Your Questions Answered IV

Question 1

Who is a Jew and who is a Gentile? Are they different from born-again Christians?
Answer

The name Jew was originally used to refer to the direct descendants of Judah, the fourth son of Israel, but with the passing of time, it became a term used to refer to all the twelve tribes of Israel. What that means in today's world is that all Israelites and their descendants are Jews. The simple answer is that if you are not a Jew then you are certainly a Gentile. The criterion for being a born-again Christian is to confess that Jesus is Lord and to believe in your heart that God raised him up from the dead (Romans 10:10). This applies to anyone irrespective of nationality or race.
Question 2

What is the difference between the soul and the spirit?

Answer

The soul is the real you as it is your unique identity both in the natural and the spiritual realms. The proof of this is in Matthew 16:26 and Luke 9:25. A close look at the two verses above sees the Bible equate 'soul' with 'self'. It is the part of man that feels, thinks and decides, in other words the seat of his passions, emotions and desires and in essence the battleground of the flesh and the Spirit (1 Peter 2:11, Romans 8:5-9, Galatians 5:16-17). The spirit on the other hand is that part of man that interfaces with the spiritual realm, in other words the part of man that knows, perceives and understands (Romans 8:16, Job 32:8, 1 Corinthians 2:11-12).
Question 3

Please throw more light on 1 Corinthians 1:18-19.

Answer

The Bible says that the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing but it is the power of God to those who are being saved (verse 18). It is the same thing Paul alludes to in Romans 1:16 when he declares he is not ashamed of the gospel as it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes. When we tell people that a man called Jesus died for their sins on the cross it seems like foolishness to them as it does not add up logically since their minds are blind to the truth of the gospel (1 Corinthians 2:14, 2 Corinthians 4:3-5). The gospel is not something that man's wisdom and intelligence can fathom that is why

it looks like foolishness but it has pleased God to use this 'foolishness' to save everyone who believes.
Question 4

Please throw more light on 1 Corinthians 7:36.

Answer

When a man and a woman are engaged to be married and the woman is getting along in years and he feels he should marry, then he should get married to her as it is not a sin. It is better to get married than to burn with passion (1 Corinthians 7:9) so this is certainly not an excuse to start to engage in sexual immorality. There are mature people today who have possibly been in relationship/courtship for many years without any plans for marriage on the cards; the truth is that unnecessary delay opens them up to greater temptation. The Bible clearly says that any persons in this kind of situation can get married as it is the right thing to do.
Question 5

When a person dies where does he or she go? Is it heaven or hell or somewhere else to wait until judgement?
Answer

When a person dies he or she goes to heaven if saved and to hell if unsaved (John 3:16-18). The story of Lazarus and the rich man tells us that the rich man ended up in hell after his death (Luke 16:19-24). On the other hand when a believer in God dies his spirit departs from his body and he goes up to heaven (James 2:26, Philippians 1:23, 2 Corinthians 5:8, Revelation 6:9). There is no scriptural support for any place that is not hell or heaven for the person who dies now.
Question 6

Using Acts 2:4 as a reference how can we grieve or quench the fire of the Spirit? (Ephesians 4:30, 1 Thessalonians 5:19)
Answer

We will distinguish between the coming upon and the living within (of the Holy Spirit). The reference in Acts 2:4 talks about being filled with the Holy Spirit, this is what we will refer to as the coming upon of the Holy Spirit on believers. On the other hand, 1 Corinthians 3:16 and 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 talk about the Holy Spirit living inside the believer. This we will refer to as the living within. We know in Romans 8:14 that 'because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God '

and that we are enjoined to keep in step with the Spirit since we live by the Spirit (Galatians 5:25). When we fail to yield to the leading or the prompting of the Spirit of God as believers that is when we quench the fire or grieve the Spirit. In other words, we must submit totally to Him and allow Him to do what He wants to do.
Question 7

Please throw more light on Matthew 12:31.

Answer

"And I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven" (NIV). It is important to state here that the parameters that define sin are designed by God; in simple terms whatever God calls sin is sin and whatever He does not call sin is not sin. In verse 32 we are told that the blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven either in this age or the one to come, the only answer here is that the judgement will be instant and immediate (see Acts 5:1-11). Whether its execution will also be instant or delayed is another matter entirely. We have heard of many stories of men and women who did not give proper respect and regard to God and who paid for it dearly with their lives.
Question 8

Reading from Leviticus 19:19, is cross breeding scriptural?

Answer

The relevant statement in Leviticus 19:19 reads, 'do not mate different kinds of animals'. The practice of crossbreeding is still restricted to the same kind of animal for example two different breeds of dog which is very different from trying to mate a dog with a rabbit. In this case, it is the practice of mating two different kinds of animals that is not scriptural.
Question 9

What happens to the married after death, are they still going to be married in heaven?
Answer

This was the same question that the Sadducees who believe there is no resurrection asked Jesus. The answer is found in Matthew 22:29-30 with emphasis on verse 30. "Jesus replied, 'You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of

God. At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven'". There will be no marriage or marital status in heaven.

Question 10

Please help me understand Philippians 1:23-24 with emphasis on verse 24.

Answer

"I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body (NIV)" This was a representation of the inner turmoil that Paul experienced at the time, if you read from verse 20 you will understand the situation better. Dying at that time and going to be with Jesus in heaven was obviously a much better option (in all ramifications) than staying alive on the earth, but staying alive on the earth was the only option that could afford him the opportunity to continue his work of ministry. Reading on to verse 25 tells us that he realised that the option of staying alive and finishing his ministry work was more expedient.
Question 11

Please explain this version of Proverbs 20:27, 'The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord, searching all the inward parts of his belly'
Answer

Man is made up of three parts; in essence he has a spirit, he has a soul and he has a body. You will understand this verse of the Scriptures in the light of 1 Corinthians 2:11 which says, "For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's

spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God" The spirit together with the soul forms the inner man (Hebrews 4:12, 2
Corinthians 4:16, Psalm 103:1) and that is what this verse alludes to.
Question 12

Did Jesus Christ die on a cross or on a tree?

Answer

All the accounts of the gospel are unanimous in their statement that Jesus had to carry a cross on which he was later crucified by the soldiers (Matthew 27:32-40, Mark 15:21-30, Luke 23:26-33, John 19:17-23). The references to Jesus being crucified on a tree can be found in 1 Peter 2:24 and Galatians 3:13, and are at best literary expressions seeing that a cross is made of wood which is obtained from the tree. This particular figure of speech is called synecdoche.

Question 13

Does God judge immediately after death or leave everything until judgement day?
Answer

This is slightly similar to question 5 in that it addresses the post-death state of man. First off, there are five departments in the underworld and they are Paradise, the home of the righteous dead before Jesus' resurrection (Luke 23:42-43, Luke 16:22, Ephesians4:8-9, Hebrews 2:13-15 ); Tartarus, the compartment housing the fallen angels who rebelled against God with Satan (2 Peter 2:24, Jude 6); Hades otherwise called Hell, the home of all the unrighteous dead (Luke 16:23); the Abyss, the place of demonic spirits (Revelation 9:1-2, 11, Revelation 11:7); and finally the lake of fire, the last destination for Satan, the Antichrist, the false prophet and all sinners (Revelation 19:20, Revelation 20:10,15). The Bible says in Hebrews 9:27 NIV, "Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgement" When anyone dies now, depending on whether he or she accepted Christ as Lord and Saviour while on earth he or she will end up in heaven or hell immediately. Everyone who ends up in hell will still have to stand before the great white throne for the final judgement (Revelation 20:11-15). This is judgement proper as what happens immediately after death is a separation from God and not judgement in the real sense of the word. All believers, on the other hand, will have to appear before the judgement seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10) to receive their reward (1 Corinthians 3:10-15, James 1:12, 1 Peter 5:4, 2 Timothy 4:8, Revelation 2:10, Revelation 3:11). There is a distinct difference between the two scenarios.
Question 14

As born-again Christians, are we made righteous or do we work to be righteous?

Answer

The Bible clearly says in 2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV that, "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God". This clearly means that we have been made righteous in Christ Jesus by virtue of his finished work on the cross, when he bore ours sins in his body, so it is our inherent nature as believers in Christ Jesus. This nature of righteousness is received by faith in Jesus Christ as seen in Romans 3:22 NIV, "This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe..." It is important to state here that holiness requires a working-out as it is a state unlike righteousness that is a nature (Hebrews 12:14, 1 Peter 1:15-16).

Question 15

What is the meaning of baptism and should it be by immersion or sprinkling?

Answer

Baptism is a rite that exemplifies the death of a believer to sin and his being made alive to righteousness in God through Christ Jesus. Colossians 2:12 says, having

been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead. In the light of the above Scripture, it becomes
clear that the rite of baptism is one that requires a consciousness and acceptance of the finished work of Christ on the cross on the part of the one being baptised (Romans 6:3-4). If we are to follow the Scriptures then baptism is by immersion and anything short of this is purely an artificial practice (Matthew 3:16).
Question 16

What is the biblical view on reincarnation?

Answer

Reincarnation has no scriptural basis whatsoever. I will explain this using the often misunderstood comparison between Elijah and John the Baptist based on the statement by Jesus in Matthew 11:14. The reference in Matthew 11:14, alludes to the similarity in the work and ministry of both Elijah and John the Baptist. Elijah was the first major prophet who helped kings to maintain a good relationship with the Lord and John the Baptist was the first person to speak about the new order of worship to be revealed in Jesus the Messiah. It is also instructive to read the account of the transfiguration of Jesus in Matthew 17:1-13 with special emphasis on verse 4 and verse 11. Peter identifies the two people as Moses and Elijah (who were not his contemporaries!). If Elijah had come back as John the Baptist, Peter would simply have identified him as John and not as Elijah. In verse 11, Jesus gives us insight into the similarity in the work of Elijah and John the Baptist.

Authors note: This is a transcript of a discussion forum at the Parish Youth Chapel, Church of the Pentecost (Anglican Communion), 21 Road, Festac Town, Lagos at both 7am and 10am services on Sunday, 15th July 2012, over which I presided in my capacity as Coordinator. All scripture quotations are from the New International Version (NIV).