OceanSide church of Christ

 Previous Return to Sermons Next  Click to download Audio

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS (16)

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUC TION

 

A.     Questions can be answered in many ways.

1.       Not at all

2.       Incorrectly

3.       Briefly

4.       With length and depth

5.       With another question

 

B.     On our Questions & Answers Night, I try to do two things:

1.       Answer the question faithfully, that is, as the question is asked and in harmony with God’s Word.

2.       Answer the question “just enough.”

a.       Enough to have a good understanding of the answer

b.      Not too much that the answer is long and boring

 

C.     Tonight, we will be answering three questions.

 

I.             QUESTION #1:  The Fear of God

 

A.     Stated:  The Bible states to fear God.  Does this mean to be respectful of Him or also to be afraid of Him?

 

B.     Answer:

1.       There are many passages in the Bible that teach us to fear God.

a.       Proverbs 3:7

 

Be not wise in thine own eyes:  fear the Lord, and depart from evil.

 

b.      Proverbs 23:17

 

Let not thine heart envy sinners:  but be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long.

 

c.       II Corinthians 7:1

 

Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

 

d.      Hebrews 12:28

 

Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.

 

2.       In the New Testament, there are two main Greek root words connected to the fear of God.

a.       Phobos

1)       From which we get our word phobia

2)       It includes alarm, fright, and reverence.

b.      Eulabeaia:  caution, reverence, and dread

c.       Two passages that incorporate both respect and fright.

1)       Psalm 33:8

 

Let all the earth fear the Lord:  let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.

 

 

 

2)       Hebrews 12:28-29

 

Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reference and godly fear:  for our God is a consuming fire.

 

3.       There is one passage that needs to be explained (I John 4:18).

 

There is no fear in love; because perfect love casteth out fear:  because fear hath torment.  He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

 

a.       The faithful child of God has a healthy respect for all of God’s attributes, including His wrath.

b.      He, however, is not tormented by God’s wrath.  He can with calmness and boldness enter into the presence of God just as a small child can enter into the presence of his father.

 

II.           QUESTION #2:  Christian Behavior When Upset

 

A.     Stated:  Can you please give some Scriptures that pertain to the kind of behavior a Christian should display (emphasis on display) when dealing with situations that upset and anger us?

 

B.     Answer

1.       Become like Christ.

a.       Philippians 1:21

 

For to me to live is Christ…

 

b.      Hymn:  Let the Beauty of Jesus Be Seen in Me

 

Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me.

All His wonderful passion and purity.

May His spirit divine all my being refine.

Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me.

 

2.       Demonstrated self-control.

a.       Proverbs 16:32

 

He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.

 

b.      Paul described self-control as keeping under his body and bringing it into subjection.

c.       Emotions, words, body language, behavior

3.       Think (Prov. 4:23).

 

Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

 

4.       Be kind (I Cor. 13:4; Eph. 4:32; Col. 3:12).

 

Put on therefore as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness…

 

5.       Shut your mouth (Prov. 10:19).

 

In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin:  but he that refraineth his lips is wise.

 

6.       Practice “The Golden Rule” (Matt. 7:12).

 

Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even do to them:  for this is the law and the prophets.

 

7.       Get rid of all excuses, rationalizations, justifications, and self-pride.

a.       Excuses:  “Well, I had a bad day.”

b.      Rationalizations:  “It is the only way he will learn.”

c.       Justifications:  “He deserved what I gave him.”

d.      Self-pride:  “I sure did show him.”

e.       Isaiah 5:20

 

Woe to them that call evil good…

 

8.       Be patient (I Thess. 5:14).

 

…be patient toward all men.

 

9.       Leave the situation with your being an example to others (II Tim. 4:12).

 

…but be thou an example of the believers…

 

10.   Resolve to help the situation instead of hurting the situation.

a.       Accurately define the problem.

b.      Brainstorm for solutions.

c.       Select a solution.

d.      Work the solution.

e.       Come together for follow-up.

 

III.         QUESTION #3:  Touching Jesus after the Resurrection

 

A.     Stated:  Discuss John 20:17 in light of such passages as Matthew 28:8-9 and John 20:27.

 

B.     Answer:

1.       Let’s read John 20:17.

 

Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father.

 

a.       We read this verse as if there were some mystical, mysterious, magical thing touching Jesus’ body after the resurrection.

b.      But, we read of others who touched Jesus following the resurrection.

1)       Thomas (John 20:27)

 

Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side:  and be not faithless, but believing.

 

2)       The women returning from the tomb (Matt. 28:9)

 

And as they went to tell his disciples, Jesus met them, saying, All hail.  And they came, and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.

 

2.       Explanation

a.       Several women went to the Lord’s tomb early on the first day of the week after Jesus death (Matt. 28:1; Mark 16:1; Luke 24:10).

1)       These women came to the tomb and found it empty, and began to make the trip back to tell the disciples.

2)       NOTE:  It is here that John’s gospel focuses on Mary Magdalene.

b.      Why?

1)       She seems to have been the first to report the incident to the apostles.

2)       She returned to the tomb with Peter and John.

3)       While at the tomb, the Lord appeared to her first of all (Mark 16:9).

 

Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.

 

4)       It was at this meeting that Jesus said:  “Touch me not, for I have not yet ascended to my Father…” (John 20:17).

c.       The meaning of Jesus’ words:

1)       Mary may have made a move toward Jesus in order to embrace him.

2)       Jesus told her:  “Touch me not,” because He had a mission for her.  She needed to immediately return and tell the disciples that she had seen the risen Christ.

3)       When Jesus said:  “…for I have not yet ascended to my Father,” he was telling her that He was still on earth.  There would be more time for her to embrace Him before He ascended. 

4)       NOTE:  There was nothing other than Jesus’ desire for her to tell the disciples that she had seen Him that prohibited her from touching the Lord.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.     One of the things that I love about Q & A Night is the variety of the questions.

 

B.     We have discussed:      

1.       The fear of God

2.       Christian behavior when we are upset or angry

3.       The Lord’s words to Mary:  “Touch me not…”

 

C.     My prayer is that

1.       We will all fear God and keep His commandments (Eccl. 12:13).

2.       We will all live our Christians lives as directed in the Bible (Rev. 2:10).

3.       We will ultimately make it to heaven so we can hold on to our Lord forever and ever.