Am I accountable to the Lord for my thoughts?

Am I accountable to the Lord for my thoughts?

Eventually, the Lord will manifest our thoughts at the Bema, for Paul says, -Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who... will make manifest the counsels of the hearts" (I Corinthians 4:4)." TARGET="_blank">I Corinthians 4:4). Presently, we are likewise accountable because our thought life molds our actions; eventually that defines who we are (Proverbs 20:11; 23:7)." TARGET="_blank">Proverbs 20:11; 23:7). In addition, God appreciates right thoughts, even though a believer cannot do what he was thinking (2 Chronicles 6:8)," TARGET="_blank">2 Chronicles 6:8), but inappropriate thoughts grieve God, even though a believer does not do what he was thinking.

We are accountable for our response to God's Word, which includes l Peter 1:13, "Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind." In Bible times, when a man was going to walk or work, he would "gird up" his robe with a belt, holding the flowing ends of his clothing so they would not hinder him. Our thoughts, like the flowing robes, naturally go in many directions. If we do not bring them into control, they will hinder us in divine things now and will cause us loss when we stand before the Lord.

D. Oliver
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What does the Bible phrase mean - "The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous"?

What is the meaning of Proverbs 21:18," TARGET="_blank">Proverbs 21:18, “The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright”?
Compare the following passages, in which a similar thought is more clearly expressed: “The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead” (Proverbs 11: 8)." TARGET="_blank">Proverbs 11: 8).
“I gave Egypt for thy ransom, . . . I have loved thee, therefore will I give men for thee and people for thy life” (Isaiah 43:3, 4)." TARGET="_blank">Isaiah 43:3, 4).
“They hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai” (Esther 7:10)." TARGET="_blank">Esther 7:10).
“Those men which had accused Daniel. . . cast. . . into the den of lions” (Daniel 6:24)." TARGET="_blank">Daniel 6:24).
And note the use of the same word “ransom” in the Isaiah passage, and of “in his stead” in Proverbs 11." TARGET="_blank">Proverbs 11.
The above Scriptures, and others which might be added, suggest two things. First, that God may sometimes deliver His own at the cost of severe suffering, or even destruction, to the unsaved. Second, that the wicked at times suffer the very fate which they themselves had prepared for the righteous. Proverbs 21:18" TARGET="_blank">Proverbs 21:18 contains the first of these thoughts, and probably the second as well.
W.R.

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Was there more than one Tabernacle made by Moses?

What Tabernacle is referred to in Exodus 33:7-11" TARGET="_blank">Exodus 33:7-11?

According to the sequence of the chapters, the Tabernacle was not yet built. Some have inferred from Deuteronomy 10:1-5" TARGET="_blank">Deuteronomy 10:1-5 that Moses made the Ark during this interval, between his destruction of the first tables and the bringing down of the second, as a receptacle for the second tables which could not be entrusted to Israel. What do you say to this?

Certainly Deuteronomy 10:1-5" TARGET="_blank">Deuteronomy 10:1-5 would bear the above interpretation, “and I made an ark of shittim wood. . . and I put them (the tables of the Lord) in the Ark which I had made.” Yet we must remember that in Deuteronomy, Moses is admittedly only giving a summary of things, so that events spread over a period, are compressed, as occurring almost synchronously. For dates and details we must consult Exodus and Numbers. In Exodus 25:10" TARGET="_blank">Exodus 25:10 the directions as to making the Ark are given to Moses, during his first sojourn on the Mount, but were only communicated to the children of Israel in Exodus 35:12," TARGET="_blank">Exodus 35:12, after his second sojourn there. Only in Exodus 37:1" TARGET="_blank">Exodus 37:1 does Bezaleel actually make the Ark of shittim wood, in which the tables were eventually placed. We cannot admit that there were two Arks; for it is evident in Deuteronomy 10" TARGET="_blank">Deuteronomy 10 that the tables were to be permanently in the Ark which Moses is said to have made for them—”and there they be as the Lord commanded me.” This was actually done in Exodus 40:20" TARGET="_blank">Exodus 40:20 “And he took and put the testimony into the ark.” There is nothing really contradictory to this in the passages quoted. As for the tabernacle mentioned in Exodus 33:7-11," TARGET="_blank">Exodus 33:7-11, it could only have been a temporary tent of meeting called “The tabernacle of the congregation” (Exodus 33:7)," TARGET="_blank">Exodus 33:7), to which anyone went, who sought the Lord.” After the sin of the golden calf, God would not go up in the midst of the people, so this tent was pitched without the camp. When the actual Tabernacle was constructed and erected, Jehovah once more took His place in the midst of His people (Exodus 25:8;" TARGET="_blank">Exodus 25:8; Exodus 29:45;" TARGET="_blank">Exodus 29:45; Numbers 2:2)," TARGET="_blank">Numbers 2:2), no doubt, on the ground of sacrifice. The other temporary tent would naturally fall into disuse.

W.H.

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What is the Oxford Group movement?

OXFORD GROUP
What do you think of the Oxford Group movement?

Much has been written for and against this religious cult. It ought not to be difficult for anyone who has experienced true conversion to God and found peace with Him by faith, on the ground of the precious blood of Christ, to form a correct view of a movement in which, no doubt, as in Freemasonry, Roman Catholicism, Seventh Day Adventism, etc., some true children of God are entangled. But the crucial question is, what place has Christ and His atoning work in it? It is the Sermon on the Mount, vaguely grasped, not the Atonement of Calvary, which is the favourite watch-word. It is “the Spirit” as a sort of “familiar spirit,” whispering in the ear, rather than the Holy Spirit of God testifying to Christ through the Scriptures. As far as we learn, no questions are raised to aspirants as to their doctrinal belief. A Unitarian is just as welcome as a Trinitarian; a Roman Catholic, as a Protestant; an Anglo-Catholic, as an Evangelical. It is as though the prodigal son had staged a homecoming scene, with confession, reconciliation, best garment, shoes, fatted calf, etc., all complete, but remaining the while in the far country. It is Cain offering the fruits of the earth and making himself believe it is he, not Abel, who is accepted. It is a building without foundation, but ‘best hotel accommodation’ provided for all. It is assuming the name and privileges of the family without being born into it. It would indeed be surprising were such a system anything but attractive to decent woridings.

William Hoste

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Where do the eastern religions fit into "mystery Babylon"?

Where do the eastern religions fit into "mystery Babylon"?

Current events may cause us to broaden our thinking about the ways in which God will fulfill His Word. We must be cautious, however, not to read prophecy through the lens of current events. Prophecy is interpreted by consistent, biblical principles.

Because Babylon’s roots are so ancient and reach beyond Christian times and regions, it seems to be a reasonable conclusion that "Great Babylon" will embrace forms of belief beyond Christendom. What that will mean and how it will be accomplished arouses our curiosity. Venturing into what has not been revealed is outside the realm of biblical interpretation. We can be certain that "Great Babylon" will exert her influence and control over "peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues" (Rev 17:15)," TARGET="_blank">Rev 17:15), which appears to embrace all the Gentile nations. God has not revealed the specifics of what "faiths" that will include during that future seven-year period.

D. Oliver
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What is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit?

THE SIN AGAINST THE HOLY SPIRIT
What is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit?

Our Lord’s words about the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit arose from the ascription by the Jewish leaders of His works to “Beelzebub,” implying that “He had an unclean spirit.” Whether they KNEW intelligently He was actually working by the Holy Spirit is not said, but they were no doubt speaking deliberately against the Lord, and that was a very heinous sin, leading on to His cruel death at Calvary. Could a more dreadful sin be imagined? Yes, there was one greater. That could be forgiven, and many of His murderers were indeed forgiven on repentance (Acts 2:38)," TARGET="_blank">Acts 2:38), through the testimony of the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven. What, then, is this more grievous sin, for which there is no forgiveness? It is the deliberate rejection of the testimony of the Holy Spirit; it is the sin of apostacy. When this sin has been reached, “It is impossible to renew again to repentance” (Hebrews 6:6)." TARGET="_blank">Hebrews 6:6). It is not that those guilty want to repent and are refused, but it is impossible to get them to want to repent. They become adversaries (see Hebrews 10:27)." TARGET="_blank">Hebrews 10:27). One thing seems certain, that no one who desires forgiveness has committed the unpardonable sin. Where there is the desire, confession is still available, with immediate forgiveness and cleansing for the Lord’s sake (see 1 John 1:9;" TARGET="_blank">1 John 1:9; 1 John 2:1, 2)." TARGET="_blank">1 John 2:1, 2).

W.H.

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Doctrine and Beliefs of Gospel Hall

I am having a little trouble finding you doctrine info on your website. Where can I find the information on what you believe?

Benn

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The page at http://www.gospelhall.org/faqs/faqs/your-first-visit.html would give you some information on the doctrine, style and priorities of assemblies.

We believe the Bible is the inspired, once-for-all revealed word of God. We teach that Salvation from sin is through the death of Christ on the cross. Works of any kind do not save, but provide evidence of the reality of the dwelling of the Spirit of God. We believe that the church is a group of called-out believers who share common doctrine and maintain a good testimony of honesty, good works and respect among neighbors and friends. The pattern of believers found in the Acts and Epistles is our model. There is no creed or organization other than the Bible that we follow. We believe Christ will return at some day, known only to God, to rapture all beleivers.

Shad Sluiter
www.gospelhall.org

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Is it possible that the Lord

Is it possible that the Lord’s brothers were only half brothers?

The idea that Joseph had sons before he married Mary or that those referred to as His brothers were merely His close relatives does not satisfy all the statements of Scripture. The term "brothers" in the New Testament is clearly used to refer to those with common parentage (Matthew 20:20, 24)," TARGET="_blank">Matthew 20:20, 24), nationality (Acts 22:1)," TARGET="_blank">Acts 22:1), and spiritual life (Romans 1:13)." TARGET="_blank">Romans 1:13). There are no clear cases of its use for close family relationship apart from common parentage.

In addition, the references to the Lord’s sisters (Matthew 13:56;" TARGET="_blank">Matthew 13:56; Mark 6:3)" TARGET="_blank">Mark 6:3) must refer to those who shared a common parentage. In the New Testament, the word "sisters" is only used in that way or for those who are related spiritually - which are not cousins or half brothers..

Most conclusively, Psalm 69" TARGET="_blank">Psalm 69 is messianic (vv. 4, 9, 20, 21); "My mother’s children" (v. 8) reproached Him, "for neither did His brethren believe in Him" (John 7:5)." TARGET="_blank">John 7:5).

James, Joses, Simon, Judas, and His sisters were the children of both Mary and Joseph.

D. Oliver
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Are the ten virgins a picture of backsliders?

Are the ten virgins a picture of backsliders and of Christians who are waiting for the wedding? (Matthew 25:1-13)" TARGET="_blank">Matthew 25:1-13)

To draw teaching about a partial Rapture from this parable is ill-considered, because first the context shows the parable doesn’t deal with the Rapture. Second, the descriptions of "wise" and "foolish" in this last discourse in Matthew remind us of the same contrast at the end of the Lord’s first discourse (chapters 5-7). There the foolish do not build on His sayings and their building suffers a great fall. They are not believers. Third, should anyone relate the waking (wise) and sleeping (foolish) virgins to the two states, "whether we wake or sleep" (1 Thessalonians 5:10)," TARGET="_blank">1 Thessalonians 5:10), the context in that passage will dispel the idea of a partial Rapture. Paul does describe Christians who are watching for the Lord’s coming and Christians whose behavior is like the unbelievers of the world (sleeping in the night, v 7), but he states the reason both will be saved by the Rapture from the coming wrath (during the 7-year period) is the result of the death of Christ and not of our spiritual condition.

Teaching of a partial Rapture is not in the Parable of the Ten Virgins or anywhere else in Scripture.

D. Oliver
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How much alcohol should a Christian drink before feeling that he has gone too far?

How much alcohol should a Christian drink before feeling that he has gone too far?

A simple answer is that a believer should avoid alcoholic drinking in a social setting. Drinking alcoholic beverages can become a habit and lead to drunkenness. The first time wine is mentioned in the scriptures is in connection with Noah, "And he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent" (Genesis 9:21)." TARGET="_blank">Genesis 9:21).

Drunkenness and impurity are associated, as wise King Solomon points out in Proverbs 23:29-35." TARGET="_blank">Proverbs 23:29-35. Genesis 19:32" TARGET="_blank">Genesis 19:32 gives further evidence of this. Wine in itself is not condemned in scripture; however, it is clear that drunkenness is a very serious sin (1 Corinthians 5:9)." TARGET="_blank">1 Corinthians 5:9).

Paul exhorts Timothy to "use a little wine" as a medicine, not a beverage. He limits the amount to "a little" (1 Timothy 5:23)." TARGET="_blank">1 Timothy 5:23). "Be not drunk with wine, ...but be filled with the Spirit" (Ephesians 5:18)." TARGET="_blank">Ephesians 5:18).

What about a Christian's testimony before unbelievers to whom he has spoken about Christ when they see that believer drinking?

J. Abernathy

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