Questions and Answers for July 31

1. What happens when we die?

Death is a separation.  Physical death is when the life-giving soul is separated from the body.  In Gen. 2:7, God breathed into Adam the breath of life.  The body without the spirit is dead (James 2:26 Spiritual death is when our spirit is separated from God by sin (Isa. 59:1-2; Ro. 6:23).  

When we die physically our bodies return to the earth and the spirits go to God (Ecc. 12:7).

When Jesus died on the cross He went to Hades.  That is the place of the dead, good or evil.  The thief on the cross also went to the same place as Jesus.  It was certainly hades because His soul was not left there (Acts 2:27).  Jesus and the thief went to a particular part of hades called Paradise (Luke 23:43).  The thief would have gone to the same place as Lazarus went so Paradise would be the same as Abraham's bosom (Luke 16:22).  Hades is divided into Paradise and a place of torment as we see the rich man in torment (Luke 16:23-25).  One cannot go from one place to another (Luke 16:26).  The Paradise is not the same as heaven.  Jesus was in hades for part of 3 days, but had not ascended to the Father in heaven (John 20:17).

There are a lot of things we do not know about torment.  Perhaps it is the same as the Greek word, "Tartaros" (an abyss or pit), which is not used in the New Testament.  The verb form is used in 2 Pet. 2:4 as being cast into hell.  If we go to torment, then our destiny is sealed that at judgment we will go to hell.  If we go to Abraham's bosom or Paradise, we will go to heaven at the judgment.  Paradise is a place of comfort and torment is the opposite.  How much difference will there be when those in Paradise rise to meet Jesus in the air and go to heaven?  I don't know.  I don't know how much different torment will be from hell.  I know enough to know I don't want to be in torment or hell.  I know enough to know that all will be more wonderful than our finite mind can imagine in paradise or heaven.  

Some say when we die we will not be conscious or know anything about earth.  Abraham knew how Lazarus had lived and how the rich man had lived.  Some people are hasty to make statements that they cannot back up by Scripture.   We need to be careful about that.

2. The Devil was a sinner from the beginning (1 John 3:8).

The devil fell from heaven like lightning (Luke 10:18).  He was a sinner from the beginning.  From his first sin he continued to sin.  Those who practice sin are of their father the devil.  Like this the devil is a liar and the father of it.  He is a murderer from the beginning.  He works on people to kill their soul (John 8:44).  He walks about like a roaring lion seeking to devour people (1 Pet. 5:8).

Isaiah speaks of "Lucifer" falling from heaven (Isa. 14:12).  This is a light-bearer, morning star, shining 0ne.  This is not one shining in the right way.  The idea of brightness is there.  Some have referred to matches as "lucifers" because you can light a fire with them or brighten the way.

3. What are the new Heavens and new earth?   2 Pet. 3:10-13

A new doctrine has come about, due mostly to the ESV's perversion of this passage.  This doctrine says that the earth will not be destroyed, but will be "renovated."  The ESV changes the word "elements" in verse 10 to "heavenly bodies" to try to escape the dilemma they make for themselves. Instead of the earth being "burned up" they use the corrupt Westcott Hort text that has a word for being found instead of burned up.  The Nestle-Aland text has the same word as Westcott Hort, but it has a not before it.  This would show that the earth would be burned up and not be found.  Also some are making a big distinction on the 2 different Greek word for "new."  They say that the Greek word neos means something completely new.  This word is used in Heb. 12:24 of the New Covenant.  In 2 Pet. 3:13, the Greek word kainos is used for a new heavens and a new earth.  They say this means it is new only in the sense of being changed instead of being completely new. These two distinctions are generally true, but when a comparison of the new and the old is used, and the old is to be destroyed or done away, you can see that kainos can mean something completely separate from the old.  In Mat. 26:28 kainos is used of the New Covenant.  In Heb. 8:13, kainos is used of the new covenant and showing that the old covenant is grown obsolete and ready to vanish away.  So the earth will be shaken so it is temporary (Heb. 12:27; 2 Cor. 4:18).   The new heavens and new earth cannot be shaken so it will remain.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS July 31, 2024   online questions

1. Was Jesus, being a Jew, circumcised?

Yes, Luke 2:21; Heb. 4:15.

2. Did Elisha give Naaman permission to break the commandment, “Thou shalt not bow before or serve other gods?”

No, he did not. When 2 Kings 5:18 is properly translated as in Young's Literal Translation, you will find that this is past tense. Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible also shows this was past tense. Naaman was asking to be pardoned for what he had been doing before. Elisha, seeing his penitence, told him to go in peace.

3. Were the apostles and other earliest Christians surprised that non-Jews could be saved?

Yes, but they should not have been as it was prophesied in the Old Testament.  Peter preached on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2:39, that the promise was to the Jews and their children, and to all who were afar off, as many as the Lord our God would call.  Yet in Acts chapter 10, Peter had to be convinced by a vision that he should go to preach to Gentiles.  Then the Jews questioned Peter about it in Acts 11:1-18, and finally realized that God had granted to the Gentile the right to salvation, same as the Jews.

4. When Jesus declared all foods clean, did that include alcoholic drink?

Jesus did not declare all foods clean, because while Jesus was on earth, He was under the law of Moses, and there were unclean foods.  Paul declared all foods clean in the ceremonial sense in Rom. 14:20.  This means that after the law of Moses was nailed to the cross, there was no distinction between clean and unclean animals. This doesn't mean that all foods are clean in actuality.  Would you want to eat something that was prepared in a dirty pot or pan?  It simply meant they were no longer under the law concerning things that were unclean.  Alcoholic beverages are not food, but even if they were they would be wrong based not on being unclean, but being against God's will.  Alcoholic beverages were wrong under the law of Moses (Pro. 23:29-35).  Eph. 5:18 shows that wine brings dissipation.  An elder is not to be given to wine (Tit. 1:7)   paroinos,   (alongside wine).

In 1 Pet. 5:8 we are to be sober and vigilant.  We cannot be such if we consume alcoholic beverages.

5. How long did Jesus say Jerusalem would be trampled underfoot?  How long did Paul say that a partial hardening has happened to Israel?  What does that mean?

Luk 21:24 "And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

Rom 11:25 For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.

Act 13:46 Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, "It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles.

The Jews were jealous of the Gentiles and did not want them to have salvation.  Though the law of Moses was done away at the cross, and the church was established on Pentecost of Acts 2, the Jews continued in their now unauthorized worship.  The destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans (Gentiles) in about 70 A.D., destroyed the records that were so important to Jewish worship, the temple that was also important, and essentially ended the power the Jews had.  Gentiles had already been converted, but this made it easier for them.  Certainly by the time Paul wrote in Col. 1:23 that the gospel had been preached to every creature under heaven, we can see that the fullness of the Gentiles was there.

6. In Bible days, how did the government officials (kings, judges, etc.) become government officials?

In different ways.  In Israel it was usually by lineage.  David passed the throne to Solomon.  The Herods were a dynasty, passing it to descendants.  Others became officials by force or appointment by a ruler.

7. Why doesn't someone do a "today, current" church of Christ commercial?

We are not saved by commercials, we are saved by the gospel of Jesus Christ (Rom. 1:16).  It has been current since the church was established in 33 A.D., and will be current until Christ comes again.  We certainly are to teach at every opportunity.  I think you would see these "commercials" if you went to biblically sound websites and viewed the lessons that are preached.  Are not the televised lessons advertising the gospel of Christ?

BACK TO THE BIBLE

We, at 5th & Grape church of Christ in Abilene, recently put an ad in the paper with this title showing we do not approve of departures from the pattern God gave for our worship.  We received some very good commendations for standing against unauthorized practices.  Others agreed with all but our stand against using the instrument of music in worship.  The general trend was this, "David used musical instruments, so why can't we?"  We are shown that David lived under the law of Moses.  This is vital to understand because the law of Moses passed away by God's own plan, Col. 2:14; Heb. 7:12; 8:7-13.  Since Acts 2, the church has been established and we are under the law of Christ.  David used the instrument because God authorized it for them, but He did not do so for us.  For the same reason, we do not offer up animal sacrifices, have more than one wife, stone those who commit adultery, etc.  We must have authority from Christ for what we do, Col. 3:17.  We want to please God in our worship and that is only by offering what He has commanded under the law of Christ.

BACK TO THE BIBLE

Those of us who worship at the North Fifth and Grape Street church of Christ would like to inform people that we cannot condone some of the actions that some have taken who are associated with us by the name of Christ.

Some congregations in Abilene are singing praise to God accompanied by mechanical musical instruments.  We have authority from the New Testament to sing and make melody in our hearts to the Lord (Ephesians 5:19).  There is no authority given for those in Christ's church to use the musical instrument in singing praise to God.  Our voices alone are pleasing to God.

Also, some have women "preachers," "elders," and "deacons."  They have women leading in many activities in the presence of men.  God has not given permission for women to pray everywhere in every situation as He has given for men (1 Timothy 2:8).  Women are not to have the authority that men have (1 Timothy 2:12).  Women are not to be elders because one of the qualifications for an elder is that he is to be the husband of one wife (1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:6).

We are not against women in the least.  We recognize the valuable role women have in Christ's church.  We want them to do the work that they can do in harmony with the Lord's will.  Men are also limited by God's authority in what they can do.  A young man or an unmarried man cannot be an elder of the church.  Why then should God's demands be changed to make women elders?  It is not our right to change what God has said.

Those of us at North Fifth and Grape want to do all God would have us to do without exceeding the authority we are given in the New Testament.  We want you to know that we have no fellowship with any of those who go beyond God's authority, to do either less or more (Revelation 22:18-19).

9-Jul-2023

IN MY FATHER’S HOUSE ARE MANY MANSIONS

by Charles Ivie

John 14:1-3 is often read at funerals to comfort the family of the deceased. These suppose that it speaks of heaven that is prepared for the faithful. Jesus is comforting his disciples. He is going away but he is going to prepare a place for them. He will be with them. Let us see what this means.

In my Father’s house: Paul writes to Timothy in 1 Timothy 3:15, "but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth." This ought to at least show the possibility that Jesus is speaking of the church.        

Are many mansions: The word that is translated mansions can simply mean a place to stay, an abode, a dwelling.  This teaches that there will be room for all who will enter in.

I go to prepare a place for you: Jesus said in Matthew 25:34, "Then the King will say to those on His right hand,`Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: ' " The place to which the faithful will go after judgment has been prepared from the foundation of the world. Jesus did not go to prepare heaven at this late date. However, the church was still in the future that Jesus said he would build, Matthew 16:18.

I will come again: Some would say that Jesus is speaking of his final coming in judgment. That is not in the context. Notice John 16:7, "Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you." A helper or comforter is coming to them, but he cannot come unless Jesus goes away. A helper would be given them, John 14:16. Jesus said he would not leave them orphans, but He would come to them, John 14:18. How would he come to them? Through the helper or comforter, the Holy Spirit (John 14:26).

That where I am, there you may be also: Where would Jesus be? In His Father’s kingdom, the church. (Mat 26:29) "But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom." Jesus told his disciples that they knew the way where he was going, John 14:4. Thomas said that they didn’t know the way, to which Jesus replied, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6). In a little while they would be where Christ was, John 14:19, 20. All Christians are in Christ and He is in us, John 17:20-21. He would be gone from them for a little while and then they would see Him again, because He went to the Father to establish the church, John 16:16. They would have sorrow for a while, but He would see them again and they would rejoice. In that day they would ask the Father in His name and it would be given to them, John 16:22-33. He is speaking of the church that would be established on the day of Pentecost when the comforter came to them.

Please read this, and go over the verses. If I am wrong, please show me how I am wrong.    

24-Jun-2023

BELIEVING INTO CHRIST

by Charles Ivie

Some people have a very shallow understanding of what Jesus meant when He said, "...whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16)

Many have the idea that all we have to do is accept the fact that Jesus is the Son of God, and we will be saved and cannot be lost.  That is not the teaching of the word of God.  Let us consider this passage to have a better understanding of what Jesus taught.

Jesus said that His Father, God, loved the people of the world in such a manner that He was willing to send His Son, the only one that was begotten in the miraculous way, to die for us on the cross.  All this was so that every one who continues believing into Christ might have the ability not to perish.  As long as this one remains faithfully in Christ, he will not perish but have everlasting life.  Who has the ability not to perish?   Every person believing into Christ.  The NKJV translation has "whoever believes in Him."  The "believes" is translated from the Greek present participle for believe.  It has the meaning of continuous action in the present.  The "in" is translated from the Greek word, "eis," which means into or unto.  Therefore the meaning is that everyone who continues believing into Christ will be saved.

How do we believe into Christ?  The only way to get into Christ is to be baptized into Him (Romans 6:3-4; Galatians 3:26-27).  Therefore, believing into Christ would of necessity include baptism.  Believing into Christ is a process that begins with hearing the gospel and understanding that Christ is indeed the Son of God.  That understanding causes us to repent of our sins (Acts 17:30).  As we continue to learn more of God's will, we will be willing to confess that Jesus is the Son of God (Romans 10:9-10).  Then that understanding will cause us to be immersed in water in order to wash away our sins (Acts 22:16).  When that happens we are in a position of "having believed into Christ."  In Acts 16:31, the Philippian jailer was told that in order to be saved he must believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.  This did not mean that he only had to accept that Jesus was the Son of God.  In Acts 16:33, he and his household were baptized.  Then after being baptized they were in a condition of "having believed in God" (Acts 16:34).  Faith is the process of getting into Jesus Christ.  It begins with an understanding and is culminated in being baptized.  When one is baptized (Acts 2:41) they are added together with other Christians.  That collection of Christians is the church to which the Lord adds all who are saved (Acts 2:47).  That church is the church that Jesus purchased with His own blood (Matthew 16:18; Acts 20:28).  It is the same church He will present to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle and will be holy and without blemish (Ephesians 5:27).

If you want to be in Christ where salvation is located (2 Timothy 2:10), you must believe that Jesus is the Son of God, you must repent of your sins, confess Him before men, and be immersed in water to have your sins washed away.  Then you must continue to walk in the light so that the blood of Jesus will continue to cleanse your sins (1 John 1:7).

Have you believed into Christ?  If you have not, you need to do so in order not to perish but have everlasting life.

4-Jun-2023

IS THE CHURCH LIKE A CAFETERIA?

        By Charles Ivie

I have heard it said, "Life is like a cafeteria, you can choose what you want, but you must pay at the end of the line." We know that we can apply this to religion.  People have been given choices by God.  God has made us "free moral agents."  There are two paths we can travel (Matthew 7:13-14).  One is the less structured path that leads to destruction.  The other is the difficult path that leads to life.  We are free to make the choice, but there is a day of judgment coming when we must pay for what we have chosen.  So each person chooses how he will live his life, but at the end of the line we will be judged according to what we have done (2 Corinthians 5:10).  

Does this mean that in every place where God's people assemble, it is acceptable for that group to allow the Lord's church to be like a cafeteria and choose what they like?  We are told in God's word, "And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him" (Colossians 3:17).  Therefore to offer whatever makes people happy is wrong in God's sight.

There are congregations here in Abilene who call themselves by the precious name of Jesus Christ who are making the church like a cafeteria.  If you want instrumental music in worship, you can choose that.  If you are not comfortable with instrumental music, they have another service for those "old fogeys."  If you desire women elders or women preachers, you can have that.

Highland "Church of Christ" made headlines recently when they appointed  some women "elders."  Even in the newspaper, they were labeled as one of the most "progressive" churches in Abilene.  They are "progressive" in the sense that they want "change."  They are not wanting to change for the better, but so they can be more pleasing to men.  Of course that congregation has not pretended to go by the authority of God's word for a long time, but it is disturbing to see how they "wax worse and worse."  Where can they find authority in God's word for women to be elders?  They simply assume that because God created both men and women, we all have the same amount of authority to fulfill roles in the church.  Men are to pray everywhere as we are told in 1 Timothy 2:8.  Women are not to pray audibly in the presence of men.  Men are to teach in every situation, but women are not allowed to teach in a way that they would be usurping authority that belongs to a man (1 Timothy 2:12).  This would eliminate women preaching to men because we are to preach with all authority (Titus 2:15). This would eliminate a woman being an elder because the church must be in submission to elders (Hebrews 13:17).  

Finally, women cannot be elders because of the qualification for elders.  In Titus 1:6, we see that the elder (the word elder is from a masculine Greek noun) is to be the husband (from the Greek word anēr, meaning man or husband as distinguished from women and children) of one wife (from the Greek word gunē, meaning woman or wife according to context.  How can a woman be the husband of one wife?  Let those at Highland explain that.

Let those who wish to please God choose to follow the New Testament as their guide, regardless of whether that is pleasing to men.  We know that in following the New Testament  we will be pleasing to God and we must be diligent to do that, (2 Timothy 2:15).

23-May-2023

Videos of the Gospel Meeting are being made available on our Multi-Media page (see menu above).

7-May-2023

If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, you are a saint.

You may not always act like one, but because of your position in Jesus, God declares you to be a Holy One, a Saint.

Now, go and live like one.

-- a reminder from Kevin Batten, Sun AM, North 5th & Grape church of Christ, 7 May 2017

4-Mar-2023

Welcome to the New Website for North Fifth and Grape

Welcome to the new website for North Fifth and Grape!

This site is not maintained by professionals, but it is maintained by locals. This gives us more control over the site, even though it may not be as pretty as before.