 |
|
| |
|
OceanSide church of Christ
 Previous |
Return to Sermons |
Next  |
 |
 |
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS (105)
Victor M. Eskew
INTRODUCTION
A. One of the most common questions asked by children, begins with the word “why.”
B. There many very good questions that can be asked using the word “why.”
1. Why can’t we learn from the mistakes of others?
2. Why do we keep doing the same things over and over hoping for change?
3. Why don’t we take better care of our physical health?
4. Why do little things annoy us, but big things are not of great concern?
5. Why do people look at the same set of facts, but come up with different conclusions?
C. After thinking about “why” questions, I have decided that if any are submitted for our Q&A Sunday, I am just going to throw them in the trash. NOT!
D. Today is the first Sunday of December, 2024. It is our Q&A Sunday. We will be addressing three of your questions in this lesson.
I. QUESTION #1: 1 Corinthians 6:2-3
A. Stated: Please clarify these two phrases in 1 Corinthians 6:2-3, “the saints shall judge the world,” and “know ye not that we shall judge angels.”
B. Answer:
1. The context:
a. This statement falls in a section of Scripture wherein Paul is condemning members of the church because they were taking one another to law before the unjust.
1) 1 Corinthians 6:1
Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before saints?
2) 1 Corinthians 6:6
But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before unbelievers.
b. This practice was shameful (1 Cor. 6:5) and wrong (1 Cor. 6:6-7).
c. To prove how foolish this was he reminds them that they would judge the world (1 Cor. 6:2), and they would judge angels (1 Cor. 6:3).
1) Christians occupy positions above the ungodly of the world and the wicked angels that kept not their first estate.
2) Why, then, would they seek a person below them to judge in matters centered upon people who occupy positions above them?
3) The “least esteemed” in the church could judge things pertaining to this life (1 Cor. 6:4). Surely, there was “a wise man” who could “judge between his brethren” (1 Cor. 6:5).
2. The question involves “how” are we as Christians going to judge the world and angels.
a. This is the only time this responsibility is mentioned in the pages of the Bible.
b. Paul set it before the church at Corinth with no elaboration.
c. This speaker looked in eight (8) commentaries and not one could set forth the “how” of these statements.
d. One thought:
1) Christians are to live in harmony with God’s Word (Phil. 1:27).
2) The Word of God will be the standard by which we will be judged in the last day (John 12:48).
3) The saints will be judged first (1 Pet. 4:17).
4) The judgment of the unrighteous and the judgment of wicked angels will follow.
5) Perhaps the Lord will point to our lives as examples of those who did live by His laws, and, in that sense, we will judge the world and angels (See Heb. 11:7).
By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
6) If we have a more active role in the judgment, we have not been specifically informed of what that role is.
II. QUESTION #2: Unscriptural Songs
A. Stated: Are there certain songs in our songbooks that we should not sing?
B. Answer:
2. Before giving an answer, let’s lay a scriptural foundation.
a. The only book in the world that is inspired of God is the Bible.
1) 2 Timothy 2:16
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God…
2) The Bible is the only book that involves God’s mind and will in the writing process.
3) Every other book, including our songbooks, have been written by men.
a) It is possible for men to err in their writings.
b) Many songs in our book were written by individuals in denominations. Thus, it is not surprising to find some of their theology in the song.
b. When we sing, we are speaking and teaching.
1) Two verses:
a) Ephesians 5;19
Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.
b) Colossians 3:16
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
2) Peter commands us to “speak as the oracles of God” in 1 Peter 4:11, and Jesus tells us that we are only to teach that which He has commanded in Matthew 28:20.
3) Just because we are singing instead of talking, we do not have license to speak or teach anything other than the truth of God’s Word.
c. Paul exhorts us in 1 Corinthians 14:15 to sing with our spirit and to sing with understanding.
What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.
3. With these thoughts in mind, let’s consider two songs. These two have been of extreme controversy.
a. The first is: “Jesus Is Coming Soon.”
1) Question: “What passage of Scripture in the New Testament teaches us that Jesus is coming soon?”
Answer: There is not one. This should be enough to cause anyone to set the song aside.
2) Question: “Would anyone have a problem with a preacher preaching a lesson entitled: ‘Jesus Is Coming Soon’”?
Answer: Members of the church should not approve of such a sermon. How could a preacher prove that assertion without perverting the Scriptures?
3) Argument: Some argue that the word “soon” is relative. In other words, we are closer to the second coming now than those living in the first century.
Answer: This argument destroys the meaning of the word “soon.” “Soon” means: “in a short period of time” or “in the near future,” or “at an early date.” If Jesus does not come back for a thousand years from now, is that soon? If Jesus doesn’t come back for ten thousand years from now, is that soon?
4) Point: If a person looks at the original song, he will find that a premillennialist wrote it.
a) Premillennialists tell us that we are living in the end times.
b) They warn that the signs of Jesus’ second coming are being fulfilled.
c) One of the lines in song, “Jesus Is Coming Soon,” states: “When these signs come to pass, nearing the end at last, it will come very fast, Jesus is coming soon.”
b. The second song is: “Just A Little Talk with Jesus”
1) Question: “Where is the verse in the New Testament that teaches we are to pray to Jesus?”
Answer: There is not one. Again, this should be enough to cause us to set the song aside.
2) Point: In Scripture, each member of the Godhead occupies a position in prayer.
a) The Father is the recipient of our prayers (Matt. 6:9).
b) Jesus is the mediator in prayer (1 Tim. 2:5).
c) The Holy Spirit helps our infirmities when we do not know how to pray as we ought (Rom. 8:26).
d) NOTE: We do not have the right to change the divine plan for prayer.
3) Question: Can we totally remove God the Father from prayer? Can we just always pray to Jesus? If not, when do we pray to the Father and when are we to pray to the Father?
4) Question: If we pray directly to Jesus, doesn’t this remove Jesus from His role as a mediator? If we can go directly to Him, why does He need to be in the role of a mediator at all?
4. Exhortation:
a. We need to read and study every song before we sing it so we know exactly what it is teaching.
b. We will give an account unto God for the words that we sing (2 Cor. 5:10).
III. QUESTION #3: Mount Dora Children’s Home
A. Stated: What mission work will OceanSide be supporting with all of the funds that are contributed over budget?
B. Answer:
1. We will be supporting the Mount Dora Children’s Home in Mount Dora, Florida.
2. Background
Date Founded: 1945
Campus: 40 acres
Cottages: Two Houses, Single-parent houses
3. Services that are offered (Mt. Dora Webpage)
a. Housing in a licensed home
b. Loving, Christian house parents
c. Meeting basic needs such as clean clothes, a warm bed, and home-cooked meals
d. Enrollment at Mount Dora Christian Academy when eligible
e. Tutoring for classes
f. Professional counseling as needed
g. Assistance in accessing health-related needs (medical, dental and vision)
h. Transportation to church, doctor visits, and other errands
i. Career and vocational exploration
4. Other programs:
a. Single parent program
b. Foster parent program
5. Chart on Donations:
a. $1,200 per year from OceanSide. ($1,200.00 divided by 30 families equals each family contributing $40.00 per year to the home).
b. Let’s assume that we give $5,000 over budget and add that to our yearly contribution. That equals $6,200.00. ($6,200.00 divided by 30 equals $207.00 per year per family).
CONCLUSION
A. We appreciate the questions that individuals submit in our Q&A box in the foyer.
1. We did not have any questions placed in the box last month.
2. I have about 5 questions that still need to be answered.
3. If you have a question, please submit it.
B. An important question: Will I be lost or will I be saved in the Last Day?