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Part 2 of 5
Q. What does it
mean when God said He would create man in His own "image" and
likeness?
A. We read in John
4:24 the words of Jesus, "God is a Spirit: and they that
worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in truth." Genesis
1:26 reads, "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after
our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the
sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and
over all the earth." The "image and likeness" of God is not
physical but is a spiritual likeness that applies to the soul.
God gave man a mind that can think His thoughts. He gave him a
conscience to differentiate between the good and the bad, and
right and wrong. He gave man a will and freedom to choose, and
ability to appreciate beauty, music and science. None of the
beasts have such qualities and in this way, man is
distinguished from the beasts after the likeness of God.
Man can know God
and worship Him and through Christ he can become a child of
God. The purpose of God toward man was that man should have
fellowship and communion with God and serve Him with glad
rejoicing. Sin intervened and blunted and marred God's purpose
for man. "The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is
eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 6:23.
Q. What does God
require of man?
A. In the initial
test given in Genesis 2:16,17, we read, "And the Lord God
commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou
mayest freely eat. But of the tree of knowledge of good and
evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou
eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." The original demand of
God to man was obedience. Man had the power to choose whether
God would be his Master, or to reject God and be his own
master. Reconciliation with God comes when man surrenders his
will to God. To "sanctify the Lord God in your hearts..." (I
Peter 3:15) means to give Him His rightful throne and to be
obedient to His will. That is what Adam refused to do and
every sinful man after Adam rebelled against surrender to the
will of God. But complete unconditional surrender to God
brings peace, pardon and power to become the sons of God. John
1: 12. God re- quires obedience.
Q. Has man done
what God requires of him?
A. No. According
to Romans 3:23, "All have sinned, and come short of the glory
of God." There is but one exception, only the Lord Jesus was
sinless. He alone was able to obey and fulfill God's righteous
law.
HOW DO WE
RESOLVE THE PROBLEM OF SIN?
Q.
What is SIN?
A. John's
definition is probably the most concise and accurate one on
record. He says, "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also
the law, for sin is the transgression of the law." I John 3:4.
Let us explain. Sin is not always a crime or a vice, although
"a" crime may be sinful. Vice is an evil or undesirable habit
or tendency; a fault or defect. Vice is something personal,
such as gambling or drinking. A crime is something committed
that involves society. To rob or to burn down a dwelling is a
crime. But sin is a violation of God's law. It is rebellion
against God. When Cain killed Abel we are told that his sin
"was greater than he could bear." The marginal reading in
Collins King James Version is, "Mine iniquity is greater than
that it may be forgiven." If Cain had just committed a crime,
the law would take in all the circumstances and then assess a
judicial punishment designed to be a deterrent for such an
act. A sin cannot be forgiven or punished by a court, for it
is something committed against God and it needs to be atoned
for.
Perhaps a crude
illustration will help. Suppose two men got entangled in some
way in a scuffle and exhanged blows and a lawsuit resulted
from the altercation. The judge would probably attach some
blame that would result in a minor penalty. If however one of
the men attacked a small child and inflicted some hurt, the
judge would look upon the deed and the penalty with increased
concern. Now if the victim happened to be some old lady in a
wheel chair, the public indignation would be aroused and the
verdict, would be meted out by the judge; accordingly. If it
should be possible that this individual would in some way
attack the Queen of England, no matter how little hurt might
result, the crime would attract world concern. The deed itself
might be small, but the person against whom it is committed
would justify almost any penalty. Now what would be the
penalty if the wrong is committed against the Deity.? It is
not the deed itself that counts, but it is the Person of the
one against whom it is committed. Since it is committed
against God, only God can forgive, thus our need of Divine
forgiveness. Matthew 9:2-6.
Q. Are there such
things as big sins and little sins?
A. Most people
regard murder as a great sin, whereas to tell a little "white"
lie is regarded of little consequence. There is a danger in
this reasoning. In the first place there is no such thing as a
"white" lie. Furthermore, this places the emphasis on the deed
committed rather than on the One against Whom it is committed.
Jesus said, "Whosoever therefore shall break one of these
least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called
the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall DO AND
TEACH them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of
heaven-" Matthew 5:19. No doubt some sins are more abhorent to
God than others but all sin "is the transgression of the law"
and "The wages of sin is death." Romans 6:23. Perhaps our best
counsel at all times is to consult I John 2:1,2, "My little
children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not, And
if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus
Christ the Righteous. And He is the propitiation for our sins;
and not for ours only, but for the sins of the whole world."
An Advocate is like a lawyer who pleads our case, who stands
by our side. Christ is our Advocate.
Q. Can a person
sin against God without doing anything?
A. In James 4:17
we read, "Wherefore to him that knoweth to do good and doeth
it not to him it is sin." There is such a sin as "the sin of
omission." Sin may be committed by doing something wrong, or
it can be committed by disobeying what is right, or failing to
obey God in our duty to Him. In this connection we should read
Romans 8:7,8 which says "Because the carnal mind is enmity
against God: and it is not subject to the law of God, neither
indeed can be, so then, they that are in the flesh cannot
please God." A carnal mind is one that is worldly, or sensual;
not spiritual. It is a mind dominated by the flesh. Paul says,
"To be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded
is life and peace." Romans 8:6. So sin is not only a wrong
act, but it is a state of mind that is not subject to God's
rule, but rather disobedient thereto. In other words, sin is
not only what you do but also what you are.
Q. What are the
consequences of sin?
A. Paul said, "The
wages of sin is death." Romans 6:23. The ultimate consequence
of sin if one persists in rejecting God's mercy until death,
is everlasting separation from God. The consequences of sin
are far reaching during life also. Sin always leads downward.
Jesus said, "For wide is the gate and broad is the way that
leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in
thereat," Matthew 7:13. There is no way to compute the total
consequence of sin except the Judgment.
Q. Is there any
way man can save himself from sin and its consequences by his
own efforts?
A. Man cannot save
himself. He needs help from God. Man unaided by God's help is
no match for the Devil, and all the allurements of sin. That
is why Christ came, "To save us from our sins." Matthew 1:21.
"For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might
destroy the works of the Devil." I John 3:8.
Part 3
SALVATION
Q. What does
salvation mean?
A. There are two
words in the Greek with mean almost the same. One is
translated "salvation" and the other "redemption." Salvation
is where we get the word "salve" from, a medicine meant to
heal or make safe and whole again. Redemption has its origin
during the times of slavery when slaves were bought and sold.
A kind-hearted man could pay the slave owner the price of a
slave, and thus redeem him and set him free. The former master
no longer held the power of ownership over the slave.
Redemption originally meant buying back from slavery and
bondage. In a very real sense sinners were in bondage to sin
and slaves to evil habits. God sent His Son into the world to
"redeem" us from the bondage of sin to serve God and deliver
us from the power of sin. The Jewish people, influenced by
their Talmud, had long expected God's Anointed King, the
Messiah to come and be their king. But they interpreted the
Scriptures wrongly in supposing Him to be a king like David
who would lead their armies to victory and world power. Thus
when Christ came to save men from sin, they rejected that kind
of a Saviour. The great fact of history is that God became
Man, manifest in the flesh in the Person of Jesus of Nazareth.
As prophesied in Isaiah 7:14 and fulfilled in Matthew 1:23,
Jesus was called Immanuel, meaning God with us. God came to
"tabernacle" with us in the Person of Jesus Christ. The flesh
was only a veil or tabernacle concealing God in Christ.
Hebrews 10:20 says "By a new and living way which He hath
consecrated for us through the veil, that is to say, His
flesh."
Q. What did Jesus
Christ do to save us?
A. Jesus Christ
was sinless, therefore, there was no cause of death in Him. He
went to the cross bearing our sins, the Just for the Unjust,
and died in our stead. We who are sinners deserving to die can
accept a just pardon by faith in Christ for He bore our guilt
and thus redeemed us and set us free from the guilt and power
of sin. Ephesians 2:1 says, "And you hath He quickened, who
were dead in trespasses and sins." To be quickened is to be
made alive, that is, spiritually vitalized. You who were dead,
that is devoid of spiritual life, while we were in trespasses
and sins are now born again by a spiritual birth. John further
illuminates this by saying, "In Him was life; and the life was
the light of men." John 1:4. Jesus gave His life that men
might have life, that is, spiritual life. After Peter preached
his sermon at Pentecost, his audience was convicted and cried,
"Men and brethren, what shall we do?" Peter replied, "Repent,
and be baptized every one of you in the Name of Jesus Christ
for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of
the Holy Ghost." Acts 2:37,38. Jesus did not only tell us how
to live a different life but He gave us a new life to live.
Q. In what other
ways did Jesus reveal the Father?
A. The entire
ministry of Christ was designed to make God known to man.
Hebrews 1:3 says Christ is "The brightness of His (the
Father's) glory and the EXPRESS IMAGE OF HIS PERSON." Paul
tells us in Philippians 2:6,7 that Christ "Being in the form
of God ... made Himself of no reputation, but took upon Him
the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men."
Thus in every detail, Christ revealed to us in time, what God
is like in eternity.
Q. What did Jesus
Christ do to enable us to overcome sin?
A. Jesus Christ
took our sin upon Himself and bore it to the cross. God set
His seal of approval on Christ's work by raising Him from the
dead, and exalting him to be Lord of all. In Romans 4:25 we
read, "Who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised
again for our justification." The resurrection is the Divine
"yes" to everything Christ claimed to be and the eternal
silencer of all His critics. The first disciples preached the
resurrection, and with it the hope of the world. The Jews,
even the disciples could not imagine God's Anointed One being
put to death on a cross, a symbol of shame accompanied with a
death of excruciating agony. Yet the prophet Isaiah foretold
it in detail long before it happened. "He was despised and
rejected of men; a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief
... surely He hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows
... He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for
our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him;
and with His stripes we are healed. Isaiah 53:3 5. Isaiah also
says, "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned
everyone to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the
iniquity of us all." Thus the Lord revealed exactly what would
happen to Christ in plainest detail several hundred years
before it came to pass. Christ, as God's suffering Servant,
became our Sin bearer.
HOW TO BE
SAVED
Q. What must I do
to be saved? (Acts 16:30).
A. No better
answer is given and no more important question was ever asked
than this. Paul said simply, "Believe on the Lord Jesus
Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." To believe
something is not just a passive mental assent, but it involves
trust based on assurance and conviction that it is true, and
thus persuaded to embrace, in this case Jesus Christ, above
every other Person. John the Baptist, Jesus Christ and the
Apostles all demanded that people repent. This is not just a
feeling of regret or even remorse where you feel sorry for
what you have done and then proceed to do it over again. To
repent is to quit and change our way of thinking and to turn
from everything that is displeasing to God. Self is no longer
the center of our life. Christ is the center. Jesus said, "And
1. if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto
me." John 12:32. Jesus is our new Magnet. When the world was
our magnet it drew us downward. With Christ as our magnet His
power draws us upward. He is stronger than the world. To truly
believe on the Lord Jesus Christ results in conversion, in
regeneration, in being born again, in becoming a new creature.
God takes away our sinful heart and gives us a heart that is
new, so that we can follow Christ all the days of our life and
enjoy Him forever.
Q. How does God
help us to repent and commit ourselves to Christ?
A. Through the
work of the Holy Spirit repentance comes in a multitude of
different ways. Sometimes it is just a longing to know you are
right with God; that you have assurance, and you turn to God
for acceptance. Sometimes it is revulsion and disgust with
one's past life and you turn in repentance for help to change
your life. It may be desperation to overcome some sinful habit
that is destroying your home and health. In Luke II: 12 we
read, "Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a
scorpion? Apparently an egg was an inviting staple diet in
Christ's time. Freshly laid eggs are usually welcome. But put
an egg under a setting hen or in an incubator, and in a short
time it becomes a revolting sight. If nature's cycle is
allowed to work, in three weeks' time there will be commotion
inside the shell caused by a live chicken that breaks the
little prison that is holding him and a brand new fluffy
chicken comes out to start its cycle all over again. Likewise
many a boy and girl have started out with a clean life. But
they have fallen into sinful ways and bad habits. Shame and
guilt are their constant accusers and companions. Life has
become a sorry sordid mess. They begin to long for something
better. If only they could do it over again! Is there any way
to make a new start? That is like the egg. There is life there
but it is all bad and it is in a prison longing to escape and
begin again'. That is the gospel message. It offers, not a
scorpion to hurt, but a new birth to begin all over again.
Jesus helps us discover this new life through repentance and
faith in Christ putting Jesus on the throne of our lives, will
make life worth while. Countless millions in all walks of life
have found that "Jesus never fails."
Q. What is the
church?
A. The Church is
the whole company of God's believing people in heaven and
earth, the Body of Christ by which He continues His saving
work in the world. It is the fellowship into which we are born
from above, where we are spiritually nurtured and grow to full
stature in Him.
The Church was
founded by Christ. Christ made this promise in Matthew 16:18,
"And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this
rock I will build my Church; and the gates of hell shall not
prevail against it." Again, in Acts 2:47 we have the account
of how the Holy Spirit came with power and baptized believers,
in which they described the event as "Praising God, and having
favor with the people. And the Lord added to the Church daily
such as should be saved."
Q. Did Christ
build His church on Peter?
A. No. The word
Peter, or the Greek word Cephas, means a rock, or a stone.
Peter had just confessed, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the
living God." Christ is the Greek word for Messiah. Peter had
just perceived that Christ was the promised Messiah foretold
in prophecy, Jesus said, "flesh and blood hath not revealed it
unto thee, but My Father which is in heaven." Then Jesus
declared, "thou art Petra" (meaning a small rock or stone) and
on this Rock (Petros meaning Himself, a huge Rock) I will
build My Church. The church is built by and on Christ alone.
Peter was an important agent, but he had no higher rank than
the other apostles. I Peter 5:1.
Q. What does it
mean, "The gates of hell shall not prevail against it?
A. The Bible uses
two words that are translated "hell." One is Hades meaning the
grave and the other is Ghenna meaning everlasting punishment.
In this instance it is the word Hades, meaning death and the
grave shall not prevail against the Church. In other words,
those believers who suffer death are not separated from the
church; they join the ranks of believers on the other side in
Paradise. Christ and also Paul referred to death, variously as
a sleep, Matthew 9:24, 1 Thessalonians 4:13, and also as a
Victory. "Death is swallowed up in Victory." I Corinthians
15:54 Sometimes the church on earth is called "the Church
Militant" and the church in heaven is called, "The Church
Triumphant."
Q. How can you
call the church "one body" when there are hundreds of sects,
denominations, creeds and cults all claiming to be the true
representatives of Christ?
A. A person can
"join" a denomination, sect or cult by simply giving
acceptance to their creed. It does not necessarily require any
change of heart or spiritual rebirth to make such a decision.
The Church that Jesus is building cannot be "joined" for "The
Lord ADDED to the Church daily such as should be saved." The
Bible church is not the aggregate of denominations, but it is
the "saved" members throughout the world that constitute the
"body of Christ." The Church is the gift of God for the
salvation of the world. By the work of the Holy Spirit in our
hearts we are born of the fellowship of believers. The
identifying badge of a believer is not necessarily the
absolute correctness of the doctrine he holds, important as
that may be, but the love of God he exhibits. I John 2:5,6
puts it in these cogent words, "But whoso keepeth His Word, in
him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that
we are in Him. He that abideth in Him ought himself to walk,
even as He walked." The genuineness of our faith is verified
not only by our talk, but especially by our walk.
Q. What is the
task of the Church?
A. The first task
of the church is to worship God. Worship is the highest
activity of man. Worship comes from the Anglo-Saxon word 11
worth-ship," what you attach worth to. When we permit anything
in our lives above God, we are guilty of idolatry, giving
worth-ship to some other priority, which in reality is a false
god. The believer should aim to offer an unceasing stream of
worship, prayer, praise, thanksgiving and adoration to God,
and join heart and voice with every other redeemed person
giving glory to God. Often our church services are turned into
programs having little singing, an offering, a little prayer
and sermon. This can be an edifying experience but not always
a worshipful one. Worship involves reverence, high respect,
honor and adoration. Worship is not a ceremony or a rite,
neither is it a program or an entertainment. It involves
prayer, adoration, supplication, confession and all the acts
whereby one seeks the fullness of God. Prayer is not a
recitation of our wants to God but it is our soul's sincere
desire whether in uttered words or unspoken desires.
Second. It is the
duty of the church to care for and be concerned with the needs
of others. This is well worded in Galatians 6: 10, "As we have
therefore opportunity let us do good to all men, especially
unto them who are of the household of faith." The Christian
should be friendly, hospitable and courteous to all. If a
believer falls into shame or sin, we should remember Galatians
6:1, "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are
spiritual restore such an one in the spirit of meekness;
considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted." Too often the
Christian attitude in such cases has been to criticize and
condemn. It should be redemptive and bring restoration.
The third concern
of the church is its missionary outreach. Jesus told us to "Go
ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the
Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have
commanded you..." Matthew 28:19,20. The Christian church is
both Catholic, that is universal, and Apostolic, that is
missionary and evangelistic. As Wesley said, "The world is my
parish." The church is not parochial, not discriminatory, not
racial or any other divisive thing. It is the "whole gospel to
the whole world."
Fourth, the church
cannot turn a deaf ear to those crying for healing and hunger.
The unfortunate ones who are ill clad and without a roof over
their heads, whether by their own fault or by some disaster
such as earthquake or war, it is the Christian duty to help.
Such help should be given through the Church so the funds are
distributed carefully in Christ's Name, or through some
bonafide organization that assures a guarantee that the funds
will be used right. One should be careful giving
indiscriminately for not all calls for help are valid.
Fifth, the church
should be militant against all forms of evil and crime. The
church should exercise its voice against alcohol, the drug
traffic, the vendors of pornography and mental sewage. It
should be alert to improper politics and to all forms of
gambling, as well as the prevailing laxity of morals on the
television screen and radio. When Cain killed Abel there was
no witness but the Bible savs, "That Abel found a voice that
cried to God from the ground." (Knox translation) It is the
Christian duty to protest against evil and witness against its
subtle influence to pervert the media from being a power for
good, to become a power for evil.
The sixth way in
which the task of the church calls for effort is in the
relationship that man has with his neighbor and with each
other. The church cannot be complacent about the great number
of divorces, nor the growing menace of juvenile crime, nor any
of the other evils that afflict the world around us. This
statement merely shows how far we have to go to accomplish our
task. "Lead on, 0 King Eternal!"
Q. How has God
equipped the church for the task?
A. Paul's words in
2 Cor. 10:4,5 are pertinent here. "For the weapons of our
warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling
down of strongholds; casting down imaginations and every high
thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and
bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of
Christ." To further carry out this lofty ideal, Paul said that
God gave "Some apostles; and some prophets; and some
evangelists; and some pastors and teachers for the perfecting
of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying
of the body of Christ." Eph. 4:11,12. God's church is not
filled with men who are professionally equipped to teach
religion, but by men who are Divinely called and Spirit-filled
to meet spiritual needs.
Q. What is the
task of the Ministry?
A. The task of the
Ministry is to preach the Word of God; to watch over God's
flock, and to guide the people in their witness to Christ and
their work in the world. Usually men look for methods. God
looks for men. First Jesus ordained twelve apostles to be with
Him. Mark 3:14. After a brief period of instruction, Jesus
sent these apostles out to preach the Kingdom, and also to
heal the sick. In all of the ministry of Jesus the word that
was proclaimed was corroborated with miracles and signs. Thus
Jesus went about "preaching and "shewing" the kingdom of God."
Luke 8: 1. In Acts 1: I Luke gives an account of all the
things, which Jesus began to "do and teach." Jesus appealed to
men to believe on Him because of this double witness. In John
10:37,38 we read, "if I do not the works of My Father, believe
Me not. But if I do, though ye believe not Me, believe the
works: that ye may know, and believe that the Father is in Me,
and I in Him." We read in 2 Timothy 2:2 "And the things that
thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit
thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also."
Thus the gospel is passed on through one faithful witness to
another, down to this present time. Paul also said, "So then
we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you
by us; we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to
God." An ambassador is one who represents his country in a
foreign land, and he does not have authority to speak his own
opinions, but those of the country he represents. Thus a
minister is an ambassador, pleading in Christ's stead, "Be ye
reconciled to God." Also he has authority to meet any need for
help in Christ's name. An interesting rendering of I Peter
1:4,5 is found in the Knox translation which says, "We are to
share an inheritance that is incorruptible, inviolable,
unfading. It is stored up for you in heaven, and meanwhile,
through your faith, the power of God affords you a safe
conduct till you reach it, this salvation which is waiting to
be disclosed at the end of time." A "safe conduct" is a
military term issued often in times of hostility to a person
in the form of a pass, or warrant of security given by one in
authority, to enable him to travel in safety in enemy
territory. Webster. So the gospel ambassador, God's minister,
has the promise of God's keeping power to carry out His
mission. If he fraternizes with the enemy, or becomes, a
Quisling in betraying His Master, he violates his safe conduct
and can no longer claim Divine protection. Christians are men
on mission. They are men with a message from God, hence
prophets. When God guides He provides. God never asks you to
assume responsibility without at the same time providing
authority.
Q. What is meant
by the 'priesthood of believers?"
A. In Old
Testament times the tribe of Levi was set apart from the rest
of Israel to be Priests. It was the responsibility of the
Levites to offer up sacrifices to God for the people and to
act as Mediators between the people and God. (A mediator is a
go-between; someone acting on our behalf to effect an
agreement or reconciliation.) In the Mosaic worship, the
priest acted as a Mediator to take the worshipper's sacrifice
and offer it up to God to expiate, or atone for his sin.
In the New
Testament, Christ has become our Great High Priest b_v Himself
bearing our sins to Calvary. This is clearly stated in Hebrews
9:11,12, "But Christ being come an high priest of good things
to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made
with hands, that is to say, not of this building; neither by
the blood of goats and calves, but by His own Blood He entered
in once into the holy place, having obtained 'eternal'
redemption for us." Christ Jesus has become the only Mediator
between God and man, "For there is one God, and one Mediator
between God and man, the Man Christ Jesus." I Timothy 2:5.
Thus Christ has become our Eternal High Priest and our only
Mediator between God and man.
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