Questions and Answers 2010-07-25 – audio

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I. Question One –  “Is it okay to listen to Christian music with instruments?”

A. Philippians 2:12.

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

B. We know that instrumental music is wrong in a worship service.

C. Therefore, the question is really, “What constitutes worship?”

D. There are varying opinions:

1. Some say, “When I am listening to music on the radio, I am not worshipping. It is only for entertainment. Therefore, it isn’t wrong.”

2. On the other hand some feel, “If I am listening to a spiritual song that gets me thinking about God and even praising God, then, by definition, I am worshiping.”

E. I choose not to listen to spiritual songs that have instrumental accompaniment.

F. Others see nothing wrong with it.

G. One thing is sure… Romans 14:22-24.

Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.

H. This is not an issue where we should draw lines of fellowship.

II. Question Two – “Please explain Matthew 12:31-32. Is there an unforgivable sin?”

A. Matthew 12:31-32.

“Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.

B. In order to understand the passage properly, we have to consider the context. After all, it starts with the word, “Therefore…”

1. Matthew 12:22-35.

Then one was brought to Him who was demon-possessed, blind and mute; and He healed him, so that the blind and mute man both spoke and saw. And all the multitudes were amazed and said, “Could this be the Son of David?” Now when the Pharisees heard it they said, “This fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.” But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand. If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges. But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you. Or how can one enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house. He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad. Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come. “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.

2. Jesus had just performed an undeniable miracle.

a) Biblical miracles were always undeniable.

b) It wasn’t like supposed miracle workers today who leave people in doubt.

3. In the face of this undeniable miracle, some were willing to ascribe the miracle to Satan.

a) This is much like what we read in Acts 4:16. Saying, “What shall we do to these men? For, indeed, that a notable miracle has been done through them is evident to all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.

b) Question: If one witnesses an undeniable miracle performed by the power of the Holy Spirit and then gives Satan the credit for that miracle; Is there anything that will convince that person? No!

4. Jesus was dealing with people whose hearts were hard! Matthew 12:34.

C. Is it possible to commit this sin today?

1. It is impossible to recreate the same circumstances today.

2. None of us have or will witness a genuine miracle.

3. So technically, it is not possible to commit this sin today.

4. However, even though there is no such thing as an unforgivable sin today; there is such a thing as unforgiven sin. The end result is the same!

III. Question Three – “When someone in the Bible believed and all his household; was it a matter of what the man said or were they doing what they were told?”

A. Acts 16:31-33.

So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized.

B. In the above example…

1. The jailer was told that if he believed, he would be saved.

2. He was told that if his family believed, they would be saved in the same way.

3. Each individual member of the household was accountable for their own actions.

4. They were not saved by the actions of the jailer but as a result of their own faith and obedience.

5. Notice, all the household heard the word preached and all the household was baptized.

C. If there were ever a case where the head of the house was baptized and then commanded the rest of the family to be baptized whether they believed or not, then that would be wrong.

D. There is no reason to believe that this is what happened in Acts 16.

IV. Question Four – What constitutes “provoking them to wrath?”

“As parents we are to discipline our children. At times, when they get older, they try and challenge authority (of the parent). What constitutes “provoking them to wrath?”

A. Ephesians 6:4.

And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.

B. It helps us to understand the meaning of the word “wrath.”

1. There are two main words used in the New Testament to mean wrath. Thumos & Orge. Both mean wrath but there is a difference.

2. Thumos – More emotional than Orge. It is an outburst of wrath from inward indignation. Hot, spur of the moment anger.

3. Orge – suggests a more settled or abiding condition. It is less sudden in it’s rise but also lasts longer than Thumos. It means to exasperate.

4. The word in Ephesians 6:4 is parogidzo. It means literally “to anger alongside.”

a) It is a form of the noun orge.

b) Hence, it is the longer lasting, deep seated anger.

C. As parents we are to discipline our children.

1. When we discipline them we must do it in the correct way.

2. As fathers, we are to discipline them in such a way that they know we have their best interests at heart.

3. We should be calm, and communicative when we discipline.

4. “This is why I am upset with you. This is why I have to punish you. I don’t like having to punish you. Please, let’s try to get this straightened out so I don’t have to do it again.”

5. When we discipline them in anger, we often will incite anger in them as well.

6. The punishment needs to be fair.

7. If done correctly, our children will not resent us when we discipline them.

8. Certainly, they will not enjoy the punishment. But they will not hate us for trying to help them to be the type of person that they know they ought to be.

V. Question Five – “I was thinking about the catacombs and wondered; Do Christians have to be buried?”

A. There is nothing in the Bible to suggest that a Christian has to be buried.

B. John 5:28-29.

Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.

1. I have heard of some who believe that the above passage (and other like it) mean that we have to be buried in order to be resurrected.

2. As such they would not want to be cremated.

C. Consider this…

1. A body that has been buried for thousands of years basically just returns to dust.

2. In the first century, many Christians were burned at the stake because of the faith in Christ.

3. Other Christians over the years may have died in explosions.

4. Others may have died in shipwreck or been buried at sea.

D. Certainly, God will be able to handle such problems.

1. The bodies with which we will be raised, will be spiritual bodies anyway. 1 Corinthians 15:42-44. So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.

2. 1 Corinthians 15:51-54. Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”

VI. Question Six – “Denominations participate in fasting. Why do we not?”

A. Notice the following passages:

1. Matthew 6:16-18. “Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

2. 1 Corinthians 7:5. Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

3. Luke 5:35. But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them; then they will fast in those days.

B. Though no fasts are commanded, the New Testament seems to take it for granted that children of God would see the need to fast occasionally.

1. Fasting can be beneficial in times of sorrow.

2. Fasting often accompanied repentance as an outward sign of genuine sorrow.

3. Fasting often accompanied important spiritual events.

a) Matthew 4:2.

b) Acts 13:2-3.

C. “Why do we not?”

1. If we are scripturally practicing fasting, you would not know it.

2. Matthew 6:17-18. But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

D. Fasting is strictly a personal and voluntary action.

VII. Question Seven – “When Adam and Eve sinned, why didn’t God destroy them?”

A. God is our Creator.

1. He knew before He even created man that they would sin. 1 Peter 1:18-20. Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you

2. It wouldn’t make any sense for Him to create man only to turn around and destroy him the first time He sinned.

3. Rather, He treated Adam and Eve like a Father.

B. He warned them of the consequences if they disobeyed. Genesis 2:17. But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.

C. Then He carried through with the punishment (Genesis 3:14-19).