Questions and Answers (Part 4)

Brothers?

Question: “Is it possible that Jesus is the good Son of God and Lucifer is the bad Son?” While we do have such instances of good and bad sons (Cain and Abel, Jacob and Esau), this is not the case with Jesus and the devil. Jesus was part of the Godhead and did not become the Son until He came to earth. Jesus on earth was fathered by the Holy Spirit through Mary (Phil 2:5-8). He is also declared to be the Son of God through the resurrection (Acts 13:33-35).

Lucifer is the name found only in Isaiah 14:12, and it refers to the King of Babylon. Satan could only be considered a son of God in the same sense as all angels (Job 38:7). If Jesus and Satan were sons of God in the sense of being brothers, they would be equal in power, but they are not. Jesus will judge the world—along with Satan.

A further difficulty is that it would make Jesus a created being instead of the eternal being He is. Satan, however, is a created being. Although the idea of opposing brothers would make for an interesting story, it is not the case.

Amen!

Question: “What does the word amen mean?” The word translated “amen” is actually a transliteration of the Greek word amen [281], which appears in the Greek text 152 times. In the King James, the word is translated (if I have counted correctly), “verily” 103 times and “amen” 49.

Except for a half dozen times, in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, the word verily is chosen. From Romans through Revelation, “amen” is used. It appears 10 times in Revelation and 7 times in Romans. The New King James uses “truly.” John records Jesus as saying, “Verily, verily,” 25 times (John 3:5; 8:58). John ends his gospel, 1 and 2 John, and Revelation with this word. It is a word of acceptance, agreement, and attestation.

Obeying the Gospel

Question: “After Jesus died, the whole world entered the Christian dispensation. Now, I don’t know if the gospel made it to places like Japan, Cuba, or Mexico even 50 years after Jesus’ death. How would these people be saved? Can they get to heaven even though they were not baptized?”

The short answer is Colossians 1:6, 23, which was written about A.D. 64, less than 35 years after the death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus. That settles the matter—even though we do not possess the details of this accomplishment. Consider, however, additional observations.

There may have been whole cultures that rejected the gospel, just as there are today in certain Muslim countries. Remember what Jesus said in the limited commission—that the disciples should wipe the dust off their feet when they left the city (Matt. 10:14-15). A city that refuses to hear the gospel will bear the results of their actions.

Remember also that the Holy Spirit forbade Paul from going to a place temporarily (Acts 16:6-7). Why? It was not the right time for people to receive the gospel. No record may exist of attempts to introduce Christianity into various countries in years gone by because the gospel was rejected. Many cities with Christians in them in the first century no longer do. Conditions change, but the gospel remains the same.

Now as to the larger question about people being saved, it is the case that no one can be saved without the gospel (Rom. 10:13-18; 1:16). It is not merely a matter of people being baptized, although this is the culminating act of becoming a Christian. It is a matter of hearing the gospel, period. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life; no man comes to the Father except through Him (John 14:6). There is no other name by which men can be saved (Acts 4:12). This is the reason we spread the gospel. Strong congregations must grow so that they are in a position to help others grow.

Ethical Treatment of Animals

Question: “Does the Bible say anything about the ethical treatment of animals?” No. Ethics are for human beings made in the image of God. The word translated “ethics, customs, morals” is always used concerning fellow human beings and never of animals. Apologizing to the animal killed in the movie Avatar is foolish. Animals are not our brothers; Jesus did not die for animals but human beings.

However, this fact does not give license for people to exercise cruelty toward animals (Pr. 12:10). They should not be treated cruelly while they are alive—as in dog-fighting. God gave animals life; this passage implies that they are to be regarded and not abused, but God also gave them for food (Gen. 9:2-3; Acts 10:13-16). An excellent movie about a woman who devoted her life treating animals humanely is Temple Grandin.

Prayer Meetings

Question: “Why does the church of Christ not have prayer meetings?” Churches, from century to century, and in different parts of the world have different practices. The church in the first century had a special prayer meeting when Peter was imprisoned (Acts 12). Other than that, there seems to be no set custom except for worship on the first day of the week. Prayer meetings are not commanded, but they are authorized.

Hell

Question: “Who will hell be worse for—Hitler, Stalin, Bin-Laden or the nice old lady next door who sleeps in on Sundays? Or, in other words, will hell be worse for some than others?”

Those like Hitler, Stalin, and Bin-Laden will surely have a lot of blood on their hands and be among those most punished. But Karl Marx, who inspired some of them, will pay an even greater price. Darwin has led and continues to lead many to the pits of hell; no one in his right mind would want to be in his shoes at the Judgment. For how many thousands, yea, hundreds of thousands, of deaths is Muhammad responsible for? Do not ever think that a false prophet or false doctrine is not potentially dangerous. How many will enter into eternal fire because they have followed Joseph Smith or the pope?

Now what about the little old lady who sleeps in instead of worshipping God? She has not caused great damage to others as those already mentioned, but she may destroy some because of her influence.

Are there degrees of punishment in hell? Dante certainly thought so; he created nine sections of hell, each one more severe than the previous one. I don’t know which one the inventor of speed bumps will be in. If I were judging, it would be the worst. Seriously, however, Luke 12:47-48 and Luke 17:1-2: Offending either children or Christians is something God takes personally—and judges severely (Matt. 26:23-24).

What would be the point of being judged by one’s works if degrees were not involved (2 Cor. 11:15; Rev. 20:12-13). However, no one will want to be there for any degree of punishment.

Their Versus His

Question: “Why does Psalm 69:25 say, ‘Let their habitation be desolate,’ but Acts 1:20, says, ‘Let his habitation be desolate’?”

A study of Psalm 69 tells us the context. David begins writing about his enemies in Psalm 69:16; he uses the term they because they are plural in number (vv. 16-25). In Acts 1:20, Peter quotes the verse, making an application of it as he does so. He changes the their to his to show that the one specific person meant was Judas. All of his listeners understood what Peter was doing with this shortcut.

He could have quoted the verse with their and then said that the chief enemy and object of this prophecy was Judas, but he simply skipped those steps, knowing that those with him would understand his application. We live in an era when people corrupt and twist the Scriptures; so, we are careful—especially in public—to qualify our remarks so that people don’t get confused. Privately, however, we can say that we are saved by grace and not have to explain that we are not saved by grace only.

Children and Salvation

Question: “How can we know that a child understands the purpose of salvation?”

We cannot know for certain—just as we do not know the full understanding and motivation of an adult, either. But we ask questions in order to be certain.

Who is Jesus? (the Son of God; one equal with God; part of the Godhead; eternal).

Do you understand sin?

Have you repented of your sins? What were some of them?

Why do you want to be baptized? If the answer is, “Because Jesus was,” or, “Because the Bible says so,” then we need to study further until they realize it is for the remission of sins.

What is the church and your obligation to it?

Who Should Teach Children?

Question: “At what point do women stop teaching children since the Bible gives women a limited role in the church—since women are not allowed to teach in the midst of Christian men?”

Many Christian women and the leadership of churches usually want a male teacher after a youngster is baptized, and to avoid questions, such is probably a good idea, but baptism does not turn a child into a man. He is still in subjection to his mother at home and may well be taught by her in the home. By the time of 5th-6th grade, boys should probably have a male teacher (although they are not yet men); surely, by 7th grade and up it would certainly be advisable.

Whose World Is It?

Question: “Consider the song, ‘This is my Father’s World.’ Isn’t the world an evil place (1 Peter 5:8)?”

The world was created by God and was termed very good (Gen. 1:31); in that sense it is the Father’s world. Even though Satan tempted Adam and Eve and they brought sin and its consequences into this world, it is still a marvelous world. Even after excessive sin brought the flood upon the world, making sweeping geographical changes, it is still pretty good. Paul mentioned on Mars Hill that God made the world and all things in it. He is Lord of heaven and earth (Acts 17:24).

Although we sometimes now face the dangers of nature, the main problem is ungodly people. The devil operates in this realm; therefore, John could write that “the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one” (1 John 5:19). Satan is “the prince of the power of the air” (Eph. 2:2; cf. 6:12). He is actively deceiving men (2 Cor. 4:3-4). The world, however, belongs to God (Ps. 50:10), but Satan wields a great influence over it.