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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS (22)

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTROUDUCTION

 

A.    Everybody loves a good question.

1.      A good question is difficult.

2.      A good question appears to have no answer.

3.      A good question is one that stumps the teacher.

 

B.      More than a good question, everyone loves a good answer.

1.      A good answer answers the question.

2.      A good answer puts to silence the one asking the question.

 

C.     Many of you ask some good questions.  It is our hope that we provide a good answer.

 

D.    Tonight is our Q & A Night.  Let’s examine three questions.

 

I.                   QUESTION #1:  SEVEN DEADLY SINS

 

A.    Stated:  What are the seven deadly sins?  Why are they more deadly than other sins?

 

B.      Answer:

1.      The “Seven Deadly Sins” are not listed in the pages of the Bible.

2.      Background:

a.      They date back to a fourth century monk Evangrius Ponticus.  His list, however, contained eight sins.

b.      They were translated into Latin and were used by the Western Catholics.  They were part of their Catholic Devotions.

c.       The final list was brought into being by Pope Gregory I in A.D. 590.

1)      He combined four of the sin into two.

2)      Then, he added one additional sin.

d.      “The Anglican Communion, Lutheran Church, and Methodist Church, among other Christian denominations, continue to retain this list (www.wikipedia.com, “Seven Deadly Sins”).

3.      The list of the Seven Deadly Sins:  Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Sloth, Wrath, Envy, Pride.

4.      NOTE:  The Bible condemns these things, but it nowhere refers to them as “The Seven Deadly Sins.”

5.      The Bible presents several lists of sins:

a.      The seven things God hates (Prov. 6:16-19).

b.      The works of the flesh (Gal. 5:19-21).

1)      This is a list of 17 sins that will keep one out of the kingdom of heaven.

2)      To this list is added the words:  “…and such like.”  There are many other things that could have been added to the list that are also works of the flesh.

c.       Most of us are familiar with Revelation 21:8 that lists eight sins that will cause one to be cast into the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone.

6.      All sins are deadly.

a.      Ezekiel 18:20

 

The soul that sinneth, it shall die…

 

 

b.      Romans 6:23

 

For the wages of sin is death…

 

c.       James 1:16

 

Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin:  and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

 

7.      Man has a tendency to classify different sins.

a.      Murder is worse than lying.

b.      Fornication is worse than cussing.

c.       Idolatry is worse than gossip.

8.      God see all sins as horrific.

a.      I Samuel 15:23

 

For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.

 

b.      Matthew 5:27-28

 

Ye have heard that is was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:  but I say unto you, that whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

 

c.       Revelation 21:8

 

But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone which is the second death.

 

1)      Fear, unbelief, and lying are classified with murder, sorcery, and idolatry.

2)      All will have their part in the lake of fire and brimstone.

 

II.                QUESTION #2:  ORDER OF THE LORD’S SUPPER

 

A.    Stated:  Please explain Luke’s account of the Lord’s Supper in Luke 22:17-19.  Which element is to be taken first?  The bread?  The cup?  Or does it matter?

 

B.      Answer:

1.      Matthew and Marks account of the Lord’s Supper are clear about the order of the elements (Matt. 26:26-28; Mark 14:22-24).

2.      Paul confirms this order in his letter to the Corinthians (I Cor. 11:23-25).

 

For I have received of the Lord that which I also delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:  and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat:  this is my body which is broken for you:  this do in remembrance of me.  After the same manner he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood:  this do ye, as oft as ye drink it in remembrance of me.

 

3.      Luke’s gospel presents a slight difficulty.

a.      The problem:  It seems that the Lord partook of the cup first, then the bread (Luke 22:17-19).

 

And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves.  For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.  And he took the bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, this is my body which is given for you:  this do in remembrance of me.

b.      An important rule of Bible study is to keep a passage in its context.

1)      First, there are two meals under consideration in this text.

a)      The Passover (Luke 22:14-18, esp. v. 15).

 

And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer.

 

b)      The Lord’s Supper (Luke 22:19-20)

2)      Second, the cup mentioned in verse 18 is one of four cups that were passed during the passover meal.

3)      Luke 22:19-20 involves the Lord’s Supper and present the elements of the supper in the same order as do Matthew, Mark, and Paul.

 

And he took the bread…Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood which is shed for you.

 

III.             QUESTION #3:  BLASPHEMY OF THE HOLY GHOST

 

A.    Stated:  I understand the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are separate individuals and at the same time one.  So, why is the blasphemy of Jesus forgivable and blasphemy against the Holy Spirit unforgivable?

 

B.      Answer:

1.      Matthew 12:31-32

 

Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven men:  but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.  And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him:  but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.

 

2.      There are two possible answers to this question.

a.      First, Jesus is addressing two types of wrongs.

1)      Jesus was often spoken against for mundane things that could be forgiven:  Nazareth, Galilean, poor family, a carpenter’s son, lowly birth, lack of education.

2)      The insult that the Jews hurled at Jesus at this time goes much deeper than the things just mentioned.

a)      They attributed Jesus divine power to Satan (Matt. 12:24).

 

But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub, the prince of devils.

 

b)      This was not a mundane thing.  It was an attack on the deity of Jesus.  The gravity was so great that the sin could not be forgiven.

b.      Second, Jesus view Himself as a human being at the time the words were spoken.

1)      Sins against a man can be forgiven if one will repent and confess his sin.

2)      The sin of blasphemy against the Holy Ghost involves deity.  It was so severe that it could not be forgiven.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.    Wow!  I am always impressed by the diversity of our discussions on our Q&A Nights.

1.      The Seven Deadly Sins

2.      The Lord’s Supper

3.      Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost.

 

B.      Keep studying and keep asking questions.

 

C.     It is hoped that our answers will do three things.

1.      Answer your questions.

2.      Cause you to grow.

3.      Encourage you do study even more.