Question 175: From H. A. C.
Answer: Mark 9:50. Salt is the fear of God and desire to please Him. That keeps the soul separate from evil, and connects it with God. This sense of obligation to God which keeps, judges evil in our heart also. We are to have it in ourselves, and also be at peace one with another.
Question 176: From N. S. C.
Answer: Matt. 18:15-17 is about individual trespasses. “If thy brother trespasses against thee,” and in those verses the individual is guided what to do. The assembly must look elsewhere for guidance. It is the word of God that gives a brother to know how to act. The assembly cannot give any one authority. The assembly need to wait upon the Lord for their guidance; we cannot tell beforehand what the Lord may lead them to do.
Question 177: From J. J.
Answer: You cannot have peace with God till you believe that Christ died for your sins and that in His resurrection God declares that He is satisfied, and you are eternally forgiven (Rom. 4:25, 25; 5:1; 1 John 2:12).
If you look for good in yourself you will be miserably disappointed, for God’s word is, “In me, (that is, in my flesh) dwells no good things.” God does not forgive sin, but condemns it, (Rom. 6:6,) and tells me to reckon myself to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord (Rom. 6:11).
1 Corinthians 4:5 is true, also 2 Corinthians 5:10, and are written to cause us now to to judge all our ways, and to search our hearts in God’s presence (Psa. 139:23-24). When we are manifested at the judgment seat of Christ, we are in our glorified bodies, and no flesh in us to obstruct our sight, nor false pride to deceive.
1 Corinthians 11:31 is present discipline, not eternal judgment. There is no judgment to the believer; all has been borne and settled by the Lord on the cross (John 5:24; Rom. 8:1).
Titus 2:9-10. Slaves adorned the doctrine of our Savior God in all things by obedience to their Masters, and by good fidelity in what was entrusted to ‘them. They did not waste their Masters time preaching when they should be working.
Question 178: From H. A. C.
Answer: 1 Corinthians 6:3. The saints are to reign with Christ The angels are His servants, and are under the saints. If the Lord can give them wisdom to fill such a high place in the future day, how much more, when they look to Him for wisdom, will He enable them to determine what is right to do in the affairs of this life. It was their unspiritual condition that was the hindrance.