QUESTIONS & ANSWERS (118)

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.   When we are asked a question, especially a religious question, we are often hesitant or fearful to answer the question.

 

B.   Recently, I read an interesting statement about questions.  The statement is:  “Questions are a doorway.”

1.    When a person asks a question, he opens his mind and invites you to enter into it, at least with a few words.

2.    A question “exposes curiosity, uncertainty, or the desire to clarify something that isn’t fully settled in the mind” (chatgpt).

 

C.   Therefore, instead of shying away from questions, we should do all we can to respond to them.  We might never have the door of a person’s mind opened to us again.

 

D.   I hope that thought does not cause you to stop asking your questions on our Q&A Sunday. 

1.    Today is our Q&A lesson for the month of January.

2.    We will be examining three of your questions.

 

I.             QUESTION #1:  Eternal Life

 

A.   Stated:  How can we know we will be in heaven for eternity?  How do we know we will not be cast out like Satan and his followers?

 

B.   Answer:  The answer to this question rests on three things.

1.    God has promised us “eternal” life.

a.    Verses:

1)    Matthew 25:46

 

And these shall go away into everlasting punishment;  but the righteous into life eternal.

 

2)    John 3:15

 

That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

 

3)    John 10:28

 

And I have given them eternal life…

 

4)    Romans 2:7

 

To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory, honour and immortality, eternal life.

 

5)    Romans 6:23

 

…but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

6)    Titus 3:7

 

That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

 

7)    1 John 2:25

 

And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.

 

b.    The word “eternal” means without beginning and without end. 

2.    God is faithful.

a.    Promises rest upon the trustworthiness, the faithfulness of the one who makes the promise.

b.    Titus 1:2

 

In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began.

 

c.    God promised eternal life.  If we could be cast out, it would not be eternal and God would be a liar.

3.    The nature of heaven makes it impossible to lose it (Rev. 22:27).

 

And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie:  but they which are written in the lamb’s book of life.

 

a.    Satan and his angels will not be there.

b.    Temptation will not be there.

c.    Sin will not be there.

d.    False doctrine will not be there.

e.    Nothing deceptive will be there.

f.     We will have spiritual bodies instead of bodies composed of flesh and blood.

 

II.           QUESTION #2:  JESUS AND THE HOLY SPIRIT

 

A.   Stated: 

1.    Did the Holy Spirit leave Jesus prior to His death on the cross? 

2.    If not, then would this mean that the Holy Spirit experienced Jesus’ death on the cross?

 

B.   Answer:

1.    Jesus was given the Holy Spirit (John 3:34).

 

For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God:  for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.

 

2.    He received the Holy Spirit as He entered into His ministry when He was baptized of John in the Jordan (Matt. 3:16).

 

And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water:  and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him.

 

3.    When individuals hear that the Holy Spirit was given to individuals, their immediate thought is that the literal being known as the Holy Spirit entered into the person.

4.    Saying “the Spirit entered” is a figure of speech known as a metonymy.

a.    A metonomy is found when we refer to something not by its own name, but by something closely associated with it. (Ex., The White House said…).

b.    What was it that actually inhabited the body of Jesus Christ? 

1)    It was the power of the Holy Spirit. 

2)    Since the Holy Spirit gave the power, we say Jesus was given the Holy Spirit.

3)    This is called a metonomy of the cause.  The cause, the Holy Spirit is put for the effect, the power.

4)    Jesus’ great power given by the Holy Spirit was manifested in the multitude of miracles that He performed during His earthly ministry.

5)    This fact became a “big deal” when the Pharisees accused Jesus of casting out demons by “Beelzebub the prince of the devils” (Matt. 12:24).  Jesus accused them of committing “blasphemy against the Holy Ghost” (Matt. 12:31-32).  They were attributing the Spirit’s power to Satan himself.

5.    When Jesus died, His spirit left His body.

a.    Luke 23:46

 

And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father into thy hands I command my spirit:  and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.

 

b.    When the spirit exited the body, the body was now lifeless and incapable of anything animated.  Any power that He had could no longer be manifest through the instrument of His body.

 

III.         QUESTION #3:  Mission Effort in Nigeria

 

A.   Stated:  What mission effort are we going to be supporting in the month of January with our contributions over budget?

 

B.   Answer:

1.    The work in Nigeria

2.    Instead of focusing a lot of attention on the work, I want to expand upon something that was mentioned in Bible class on our Kick-off Sunday.  In the spring of 2027, we are planning a Medical Mission Trip to Nigeria.

a.    I have met with Acie and Chris about this mission trip.

b.    We have sent out letters to about 30 area churches telling them about the trip.

3.    Here are some of the facts:

a.    The date:  April 1-17, 2027

1)    Individuals can go for the first week.

2)    Individuals can go for the second week.

3)    Individuals can go for both weeks.

b.    Things we will be doing:

1)    Door-knocking and carrying out Bible studies.

2)    A medical teams will be seeing the people of Nigeria.

3)    A Vacation Bible School

4)    A Gospel Meeting

5)    Construction/Work projects to help the church

c.    What’s involved?

1)    Pretrip

a)    Valid passport

b)    Yellow Fever vaccination certificate

c)    Emergency/ Relief Work Visa (approx. $160.00)

2)    Itinerary

a)    Thursday and Friday travel

b)    Saturday:  set up and door-knocking

c)    Sunday:  worship, door-knocking, Gospel Meeting

d)    Mon. – Wednesday:  Medical, VBS, Door-knocking, work projects, Gospel Meeting

e)    Hours:  8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

3)    Approximate cost:

a)    International Airfare (round trip):          $2,500

b)    Domestic Airfare (round trip):                    500

c)    Hotel ($50 x 6 nights)                                 300

d)    Meals ($30 x 7)                                          210

e)    Transportation ($20 x 7)                             140

f)     Total                                                                      $3,650.00

g)    NOTE:  There will be food needed for the days traveling.

4)    Apprehensions:

1)    The problems happening in Nigeria are in the north part of the country.  They are far from the place we will be working.  They do not have these problems in the south.

2)    The food will be safe to eat.

3)    We will travel in groups.

4)    We will be back at the hotel each night by 6:00 p.m.

5)    It is a lot to do.  Most likely, we will have a small group this first year, but if we do well, we can plan for bigger efforts in the future.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.   Questions are open doors into the heart, the soul, and the mind of the questioner.  Thus, we need to take advantage of every question, especially serious, spiritual questions.

 

B.   We have examined three questions:

1.    A question about eternal life

2.    A question about Jesus and the Holy Spirit

3.    A question about supporting the work in Nigeria

 

C.   The most important question:  “What must I do to be saved?”