Question:
What are the consequences of doing sin on earth?

Answer:
“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting” (Galatians 6:7,8).

Hebrews 12:6-11: The Lord “chastens” or trains whom He loves. If we’re not living our lives as we should, we put ourselves into a position for God to make us sick and even die (1 Corinthians 11:27- 34). It is very important to, in sorrow, confess and be done with our sin as soon as possible, and accept His forgiveness (1 John 1:9). God always has our best in mind no matter what happens (Psalm 32:3-5).
But if we should marry an unbeliever, we are disobeying the Lord and will only reap much sorrow and suffering in that marriage (2 Corinthians 6:14). First Corinthians 7:12-17 and first Peter 3:1 show how a spouse is to behave if married to an unbeliever. The saved one should not initiate a divorce.
Psalm 19:12-14 is what will be true of us if the Word is valued, “sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb” (verse 10), and hidden in our hearts. We will not want to displease the Lord in any way.
First Corinthians 6:18 shows that fornication is a sin worse than others against the physical body of those who do it. But eternally speaking, all sins are equal for those who are saved, but the unsaved get different degrees of punishment.

Question:
Are there any differences as far as consequences for sin on earth or eternal consequences?

Answer:
As to eternal consequences, the Lord says that when He comes to judge, some of the unsaved will be beaten with few stripes, others with many stripes (Luke 12:47, 48). The judgment will be given to those unsaved according to their works. John said: “I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works” (Revelation 20:12).

As to consequences for sin on earth—sin can harm our own bodies: “Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body” (1 Corinthians 6:18). Romans 14:23 tells us that “whatsoever is not of faith is sin.” 1 John 3:4 tell us that “sin is lawlessness” (JND translation). Sin is the element in our hearts that wants our own will.
If we don’t want to sin—as a Christian, we must hide the Word in our hearts (Psalm 119:11). Hiding the Word is allowing Christ, who is in us, to live His life through us. Our sins may cause others to not be saved, but the more we fill ourselves with the Lord, we won’t have room for sin. If you love Him, you will want to please Him.We praise the Lord that the Christian will not come into judgment (John 5:24), for God judged Christ for our sins on the cross of Calvary. But we 1 Corinthians 3:11-15 says that our “works” are going to be judged. The Lord knows what we have done, and why we have done things (out of pride or out of love for Him). He judges our works to give us rewards which will determine our place in the kingdom of God. We will all be one family, having Him as our Father in heaven, but we should get as much knowledge of Him now as we can (1 Corinthians 2:9,10), so that we will get more rewards to cast at His feet when we see Him in the glory (Revelation 4:10).

Question:

Is there anything wrong with celebrating Christmas, Easter, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, etc. in Sunday school? Example: Putting on skits, short plays, saying poems, etc.

Answer:
Let’s consider Christmas and Easter first.

The wonderful event of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ is fully given to us in the gospels of Matthew and Luke. But there is no Scripture that gives us Christmas. Men gave us Christmas; it began as Christ’s Mass on the 25th of December, which was a pagan feast day. This was an effort to bring idol worshipping pagans into the church. It was first done many centuries ago. And from that time to this, it has evolved into the time of celebration that we now have. And it is fairly certain that December 25th could not have been the day of Jesus’ birth because there would have been no shepherds on the hillsides of Judea in December, for it would be much too cold.
The word “Easter” is found only in Acts 12:4. It should be “Passover.” The Greek text clearly shows this. And it certainly was not what Easter is today. It was the time of the Jewish Passover according to the Law of Moses. The Easter we know today is, as Christmas, a time of celebration established by the early church based on a human religious tradition.
But isn’t this whole thing a question of honoring the Lord and of glorifying Him in what we do? We surely do want to honor our Lord Jesus. Now the only thing the Lord ever asked us to celebrate in honor to Himself was His death on Calvary. We know from Scripture that when He established the remembrance of Himself in His death, He used bread and wine as the figures of His body and blood which were given for us. He said: “This do in remembrance of Me.” And when we partake of these emblems together we “show forth the Lord’s death till He come.” Isn’t this the best way for us to give Him all the honor and glory that we are able to give?
Are we all gladly doing this in honor to Him? And isn’t there something for us to think about when we see how the world stresses the celebrations of Christmas and Easter and yet has little or no thought about Him in His death on Calvary? Is there really honor for the Lord in these celebrations, but is there REALLY honor for the Lord in them, or is it just the following of natural feelings?A word now about the other celebrations. When we think about honoring one another in observance of anniversaries and other special days, the joy we have in our relationships is before us. And these are good things. For it is a way for us to show the love we have for one another by the good times we have together and the gifts we give. The best place for this, I believe, is in our homes rather than the Sunday school. The most appropriate use of time in the Sunday school as well as in all the meetings is, I believe, taking up the things pertaining to our spiritual good. “Let all things be done unto edifying” (spiritual growth) (1 Corinthians 14:26).

Question:
Is there a verse in the Bible that says that all sin is equal?

Answer:
Romans 6:23 says that sin brings death, even if we only commit one sin: “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

James 2:10 says that if we break one of God’s laws we are guilty of breaking all of God’s commandments: “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.”

Question:
Exodus 20:11 mentions a ‘six day’ creation. Does this rule out the ‘thousand years to a day’ theory for creation?

Answer:
A brief study of three different Hebrew words is necessary here. The first word BARA is used in two ways: (1) to bring into being where nothing was before and, (2) to change or alter what already exists. The second word ASAH means: to make from existing materials. It is very similar to (2) for BARA but it never means (1) to bring into being where nothing was before. So, BARA is sometimes used just like ASAH but ASAH is never used just like BARA. The third word YATSAR means: to form, or to fashion. This word is found in Genesis 2:7.

Genesis 1:1: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” The word “created” is BARA. God brought the universe into being where there was nothing before, that is, except Himself.
Genesis 1:3-2:3 is God’s work of six days. He “made” (ASAH) everything out of existing materials, with two exceptions. They are found in verses 21 and 27. And BARA, “created” is the word used in these.
Notice that in verse 3 of chapter 2 it says: “Which God created [BARA] and made [ASAH].” In the six days’ work, He both brought into being what did not before exist and He changed things that already existed. Since both words are in this verse they cannot be equivalent.
In Exodus 20:11 the word “made” is ASAH. This verse speaks about God’s work of the six days when the earth was made the “very good” habitation for man, and refers to Genesis 1:3-2:3.
Each day of the six days’ work had an evening and morning. They were, therefore, periods of 24 hours each. The “thousand days to a year” theory comes from the lack of understanding of 2 Peter 3:8. This verse does not say: one day = 1,000 years. It does say a day is “as” a thousand years. That the Lord’s concept of time is different from ours is what the verse means, I believe. I suppose that in eternity we will have His concept of time.

One more interesting thing is that the three Hebrew words we have noticed are all found in one verse: Isaiah 43:7: “Even every one that is called by My name: for I have created him for My glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.” – “created” (BARA), “formed” (YATSAR) and “made” (ASAH). That these three words are in one verse, is applied to every believer and is further proof that each word has its own meaning and are not interchangeable.

Question:
Women are told to ‘keep silent in the churches…as also saith the law’ (1 Corinthians 14:34). Does the law mentioned here mean the Mosaic law? If so, does this still apply to us? Is it just a custom of the times, and no longer applicable?

Answer:
Yes, I believe that “the law” mentioned in that verse is the law that was given by Moses. But we need to read the whole verse to see that what is meant is that there is a principle involved which is found all through the first five books of the Old Testament, which Moses wrote, and which is called “the law.” – “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ” (John 1:17).

First Corinthians 14:34 says: “Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.” God told the first woman right after she had sinned: “Thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee” (Genesis 3:16). We are told of other women in those first five books, and we find that obedience characterized those who pleased the Lord. A contrast to this is “Lot’s wife,” who disobeyed, and lost her life because of it (Genesis 19:26, Luke 17:32). Peter points out that Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord” (1 Peter 3:6). To be a helpmeet, which the previous question takes up, the wife must be in subjection to her husband.
Someone may ask: “Don’t the Scriptures say that because the believer is “in Christ” that there is neither “male nor female” in that position?” (Galatians 3:28). But though this is our wonderful position before God, this does not set aside how God has placed us in this scene. God sees us as already sitting in heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:6), but we are still on this earth in these bodies as males and females, and we must live as God tells us in this state.
The Scriptures give three reasons why a woman is to be in subjection to the man and therefore told not to speak publicly in the presence of men, and in the assembly.

1. The first reason is her God-given place in creation-Ephesians 5:22, 23.


2. The second reason is the place she has because of the fall and her sin in the garden of Eden–1 Timothy 2:11-14.


3. The third reason is the law–1 Corinthians 14:34.

So, the answer to this question is that the women are to be silent in the assembly is not just a custom of Paul’s time, and, 1 Corinthians 14:34 is still very much applicable and precious instruction for us today. This is true of all the Word of God. We cannot be pleasing to the Lord if we remove any part of His Word, or do not rightly apply it” (2 Timothy 2:15).

Question:
Does a woman need a helpmeet just like man does? God said that a man should not be alone.

Answer:

So far as I know, the Scriptures do not say that a woman needs a “helpmeet,” but they do say that the man needs one (Genesis 2:18), unless he has a special gift of God to stay single (Matthew 19:11, 12). The word “helpmeet” does not mean a “helpmate.” A “helpmeet” is rather one who is a helper for the man in the work that God has given him to do.

However, God does give most women a husband to provide for her, protect her, “nourish, and cherish” her (Ephesians 5:29). Her husband is to do this just like the Lord cares for His bride, the Church. “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it” (Ephesians 5:25). What a wonderful truth this is, that Christ has committed Himself to care for those who trust themselves to Him for their soul’s salvation. And what a blessing it is for a woman who has a husband who cares for her, and likewise, what a blessing it is for a man who has a wife to help him. But some are not married “for the kingdom of heaven’s sake” (Matthew 19:12). The Lord is very special to them, and they do not have the responsibilities of married life (1 Corinthians 7:32).

Question:
Is being shy a stumbling block when I witness to my friends?

Answer:
It need not be, and will not be, if we have our hearts taken up with the Lord and what He has done for us.

The apostle Paul said 2 Timothy 1:12: “For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.”
If you are a Christian you probably have had the experience of being ashamed or afraid of telling people about the Lord, but Paul wasn’t ashamed because he knew “Whom” he had believed. It is important to know the Person of the Lord Jesus, “Whom” you have believed, and be persuaded that He is able to keep your soul, or you will be ashamed to live for Him.
Let each of us ask ourselves: “Am I persuaded that He is able to keep my soul?” If we are not persuaded it is because we do not have faith in Him and His Word. This is sin, and sin blocks communion with God.
Ask the Lord like David did: “Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Then will I teach transgressors Thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto Thee” (Psalm 51:12, 13).

Question:
Do you think God allows sports on Sundays for enjoyment or should we just do what is good and pleasing to God on Sundays? Is being good and pleasing God on Sundays more important than sports?

Answer:
Let us be assured in our hearts that the Lord does want us to have enjoyment in this life, “God, Who giveth us richly all things to enjoy” (1 Timothy 6:17). He also has joy waiting for us in heaven, “In Thy presence is fulness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11).

We also need to realize that the One who made us is the only One who knows what really gives us joy. When He walked on this earth as a man He had before Him the joy of doing the Father’s will, and He “delighted” in doing His will (Hebrews 12:2, Psalm 40:8). Dear Christian young person, the Scriptures assure you of the thrill of experiencing “what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:2).
The question puts “doing good and pleasing to God” in contrast with watching sports. Some Christians agree that in seeking to please the Lord, watching sports is not “doing good and pleasing God,” and they believe that they should not watch sports. Other Christians may enjoy watching sports but are so busy with serving the Lord that they rarely have time for it.
One thing that is important to be careful about is that we do not allow watching sports to be a priority in our lives. We are told that “whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). Because of the Lord’s great love for us, we should want to please Him in every detail of our lives.
So, we should ask ourselves: “Will I bring glory to God by brushing my teeth in the morning, eating breakfast, going to school or work, watching sports, etc., etc.?” Each event in our lives all day long should be tested by this verse, and we should want to please the Lord every day of the week, not just on Sundays.
In the Scriptures, Sunday, which is the first day of the week, is called “the Lord’s day” (Revelation 1:10). That was the day of the week that the Lord rose from the dead (Matthew 28:1), “the disciples came together to break bread” (Acts 20:7), and when each one of the believers were to “lay by them in store as God had prospered him” to carry on the practical needs of the Lord’s work (1 Corinthians 16:2). It is not a day      of rest which the Sabbath was for God’s earthly people Israel which is the seventh day of the week (Exodus 20:8-11). When Christ rose from the dead, the Scriptures tell us that the Sabbath observance was ended (Matthew 28:1). No longer are God’s people to observe the seventh day, but special recognition is placed on the first day of the week. We are to use that day in a special way for the Lord, for it is “the Lord’s day.” Each one of us is to be before the Lord as to how we use every day, but especially so the first day of the week. It is clear from even the words: “the Lord’s day,” that we should try to use that day in some way for Him. As already mentioned, we are told to remember the Lord in the breaking of bread, give of our money, time, etc. as the Lord has prospered us, on that day.May the Lord exercise all of us more as to how we use every day of our short lives, and especially the Lord’s day, for we will soon give account of everything we have done at the Judgment Seat of Christ (1 Corinthians 3:12-15, 2 Corinthians 5:10,11). After all He has done, is doing, and will do for us, do we not wish to have many crowns to cast at His feet? (Revelation 4:10).

Question:
Why did Adam and Eve put the leaves around their waists?

Answer:
One thing is clear that God did not tell the man and the woman to put the leaves around their waists. They made that decision themselves after they had sinned. “And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons” (Genesis 3:7).

Satan had promised: “Ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil,” but after they had sinned they saw no beams of divine light. Eve probably thought that they would see wonderful things that they knew nothing about before, but all they got after they sinned was a consciousness that they were naked! They received a knowledge of being evil themselves by their disobedience, and they were ashamed of the miserable state that they had gotten themselves into before God. And so, before God said a word to them, they became judge of their own state, and they were ashamed of it, and covered the part of the body that produces waste, and provides reproduction of mankind. I don’t know if we are told in Scripture, and if we are not told, we do not need to know. But it is evident that they covered their waists simply because they were ashamed to have them not covered.

Question:
What should you do if friends you had that proclaimed to be Christians, backslid and began doing illegal activities? Should you tell the authorities about those activities?

Answer:
It is important for us to realize that it is God who has given us the authorities, and we should thank Him for them, for they are given to us for our protection and peace. Without these authorities, anarchy and destruction would prevail, and we can especially thank the Lord for the laws that are in our country which are according to Scriptural principles.

But in any case, we are told: “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.” In speaking of the president, policeman, school teacher, etc., we are told: “He is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is a minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil” (Romans 13:1,4).
Before telling the authorities, however, of the illegal activities of our friends, it may be good to go privately to the one who has sinned, and “tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother” (Matthew 18:15). And  if he will not hear you, maybe take one or two more with you, “that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established” (Matthew 18:16). If the person does not hear the two or three and if he is in the assembly, the Lord instructs us to tell the assembly (Matthew 18:17). We may not be free to go to our “friend,” but we should prayerfully consider what the Lord says in these verses and only go to him/her if we are doing it because we know the Lord has told us to do it.
If the above fails, we must consider telling the authorities if we know of illegal activities, because the knowledge itself (that we have), places responsibility on us to be separate from it, or we will be partakers of their evil deeds (Revelation 18:4). The Word of God is very clear about this. “And if a soul sin, and hear the voice of swearing, and is a witness, whether he hath seen or known of it; if he do not utter it, then he shall bear his iniquity” (Leviticus 5:1). We may be hesitant to tell because of fear of being called a “tattle-tale,” but many a person has been taken to jail with the guilty party, just because they knew the wrong and did not take a stand against it by telling the authorities. If we are going to represent Christ, we must stand for what is the truth. Association with evil does defile us (1 Corinthians 15:33).
We may ask: “What about the verse that says: ‘Love shall cover a multitude of sins’? (1 Peter 4:8).” This is speaking primarily about our relationship with believers, because the first part of that verse says: “And above all things have fervent love among yourselves.” We should not broadcast any sin to whoever will hear us, whether it is committed by saved or unsaved. Sin is very serious, for it caused Christ to suffer and die. Spreading it around is not love and can only make it harder to restore the erring one. But regarding the question of friends who are “doing illegal activities,” let us be assured that we are doing wrong to not try to help them stop in their evil ways, and when they break a law of the land, the authorities are given by God for this purpose.

Question:
What can you do to help friends who were on fire for the Lord, but have recently made a U-turn?

Answer:
A portion of Scripture that has become more and more precious to me with things around us becoming increasingly wicked is 2 Timothy 2:24-3:5. This is special instruction for the “last days” of God’s grace in which we are now living, and we are told that these days will be “perilous” or difficult for the Christian. Satan is increasingly active today to keep saved and unsaved from being interested and active in the Lord’s things, for he knows his time is short before the Lord judges him (Revelation 20:2,10).

A truth that is important to remember when trying to help our friends who made a profession of salvation and have made a U-turn is that we cannot look on their hearts, and that only “the Lord knoweth them that are His” (2 Timothy 2:19). And we are not called to judge whether a person is saved or not, but we are told to look at his actions, and the Lord assures us that “by their fruits ye shall know them” (Matthew 7:20).
So, if our friend does not act like a Christian any longer, the Lord still may want us to be used of Him to help the wayward one. Here is the instruction the Lord has given to us about how to do this: “The servant of the Lord must not strive: but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will” (2 Timothy 2:24-26).
What a solemn thing it is to do our own will, and thus be taken captive to do the devil’s will. Our hearts go out to any who are thus trapped, and we realize that “but for the grace of God, there go I.” We are told that our job is to not to argue, but be gentle, ready to tell the truth, patient, and depending on the Lord when we have the opportunity to speak to them.The fact is that for their own good, those who have made a U-turn away from the Christian pathway must, in sorrow, repent of what they are doing and show they have repented by rejecting their wicked ways. But repentance is a gift, and only God can give it. God uses His goodness to lead souls to repentance (Romans 2:4), and He may use us, by our kindness and yet faithful stand for the truth, to serve Him in this way. If directed by the Lord, the servant of the Lord will not go with them in their wrong ways. Though the Lord loved sinners, He never lowered His moral standards, and neither can we, if we are going to serve Him and help our friends.

Question:
What will happen to those who die, who never had the chance to hear about Christ?

Answer:

“The invisible things of [God] from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse” (Romans 1:20).

God the Father is the giver of salvation. To reject the testimony in creation causes people to set up idols, and God will then give them up to unclean things (see Romans 1:21-25).

Abraham believed God, and though he lived long before Jesus was here, Jesus was revealed to him by his faith. Jesus said: “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad” (John 8:56).

Luke 16:19-33 shows that no one can be saved after they die.

Also, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 shows that anyone who has heard the gospel and refused it will not have another chance after the rapture of the church.

“And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming: even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness” (2 Thessalonians 2:8-12).

Question:
Luke 10:27. What are some ways in which we can love the Lord?

Answer:
Luke 10:27: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself.”

 

We need to realize the love of the Lord for us. “We love Him, because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19). The more we get to know Him the more we’ll love Him. If we love Him, we will obey Him (John 14:15, 21).

The Lord said: “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you” (John 15:12). This has been called the eleventh commandment. We are to follow Christ’s example (Ephesians 5:2). We can show our love by doing what Christ would do unto people.
And this will bring us joy, and He calls it “My joy,” the same joy the Lord had (John 15:11). John 3:16 shows that loving is giving. If you love somebody, you’ll give to them. We should give our heart to the Lord first, which He desires and so richly deserves. He appeals to us: “My son, give Me thine heart” (Proverbs 23:26). The assemblies in Macedonia “first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God” (2 Corinthians 8:1-5). Since Jesus has given Himself for us, we should give our lives a “living sacrifice” for Him (Romans 12:1,2). Since Jesus has done so much for me I should want to give my life to Him and for Him.
We have the Divine power in us to do this; all we have to do is yield to that power. From the moment we believed on Christ we were indwelt, sealed by the Spirit of God (Ephesians 1:13). But if we open our whole being to Him, He will “fill” and control us (Ephesians 5:18). Don’t be conformed to the world; count all things “loss” for Christ, “that I may know Him, and the power” (Philippians 3:10). He has given to us the Spirit (1 John 4:13), and the Spirit of God gives us (believers), the true meaning of the Scriptures.
It is not up to us in our own strength to meet the enemy when he tempts us. Just turn our lives over to the Lord. If our joy is to do the will of our Lord Jesus Christ, then everything will be well. We’ll be joyful in sorrowing (sad) times.

Question:
What does it mean to fear the Lord? Is it respect, awe, or reverence?

Answer:
Proverbs 2:1-6 shows that the fear of the Lord is linked with wisdom and understanding of Him (Proverbs 1:7, 8).

“The fear of the Lord is to hate evil.” The reason is because the Lord says: “Pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate” (Proverbs 8:13).
The result of fearing the Lord is that “His soul shall dwell at ease” (Psalm 25:12,13).
A lot of people literally fear or are afraid of God. But He is loving and at the same time very holy. We should have respect for Him. He made us. All things of creation are held together by Him. The respect for the Lord is the beginning of knowledge and wisdom.

“God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about Him” (Psalm 89:7). When the Lord’s people gather together He wants us to honor Him.
However, though an unsaved person may put on an outward show of reverence, he is characterized by “no fear” (Romans 3:18), but we should hold the Lord in reverence. “Holy and reverend is His name” (Psalm 111:9). Our fear has no terror in it, but the unbeliever should. The demons know what will happen to them, and thus they tremble (James 2:19), but believers have no need to tremble. The class of unbelievers called “the fearful,” (for they were fearful of what someone might say if they were saved) heads the list of those who are in hell (Revelation 21:8).Think: What reason do we have to be ashamed to say something to someone about Jesus? Timothy was discouraged because Paul was in prison. Paul wrote to him and told him not to be ashamed of the gospel of Christ (2 Timothy 1:8-10). When we become discouraged or ashamed, then we should think of verse 9: “Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.” Remember the cost of what it took Jesus to save us. “The Lord is my light and my salvation: whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1). “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31). If we have our eye on eternal things, we won’t be thinking of ourselves. Joshua 1:8 tells us to “meditate” on the Word. While we are in this world we are to draw from heavenly things.

Question:
I wonder how I can do both of the following verses: “Be content with such things as ye have” (Hebrews 13:5), and “I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding…and considered it well…so shall thy poverty come” (Proverbs 24:30-34). Should we try to do all, learn all, and accomplish much as Proverbs says? Or should we be lazy and sit back and do nothing, let God take control and do all as Hebrews seems to indicate?

Answer:
Our responsibilities are God-given. Don’t let anything be an idol, but strive to work for things needed, and “do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31, Colossians 3:23). “If any would not work, neither should he eat” (2 Thessalonians 3:10, 1 Timothy 5:8). We should work that we “may have to give to him that needeth” (Ephesians 4:28), and give to the Lord’s work (1 Corinthians 16:2), like the widow who gave all she had to the Lord (Mark 12:42-44).

Are we content with what God has given us, or are we greedy, and envious of what others have? With each situation in our lives, let us ask ourselves, “Are we really trying to please God by accomplishing this, or are we doing it to please ourselves or men?” Attempting to get rich is the root of all evil (1 Timothy 6:8-10), and is a pit for all kinds of sorrow. “He that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent…hath an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him” (Proverbs 28:20,22). This is true of those who play the lottery. What a waste it is to put money to this use, when only a small fraction of people win anything.
Let us redeem or buy up the time: use it so we can get the best bargain, the best return for our investment (Ephesians 5:16). Let us use all that we have, our money, time, etc., for the glory of God. All that we have is God’s, and He has merely loaned it to us to use for Him.

Question:
What does transgress or transgression mean?

Answer:
“Where no law is, there is no transgression” (Romans 4:15). An example of this is when a line is drawn and a law is set not to cross the line. If you cross it, you transgress. So transgression is a violation of a commandment.

Was there any sin between the times of Adam and Moses? Yes, but the law was not given until Moses, so men were not transgressors (Romans 5:12-14). Noah lived between Adam and Moses, and there was sin in Noah’s day, and it was because of man’s wickedness that the flood came (Genesis 6:5-7).
Sin is lawlessness, rebellion, doing my own will (1 John 3:4). Transgression is going against a specific commandment, and knowing it—something that you are aware is wrong (1 John 2:3-6).