Priscilla Van Der Hart

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Avrell Bowden - "If I die tonight, where will I be? Heaven or hell?” People make commitments to God an confessions of faith that sometimes have no reality.  At age 6 I made a false profession of salvation. That is, I told people I was saved. (more)

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James Dyck

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Debby Stickfort

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Crossword Puzzle Maker

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DID GOD DIE?

Is it wrong to assert that God died on the cross? If so, we must revise some of our hymns, e.g.,

“Save in the cross of Christ, my God,” and “When Christ, the Mighty Maker, dies.”

It is quite possible that some of our hymns (though not perhaps above) need revising; at best they are human compositions, but let it be done by those capable for such work. Not every amateur possesses the poetic gift. Better leave out a hymn, than maul it. Certainly it is quite unscriptural to say that “God died on the cross,” for “God only hath immortality,” and as such of course cannot die, but this does not imply that the One who hung upon the cross was not God, for He was, and Thomas was perfectly right when he exclaimed later, “My Lord and my God.”

Perhaps an illustration will make the matter plainer. We read twice in Psalm 121" TARGET="_blank">Psalm 121 that “Jehovah slumbers not nor sleeps.” Are we then to assert when we read in Mark 4" TARGET="_blank">Mark 4: 38 of our Lord that “He was asleep on a pillow,” that God was asleep, or that He who was asleep was not God? Neither the one nor the other, for both assertions would be false. Hebrews 2:14" TARGET="_blank">Hebrews 2:14 teaches that He who in chapter 1 is spoken of as the Son, the Heir of all things, the Creator and Sustainer of all things, and Who as such possessed Immortality, and was therefore immune from death, did Himself in order to purge our sins “take part of flesh and blood, that through death, etc.” He did not cease to be what He was before; but He became flesh, and so far capable of death, though never subject to death, as we are.

W.H.

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Will there be regrets in Heaven for believers?

Will Christians who waste their lives feel regret in Heaven for all eternity?   Yes. 

The key passages on the rewards of the believer at the Judgement Seat of Christ is found in 1 Corinthians 3:11-15" TARGET="_blank">1 Corinthians 3:11-15 and in the parables of reward mentioned in Luke 19" TARGET="_blank">Luke 19 and Matthew 25." TARGET="_blank">Matthew 25.

1 Corinthians 3:11-15" TARGET="_blank">1 Corinthians 3:11-15 teaches security for a believer as well as losses that occur when a believer's work is evaluated by God as worthless…

(11) For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.  (12)  Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw--  (13)  each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.  (14)  If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward.  (15)  If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.

1. The foundation is Christ.  A believer doesn't worry about building his salvation or collecting enough good works in order to enter heaven.
2. The works are judged, not the person.  The believer is not going to pass through fire or suffer torments of hell to purify him.  In the day of reckoning God will look at motives and actions that one has done on the earth and those actions will be put through the fire, not the person himself.
3. The person whose works are shown to be worthless will be saved even though it will be like escaping from a fire with nothing but the bare necessities.

1. The servants are waiting in faith that their master will return.  The kingdom is coming and the master of the house will be calling his servants to account for how they acted while he was away.
2. Each servant was given the same amount of money – one talent.  A talent is a measurement of weight, 125 pounds to be exact.  It was a sizable amount of wealth that he entrusted to each servant.  The equal amount of wealth is similar to the things we all have equally – one life, one reputation, one family, one set of friends etc.
3. Each servant brought different results.  The most diligent earned 10 times the original amount.
4. Each servant received further authority in the Kingdom of God directly proportional to the results of their work.  In the age of the Millennium, Christ will reign over the earth and his saints will reign with him (Revelation 20:4)." TARGET="_blank">Revelation 20:4).  1 Corinthians 6:3" TARGET="_blank">1 Corinthians 6:3 states simply "we will judge angels".  Clearly, we will share the job of ruling with Christ Himself.

5)    The loss of promotion for the final servant left him completely empty in the coming kingdom. We lose what we don't use.  "From the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away." (v.26)  Comparing the phrase in 1 Corinthians 3:15" TARGET="_blank">1 Corinthians 3:15 "He shall suffer loss" with this parable shows that the loss is further work to be done for the Lord.  The cup of cold water will not be forgotten.  Neither will the lazy Christian who wasted his life.

1. The servants in this parable receive different initial amounts.  This shows that some of us have natural advantages such as more money, better parents, special skills or abilities etc. In regards to punishment of the wicked, Christ said "Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more. " (Luke 12:48)" TARGET="_blank">Luke 12:48)
2. The servants who were pleasing to their master doubled their money.  Each fulfilled his responsibility to what was expected although the actual quantities were different.
3. The final servant is much different in this parable.  His actions proved that he was a "slothful servant", unworthy of even being in the kingdom.  He was cast into outer darkness, words used to describe the fire and abandonment of Hell (see also Matthew 22:13;" TARGET="_blank">Matthew 22:13; Matthew 3:42, 50;" TARGET="_blank">Matthew 3:42, 50; Matthew 24:51)" TARGET="_blank">Matthew 24:51)  The lazy servant did not lose his salvation, but rather, through lack of good works he showed that he never was a true believer.  

2 Corinthians 5:10" TARGET="_blank">2 Corinthians 5:10  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

1 Corinthians 3:8" TARGET="_blank">1 Corinthians 3:8  He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor.

Hebrews 6:10" TARGET="_blank">Hebrews 6:10  For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do.

Luke 17:9" TARGET="_blank">Luke 17:9 Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? (10)  So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.'"

Luke 6:35" TARGET="_blank">Luke 6:35  But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.

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This can be an explosive question due to the history of persecution against the Jews for being "Christ Killers".  The Pope raised a lot of eyebrows for pardoning the Jews for killing Christ.  Of course, the Pope doesn’t speak for the entire Christian world, but he attracted a lot of attention when in his book “Jesus of Nazareth Part II,” Pope Benedict XVI exonerated the Jews for the death of Jesus Christ. The Second Vatican Council forgave the Jews for killing Jesus in 1965, but this marks the first time that a Pope has personally done so.

Are the Jews guilty of killing Jesus?

There were actually many people responsible for putting Jesus to death, including some of the Jews of Jesus’ day.  The Jews who were responsible for taking Jesus to the Roman government were the current leaders of the nation of Israel.  The Roman Governor Pilate had his own guilt for permitting an execution of an innocent man.  The Roman soldiers carried out orders in their most cruel and mocking fashion.

 
Of course the early believers in Christ (not yet called Christians) included faithful Jews like Simeon, Anna, Mary Magdalene, John the Baptist, Martha, and Lazarus.  There was tension in the early church between the believers who preferred to keep Jewish law and those who saw that Christ fulfilled the law.  Read and study the books of Galatians 1:6-24;" TARGET="_blank">Galatians 1:6-24; 2 Corinthians 3:14-16" TARGET="_blank">2 Corinthians 3:14-16 and Hebrews 13:10-13" TARGET="_blank">Hebrews 13:10-13 to see this difference.  But there is no call in the Bible to blame the Jewish nation for Christ’s death.  The most powerful example what a Christian attitude should be can be found in the words of Christ Himself “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do (Luke 23:34)." TARGET="_blank">Luke 23:34).

In later centuries, when the Catholic faith became the dominate form of Christianity, the accusation was raised that all Jewish people were responsible for putting Jesus to death which helped fuel anti-Semitic feelings and the horrible persecutions against Jews which have been documented throughout the last 2000 years - the targeted killings of Jews during the Crusades inspired by Pope Urban II, the Spanish Inquisition established in 1480 by Catholic king and queen Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile, the Nazi Holocaust lead by Adlof Hitler to mention only three.  For a Jew to become a Christian, it is more than simply a matter of reading the scriptures and seeing that their Messiah has already come.  The killings and torture done by the church against the Jews has made it an issue of “us against them”.

What does the Bible say about who killed Jesus?

It is clear from the Gospel accounts that there were religious leaders who were plotting against Jesus for a long time before he was finally crucified.  The crowds of people were manipulated by their leaders to cry “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!” at the trial before Pilate (Luke 23:21)." TARGET="_blank">Luke 23:21).  They chose Barabbas, the murderor-terrorist to be freed in place of Christ (Matthew 27:21)." TARGET="_blank">Matthew 27:21). Later in a public speech, the Apostle Peter put the blame for this decision on the people in Acts 2:22-23." TARGET="_blank">Acts 2:22-23.

I am guilty of the death of Christ?

However, the Bible also tells us that the crucifixion was part of the plan of God to sacrifice Christ for the punishment of our sins.  Acts 2:23" TARGET="_blank">Acts 2:23 says the cross was in “the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God” (Acts 2:23)." TARGET="_blank">Acts 2:23).  God turned a wicked act into a noble sacrifice making provision for every guilty man and woman in the world to be saved.  The attitude of Jesus’ death and who is guilty then becomes a personal matter of guilt.  Galatians 2:20" TARGET="_blank">Galatians 2:20 says that “the Son of God loved me and gave himself for me”.  “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21)" TARGET="_blank">2 Corinthians 5:21)

The leaders of the Jews were constantly trying to kill Jesus

Many times in the stories of the Gospels we read that the Saducees and Pharisees were plotting how to kill Jesus.  

Here are some of the examples:

In Mark 3," TARGET="_blank">Mark 3, we read that Jesus made the Phrisees and the Herodians angry for violating the laws of the Sabbath.

Mark 3:3-6" TARGET="_blank">Mark 3:3-6  And he said to the man with the withered hand, "Come here."  (4)  And he said to them, "Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?" But they were silent.  (5)  And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and his hand was restored.  (6)  The Pharisees went out and immediately held counsel with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him.

Luke 6:11" TARGET="_blank">Luke 6:11  But they were filled with fury and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus.

John 8:58-59" TARGET="_blank">John 8:58-59  Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am."  (59)  So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.

John 7:1" TARGET="_blank">John 7:1  After this Jesus went about in Galilee. He would not go about in Judea, because the Jews were seeking to kill him.

Mark 11:18" TARGET="_blank">Mark 11:18  And the chief priests and the scribes heard it and were seeking a way to destroy him, for they feared him, because all the crowd was astonished at his teaching.

John 11:47-53" TARGET="_blank">John 11:47-53  So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the Council and said, "What are we to do? For this man performs many signs.  (48)  If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation."  (49)  But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, "You know nothing at all.  (50)  Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish."  (51)  He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation,  (52)  and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad.  (53)  So from that day on they made plans to put him to death.

Matthew 16:21" TARGET="_blank">Matthew 16:21  From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.

John 7:19-25" TARGET="_blank">John 7:19-25  Has not Moses given you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law. Why do you seek to kill me?"  (20)  The crowd answered, "You have a demon! Who is seeking to kill you?"  (21)  Jesus answered them, "I did one work, and you all marvel at it.  (22)  Moses gave you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath.  (23)  If on the Sabbath a man receives circumcision, so that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me because on the Sabbath I made a man's whole body well?  (24)  Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment."  (25)  Some of the people of Jerusalem therefore said, "Is not this the man whom they seek to kill?

Matthew 26:1-4" TARGET="_blank">Matthew 26:1-4  When Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said to his disciples,  (2)  "You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified."  (3)  Then the chief priests and the elders of the people gathered in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas,  (4)  and plotted together in order to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him.

Shad Sluiter

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In Genesis 6:3," TARGET="_blank">Genesis 6:3, “The Lord said, My Spirit shall not always strive With man.”

Did this apply only to that dispensation?

The words in question are in close connection with the intermarriage of “the Sons of God” and “the daughters of men,” described in Genesis 6," TARGET="_blank">Genesis 6, by which the barrier between the Seth line and the descendants of Cain was broken down. The sons of God did not make the worldly women godly, but the reverse process took place, as is nearly always the case to-day under similar circumstances. A great increase of evil was the result, and the world was filled with violence and corruption. This was foreseen by God, Who gave utterance to the above solemn declaration, adding, “for that he also is flesh.” Man had had at least two thousand years to show what “evolution” could do, if such a principle existed. Surely he would have developed into something supremely excellent. Let verse 11 reply: “The earth also was corrupt before God and the earth was filled with violence.” Is not such a development more consistent with the doctrine of the fall of man, than of his constant and consistent “evolution” toward a higher ideal? We need not be surprised if the Modernists wish to expunge the first ten chapters of Genesis. To believe in the evolutionary hypothesis one must not only deny the plain statements of Scripture, but shut one’s eyes to the facts of history and human experience. However, God adds in grace, “Yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years”; that is, I take it, there was to be still a respite of that duration.

There is no evidence to show that the testimony of Noah, the “preacher of righteousness” ceased before the flood. But as far as I know, God nowhere pledges Himself to continue pleading with men till the end of their careers. Indeed, such emphasis is laid on immediate decision, that it would be the height of folly to count on even one more chance. We know that when the Man of Sin will be revealed God will send on those, who will have refused the truth, a “strong delusion that they may believe the lie” (2 Thessalonains 2:10-12). This moment however has not yet arrived, and it would be both unprofitable and presumptuous to attempt to show that the Spirit has ceased to strive with anyone still alive, for this is to invade the divine prerogative, and pretend to “search the heart.”

W.H.

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Can you give any Scripture for the “silencing” of a brother? For what “crime” is he to be “silenced”? and who is to do it?

This is an important enquiry. I suppose the questioner does not mean literally a “crime,” for surely no one guilty of a serious moral offence against the law could be allowed to preach or teach, even if he were allowed for the time being to remain in the assembly, which could hardly ever be the case. But I suppose what is meant is some brother, against whom, perhaps, no real accusation can be made, but who has been requested not to minister the Word.

Now, of course, we cannot judge of any particular case without knowing the details. I believe in general that no one would be silenced, unless there were good reasons—some manifest lack of gift, some recognised inability to edify the saints, some habit of too lengthy and unprofitable ministry, which had wearied hearers, or some clear moral defect. Sometimes a man may insist on reading and commenting on long chapters of the Bible, or always the same chapter, as we have known in one case, or always the same disputed doctrine, which in an unruly way he persists to inflict upon the saints.

Perhaps Paul refers to some such men in Titus 1:10" TARGET="_blank">Titus 1:10 as ”unruly and vain-talkers and deceivers . . . ,“ and then adds, “WHOSE MOUTHS MUST BE STOPPED.” It is not necessary to fill every line of this indictment, to deserve the form of discipline here prescribed. A man would seem to fall within it, who is known as an unprofit able talker, or as pushing some doubtful or controversial teaching. I do not think this silencing ought to be done by an individual acting on his own responsibility. It is a case where “two are better,” and they should act only as representatives of the assembly.

The phrase, “the liberty of the Spirit,” is sometimes quoted to show that the Spirit gives liberty to anyone who likes to teach, but in their context the words only refer to seeing Christ without a veil. Certainly the Spirit does not give liberty to those whom He has not qualified to speak. However, it does not always follow that the one silenced will never again be able to minister, for sometimes it may be that a young man may have been too quick to come forward into this service, and may develop a true gift later. I know of one such case, where the one silenced (and he submitted himself humbly to the ruling of his elders) became afterwards universally recognised as a true minister of the Word.

W.H.

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Can a Christian commit suicide?  

It is possible for a believer to commit suicide.  But it is not necessary, regardless of the reasons for contemplating suicide.

First of all, if you are suffering from symptoms of depression, you should seek a doctor's help.  Clinical depression is treatable with medication, good nutrition and counseling.  In regards to your spiritual struggles, there are two Bible verses that can help a Christian put emotional pain in perspective.

First, God says he always provides a way of escape or endurance for trials in life.  

1 Corinthians 10:13" TARGET="_blank">1 Corinthians 10:13  No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Second, Pain and suffering is part of the maturing process that God give us.  One good scriptural example of maturing through suffering is mentioned by Paul…

2 Corinthians 12:7-10" TARGET="_blank">2 Corinthians 12:7-10  So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited.  (8)  Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me.  (9)  But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  (10)  For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

You can take comfort in your current sufferings from this verse in several ways:

1)    We don't know what Paul's trial was.  This "thorn in the flesh" is deliberately unknown to us.  Perhaps you can relate better to Paul with your sufferings in this way.
2)    Prayer is not immediately answered in the way we expect.  Paul knew what he wanted.  He prayed three times with great passion. He had to live with his chronic problem.
3)    God's grace to deal with a problem is a greater blessing than the removal of the problem.  Paul learned to trust God, preventing him from becoming proud of who he was in himself.

Your emotional pain that you suffer right now can be used to learn dependence on God.  Use this struggle as an opportunity to grow through pain.

You may also be asking the question:

If a Christian commits suicide, will he / she still go to heaven? 

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