is used. But the first conqueror is some mighty one who sweeps over the earth, and gains victory after victory by the prestige of his name and reputation. There is no intimation of slaughter here." (Lecture on the Book of the Revelation, by W. K. Page 136.)

This bloodless victory might also be gained by his skill as a diplomat making peace with the present warring nations, which peace the rider on the second horse takes from the earth.

Questions for May

Always Give Scripture for Answers, as well as Your Own Expressions.

1. Give the different titles of the Lord Jesus in connection with His coming for His own.

2. Give the different titles of the Lord Jesus in connection with His coming to reign.

3. How mane times in Matthew's gospel is the coming of the Lord referred to?

(Give chapter and verse.)

4. Whom do the five wise and five foolish virgins represent?

5. What are the marks of difference between the five wise and the five foolish virgins?

Questions for July

NOTE: At the end of the year rewards for the three most satisfactory series of answers to the 35 questions will be given as follow.,:

First Reward: A copy of the "New and Concise Bible Dictionary," Cloth edition.

Second Reward: A copy of J. N. D.'s New Testament Cloth.

Third Reward: A copy of the music edition of

"Messages of Love" hymn book. Always Give Scripture for Answers, as well as Your Own Expressions.

6. What does the word "prevent" in 1 Thess., fourth chapter, mean?

7. How long a time will it take the Lord to gather us all unto Himself in the air?

8. What will become of our present bodies?

9. Whom does the "dead in Christ" include?

10. What will happen to pour unsaved friend, relative, servant, or employer, after Jesus catches us up to glory?

Practical Conversations With Our Young People: The Coming of the Lord, Part 4

With almost every square mile of what was once the old Roman Empire plunged into a struggling chaos of hatred, war, and slaughter; with nation rising against nation, kingdom against kingdom; with wars and rumors of wars so frequent as to lose their first awful shock to the minds and hearts of mankind,-must not even the careless Christian feel that the end is near? There is the famous proverb among men that, "Corning events cast their shadow before them." While it is true that the first forty-one verses of the twenty-fourth of Matthew cannot be fulfilled until after the church is safely housed in glory (Rev. 3:10), yet it seems more than probable that the preparation for this "hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth," is being shadowed forth under our very eyes. Probably somewhere on this earth today that man, the antichrist, is nursing his base ambitions, and that other corning prince, the head of the future Roman Empire, is laying his plans for his great Confederacy.

Young Christian, let us search our Bibles, and see what light God has given us on these rapidly and surely approaching events. "Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; and ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their Lord, when He will return from the wedding; that when He cometh and knocketh, they may open unto Him immediately." (Luke 12:35, 36.)

Questions for January

Always Give Scripture for Answers, as well as Your Own Expressions.

1. Show the difference by scriptures, between the Lord's coming FOR His saints and His coming WITH His saints.

2. Where will we meet the Lord when He comes for His own?

3. Will the world hear the shout?

4. For what purpose will we appear at the judgment seat of Christ?

5. Give scriptures, showing three different views of the judgment thrones, the places, and the character of those who shall appear at each period.

Practical Conversations With Our Young People: Zeal

ZEAL.

I was one day walking along a road at what I thought at the time was a good pace. Presently I heard some one overtaking me, and in a moment or two a man, much smaller in stature than myself, caught me up, and easily passed me. Seeing one so small making better progress than I was, immediately stirred me to put forth more energy, and of course, being the taller of the two, I quickly overtook the little man, and as quickly left him behind. He had not slackened his pace, but I had practically doubled mine.

"Your zeal hath provoked very many" (2 Cor. 9:2).

Is there not a lesson for us in this, dear fellow believer? Of prominent gift we may have but little. We may be small in stature. But if what we have is made the most of, we are bound to be, not only a blessing ourselves, but an encouragement to others who have perhaps far more ability, but who are faltering through discouragement. We never know how far-reaching our influence is. "Your zeal hath provoked very many." Many eyes are upon us, dear friends. Let us be zealous, therefore, in everything, and our reward will be great. Our opportunities will soon be gone. Today is all we have. May we be stirred up then to increased energy in the interests of our Lord, of His saints, and of poor, perishing sinners.

Questions for April

Always Give Scripture for Answers, as well as Your Own Expressions.

1. In what characters will the Lord come to the world?

2. What scripture in 1 Thess. shows us that we should not bear the character of the world which it will manifest when the Lord comes to it?

3. Who will be saved after the Church is taken up.

4. What will happen to those who believe not the truth when the Lord takes His own away?

5. To what class of people will the man of sin belong?

Practical Conversations With Our Young People: The Coming of the Lord, Part 1

The blessed and precious truth of the coming of the Lord for His own is ever presented to us as a present reality, and the reason for this is on account of its practical bearing upon our walk. Our questions, in the past months, on this subject, have brought many answers from Scripture, which show what should characterize us, both in our behavior and service, and we trust these portions will not be forgotten, but that there will be results from our searchings, bringing forth fruit in us to His praise and glory.

The very practical character of the second coming of Christ is found everywhere throughout the New Testament, but in no instance, perhaps, it is more strongly marked than by the apostle John: "Beloved, now are we the sons of God; and it doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is. And every man that hath this hope in Him purifieth himself even as He is pure." 1 John 3:2-4.

As God has shown us so plainly in His Word that we are in the last moments, may each one of us seek to act according to this scripture, yea, all the many exhortations that are given to us in this connection.

Answers to Questions for February

Answers to Question 1.

1. What would the Lord have us doing till He comes?

(a) "Be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord." (1 Cor. 15:58.)

(b) "Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh." (James 5:8.)

Answers to Question 2.

2. What state of soul would the Lord have us in when He comes?

(a) "That ye may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ." (Phil. 1:10.)

(b)"Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour." (Matt. 25:13.)

(c)"Therefore let us not sleep as do others; but let us watch and be sober." (1 Thess. 5:6.)

Answers to Question 3.

3. What effect should "seeing the dap approaching," have upon us?

(a) "Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for He is faithful that promised:) and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." (Heb. 10:23-25.)

(b) "Let your moderation (gentleness) be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand." (Phil. 4:5.)

Answers to Question 4.

4. What will end the great tribulation?

(a) The Lord coming out of heaven to take possession of the earth. (Rev. 19:14-21.)

Answers to Question 5.

5. When will the dap of the Lord begin?

(a) "The day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night." (1 Thess. 5:2; 2 Peter 3:10.)

(b) The day of the Lord will begin when the Lord will take His rightful place as. "King of kings and Lord of lords." (Rev. 5.19:16.)

Answers to Questions for August

ANSWERS TO QUESTION 1.

What scriptures prove the humanity of the Lord Jesus Christ?

(a) "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." John 1:14.

(b) "Jesus therefore, being wearied with His journey." John 4:6.

(d) "And in those days He did eat nothing: and when they were ended, He afterward hungered."

Luke 4:2.

(e) "But as they sailed He fell asleep." Luke 8:23.

(f) "And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled himself, and became obedient unto death."

Phil. 2:8.

ANSWERS TO QUESTION 2.

What scriptures prove the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ?

(a) "Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God." Phil. 2:6.

(b) "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." "All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made." John 1:1, 3. (See Gen. 1: "In the beginning God created.")

“Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am." (John 8:58.) Compare Ex. 3:13, 14: "What is His name?" "And God said... I am that I am.... thus shalt thou say.... I am hath sent me unto you.”

“I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again." (John 10:18.) No one but God could have this power.

ANSWERS TO QUESTION 3.

Give a few of the divine names that are given to Him, and their meanings.

(a) Jesus-Savior. "And she shall bring forth a Son, and thou shalt call His name Jesus: for He shall save His people from their sins." Math. 1:21.

Lord-If we call Him Lord, we own Him as Master, and ought to obey Him, for He says: "And why call ye Me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" Luke 6:46.

(b) Lord-The One who has authority. Rev. 4:11.

Christ-the anointed One, the Messiah. John 1:41.

Emmanuel-God with us. Math. 1:23. Alpha and Omega-the Beginning and the ending. Rev. 1:8.

I am-ever existent. John 8:58. This name also seems to suggest: All-powerful, Infinity, Pre-eminence.

The Morning Star The hope of the Church. Rev. 22:16, 17. The morning star is seen before sunrise, so the Church will see the Lord before He comes in blessing to Israel. 1 Thess. 4:16, 17.

Sun of Righteousness-the hope of Israel. Mal. 4:2.

The Faithful Witness. Rev. 1:5.

The above are just a very few.

ANSWERS TO QUESTION 4.

Give Scripture proof that the Lord Jesus is a man in heaven now.

(a) "Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels, and authorities and powers being made subject unto Him.' 1 Peter 3:22.

(b) "And it came to pass, while He blessed them, He was parted from them, and carried up into heaven." Luke 24:51.

(c) "Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself: handle Me and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones as ye see Me have." Luke 24:39.

(d) "Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven." Acts 1:11.

(e) "But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, and said, Behold I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God." Acts 7:55, 56

ANSWERS TO QUESTION 5.

Give five scriptures that Christ is the only way..

John 6:51-54; John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Acts 11:43; Rom. 5:15, 18, 19; Heb. 9:12.

Practical Converstions With Our Young People: A Precious Service in Matthew 27-28

AT 27:55-56{AT 27:61{AT 28:1{AT 28:5-10{"The part that women take in all this history is very instructive, especially to them. The activity of public service, that which may he called "work," belongs naturally to men (all that appertains to what is generally termed ministry), although women share a very precious activity in private. But there is another side of Christian life which is particularly theirs; and that is personal and loving devotedness to Christ. It is a woman who anointed the Lord while the disciples murmured; women who were at the cross when all except John had forsaken Him; women who came to the sepulcher, and who were sent to announce the truth to the apostles who had gone, after all, to their own home; women who ministered to the Lord's need. And, indeed, this goes farther.

Devotedness in service is perhaps the part of man, but the instinct of affection, that which enters more intimately into Christ's position, and is thus more immediately in connection with His sentiments, in closer communion with the sufferings of His heart-this is the part of woman; assuredly a happy part. The activity of service for Christ puts man a little out of this position, at least if the Christian is not watchful. Everything has, however, its place. I speak of that which is characteristic; for there are women who have served much, and men who have felt much. Note also here, what I believe I have remarked, that this clinging of heart to Jesus is the position where the communications of true knowledge are received. The first full gospel is announced to the poor woman that was a sinner who washed His feet; the embalming for His death to Mary; our highest position to Mary Magdalene; the communion Peter desired, to John who was in His bosom. And here the women have a large share.”

Questions for November

Always Give Scripture for Answers, as well as Your Own Expressions.

Give scriptures for each of the following definitions of the death of Christ: 1St-As a ransom.

2nd-As a propitiation.

3rd-As a reconciliation.

4th-As a substitution.

5th-Give five scriptures that Christ died for sinners.

Answers to Questions for December

31. Israel. (Gen. 37:9.)

32. At the middle of Daniel's last week of years. (Dan. 9:27; Rev. 12:6, 13.)

33. The first is the head of the revived Roman Empire (Rev. 16:8-9), which perished in 476 A. D., but will yet be revived to be the greatest empire in the world. The second beast is the antichrist. (2 Thess. 2:3, 8; 1 John 2:18; 4: 3; Dan. 11:36-38.)

34. The beast and antichrist. (Rev. 19:20,)

35. After a thousand years of blessing under the milennial reign of Christ, man turns in violence against God the moment the Devil is permitted to again tempt him. (Rev. 20:7-9.)

Questions for February

NOTE:-To the young Christians sending in the most satisfactory series of answers to these first fifteen questions on the Church, a first, second and third reward will be given, as announced in the January number of "The Young Christian.'

Always give Scripture for answers, as well as your own expressions.

6. hat day in the Old Testament feasts foreshadowed the birthday of the Church?

7. When was the birthday of the Church?

8. Of what faith were those mentioned in Acts 2:5-11?

9. Admission to the Church was at first limited to what people?

10. Why does Scripture never speak of "joining church"?

Questions for July

Always Give Scripture for Answers, as well as Your Own Expressions.

1. Should a Christian attend all the different kinds of religious meetings?

2. What is the lesson to be learned from Jer. 15:19?

3. What place does music get in God's Word?

4. Give five proofs of the inspiration of Scripture.

5. Give five Scriptures that the unsaved are awaiting execution.

Answers to Questions for May

ANSWERS TO QUESTION 1.

Why can we not serve two masters?

(a) "No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one, and love the other: or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon." Math. 6:24.

(b) We cannot serve two earthly masters because one would be almost sure to want us to do something which the other would not want us to do; or, for personal reasons, we might be more anxious to please one more than the other. How much less can we serve God and Satan, whose every thought and purpose are entirely opposed the one to the other.

(d) "For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ." Gal. 1:10.

(e) "Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?" Rom. 6:16.

ANSWERS TO QUESTION 2.

What kind of fruit does the Lord look for from Christians?

(a) "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance." Gal. 5:22, 23.

(b) "Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which is by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God." Phil. 1:11.

(d) "Walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us." Eph. 5:2.

(e) "By Him, therefore, let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name." Heb. 13:15.

ANSWERS TO QUESTION 3.

Will faithfulness to the Lord always bring success?

(a) "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life." Rev. 2:10.

(b) "Them that honor Me I will honor." 1 Sam. 2:30.

(c) "Because thou hast kept the word of My patience, I will also keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world." Rev. 3:10.

(d) "When a man's ways please the Lord, He maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him." Prov. 16:7.

(e) "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth: but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written 'therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success." Josh. 1:8.

(f) "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Matt. 6: 33.

(g)I take this question to mean earthly success, and do not think it is always so. But. still we know we are kept. "My God shall supply all your need." Phil. 4:19. Success is often withheld to teach us patience and long-suffering. If we speak of going to glory as success, then indeed are our lives successful. "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven." Matt. 6: 19, 20.

(h)Faithfulness to the Lord does not always bring success. In Paul's case it brought the very opposite. He was the most faithful servant, yet no one suffered for the Lord as he did. 2 Cor. 11:23-28. In the case of Ruth, faithfulness to God did bring success, from the time she made her choice and took her place among God's earthly people. Ruth 1:16, 17; 2:14-16; 3:11-18; 4:10.

ANSWERS TO QUESTION 4.

Why should the Lord rather have obedience than mere religious activity.

(a) "Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams." 1 Sam. 15:22.

(b) Even a master or mistress in the world delights to have an obedient servant, and parents delight in obedient children. If Christ is the object of our hearts, it will be our delight to seek to please Him. It may cost us something, but we shall hear His "Well done." Martha's service would have been all right if she had had Christ as her object, but service got between her heart and Christ. "Mary hath chosen that good part." Luke 10:38-42.

ANSWERS TO QUESTION 5.

Give five scriptures, showing that all have sinned.

Rom. 3:23, Rom. 3:10, Gal. 3:22, 1 Joh. 1:8,

Rom. 5:12, Eccl. 7:20, Psa. 14:3, Rom. 11:32,

Gen. 6:5, 1 Kings 8:46.

Practical Conversations With Our Young People: Obedience

The normal state of a Christian is to desire to do something for, and to please, Him who has brought us out of nature's darkness into His marvelous light. In order to do this we must be in communion with our blessed Lord, spending much time in our closets alone with Him, and in meditation on His Word. Then we receive strength and power for our walk and service, as He becomes the object of our hearts, and we rejoice in the fact that "obedience is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams." "Walk before Me, and be thou perfect," was the word given to Abram. There was not much about service in that, but it would result to God's glory. What characterized Abram was, faith and obedience.

To obey with delight of heart for all the Lord has done for us, is what pleases Him above all else, and if He gives us some service to do for Him, it will meet with His approval and get His Well done, good and faithful servant" in that day so near.

Practical Conversations With Our Young People: The Need of Dependence

THE NEED OF DEPENDENCE.

Is God known, loved and trusted? If He be, the heart will delight in the most absolute dependence upon Him; if not, such dependence would be perfectly insufferable. The unrenewed man loves to think himself independent-loves to fancy himself free-loves to believe that he may do what he likes. Alas! it is the merest delusion. Man is not free: he is the slave of Satan. It is now well-nigh six thousand years since he sold himself into the hands of that great spiritual slave-holder, who has held him ever since, and who holds him still. Satan rules man by means of his lusts, his passions and his pleasures. There is no freedom save that with which Christ makes His people free. He it is who says: "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." And again: "If the Son shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." (John 8.)

Here is true liberty. It is the liberty which the new nature finds in walking in the Spirit, and doing those things that are pleasing in the sight of God. The service of the Lord is perfect freedom. But this service, in all its departments, involves the most simple dependence upon the living God. Thus it was with our blessed Lord, the perfect Servant.

Answers to Questions for July

ANSWERS TO QUESTION 1.

Should a Christian attend all the different kinds of religious meetings?

(a) No, it is not right for a Christian to attend all the different kinds of religious meetings, for the word is, "In a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honor, and some to dishonor. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work." 2 Tim. 2:20, 21. "Let us go forth therefore unto Him without the camp, bearing His reproach." Heb. 13:13. Outside the religious camp.

(b) 2 Cor. 6:7. Christians should not attend all kinds of religious meetings, because the Lord, would have us to live in separation, and He has a place where He would have His children to gather. Math. 18:20 is the only place where He promised to be in the midst, and it is His desire to have us there. Going to all kinds of meetings will bring one into confusion. We will notice that when the Lord sent his disciples to prepare the passover, He directed them where to go. I am sure He will not leave any one in doubt where he should go to meet Him if such a one is only willing to obey. They followed the man with the pitcher of water, and He is still the Person who will guide-the Holy Spirit.

ANSWERS TO QUESTION 2.

What is the Lesson to be learned from Jer. 15:19?ER 15:19{

(a)The lesson to be learned from Jer. 15:19 is, that it is only when walking in the path of obedience and separation that the Lord can really use us, or we be a real testimony for Him.

(b)I believe we get separation in Jer. 15:19, and it is a good answer to the first question. It shows how God delights to have His people to be separate even if one should stand alone. I believe it is not His desire to have us go back to the old thing we have left behind, which is indicated by the last clause of the verse"but return not thou unto them.”

ANSWERS TO QUESTION 3.

What place does music get in God's Word?

(a) Musical instruments were invented by the children of Cain. Gen. 4:21. But with only a few exceptions, such as Dan. 3:5, Dan. 6:18, 1 Sam. 18:6, 1 Sam. 16:23, both, musical instruments and singing, are spoken of in connection with the praise and worship of Jehovah and in connection with the temple worship. 1 Chron. 6:13, 1 Chron. 25:1.

(b) If I understand the question right, music is given the place in connection with worship, as in Psa. 150. When we find music we generally find joy and rejoicing. It is when one is happy in the Lord that he can praise God most for His mercies and goodness.

ANSWERS TO QUESTION 4.

Give five proofs of the inspiration of Scripture (a) 2 Tim. 3:16, 17; 2 Peter 1:20, 21; 1 Peter 1:23; Heb. 4:12; 2 Peter 3:15,16; Luke 24:27.

(b) Isa. 53:3; Mark 14:65;16:14; Jer. 6:8; Jer. 39:2-8; Isa. 53:5; 1 Peter 2:24; Psa. 22:7-8: Luke 23:35; Psa. 22:18; Luke 23:36. These scriptures were prophesied many years before they happened, and they are so perfect, that if they had not been inspired of God, it would not have entered into the mind of man.

ANSWERS TO QUESTION 5.

Give five scriptures that the unsaved are awaiting execution.

(a) Rev. 21:8: 2 Peter 2:9: John 5:29; John 3:36; Matt. 25:41; Mark 16:16; Dan. 12:2; Isa. 66:24; Prov. 16:4; Job 21:30; Math. 13:41, 42; Luke 13:27, 28.

(b) Acts 17:31; 1 Thess. 5:3; 1 Peter 4:18; Rev. 20:12-15; John 3:15.

Questions for September

Always Give Scripture for Answers, as well as Your Own Expressions.

1. What scriptures prove the humanity of the Lord Jesus Christ?

2. What scriptures prove the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ?

3. Give a few of the divine names that are given to Him, and their meanings.

4. Give Scripture proof that the Lord Jesus is a man in heaven now.

5. Give five scriptures that Christ is the only way.

Questions for January

NOTE.-It is our purpose (D. V.) to offer as a reward a copy of some suitable book on Scripture truth, to each of the three young Christians sending in the most satisfactory series of answers to the fifteen Questions for January, February and March.

Always give Scripture for answers, as well as your own expressions.

1. Where in Scripture is the first mention of the Church?

2. In this place is the Church mentioned as a past or future thing?

3. What is its foundation?

4. What is the meaning of the word "Church"?

5. Of what material was the Church to be built?

Answers to Questions for November

26. Because the Lord Jesus said, "Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour.”

Matt. 25:13.

27. The preparation for the opening of the seven seals of God's providential judgments on the earth. Rev. 5.

28. (1) Moral supremacy and victorious power.

(2) Warfare.

(3) Famine.

(4) Death.

29. The time of awful trial for the Jewish nation, called the "time of Jacob's trouble," (Jer. 30:7), "such as was not from the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be." (Matt. 24:21.) It has no connection with the Church. (Rev. 3:10.)

30. Ruling powers from the supreme to the lesser.

(Gen. 1:16; 37:9; Num. 24:17.)

"Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and
He shall strengthen thine heart: wait,
I say, on the Lord." Psa. 27:14.

To those who wait upon the Lord, there is always given strength adequate to the trials or the day, and there ought to be no anxiety as to the trials of the morrow. The peace which a true Christian might possess if he would take God at His word and trust Him to make good His promises, is beyond words. Day by day his duties might be more arduous, his temptations stronger, his trials more severe. But he would ascertain that the imparted strength grew at the same rate. so that he was always equal to the duties, victorious over the temptations, and sustained under the trials.

Practical Conversations With Our Young People: Marks of the Last Days

In the Lord's longsuffering and patience this world is ushered into another year of the patience of Christ. Those who have the light of God's Word for their guidance, see plainly the signs that tell them the end of the present order of things is near. The floating bits of debris, the seaweed, the vegetation, the flocks of unknown birds, all told Columbus that land was near and that his long and perilous journey was at an end. With ever increasing eagerness he peered out into the horizon until the cry of "Land ahead!" brought every man on deck, So the heaving unrest of the world, the rapid spread of evil doctrines, the awful rapidity in apostacy of professing Christians, and the giving up of the inspired Word of God, all tell the Christian that our redemption draweth nigh, that very soon the shout shall be given, "Come up hither," and we shall rise to meet the blessed Lord in the air.

One of the marks of the last days is the refusal of the professing church to endorse sound doctrine, and the heaping to themselves (professed Christians) of teachers who will preach what suits their unregenerate hearts. (2 Tim. 4:3, 4.) The result of this is the ever increasing confusion in Christendom, until the present condition of things could be called little less than a Babel. With divisions and schisms on every hand, with many claiming the right of independent judgment in matters of religion, what is the refuge of the truly earnest godly soul? The Scriptures answer the query for us: "I commend you to God, and to the Word of His grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified." (Acts 20:32.)

It is in view of bringing before our hearts the truth of the Scriptures with respect to the Church of God that we purpose, with the Lord's help, to take up a series of studies on the origin, history, practice, conduct and 'discipline of the Church of God as found in the Scriptures. May the Lord bless the study to the soul of each who shall follow the questions through the year.

Questions for March

Always give Scripture for answers, as well as your own expressions.

11. Why in Scripture is a building never called a Church?

12. What is the difference between the Church and the Kingdom?

13. Of which did Peter have the keys, and when did he use them?

14. Whose work is it to call out the Church?

15. What is the responsibility of the Church on earth?

Answers to Questions under Title of "Practical Conversations with Our Young People" are to be sent to The Young Christian, in care of 1306 Lyon Street, Des Moines, Iowa.

Practical Conversations With Our Young People: Output in Our Daily Lives

The aim of the modern factory system is to make every action performed during the eight hours working day contribute to producing the finished product. Sharp competition has taught these keen-witted business men that lost energy, aimless movements, "leaks" in production are the tiny elements that make for disaster in mercantile ventures. One problem that for a long time seemed irremediable was that of the difference in productive results of men who worked equally hard; in fact, oftentimes the (seemingly) hardest working man had less actual results to show at the close of the day than the other men whom some termed slow. At length an ingenious thinker tried out the following plan, which has been since adopted in all the greatest factories for increasing production. He took a moving picture camera and set it in operation in the factory work shop. Each man who was engaged in the same line of piece work was recorded on the camera film. Then the films were developed, finished and thrown on the screen. Now the actions of each man can be minutely compared. The pictures can be turned so slowly that each small change in the position of the hands or feet is leisurely observed.

The result of this test has been magical. It was found that this man who worked so hard, and did so little, had wasted most of his energy in useless movements, while the actions of the "slow" man were seen to be all directed to a necessary end. The workingmen are now gathered in classes and witness the painfully accurate record of their own actions; their weaknesses are pointed out, and they return to their post with a new insight into the secret of productive work. The result of this plan on factory output has been untold. In many cases the productivity of a single employee has been doubled in a month.

Now, young Christian, let us apply this illustration to our service for the Lord. He expects there to be an "output" from our daily lives. "Ye shall bring forth much fruit." (John 15:5.) "For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful." (2 Peter 1:8.) What is it that makes the productivity of some of us so meager and disappointing? Is it not wasted energy? Remember, Paul said, "A man is not crowned, except he strive lawfully." (2 Tim. 2:5.) You may be ever so busy and imagine you are doing a great deal for the Lord, but unless He adds His blessing to each act, it can produce nothing for Him. If your sphere of work for the Lord is not one the Scripture marks out, then drop it-it is wasted energy. What is the remedy? Turn God's searchlight on your life-and see where the point of failure lies. "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." (2 Tim. 2:15.) The Word of God will detect for us where our energies are being spent for naught, and we may be sure, if we are serving in a capacity that will not stand the test of His book of instructions we shall not be crowned. If you are laboring to build up some religious system of men, or occupying a man-appointed position in the Church of God. you are hindering the free working of the Holy Spirit, and much of your energies, however well meant, are being wasted. Whatever we do for the Lord must have the approval of His written Word, or our fruit bearing is denied. "To obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams." (1 Sam. 15:22.)

Answers to Questions for June

ANSWERS TO QUESTION 1.

How did Paul and Daniel use their education for God's glory?

(a) "For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect." 1 Cor. 1:17.

(b) "As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all wisdom and dreams." (Dan. 1:17)

(c) "I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all: yet in, the Church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue." (1 Cor. 14:18, 19)

“The king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel,.... . and in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm." (Dan. 1:19, 20.)

Paul, who was taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers (Acts 22:3), after he was converted, preached, and taught publicly, and from house to house. (Acts 20:7, 20.) For him to live was Christ. (Phil. 1:21.) He did not boast of his knowledge, but counted all things loss for Christ. (Phil. 3:7, 8.)

Daniel, who was skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science (Dan. 1:4), gave God the praise by owning that wisdom and might come from Him. (Dan. 2:20, 23.)

ANSWERS TO QUESTION 2.

How does James tell a wise man to act?

(a) "Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him show out of a good conversation his works with meatiness of wisdom." (James 3:13.)

(b) A wise man would be "swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath." (James 1:19.)

ANSWERS TO QUESTION 3.

What was Timothy told to avoid?

(a) "O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called." (1 Tim. 6:20.)

(b)"Flee youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. (2 Tim. 2:22, 23.)

ANSWERS TO QUESTION 4.

What is the wisdom from above?

(a) The wisdom from above is the wisdom given us when we feel our own weakness and dependance, and we ask God's guidance and direction. "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upraideth not; and it shall be given him." (James 1:5.)

(b)It was what Solomon asked of the Lord (1 Kings 3:7-12.) "But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy." (James 3:17.)

(c) "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do His commandments." (Psa. 111:10.)

ANSWERS TO QUESTION 5.

Give five scriptures showing that all are under condemnation.

John 3:18. John 3:36. Rom. 5:1. Rom. 5:18. Gal. 3:10.

Practical Conversations With Our Young People: Questions for August

Questions for August.

Always Give Scripture for Answers, as well as Your Own Expressions.

1. What is required for true service?

2. What should our object be in service?

3. Why should we serve the Lord?

4. Why is it our reasonable (intelligent-New Trans.) service to present our bodies as a living sacrifice?

5. Give five scriptures, showing that God is unwilling that any should perish.

Practical Conversations With Our Young People: God's Will and Our Work

In connection with the Christian's pathway through the world, it is of all importance that he should rest on the power, the wisdom, and the love of God, the "three pillows," as a sick saint once called them, "for a weary head to lie upon," and seek to "fill the little space" which He gives us to do His will in. We may not be able to trace His goings, for "His way is in the sea, and His path in the great waters, and His footsteps are not known." But He knows the way He takes, whether with His people or in connection with His government of the world. And we are wise if we leave Him to carry out His own will which must be good and right for He is good and right.

This thought has been beautifully expressed by a well-known writer in the following words: “The persecuting emperor little thought what He was giving to us when he banished the Apostle [John, to Patmos]; no more than Augustus, in his political plans as to the census of the empire, knew he was sending a poor carpenter to Bethlehem, with his espoused wife, that Christ might be born there; or the Jews and Pilate's soldiers, that they were sending the thief to heaven when they broke his legs in heartless respect for their own superstitions or ordinances. God's ways are behind the scenes; but He moves all the scenes which He is behind. We have to learn this, and let Him work, and not think much of man's busy movements; they will accomplish God's. The rest of them all perish and disappear. We have only peacefully to do His will.'

Every Christian has his own appointed service. One in this way and another in that; but each in some way. Many Scriptures may occur to the mind of the reader, but a few are appended. They are "seed thoughts" for him as he meditates on these things. "I know that Thou canst do everything, and that no thought of Thine can be hindered." (Job 42:2, margin.)

“The floods have lifted up, O Lord, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their waves. The Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea." (Psa. 93:3-4.)

“There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand." (Prov. 19:21.)

“Known unto God are all His works from the beginning of the world." (Acts 15:18.)

“Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of His servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God." (Isa. 50:10.)

Questions for December

Always Give Scripture for Answers, as well as Your Own Expressions.

1. Give scriptures, proving that Christ's body was actually raised from the dead.

2. Give scriptures in regard to those who saw Him after the resurrection, and recognized Him as having the same body He had before, even to the wound-prints.

3. Give five Scripture proofs that the Lord is risen:

(a) The empty tomb.

(b) The Lord's dap.

(d) The New Testament.

(e) Five hundred and fourteen witnesses are recorded as having seen the Lord.

4. When and where must we give an account of our lives?

5. Give five scriptures which tell us that the Lord will come again for His own.

Practical Conversations With Our Young People: Ready to Give an Answer

The apostle Peter tells us that we, as Christians, should be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: having a good conscience." (1 Peter 3:15.) I suppose every young Christian who shall read these pages is able to promptly answer the question, "Why do you expect to spend eternity with the Lord in glory?" You say, "I know I shall spend my eternity with Jesus because God says in His Word, `As many as received Him, to them gave He power (or the right) to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.' (John 1:12.) I have received Him, therefore I know I am God's child. Then the Word tells me that If children, then heirs, heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ.”

But in the present day of denominational confusion it is not enough for the young Christian to be able to give a reason for his hope of glory. There are other questions that equally demand a. "reason," and in the things of God a '"reason" is only a "reason" if it is based on some statement of His Word. (Acts 18:28.) Today the professing Christian church is split into hundreds, of differing companies; each has its adherents, whether they be a dozen, or a dozen millions. Now it ought to be a perfectly permissible question to ask any professing Christian, "Why are you a Methodist?" "Why are you a Catholic?" "Why are you a Baptist?" "Why are you a Presbyterian?”

I was talking with a young man recently who told me that he considered the choice of a "church" in the same light as the choice of a college. It was a matter of individual taste and preferment. No doubt many Christians regard the matter in the same light, but such an attitude is simply monstrous presumption in the light of Scripture. I beseech every Christian who may chance to read these words, to answer the question seriously, "Why am I where I am?" "Did God's Word place me here or was it the choice of self, parents, convenience, or social position?" I meet many Methodists who can not give me one reason why they are Methodists rather than Presbyterians. I meet Baptists who know no reason why they shouldn't just as well be Methodists, etc. Young Christian, awake! God holds you responsible for where you are. Simply because "father and mother were Quakers, I will be," is childish talk in the light of plainly revealed Scriptures. "Because the Congregational 'church' is the only one in the town where I live, I must be a Congregationalist" is inexcusable ignorance God's provision as revealed in His Word. Paul might as well have reasoned when he was in Athens, "There are no Christians here so I'll have to ascend the Acropolis and worship the great goddess Athena.”

Nor do I stop here. Let sonic of those who profess to be gathered to the Lord's name alone, outside of all sectarian ground, likewise answer this plain question, "Why am I where I am? Perhaps I ought to be a Baptist or a 'Christian.' Am I sure this is my place?" Because you have been brought up in this position is no reason whatever that you should abide there. If some one asked you, "Why do you not belong to the 'Open Brethren,'" could you "Give a reason for the hope that is in you?" O, young people, in the midst of the awful indifference to the things of the Lord that is everywhere today, stand somewhere and know why you stand there.

Practical Conversations With Our Young People: Assembling Ourselves Together

ASSEMBLING OURSELVES TOGETHER.

It is quite certain that those who are wholehearted for Christ desire to be in His company. They instinctively wend their way to the spot where He is known to be.

Is there such a spot on earth? Yes:-

“Where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them." Mathew 18:20.

No one who is truly conscious of the greatness and excellency of His person and of the blessedness of communion with Him, can be willingly absent from that favored place. A neglected Lord's table and a neglected prayer meeting, speak aloud of a Laodicean state of the heart towards Him. We read that of old "They continued steadfastly in the Apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread and in prayers." Acts 2:42. Alas! that there should be such a lack of continuing steadfastly now.

Does not the Lord say to God, "In the midst of the church will I sing praise unto Thee" (Heb. 2:12), and can we suppose that He fails to notice whether we are there, or not, to join in the song He leads? In the coming day of review before the judgment seat of Christ, how shall we like the disclosure that self-indulgence, a little unfavorable weather, or a passing tiff with a brother or sister in Christ, has outweighed with us all the mighty motives for a loving response to His wish, "This do in remembrance of Me"? Luke 22:19.

It is deeply humbling to think that any who have tasted the Lord's love, can take advantage of not having to work on the Lord's day, to spend its morning hours in bed, and that others can excuse their absence from the meetings on the ground of visiting, or receiving visits from, friends. Priceless opportunities of gratifying the heart of the Lord, and of showing our attachment to Him, in the scene of His rejection, are thus wasted and lost.

It is mere mockery to repeat, "Come, Lord Jesus," and use glowing expressions of desire to be with Him in glory, if, by our absence from His table, we betray our indifference to His presence here.

Beloved, "It is high time to awake out of sleep." Rom. 13:11. May we take to heart the solemn and impressive exhortation of the word, "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more as ye see the day approaching." Heb. 10:25.

Closely connected with the foregoing is the question of TIME.

Where is our reverence for the Lord, or our sense of His grace-where our responsive love, if we come with lagging steps, five. ten, or fifteen minutes after He has taken His place in the midst of His own?

It was easy, in the freshness of first love, to come early to the place where He manifests Himself in such a peculiarly blessed way. Excuses were not made. Has He become less precious?

The moments we may thus spend together with Him on the earth stained with His blood, are swiftly passing away. Let us not willingly lose one of them.

It is touching to remember that no thought of all the sufferings that awaited Him, of Himself presently becoming the true passover, "sacrificed for us," delayed the Lord's appearing at His last paschal feast.

“WHEN THE HOUR WAS COME, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him." Luke 22:14.

O! for a holy eagerness to be where He is!

Questions for October

Always Give Scripture for Answers, as well as Your Own Expressions.

1. Give scriptures, showing that the Lord Jesus possesed a human nature.

2. What do we get in the Scriptures as to His incarnation?

3. Give the purpose of the Lord in coming into the world.

4. In what different aspects do the gospels show forth the Lord?

5. Give five scriptures, showing that Christ became man.

Practical Conversations With Our Young People

On account of many of the young having allowed varied lines in life to be the means of turning aside from the Lord's path, and education being one of these, we give four questions on that subject. We trust the answers from God's Word may be used for exercising the conscience and impressing upon each one their proper use in this connection.

The object of the fifth question is to acquaint each of our young readers with scriptures on fundamental truths.

Questions for June

Always Give Scripture for Answers, as well as Your Own Expressions.

1. How did Paul and Daniel use their education for God's glory?

2. How does James tell a wise man to act?

3. What was Timothy told to avoid?

4. What is the wisdom from above?

5. Give five scriptures showing that all are under condemnation.

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS FOR APRIL.

We are so pleased to receive such a number of answers from our young people, as it shows real searching of the Scriptures. Nearly all of the answers are very good, but on account of lack of space, we are unable to give as many as we would like to.

We trust the interest will increase in this work, as it is bound to result in blessing to each one of our souls, and to God's glory.

ANSWERS TO QUESTION 1.

(a) The things essential to Christianity are, "Repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ." (Acts 20:21.)

(b) "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." (Acts 16:31.)

(c)"This is His commandment, That we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another." (1 John 3:23.)

(d) "Ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus." (Gal. 3:26.)

ANSWERS TO QUESTION 2.

(a) "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?" (2 Cor. 6:14.)

(b) "Know ye not that the friendship of this world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world, is the enemy of God." (James 4:4.)

(d) "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be My sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty." (2 Cor. 6:17, 18.)

(e) "By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of reward." (Heb. 11:24-26.)

ANSWERS TO QUESTION 3.

(a) "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matt. 5:33.)

If we attend to the things of Christ, He will take care of us.

(b) "Who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world." (Gal. 1:4.)

(d) "Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind." (Rom. 12:2.)

(e) "Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth." (Col. 3:2.)

ANSWERS TO QUESTION 4

(a) "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." (Matt. 5:16.)

(b) "By their fruits ye shall know them." (Matt. 6:20.)

(d) "Having your conversation honest among the gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation." (1 Peter 2:12.)

(e) "Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering." (Col. 3:12.)

(f) "In all things showing thyself a pattern of good works... Sound speech, that cannot be condemned... For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men. Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world." (Titus 2:7-12.).

Questions for April

1. What essential things are necessary to Christianity?

2. Should Christians be poked with unbelievers or keep company with unbelievers?

3. Should we let the things of this world occupy our time and attention at the expense of the things of Christ?

4. Are works necessary to prove our divine life to the world?

Practical Conversations With Our Young People

The Lord willing, we purpose taking up a new line in the form of practical conversations on Bible subjects, in which we hope our young readers will take deep interest, as we believe they will be a means of meeting difficulties on the minds of many, and producing more exercise of heart about the varied truths of the Word of God.

How necessary in a day like this when declension is coming in on every hand, that the young in the faith should be well fortified and stand firm for the precious truth of God, that He may be glorified, and that we may be kept from the many little things which we often allow in our daily life that rob us of communion with Christ.

The object of the questions will be to stimulate an interest to study and put in practice the Word of God.

Questions will be given each month and some of the answers to the same will be printed the following month. No initials will be given, so that all may be free to express their thoughts and thus be a help to each other.

We give a few questions that were sent out privately in March, and their answers, so that all may see the character of the work.

We desire to have all answers in by the 15th of each month, addressed to W. E. PIETSCH, 214 88th St.,

Brooklyn, N. Y.

who will give personal attention to each letter, and will send answer in writing whenever it is necessary.

Questions and Answers for March

1. Give Five Scriptures, proving you are a Christian?

2. What is Repentance?

3. What is Confessing Christ?

4. What is Separation from the World?

ANSWERS TO QUESTION 1.

(a) "If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." Rom. 10:9.

(b)"Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth Him that begat, loveth him also that is begotten of Him.”

1 John 5:1.

(c)"We know we have passed from death unto life because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death." 1 John 3:14.

(d)"Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the beloved." Eph. 1:5, 6.

(e)"Ye are all the children (sons, N. Trans.) of God by faith in Christ Jesus." Gal. 3:26.

ANSWERS TO QUESTION 2.

(a) "I abhor myself and repent in dust and ashes." Job 42:6.

(b) "Father, I have sinned against heaven and in Thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called Thy son.”

Luke 15:21.

(c) "Repentance is the full and terrible realization of your sins, or the seeing yourself as God sees you, a lost and guilty sinner, unfit to be in the presence of a holy God.”

ANSWERS TO QUESTION 3.

(a) "Signifying to the world that as a guilty sinner you have accepted God's pardon." "Come, see a man, that told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?" John 4:29.

(b) "He that hath My word, let him speak My word faithfully." Jer. 23:28.

ANSWERS TO QUESTION 4.

(a) "The ceasing of doing those things that the people of the world do, or to cease following all the pleasures of this world.”

(b) "Living in communion with the Lord.”

(c) "Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." Rom. 12:2.

Practical Conversations With Our Young People: Unequally Yoked

We desire to draw attention particularly to question 2 of April, feeling the importance of the answer as given to us in 1 Cor. 6:14-18.

There we find positive instruction to Christians, young and old, not to be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. When Christ is the object before our souls, and we are enjoying His love, thinking of all that He has done for us, we delight to speak of Him. His character as man while He was here on earth fills our souls, so that we may say, "O, Lord, make me more like Thyself!" It was His delight to do the will of Him that sent Him. "I delight to do Thy will, O My God; yea, Thy law is within My heart." (Psa. 40:8.) is it the desire of our hearts to please Him who so loves us; to be like Him in all our ways? If so, it will be an easy matter to obey such a Scripture as we have before us, and the result will be praise to Him, happiness in our own souls, and we will be preserved from much sorrow that many have had to pass through who have disobeyed it. Read the article "Unscriptural Marriage" in Vol. II. We could relate many such cases, but may that suffice as a warning, to preserve all our young friends from such a step, or an unequal yoke in any connection.

The first wrong step in that line is a lack of enjoying the Lord in the soul; then comes unfaithfulness to Him, and instead of speaking about Him to the unsaved acquaintances, there is the dropping down to their level, and joining in with them in their conversation.

Questions for May

Always Give Scripture for Answers, as well as Your Own Expressions.

1. Why can we not serve two masters?

2. What kind of fruit does the Lord look for from the Christian?

3. Will faithfulness to the Lord always bring success?

4. Why would the Lord rather have obedience than mere religious activity?

5. Give five scriptures, showing that all have sinned.

Send answers to address given on inside of front cover.

Answers to April Questions will be published in June.

Practical Conversations With Our Young People: Conversations and Questions

Table of Contents

Answers to Questions for September

Practical Conversations With Our Young People: Our Daily Walk

Questions for November

Answers to Questions for July

Practical Conversations With Our Young People: Bodily Resurrection

Questions for September

Practical Conversations With Our Young People: "Even So, Come Lord Jesus"

Answers to Questions for October

Questions for December

Answers to Questions for June

Practical Conversations With Our Young People: The Coming of the Lord, Part 5

Questions for August

Practical Conversations With Our Young People: Hold Fast

Answers to Questions for May

Questions for August

Practical Conversations With Our Young People: Separation, Part 3

Answers to Questions for September

Questions for December

Questions for April

Answers to Questions for January

Practical Conversations With Our Young People: The Presence of the Holy Spirit

Answers to Questions for March

Questions for June

Questions for September

Practical Conversations With Our Young People: Separation, Part 1

Answers to Questions for June

Practical Conversations With Our Young People: The Light of the World

Answers to Questions for February

Questions for May

Answers to Questions for April

Practical Conversations With Our Young People: Questions

Questions for July

Practical Conversations With Our Young People: Separation, Part 2

Answers to Questions for August

Questions for November

Practical Conversations With Our Young People: Higher Criticism

Answers to Questions for May

Answers to Questions for December

Practical Conversations With Our Young People: Keeping Our Mouths

Questions for February

Practical Conversations With Our Young People.: The Coming of the Lord, Part 2

Questions for May

Practical Conversations With Our Young People: The Coming of the Lord, Part 3

Answers to Questions for April

Answers to Questions for January

Questions for March

Practical Conversations With Our Young People: Meditation

Answers to Questions for March

Questions for May

Questions for July

Practical Conversations With Our Young People: The Coming of the Lord, Part 4

Questions for January

Practical Conversations With Our Young People: Zeal

Questions for April

Practical Conversations With Our Young People: The Coming of the Lord, Part 1

Answers to Questions for February

Answers to Questions for August

Practical Converstions With Our Young People: A Precious Service in Matthew 27-28

Questions for November

Answers to Questions for December

Questions for February

Questions for July

Answers to Questions for May

Practical Conversations With Our Young People: Obedience

Practical Conversations With Our Young People: The Need of Dependence

Answers to Questions for July

Questions for September

Questions for January

Answers to Questions for November

Practical Conversations With Our Young People: Marks of the Last Days

Questions for March

Practical Conversations With Our Young People: Output in Our Daily Lives

Answers to Questions for June

Practical Conversations With Our Young People: Questions for August

Practical Conversations With Our Young People: God's Will and Our Work

Questions for December

Practical Conversations With Our Young People: Ready to Give an Answer

Practical Conversations With Our Young People: Assembling Ourselves Together