Question: What does Joshua 4:1-9 teach us? T. H.
Answer: Read chapters 3 and 4. Jordan river is another type of the death of Christ.
At the Red Sea we saw all our enemies dead on the seashore. Our sins all gone.
At Jordan we see Christ’s and our death with Him.
In the stones taken out we have a memorial, a constant reminder that we came up out of that death.
In the stones put in by Joshua, is a picture that our old, man was crucified with Christ, and is now to be seen no longer.
God sees us now “in Christ,” risen with Christ, and Christ in us in the life He has given us (Col. 3:1-4). We are therefore to mortify (keep in the place of death) the members, of the old man (Col. 3:5).
Question: What is, the difference between the Jew in Romans 2:18, “approving the things that are more excellent,” and the Christians in Philippians 1:10 doing the same thing? J. T. G.
Answer: The Apostle is convicting the Jew, having the knowledge of the law, of breaking the law, and was therefore under its curse (Rom. 3:9, 19, 20; Gal. 3:10; Matt. 5:20).
In Philippians 1:10 the Apostle is praying for the spiritual progress of the saints in Christ Jesus, that is, all believers in Christ Jesus, that their love might abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment: that they might approve things that are excellent, or, try things that differ (margin); that they might be sincere before God, and without offense before men, till the day of Christ, and thus be filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.
The first is convincing the Jews of their transgression, and thus showing their need of the Saviour.
The second is encouraging the Christians to abound in love yet more and more, as the only way, to gain true knowledge, and to glorify God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Question: What was King David’s sin in numbering the people who were under him? He said, “These poor sheep what have they done?” Why did the Lord then judge the people? (1 Chron. 21:1-17). J. E.
Answer: God is holy, and judges sin, and will ever do so sooner or later in all parts of His universe. On the ground of the work of Christ, redemption comes in for all who are broken and contrite of heart before Him.
2 Samuel 24:1 tells us that the people were also guilty, and that David’s sin was also their sin. We may not understand what God is doing now. Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?
Question: Please explain Malachi 4:3. A. V.
Answer: Malachi is prophesying of the restoration of Israel, and of the judgment of their enemies. It is judgment of nations on earth.
Question: “The dead know not anything” (Eccl. 9:5). Is this so? F. V.
Answer: Ecclesiastes tells us what is “under the sun.” Eternal issues are seen in the New Testament, as in Luke 16:19-31. What fools men are, trying to persuade their minds that there is no judgment. But the Word of God is plain, and enduring, and everyone must give an account to God, and everyone will need to bear the judgment of his own sins, unless he comes to “repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Reader, do not quibble or reason! Come to the Saviour. Come as you are. Come today. Harden not your hearts.
“How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?” (Heb. 2:3).
Question: Can an assembly deliver a person unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus? (1 Cor. 5:5). E. M.
Answer: No. It needed apostolic authority to do that. The gathering’s simple duty when evil comes in, is to put away from among themselves that wicked person. That is obedience to the Word (1 Cor. 5:13).
Question: Does 1 Corinthians 5:5 apply to saints? P. A.
Answer: Yes. 1 Corinthians 5:5 refers to God’s discipline on His sinful child who was living in fornication. We see that he was restored, after he repented and judged his sin (2 Cor. 2:7.11, and 7:10, 11).
In 1 Timothy 1:20 we find two that made shipwreck of their faith, and lost their good conscience and became blasphemers. The Apostle delivered them unto Satan that they might learn not to blaspheme. This was in both instances the act of God by the Apostle. When the assembly puts away a wicked person, it is their simple duty (1 Cor. 5:13), but they do not deliver the person to Satan.