Questions and Answers
... continued
18
ing often comes when a sentence or verse is
taken out of its context or when the passages
of scripture are not brought to bear upon it.
“Absent from the body, and to be present with
the Lord” is often quoted to support the doc-
trine of immortal soulism. But the setting of
this saying shows that Paul taught something
quite different. He says (5:10) that we must
be judged and as a result of this be rewarded
“in body”. The reward in body which Paul
desired was to be “clothed upon with our
house which is from heaven” (v2) - to be
clothed upon “that mortality might be swal-
lowed up in life” (v4).
However, he had already taught the Corinthi-
ans that this change would be when Christ
comes (1 Cor 15:23), so that being “present
with the Lord” must wait until the second
coming. Nevertheless, he desired earnestly for
the time to come when this body wherein he
groaned being burdened (v4) should be
changed, for then he would be present with
Christ. For this he laboured so that he might
be accepted (v9).
“God was in Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:19)
Q.
“To wit, that God was in Christ, recon-
ciling the world unto himself, not
imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath
committed unto us the word of reconcilia-
tion.” Does this verse support the doctrine of
the Trinity?
A.
This verse is often taken from its context
to support the trinity, but if God were
actually in Christ how was it possible for Christ
to say, “My God, my God, why hast thou
forsaken me?” or for it to be said that “he
offered up prayers and supplications with
strong crying and tears unto Him that was
able to save him from death, and was heard
in that he feared” ? (Heb 5:7). There are two
persons here, and one (the Son of God) wholly
dependent on the other. It therefore means
that God was working in and through Christ so
that the world might be reconciled to Him.
The Unexpected
“...without repentance” (Romans 11:29)
Q.
Please can you explain what is meant by
“without repentance”.
A.
The word ‘repentance’ often means ‘a
change of mind’ but sometimes another
word is used (also translated ‘repentance’)
which really means ‘without carefulness’, that
is, without ‘limit or meanness’. When Paul
wrote in Romans 11:29 that “the gifts and
calling of God are without repentance” the
second word is used, and in verse 10 of chap-
ter 7, both words are used, so that the verse
could read: “For godly sorrow worketh a
change of mind to a salvation - without limit.”
T
hroughout the world men’s hearts are fail-
ing them for fear, and looking after those
things which are coming upon the earth. They
see the triumph of might over right, and many
predict the passing of our civilization, with all
its triumphs and limitations, and a return to
ancient poverty and barbarism. They have no
knowledge of the divine purpose, no under-
standing of the unfolding of the plan of the
ages. But what is to them so unexpected is
that which will yet come to pass. The power
of the tyrant will be curbed, the evil devices
of men will fail, and evil doers shall be rooted
out of the earth. Then will be answered the
prayer that has so often and so fervently been
sung ~
Come, thou long expected Jesus,
Born to set thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in thee.
Born thy people to deliver:
Born to be their future king;
Come and reign on earth for ever,
Soon thy gracious kingdom bring.