ANSWER #5: No! Satan is in this world by permission, with his power controlled and restrained within certain limits by God. His power, limited to deceit and temptation, is permitted exercise by God to try (test) and prove men in this life for one of two possible destinies, heaven or hell (James 1: 12; 1 Peter 1 :7)!

 

 

 

ANSWER NO.6: The Bible is clear!

"Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God" (Psalms 90: 1-2). God has always existed!

 

 

 

ANSWER NO.7: The heart that is talked about in the Bible refers to our mind or our understanding. When we receive God's Word, the Bible, into our minds (our Bible hearts) and we come to believe and obey it, then God dwells in our hearts (minds). "For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation" (Romans 10:10).

He does not actually live in our bodies. He is said to dwell in us, only because we let His words (the Bible) dwell in us (Colossians 3:16). When one obeys the Bible he or she feels (and is) free (John 8:32) and happy (Acts 8:39), because in obedience all past sins are taken away and one becomes a.true child of God. These feelings come only because our mind knows that we have been pleasing to God! "There is also an antitype which now saves us--baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 3:21-NKJV)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANSWER NO.8: Clearly the Bible teaches that God is no respecter of persons (Acts to:34). However, we must also understand that God lovingly created man with the ability to exercise his own free will (Genesis 2:16-17; John 7:17; Revelation 22:17). It is evident as well, that God has continued to love man (John 3: 16). Man suffers today because of unwise or sinful choices made in the past, by either himself (I Peter 4: 15) or others, including his ancestors (Exodus 34:7; I Kings 21:29; ). Romans 5:12 reads "Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned-".

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANSWER No.9: God will accomplish it according to His timetable (1Peter 3: 1-8). The answer as to "why" He has not yet done it, is found in 2 peter 3:9: "The Lord is not slack (tardy) concerning His promises, as some men count slackness (tardiness), but is longsuffering to us~ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. "

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANSWER NO.10: If the question has reference to the manna is the wilderness, then it should be observed that this was an unique and miraculous event and did not continue once Israel, God's people at that time, left the wilderness.

Even in the garden before sin entered, man and woman had to work for their food.

If we do our part, God will do His part! Paul tells us in I Thessalonians 4:2 to "study to be quiet, and do your own business, and to work with your own hands." In 2 Thessalonians 3:10, "For even when we were with you, we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat ."

When man fell in the beginning, God ordained from that time forward that "in the sweat of thy face shall thou eat bread" (Genesis 3: 19). If we do our part according to God's will, while seeking first the kingdom of heaven and His righteousness, the necessities of life will be added to us (Matthew 6:25-33). "I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread" (Psalms 37:25). The statement concerning sickness can also apply to hunger: "Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much" (James 5: 16).

 

 

 

 

ANSWER NO.11:: If all would learn and practice godliness (Godlikeness) racism would end because the God we are to imitate is no respecter of persons (Acts10: 34; Galatians 3:28). If any would be like God, he or she must reject racism and bigotry in all its forms!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANSWER No. 12: God is not slack concerning His promises (2 Peter 3:9). When Esau, described in Hebrews 12:16-17 as a "profane person," sold his birthright he also sold the accompanying blessing. The blessing was then justly given to Jacob to whom the birthright had been sold!

God does no wrong. "Who has assigned Him His way, Or who has said, 'You have done wrong'?" (Job 36:23). "And I heard another from the altar saying, "Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments." (Revelation 16:7- NKJV)

 

 

 

 

 

ANSWER NO.13: In Revelation 22: 17, we read that whosoever will may come! In Hebrews 11:6, "he who cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him." Without this faith, however, the writer says, "it is impossible to please Him." The faith that pleases God comes through bearing His Word (Romans10: 17). Therefore, if people sincerely want to know God and prayerfully search for Him, they can find Him, but only in His Word (Matthew 7:24-27; John 12:48). He cannot be found in the religions, books, doctrines, and commandments of men (Matthew 15:9) nor can He be found in physical Jerusalem or in geographical places or space programs.

At Athens the Holy Spirit through Paul asserted that the God of Heaven and Earth was not housed in temples (on Earth). God expected man to "seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us" (Acts 17:27). Paul said that man was to "seek" and "grope for God" and then He commenced to show God to them by his Words.

 

 

 

 

 

ANSWER NO.14: God created the physical body and the spirit of man. "And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul" (Genesis 2:7). Man is a living soul (the total being) only when the body and the spirit are joined together. When a body exists without the spirit, there is death, not life (James 2:26). Clearly, since God is a spirit, it must then follow that the spirit of man was created in His image! We have physical bodies. God does not. Therefore, the spirit of man is in His image, but the total man is not. Faithful Chris­tians will not be like Him in the fullest sense until Christ comes again. "Beloved, now we are 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"(1 John 3:2).

 

 

 

 

 

ANSWER NO.15: Yes! Christ is God! (John I: 1; John 5: 18; John 20:28; Philippians 2:5-6).

It is sometimes difficult for man, largely because of false teaching, to accept the fact of three personalities in one God or one Godhead. The Scriptures reveal quite forcefully that there is only one God (Isaiah 44:6). However, with equal force, this one God reveals Himself to us in Scripture as God the Father (Ephesians 4:6), God the Son (Matthew 1 :23), and God the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:3-4). These three separate and distinct personalities make up the Godhead or God (Matthew 28:19; Acts 17:29; Colossians 2:9)! Each of these personalities, being all-present, all-knowing, and all-powerful, possess all the attributes of Deity. They are co-equal and co-eternal. They are individually and collectively, God!

We learn from the Bible that "God created the heaven and the earth" (Genesis1: 1), but it was not the Father alone who participated in the creation. In Genesis 1 :26, "God said, Let us make man in our own image, after our likeness. " To whom was God speaking? Undoubtedly, to the other two personalities in the Godhead! We find in Genesis 1:2 that the Holy Spirit was present at the creation, and in Colossians 1: 16-17, we find that the Son was also present. They were not only there, but were actively involved with the Father in the creation process! Undeniably then, there is only "one" God or Godhead (Isaiah 42:8; 43:10; 45:21), made up of three distinct personalities (Matthew 3:16; 28: 19; 2 Corinthians 13: 14).

 

The fact of Jesus not knowing (when He spoke the words in Matthew 24:36) of the time of His second coming does not, in any way, disprove His Deity. The statement that "He would have known, had He been God" implies that He wanted to know and He could not get the answer. This is foolishness!

Deity is all knowing. That's true. But one could also say that if Jesus was God, He could not have been killed. Look at Philippians 2:5 -8.

"Let this mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus, To whom, though himself in the form of God, it did not seem that to take for oneself was to be like God; But he made himself as nothing, taking the form of a servant, being made like men; And being seen in form as a man, he took the lowest place, and let himself be put to death, even the death of the cross" (Bible in Basic English). What sacrifice basically did Jesus as God make? He made the mental decision (mind) to "not reckon equality with God something to be forcibly retained," (Montgomery's New Testament). He took on the faculties of man. One translation states that He "emptied Himself". What did He give up? Would it not be the characteristics of God. As a human child "Jesus was ever advancing in wisdom and in status and in favor with God and man" (Luke 2:52- MNT). It was not until after the Holy Spirit descended and remained with Jesus that He even performed miracles. Hence, Jesus could say along with the Holy Spirit that the knowledge was not available to Him at that time. At this particular time, the Father only possessed that specific knowledge. When Christ ascended back to the Father (Daniel 7:13-14; Matthew 28:1820), He was given a kingdom, dominion, glory, and all authority. What is important is that we be ready to meet Him when He does come!

The words "Father" and "Son" are not to be understood in the physical sense; nor are we to infer that Christ had a mother because the first person in the Godhead is referred to as - His "Father." The words "Father" and "Son" are used solely to describe the functional that exists between the first and second persons of the Godhead as it pertains to the New Covenant and His role in being the Messiah, the Christ. Jesus Christ, as God, is eternal, without beginning and without end (Micah 5:2; Hebrews 7:1-3; John 1:1-3).

 

 

 

 

 

ANSWER NO.16: Jesus came into this world to save sinners (Timothy 1:15; John 1:29). Though "He knew no sin, He was made to be sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Corinthians 5:21). The blood of animals could not take away our sin (Hebrews 10:4), so Christ became the only perfect sacrifice, by which we could be sanctified (Hebrews 10:10-12) through His blood, which was shed for many for the remission of sins (Matthew 26:28). Because of our sin (which God hates), we deserved the prescribed penalty of death and eternal separation from God (Isaiah 59: 1-2). Either we had to pay the penalty for our sins or a perfect, sinless sacrifice had to be found to pay the penalty for us. And the sacrifice would have to be more than "innocent" which would suffice only itself. A child is innocent but a child could not pay the price. God Himself is the only sacrifice that suffices. Paul tells us (Romans 5:8-9) that God demonstrated His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. Christ paid the penalty for you and me in His death (I John 2:2).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANSWER NO.17: "For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in the earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him: and he is before all things, and by Him all things consist" (Colossians I: 16-17).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANSWER NO.18: Jesus is God (John I: I) and is, therefore, all-powerful! He does not, however, exercise His power according to man's timetable. When the father of sin (Satan) is finally destroyed at the end of all things (Revelation 20:10), then sin too, will have been destroyed. 1 Corinthians 15:55 tells us that sin is the "sting" of death and that death will be destroyed when Jesus comes again (at the resurrection).   "But each in his own order; Christ the first-fruits, then those who belong to Christ at his appearing. And then the end, when he shall hand over his kingdom to God his Father, after he has abolished all rule and authority and power. For he must rule until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy that will be destroyed is Death" (1 Corinthians 15:23-26).

 

We can overcome it by destroying the 'body of sin' in our scriptural obedience to Him (Romans 6:1-18).

 

 

 

 

 

ANSWER NO.19: He was in Paradise. 'And Jesus said unto him, "Verily I say unto thee, today shalt thou be with me in paradise"' (Luke 23:43). Jesus definitely was not in the place of eternal torment. The Greek word "hades" in the King James Version is most often translated as "hell" and very often does not refer to the place of eternal torment. For example, Acts 2:27" In reference to Jesus, the passage says, "Because thou will not leave my soul in "hell" (Hades) ... ' So with consideration to each of these passages, we learn that Jesus was in Paradise or Hades.

Hades is the Greek word used by the Greeks to designate a place of departed spirits. The righteous, upon death, go to a place in Hades called Paradise, identified also as Abraham's bosom (Luke 16:22). The unrighteous go to a different place in Hades; a place of torments (Luke 16:19-31). In 2 Peter 2:4, this place of torments is called Hell. The Greek word for Hell in this passage is Tartarus. Both the spirits of the righteous and the unrighteous dead will remain in the Hadean world (in either Paradise or Tartarus) to await the resurrection and final Judgement. After Judgment, the righteous will go to the prepared place currently reserved in Heaven and the unrighteous will go to Hell, the place of eternal punishment (Matthew 25:46). The Greek word translated Hell that designates the final place of the wicked is Gehenna!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANSWER NO.20: Yes, as the Jews reckoned time! Today, three days and three nights means seventy-two hours. This was not necessarily true in the first century. The Jews of­ten spoke in round numbers, taking a part for the whole! Christ's body was in the earth part of the day Friday, which the Jews reckoned as a whcle day; that is, a day and a night (First). His body was in the earth all day Saturday (the Sabbath), a day and a night (Second). It was in the earth part of the day Sunday, which the Jews reckoned as a whole day; that is a night and a day (Third). Thus, according to the reckoning of that time, Jesus' body was in the heart of the earth three days and three nights I

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANSWER No.21: Christ was the first raised from the dead to die no more. Faithful Christians will follow at the second coming of Christ (I Corinthians 15: 17-23).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANSWER NO.22: Yesl Further, to add words to the Bible is sinful (Revelation 22:18); to take words away from it is sinful (Revelation 22:19); and to change it in any way is sinful! Those who do so are to be accursed (Galatians I :6-9). Anything outside of God's Word, even if it be at the direction of today's Pastors, Priests, Bishops, Archbishops, Cardinals, and Popes, is nothing but the doctrines and commandments of fallible men, and when obeyed will result in sin through vain and empty worship. Such organizations are to be rooted up in the last day! (Matthew 15:3-14).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANSWER NO.23: When Jesus came to the Jordan river to be baptized (Matthew 3), John at the first refused to baptize Him saying, "I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?" What John implied by this was, 'You (Jesus) are without sin and, therefore, do not need to be baptized for the remission of sins, but, I am, indeed, a sinner and have need to be baptized of thee! Jesus did not argue with the truth of John's statement. In fact, He agreed with it in saying, "Suffer (permit) it to be so now: for thus it be­cometh us to fulfill all righteousness." Jesus knew the design and purpose of John's baptism (Luke 3:3), and He approved of it, but by saying "Permit it to be so now," He is telling John that they, in this one case, must make an exception to this purpose, because

He was without sin. Nonetheless, Christ insisted that He be baptized in order to "fulfill all righteousness." In other words, God commanded all men everywhere to be baptized and because Christ was, at that time, in the flesh (as a man), in order to satisfy the will of the Father, He, too, needed to be baptized in order to fulfill His will, or all righteousness!

Some people today who reject the scriptural teaching of baptism "for the remission of sins," (Acts 2:38) say, that since Jesus was not baptized for this purpose, neither do they have to be baptized "for the remission of sins." They, too, want to be baptized (as Christ was) to "fulfill all righteousness" This could be the case, if they were (as Christ was) sinless, or without sin. But it is the case that they aren't without sin, for Paul said in Romans 3:23 that, "all have sinned 'and' come short of the glory of God. The logical and scriptural conclusion is that since "all men have sinned," they (all men) cannot be baptized (as Christ was) solely to fulfill all righteousness, but must be baptized for the ex­press scriptural purpose of "remission of sins, " which, in man's case, results in the ful­fillment of righteousness, or God's will. Christ was 'the only one not to be baptized "for the remission of sins,"' simply because He did no sin (I Peter 2:22). There are no other ex­ceptions, because all other men have sinned! Every man must, therefore, be baptized "for the remission of sins" in order to be saved (Acts 2:38; Mark 16:15-16)!

Why was Jesus baptized? 1. For Him to obey God's command. Hence, He would in so doing do "God's righteousness." Otherwise, He would have sinned (John 7:18; 1 John 5:17). 2. For testimony of who Jesus was: Jesus fulfilled the second mission of John's baptism (which no one other could fulfil either- then nor now). a. John 1:31 "I did not know Him; but that He should be revealed to Israel, therefore I came baptizing with water." b. John 1:32-34 'And John bore witness, saying, "I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him. I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANSWER NO.24: Christ actually fasted for forty days and forty nights! There is no scriptural reason to think otherwise. Note that Moses (Exodus 34:28) and Elijah (l Kings19: 8) also fasted for forty days. Note: Jesus had to have been in good health and not like the Medieval artists' conception of him.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANSWER NO.25: During the period of His public ministry, Jesus did not enjoy a residing place as such. He said in Matthew 8:20, "the foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay His head." There is no reason to think that in the forty days after His resurrection it was any different. He did "shew Himself alive after His passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them (the apostles) forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God." Paul tells us in I Corinthians 15:5-8 of some of Christ's appearances, being "seen of above five­ hundred brethren at once." However, we have no account of a residing place.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANSWER NO.26: There were many things that, at the first, they did not understand.

They did not understand when He spoke of His death (Luke 9:43-45; Luke 18:31-34); when He spoke of the Father (John 8:27); when He spoke in parables (John10:6); nor when He spoke of the establishment of His spiritual kingdom, the church (Luke 18:20-37; Acts 1:6-7). They would not understand or remember these things fully until Jesus was glorified (John 12:16), that is, until He was resurrected and enthroned at the right hand of God. The Holy Spirit, who would guide them into all truth (John 16: 13) and bring all things to their remembrance (John 14:26) was not promised or could be given to them until after Jesus was glorified (John 7:39).

After this was accomplished, the Holy Spirit was given to the twelve in a great way in Acts 2:1-4, after which they understood and remembered all things "whatsoever I have said unto you" (John 14:26; John 15:26; John 16: 13).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANSWER NO.27: Because He was God (John 1: 1) it would not be a strange thing, since He was very familiar with miracles (John 2:47; John 12:37). Not only this, but He, being eternal (Micah 5:2; John 8:58) as God, was very familiar with Moses and Elijah, before and after their deaths. And, certainly, it would not be strange for the Son to hear His Father's words!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANSWER NO.28: The purpose of the transfiguration is very significant to us today!

Moses represented the "law" and Elijah represented the "prophets." When God said, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye Him" (Matthew 17:5), He was saying that, under the New Testament dispensation, we are not to hear and obey Moses and Elijah (the Old Testament, ie., the law and the Prophets), but, we are to hear and obey Jesus Christ, God's beloved Son. The Old Testament (represented by Moses and Elijah) would be fulfilled with the death of Christ and taken out of the way (Colossians 2:14).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANSWER NO.29: Among many others, he promises forgiveness (1 John 1:7-9), the peace that passeth all understanding (Philippians 4:7), eternal life (Matthew 25:46) in a prepared place (John 14: 1-3), and that we might be partakers of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANSWER NO.30: To abide in Christ carries the idea of "remaining faithful. " Faith comes by hearing the word of God (Romans10:17). We abide in Him by our obedience to His word (John 15:3,to). He abides in us when we humbly let His words abide in us (John 15:7).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANSWER NO.31: It was in fulfillment of His prophecy in Matthew 12:40, that as Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale's belly, so would He be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. Undoubtedly, there is a relationship between His resurrection on the third day (the first day of the week - Luke 24: 1) and the fact that His disciples throughout all the ages were to assemble to worship on the same day of the week!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANSWER NO.32: The use of parables was a method of teaching by which Jesus, the Master Teacher, illustrated and clarified spiritual truths with a comparison to physical things or common experience. Some in His audiences, desiring to be His disciples, would diligently search out and accept these spiritual truths. To these the teachings were understandable and clear. Others did not have the will to search out and accept the truths being taught. Therefore, they would neither see nor understand the parable (Luke 8:10). Jesus said, "if any man willeth to do His will, he shall know of the doctrine" (John 7:17)!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANSWER NO.33: The exact tone of Jesus' skin is neither certain or known. However, being a Semitic Jew from the area of Palestine, it would appear likely that He exhibited the physical characteristics of that people, i.e., olive-skinned.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANSWER NO.34: Man have always been trying to predict the time of Christ's second coming. These predictions seem to increase at the close of each decade (every ten-year period) and more especially at the turn of the century (everyone hundred years). It follows then at the conclusion of a thousand, or two thousand, year period that such thinking would be even more common, since this time would also include another decade and another century!

Such predictions are sinful, showing a complete disregard for God's Word which clearly records the words of Jesus, "But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only" (Matthew 24:36).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANSWER NO.35: Jesus will literally return with the clouds of heaven! "And when He had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel: which also said, ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven" (Acts 1:9-11). "Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every 'eye shall see Him ..." (Revelation 1:7).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANSWER NO.36: Yes! All of these things are to be taken literally! Note that in 2 Peter 3, where the destruction of the heavens and the earth is foretold, that Peter compared it with what literally occurred when the earth was once destroyed by water. Both are instances of literal destruction!

Those who obey and serve God faithfully in this life will literally meet the Lord in the air at His second coming (I Thessalonians 4:13-18). There is no reason to infer a symbolic interpretation of this passage!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANSWER NO.37: Jesus is God (John 1:1; Philippians 2:6). It would be blasphemous to say otherwise (I Corinthians 12:3).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANSWER NO.38: No! "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). See also John 3: 16; Ephesians 4:4-6; Hebrews10:10. Those who claim to be messiahs and apostles today do so without Biblical support and are leading the unlearned to destruction (Matthew 15:9-14).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANSWER NO.39: Jesus while on this earth undoubtedly spoke most often in His native tongue. The language used most commonly in Palestine at that time was a mixture of Hebrew, Chaldaic, and Syriac, called Syro-Chaldaic or Aramaic. This is evidenced further by use of phrases in this language by the inspired writers in Mark 7:34 and Matthew 27:46.

However, since the Bible is verbally (word for word) inspired (1 Corinthians 2: 13), we can be assured that Christ spoke (Hebrews 1:2) through the Holy Spirit, giving the writers of the New Testament the exact Greek words that He wanted them to use and record in the original manuscripts. In fact, in Matthew 16:18, Christ is understood to be actually speaking in the Greek language as He uses a play on the two Greek words Petros (Peter-masculine) and petra (rock-feminine) showing that the church was not built upon Petros, but rather upon petra, i.e., the confession that Peter had made in verse sixteen. The usage of the Greek genders in this passage was critical to the understanding of the apostles as He spoke directly to them and just as critical for us today. The Aramaic would not have provided the necessary distinction!

Undoubtedly, Jesus, having the Spirit of God, could speak any language He so desired. In the passages in question (Matthew 4:17 and Luke 1:46-49), Jesus, without doubt, spoke in the language of His hearers (Palestinians) at the time of the speaking. The words that He spoke by the Holy Spirit to the apostles; and which were divinely recorded for you and me were with rare exception (e.g., Mark 7:34; Matthew 27:46), in the Greek tongue!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANSWER NO.40: No! That Christ stands opposed to the use of alcoholic beverages is made clear in Proverbs 23:29-35 and Isaiah 5:11. Note that these two passages show a connection between "wine" and "strong drink." Then consider Habakkuk 2: 15, "Woe unto them that givest his neighbour drink, that puttest the bottle to him, and makest him drunken also, that thou mayest look on their nakedness." Certainly this does not suggest that our Lord who was without sin, having kept the Old Law perfectly, including this passage, gave His neighbor (the twelve and those at the wedding in Cana) to drink and "put the bottle to them." Neither does it suggest that He Himself drank alcoholic beverages. Clearly the opposite is taught!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANSWER NO.41: Yes! Christ was bodily resurrected (Matthew 28:6; Luke 24:36-43; John 20:24-29), as we shall be (John 5:28-29; 2 Corinthians 5: 1-10).

1 Peter 3: 18 simply teaches that Christ was quickened (made alive/resurrected) through the power and agency of the Holy Spirit, the same power by which our bodies shall one day be resurrected (Romans 8: 11).

1 Corinthians 15:42-44 emphasizes the fact that the bodies that will come forth from the grave in the general resurrection (all are to be raised at the same time) will be incorruptible, unlike our present corruptible bodies. Being different from our present "natural" bodies, they are referred to in verse 44 as "spiritual bodies," not as "spirits without bodies" (2 Corinthians 5:2-3). The flesh of which the spiritual (heavenly/celestial - vs.40) body is to be made will be unlike anything that now exists on earth. It will not be as the flesh of present man; as beasts, fishes, or birds (I Corinthians 15:35-39), but, rather, God will provide a fleshly body that pleases Him (vs.38). These facts are also evidenced and implied in verse 50 where we are told that our present flesh and blood bodies, which are corruptible, cannot enter the kingdom of heaven (which is incorruptible). Therefore, we will be clothed (2 Corinthians 5:1-3) in the resurrection with fleshly, incorruptible, spiritual bodies unlike our present fleshly, corruptible, natural bodies. Note very carefully what Paul is saying in verse 50. He does not say that incorruptible "flesh and bones" cannot enter heaven! He is saying that corruptible "flesh and blood" cannot enter heaven! Note also in Luke 24:39 that Jesus' resurrected body con­sisted of "flesh and bones." That His resurrected body had been "changed" is further seen by the placing of Thomas' fingers "into the print of the nails" and the thrusting of his hand "into His side," indicating an absence of blood as we know it! This is the incorruptible, glorious, "flesh and bones" body that the disciples saw taken up into heaven and the same incorruptible, glorious, "flesh and bones" body that all shall see returning from heaven one day (Acts 1:9-11; Revelation 1:7). In that great day He has promised to 'change our vile (corruptible) bodies, that they may be fashioned like unto His glorious (resurrected) body, ... ' (Philippians 3:21) and then "we shall be like Him"'(1 John 4:2)! Note, as well, that the corruptible bodies of those who are alive when the resurrection occurs will also be "changed" into incorruptible bodies (spiritual bodies) fit for an eternity in the new heaven and earth (1 Corinthians 15:51-52; 2 Peter 3)!

 

 

These questions are actual questions asked of Truth for the World and published in David Amos' booklet "Bible Answers to Commonly Asked Questions".