Question:
Are “fruits meet for repentance” a pre-requisite for forgiveness between believers?

 

Luke 17:3, 4 refers to a believer who immediately acknowledges and repents of his sin and thus “fruits meet for repentance” are not needed. Conversely, 2 Corinthians 2 deals with a man who had been put away from the church because of his refusal to repent and his desire to continue in a sin which was abhorrent even to unbelievers (see 1 Corinthians 5). Such a condition may necessitate evidence of sincerity of repentance prior to the church granting forgiveness and reception back into fellowship.

Answer:
Between believers, we should forgive one another according to Ephesians 4:31, 32 and 5:1, 2. We should forgive as God in Christ has forgiven us. After this, the clearing up of hurts and offenses will readily be accomplished.

As to immorality, it destroys fellowship. Where it is ongoing, one must be put away so that fellowship can continue in holiness.
When restoration to the Lord is determined in the offender through repentance (ceasing from the sin), then restoration to fellowship is brought to the former offender by the

assembly.

Question:

What Scriptures depict how heaven will look? Do we have to know?

Answer:
Though no Scripture speaks directly about the physical appearance of things in heaven, yet heaven is “signified,” or told to us though symbols (Revelation 1:1).

Heaven is too wonderful for our finite minds to enter into and to express: “How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter” (2 Corinthians 12:4). The apostle Paul who was in heaven says nothing about what he saw but that he “heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.” Therefore we are only shown the negative (as it were, of a picture) of heaven.
Along with this, Revelation 21:4 tells us what heaven will not be like, and therefore heaven has been called the land of “no mores. “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”
Someday soon, every believer on the Lord Jesus Christ will see the positive of the picture of heaven. “Now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face, now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known” (1 Corinthians 13:12).
Revelation 21:10-27 is the account the apostle John gives of what he was shown of the heavenly city. It is called “that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God.” Let us prayerfully and carefully read every word in these verses. They were written, “to show unto His servants things which must shortly come to pass” (Revelation 1:1). They were written so the servants of the Lord Jesus Christ could see by faith and understand by the Spirit of God (in a measure at least) what the eternal home of the saints is like.
“As it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him. But God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God” (1 Corinthians 2:9, 10). The Lord called heaven “paradise” when speaking to the thief on the cross. “And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with Me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). Paradise means a “garden of delights.”
The second part of the question is: “Do we have to know” what heaven will look like? No, we do not have to know or our loving God would have told us more about it in His Word, the Bible. From 2 Corinthians 12:4 and 1 Corinthians 13:12—quoted above, it is clear that we now with our finite minds do not have the ability to express what is heard or see what heaven is like. “The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law” (Deuteronomy 29:29). God does not reveal truth to us so we will have “mental furniture,” but so we will “do” what He desires—for His honor and glory and our blessing.

Question:
What Scriptures depict how heaven will look? Do we have to know?

Answer:
I believe the only verses in the New Testament that speak of the eternal state are Revelation 21:1-8. I don’t know of any that speak of the physical appearance of things in heaven.

Question:
Are there any other Scriptures aside from 1 John 2:1 that show how Christ draws us back into fellowship with the Father?

Answer:
The word “Advocate” in 1 John 2:1 and the word “Comforter” found four times in John 14 are exactly the same. Christ in heaven works to restore us from sin so that communion with the Father may be restored. The Holy Spirit on earth, who indwells every redeemed one, does the same work. I cannot think of another verse that refers to Christ in this way.

It might be good to refer to Hebrews 4:16 to show the difference between the work of the Advocate and that of our Great High Priest. In Hebrews He gives us strength so as to stand the test of faith and not commit sin. The work of the Advocate is to bring restoration due to sin being committed. Standing faithfully and not sinning continues enjoyed communion with the Father and God is glorified.

Question:
I’ve heard the thought brought out that when we become Christians we no longer have to ask for FORGIVENESS for our sins because they have already been judged at Calvary. The word “advocate” was tied to this thought noting that our Lord is continuously bringing us back into good fellowship with the Father. I know we are to confess our sins to God. Are we on wrong grounds by asking God for forgiveness when we sin?

Answer:
In this day of grace it is good to be concerned about our state before our Heavenly Father as regards sins in our daily walk, and the need of cleansing from their defiling effect. Granted, positionally we have been totally forgiven and cleansed, but to maintain a walk of nearness to the Lord, self-judgment and confession need to be carried out. “Let a man examine himself’ (1 Corinthians 11:28). “If we confess our sins…” (1 John 1:9).

Though this is a necessary practice to assure happy communion with the Father and the Son, let us be careful not to make it a legal ritual with pat expressions to be recited. David gives a starting example in the words, “For I will declare my iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin” (Psalm 38:18). The Lord’s account of the prodigal son’s return to his father and his confession of, “Father, I have sinned” (Luke 15:21), certainly could be used as an example for us.As the Lord deepens our perception of what His response to our confession will be, so will our words of confession more appropriately reflect this truth.

Question:
I’ve heard the thought brought out that when we become Christians we no longer have to ask for FORGIVENESS for our sins because they have already been judged at Calvary. The word “advocate” was tied to this thought noting that our Lord is continuously bringing us back into good fellowship with the Father. I know we are to confess our sins to God. Are we on wrong grounds by asking God for forgiveness when we sin?

Answer:
“Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this Man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: and by Him all that believe are justified from all things” (Acts 13:38).

This verse clearly teaches us that when we first come to God for forgiveness (judicial forgiveness from God as our Judge) we need not ask for forgiveness; we simply need to believe that forgiveness is ours through the Lord Jesus Christ. Like salvation and eternal life, forgiveness is a gift. When one offers you a gift, you simply take it. It would be out of place to turn to one who is offering you a gift and ask them for it. No, they are offering it to you because they want you to have it, and God’s forgiveness is ours the moment we trust the finished work of Christ.After we are judicially forgiven we are in the family of God and if we sin as a child of God we need to go to God the Father (NOT to God as Judge, but as Father) for paternal (or restorative) forgiveness. But here too we do not ask for forgiveness; we simply confess our sin and His forgiveness is ours. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Both aspects of forgiveness (judicial and paternal) are gifts procured for us through the blood of Christ shed on Calvary. Faith is the hand that lays hold of them.

Question:
Why do people say there will be “new wine” in heaven?

Answer:
A few brief thoughts on the subject of “new wine in heaven.” Psalm 104:15 refers to, “Wine that maketh glad the heart of man.” However, man has used it to excess and has therefore brought dishonor upon himself.

Of our Saviour it was said, “Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber,” (Matthew 11:19), as He pursued the natural course of life on earth.
Drawing near to the hour of His crucifixion, Jesus instituted what is called “The Lord’s Supper,” using wine as the symbol of His blood, and saying to His disciples, “Drink ye all of it; for this is My blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins” (Matthew 26:27,28). With the wine speaking of His coming time of suffering, which would validate the New Testament, the Saviour could not partake of that which gave earthly joy until such time as He returned in His full glory to reign over His Father’s kingdom. To unfold this truth, He said, “I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom” (Matthew 26:29).
The Lord has long looked forward to the time when Satan’s dominion over the earth shall be ended, and He, the rightful Ruler established, heralding a new age and relationship. Then wine can be partaken with its true significance as a “joy giver.””New with you in my Father’s kingdom” does not speak of the age of the wine, but of a new relationship which will then exist and, I believe, the place will be on earth during the Millennium and not in heaven.

Question:
What is the Scripture referring to when it speaks of “the harvest?” Is it something Christians do now or it is something that will happen later?

Answer:
It seems that the word “harvest” is used in two ways in the New Testament.

 

One way is preaching the Gospel to the lost. Now is the opportune moment. The fields are white unto harvest and laborers are needed. See Matthew 9 and John 4, among others.

The second way is to depict God’s judgment of the lost. Matthew 13; Mark 4; and Revelation 14 speak of this.