Hello friends this is Doug Batchelor. How about an amazing fact? No words are adequate to describe the magnificent splendor of the natural display known as the Aurora Borealis. This spectacular display is also called the northern or the southern lights because they are seen primarily around the polar regions of the earth. The luminous marvel may appear in colors of red, green, yellow, blue, violet and as well as a variety of forms such as patches of light, streamers, arcs of rays or even shimmering draperies.
The northern lights as have been described since ancient times and are even mentioned in the Old Testament, but only recently have been explained. The sun gives off high energy charged particles or ions that speed through space at over 500 miles per second. When this stream of particles breaks the magnetic field it is channeled towards the Polar Regions. When these electrically charged particles collide with the gases in the ionosphere they start to glow. This is much the same way as electrons that pass through a neon tube and make a neon sign light up. So these northern lights and spectacular auroras are really God’s neon lights. The brightest auroras seem to coincide with the periods of greatest sun spot activity and with magnetic solar storms.
It has been estimated they can create up to 100,000 megawatts of electricity in a three hour exhibition. Scientists are still studying the solar winds hoping to someday use the energy of the auroras for practical purposes. Unfortunately, these intense displays also cause troubling interference with power lines, radio and television broadcasts and satellite communications. It is also true friends that the dazzling lights of the earth in the world interrupt our communications with God. Stay with us friends and we are going to learn more as “Amazing Facts” brings you this edition of “Bible Answers Live”.
[PROGRAM INTRODUCTION]
Pastor Doug: Welcome friends now is a good time to pick up you phone and give us a call if you have any Bible related questions. There are some friends out there who still have been getting used to the time change, but yes it is time for our live broadcast and that number is 1-800-GOD-SAYS. It’s a toll free number if you’d like to call in any Bible related question that is 1-800-463-7297. My name is Dog Batchelor and my co-host Dick Debit is not on a vacation he is on a mission trip to Africa. And we hope that you will keep him and his family in your prayers as they do evangelism in that continent. We like to begin our program with prayer and just ask for the Lord’s benediction on the remainder of this broadcast. Loving Lord we are thankful for the opportunity and the technology that makes it possible for us to have this international, interactive broadcast and live Bible study. We ask for the illumination of the Holy Spirit. And also remove any distraction that would keep us from hearing your voice in our hearts. I pray that the nature and the caliber of the questions will be of the optimum value to those who will be listening and calling in. So bless this is your program for we ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.
You know friends I thought that was an amazing fact of the northern lights. There have even been a couple of times where here in Northern California when there is very extreme solar spots and solar storms that we have even been able to view those displays as far south as California. And it is spectacular there is not a question about that. It is also interesting that these dazzling heavenly displays can interfere with power lines and communications here on earth. And I have also seen it is true that people who become distracted for too long with the lights of the world that they are in danger of the voice of God growing dim. And so finally they may get to a place through rejection and through ignorance or avoiding listening to God’s spirit that it is possible to commit the unpardonable sin. And what is that sin that can never be forgiven? It is something we should really understand because Jesus tells us that all manner of sin and blaspheme will be forgiven, but the blaspheme against the Holy Spirit is a sin that will not be forgiven and people often wonder have I committed that sin.
Very quickly that sin is usually something that happens in degrees. It is not something that a person does one day when they shake their fist at the sky, but usually it is a process that happens almost in perceptively as they become distracted by the cares of this life. Then the voice of God’s spirit slowly grows dim. Maybe you have questions on this very subject on the unpardonable sin. Can you reach that point of no return? And if you do have questions I think you will enjoy our free offer tonight it is called the “Point of No Return”. A classic book written by the founder of “Amazing Facts” brother Joe Crews and if you would like a free copy of that book and to understand the subject of the Holy Spirit and blaspheme against the Holy Spirit or the unpardonable sin and ask for “Point of No Return” call our resource number right now and you might get a pencil and jot this down if you don’t get through the first time you can try again. That number is 1-800-835-6747. That will take you to the resource line if you have a question for our program tonight call our studio at 1-800-GOD-SAYS it is a free phone call and we hope that you will take advantage of that.
There are just a couple of internet questions we’d like to address. Somebody is calling and asking us—well they didn’t call they emailed us and asked where in the Bible can I find what Lucifer looks like? I know he was supposed to be very good looking, but I cannot find where it is at in the Bible. Well, there are quite a few passages about the devil the best passages talks about the appearance of the devil and his real appearance is going to be found in Ezekiel 28: 12 and now before we read this there are places in the Bible where Satan is described as a serpent or a dragon. Those are allegorical images of Satan. He is not a snake and he is not a seven headed dragon. But, those images are given to us to recognize him. But, in real life he was a fallen angel that was very beautiful in Ezekiel 28: 12 tells us “Thus saith the Lord God thou seal up the sum full of wisdom and perfect in beauty…” speaking of Lucifer here “…thou wast in Eden the Garden of God and every precious stone was your covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.” Obviously it is talking about some created being not born that was in the Garden of God. 14 “Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.” That is an angel that had this anointed position that covereth by the throne of God and covering cherubs. And so it tells us here that he was a covering angel and when you read there in Ezekiel Chapter 28 read verse 12 through 17 where it says “Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.” He was a beautiful bright angel who became proud and he fell.
Pastor Doug: Well that was one question and we have another one here I thought was interesting and it is dealing with and I hope I can say this xenotransplantation which is the practice of transplanting organs and cells and tissue from animal to human. What Biblical advice can you give me on this? Is it a sin for instance? I had a friend that just came to me for instance that had shark skin that is cultured to cover their skin and others have had valves from pigs or cows to help with their body if something is failing. This is different than eating unclean food I mean it is obvious there is a health problem eating unclean food. This is a problem and if a person wears shoes that come from a cow hide to protect their feet and they don’t think that was a sin the to have it on the inside to be protecting something and providing health then I don’t know that would be a moral dilemma. The Bible doesn’t direct it, but I think that God wants us to be practical. So some things I say by commandment and some things by permission I can’t show you a Scripture where it talks about using animal parts in human transplants because they didn’t have one. But, having said that we’re going to go now to our phones and we’ll begin by talking to New York City speaking with Tish who is calling and listening on WMCA. Welcome to the program Tish.
Tish: Okay. Thank you. I just have a quick question and I am a new member at a church where the Pastor and his leaders speak in tongues frequently in prayer, but I have no idea what they are saying and I imagine most people don’t know what they are saying. And according to my family and other people I have spoken to what I understand is that it is not Biblical to speak in tongues without a translator present.
Pastor Doug: Alright there are two issues that are at stake here Tish. If you go back in the Christian church about a hundred years ago from there the inception of the Christian church the understanding of tongues was very different than what you find in modern churches today. The traditional Biblical understanding of the gift of tongues Christ said in Mark 16: 17 you will speak in new tongues and then He explains the purpose of that in Acts Chapter 2 He gave them the supernatural ability to speak in other languages of the world that they had not known or even studied for the purpose of spreading the gospel. And it tells you that during Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was poured out that there were many Jews throughout the Roman Empire that did not speak Aramaic. For instance my mother was a Jew, but she didn’t speak Hebrew she spoke American which is a form of English I think. So they were given the ability to speak these other languages to preach the gospel then to help to speed the spread of the gospel.
Tish: That is awesome. I feel like I am an outcast.
Pastor Doug: Well you are not alone because there are folks in the church that just start babbling. And they start speaking I tongues and say this is the Holy Spirit and it is a heavenly language that nobody understands. Some people have the gift of interpretation. This whole concept of the gift of tongues really grew about one hundred to hundred and fifty years ago. And it just took off and went from what they call Holy Rollers to the French churches it entered the main line churches and it is now known as the charismatic movement where there is a lot of emphasis put on the speaking of tongues as proof of the Holy Spirit. When I first came to Christ I was part of one of these churches. I also felt strange because I did not see my Bible treating tongues the same way as the churches are addressing it.
Tish: I feel as if they are flattering themselves that they have a gift that some of us don’t and they are therefore closer to Jesus than we ever could be because we don’t speak tongues.
Pastor Doug: Yes I know and that is unfortunate and I am sure that not everybody has that attitude, but I have seen what you are talking about. Well think about this. Does the Bible say that we will know a person as a Christian? Jesus said you will know them by their fruits. Tongues are not one of the truths of the Spirit. It is a gift of the spirit and you don’t determine if someone is genuine by the gifts of the Spirit. And the modern interpretation of the tongues is not even the Biblical form of the tongues in many cases. But, if people just start babbling and they don’t know what they are saying and no one around them knows what they are saying then that is not the Bible example of tongues. I cannot find anywhere in the Bible where anybody used the gift that way.
Tish: Okay.
Pastor Doug: I will send you a book I have written about this for free. Matter of fact we have two books and one is one that I have written because I did a whole study on it and I will send it to you for free or anyone who wants it. It is simply called “Captured by Tongues” and I believe in all the gifts of the spirit and I believe in the gift of tongues I just believe that there is a counterfeit out there. There is another book written by Joe Crews on tongues. It is called “Man’s Flicker or God’s Flame.” And friends if you would like to know more about this subject that Tish has addressed then call 1-800-835-6747. Hope that helps you Tish.
Tish: Thank you very much.
Pastor Doug: Okay. God bless. Next we are going to Queens and talking to Celeste. Welcome Celeste. She is calling in on WMCA also.
Celeste: Hi and thank you very much for taking my call.
Pastor Doug: Glad you called.
Celeste: I wanted to preface my question with a very quick hypothetical situation.
Pastor Doug: Okay let’s do it quickly so we can get as much time for your question.
Celeste: Okay let’s say you have a single Pastor and he knows a female been put on the street both her and her son. And he decides to take them in because as Christians we should help one another. Yet in the Bible I know we should avoid the very appearance of evil. So my question is to what extent do we know how much to help others?
Pastor Doug: Well that is a good hypothetical question. I would say that if you have a single Pastor and there is old widow that has been put out and there is obviously not going to be the appearance of evil that might be one case. But, I would say that if there is some young lady and whether she has a son or not and he takes her into his home then that is crossing the line and he needs to find someone else to take her in within the church to show that hospitality. But, he is exposing himself to temptation and tarnishing his reputation. Even if nothing does happen in the house.
Celeste: Right. And so how do we know then because the response is we are supposed to help others in a Christian way and we should not worry about what others think or say.
Pastor Doug: Well now the Bible doesn’t say you shouldn’t worry about what others think. The Bible says that we should consider that we want our life to shine for others to see our good works and glorify our Father. And if we are doing things that look dubious even if we are not it can give the wrong impression.
Celeste: Right.
Pastor Doug: And if that person needs help I was a Pastor and had a situation like that I would find one in my flock and say can you please help this sister and her son? But, I would start probably by going to one of the widows who is usually lonely anyway.
Celeste: Right.
Pastor Doug: But, there are ways of resolving that without exposing yourself to temptation and besmirching the reputation of the church and the Pastor.
Celeste: Okay and thank you very much.
Pastor Doug: But, you are right we should are for those in need. Thank you very much and we are going to talk to Ron who has been waiting in Lancaster, California. I actually know where that is Ron.
Ron: Great.
Pastor Doug: Calling on the internet.
Ron: Yeah out here on the lap coast. I want to ask a question here and make sure I am not taking anything out of context here. I am out here with a couple of friends of mine who are avid surfers in Southern California.
Pastor Doug: Okay.
Ron: In the book of Acts Chapter 27 talking about the ship wreck off Malta. I am reading out of a new King James Version and verse 42 I am reading there. 42 “And the soldiers' counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out, and escape.” Now the soldiers plan was to kill the prisoners. 43 “But the centurion, willing to save Paul, kept them from their purpose and commanded that they which could swim should cast themselves first into the sea, and get to land:” 43 “But the centurion, willing to save Paul, kept them from their purpose and commanded that they which could swim should cast themselves first into the sea, and get to land:” And so I wanted to know if I am looking at this as the first surfers ever recorded in Scripture. Am I reaching here?
[Laughter]
Pastor Doug: Well you could say maybe if they caught a wave they did surf. I don’t think they were hanging ten as they came in on these pieces of splinters from the ship wreck. Alright I am just going to take that question and chalk it up to a little bit of humor.
Ron: Okay.
Pastor Doug: But, yeah I had never seen that before and I may use it again someday, but-
[Laughter]
Ron: Well maybe they were boogie boarding. They weren’t actually surfing they were just kind of paddling in off the waves coming in.
Pastor Doug: Okay well you got me on that one, but I think I am just going to have to say you caught me I wasn’t expecting it.
[Laughter]
Pastor Doug: Some on boards. Alright let’s go on now. Talking now to Augustine welcome listening on WMCA and your question?
Augustine: Okay my question is based on Ephesians in Chapter 5: 21 and why God does say that 21 “Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.” And then in verse 29 “For no man ever yet hated his own flesh but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:”
Pastor Doug: Okay so now what is the question?
Augustine: So my question is who are these verses talking to because I have had so many people telling to get away from that church. So they talk about that and I want to know who is this Scripture talking to? Which church?
Pastor Doug: Well first of all it says in Ephesians 5: 22 “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.” And then the rest of the verses that you quoted are talking about the husband and wife relationship. So I am not sure I know what you mean when you say what church this is talking about?
Augustine: In the bottom of that Jesus says this is a great mystery, but I say 32 “This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.”
Pastor Doug: Okay I think I know where you are coming from now the love, the sacrifice and the protection for the wife and the submission and respect of the wife for the husband. And he compares that to the church and he Lord. Because Jesus loves the church the way a husband should love his wife and gave himself. But, Paul is saying I am speaking in a spiritual allegory and a mystery about the relationship between husband and wife and Jesus’ church. You’ll learn more about this Augustine when you go to Revelation and it talks about the New Jerusalem and God’s church comes down like a bride and then the Bible ends by God inviting us to the marriage supper of the Lamb. And so the relationship between Christ and the church is like a groom, bride and husband, wife relationship. This is the mystery Paul is speaking of.
Augustine: Sometimes they refer in the church about the husband and wife and that is what he is speaking about is the church of Christ because if you look at the Scriptures it says this is who I sanctify and cleanse it. And in verse 27 “That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing but that it should be holy and without blemish.” 28 “So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.”
Pastor Doug: I still don’t understand what it is you are asking. There is no mystery in what you are reading the Lord wants His church to be holy. He is talking about the love between a man and his wife and Christ for His church. So what is your question because I don’t see a problem here?
Augustine: My question here is you know the Scripture is speaking concerning the church of Christ.
Pastor Doug: Well he is speaking about both.
Augustine: Excuse me?
Pastor Doug: He is speaking about husband, wife relationship and the church.
Augustine: My own understanding is the Scripture is not talking about husband and wife it is speaking about the church of Jesus Christ.
Pastor Doug: Well you are correct the verses you read are talking about are talking about the church, but when he says there in verse 22 “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.”Therefore the husband should love his wife even as Christ loves the church. He is giving an admonition to the church in the context of the relationship of the Lord and His bride. I hope that helps you a little bit Augustine, but we need to keep going here. We’re talking now to Rachel also listening on WMCA in Bronx New York. Welcome Rachel.
Rachel: Hello and thank you.
Pastor Doug: And your question?
Rachel: My question is Jude 9. and of course there is only one chapter in Jude so that
Pastor Doug: And of course there is only one chapter in Jude so that is talking about when Michael comes to resurrect Moses?
Rachel: Yes that is contending over the body. I just wanted a little more info on that to ask you.
Pastor Doug: Alright I will do my best. It is telling us of course that Michael the arch angel is coming and he is evidently resurrecting Moses here. One reason we know that is when you go to the New Testament and Mark Chapter 9 it tells us that Moses and Elijah appear to Jesus.
We know that Elijah went to heaven in a fiery chariot. Here it tells us that Moses he died of course and the Lord buried him no man knew his grave. And he is being resurrected. Now it is not in the Bible, but Jewish tradition tells us that this happened three days later and we have no reason to doubt that. It makes sense in any event Moses did not lead the people of Israel into the Promised Land because of his sin and soothe devil said to Michael you can’t have him he is mine because he disobeyed. And Michael basically said I am not getting into an argument with you that Moses accepted the forgiveness of the Lord the Lord rebuke thee and he resurrected him and took him onto glory. And so there was a dispute because you see the devil doesn’t want to lose. He doesn’t want to see anyone saved and so he is called the accuser of the brethren. And of course you can read about in the book of Job about how the devil is trying to slander God’s people.
Rachel: Yeah.
Pastor Doug: See. So hope that helps a little.
Rachel: Yes thank you.
Pastor Doug: I do have a book called “Michael the Arch Angel” that we can send you that tells you more about it. If you would like it just call 1-800-835-6747 and tell them you want the book on “Michael the Arch Angel”. And we are doing one more call before the break and talk to Russ who is calling from New Jersey also on WMCA. Welcome Russ.
Russ: Hi how you doing?
Pastor Doug: Real good we have about three minutes before break what is your question?
Russ: Okay my question is this I have been practicing at the Christian Sundays. And it was recently brought to my attention that god never told us to stop keeping the Sabbath and honoring the Commandments even though we are saved by grace. And I have heard you speak about the Sabbath and I read in Ephesians where Paul mentions honoring the mother and the father. So he is still talking to Christians about a whole discourse about grace. And keeping the fourth Commandment about keeping the Sabbath and I need clarity on this. Iam getting messages about this from both sides and I would like to know what your thoughts are about the Sabbath? Can I still be saved if I don’t practice it?
Pastor Doug: Okay well that is a good question. Those who listen to this program know that we try to be consistent in while we find grace in the bible there is nothing that says the Ten Commandments are no longer in effect. It would be absurd when you really think about what that really means. And the only Commandment that begins with “Remember” is the fourth or the Sabbath Commandment. So we take that the Sabbath is God’s will and we still need that day of rest and worship. And the day that God blessed is the seventh day. He has never changed it in the Bible that I have ever seen to another day. So then you are asking me well what is going to happen to you. And I know there will be many people in heaven who did not keep the Sabbath. There are some who didn’t keep it because of ignorance and the Bible says that God winks at our ignorance in Acts Chapter 17.
But what determines what sin is Hebrews Chapter 10: 26 if you continue to sin willfully after you receive the knowledge of the truth. So once we know God’s will if we continue to rebel it that is different than if we are doing something wrong and we don’t know. So do you see what I am saying Russ?
Russ: Yes, but so many people have told me according to Galatians it says don’t let any man judge you according to the Sabbath and new moon and such and so I am looking for away to-
Pastor Doug: Actually sorry and pardon me, but you are quoting Colossians, but Galatians talks about don’t let people put you under the law. I believe that and Galatians is dealing largely with the ceremonial laws. But, nobody is saved by the law and we don’t keep the law to be saved we want to keep God’s commandments because we are saved. Do you understand that difference?
Russ: Yes.
Pastor Doug: Jesus said if you love me keep my commandments. And so if all things were made were made by Christ the He is also the author of the Ten Commandments. So I believe that it is right in there with the other nine and I believe it is important and so whatever you want to do with a commandment about adultery or don’t murder or use God’s name in vain take that same force ad put it on the fourth commandment and I just think we should be consistent don’t you?
Russ: Yes I do and having broken some commandments in my life I know that the Lord has forgive me for that and I don’t practice what you preach to be right is that correct? Even though you can still be forgiven for breaking them can’t you?
Pastor Doug: Yes of course you can, but you don’t want to sin deliberately and then just say well I am going to break it and ask forgiveness. That is a very risky thing to do and ties in with the danger of grieving away the Holy Spirit. I am sorry Russ we are going to take a break real quick and will take more calls when we come back and stay tuned we have got some important announcements from Pastor Dick.
[COMMERCIAL BREAK]
Pastor Doug: Welcome back listening friends and for those of you who may have just joined us this is “Bible Answers Live” and it is a live, international and interactive Bible study. You can participate by listening or you can call in at the North America toll free number is 1-800-GOD-SAYS or 1-800-463-7297. And my name is Pastor Doug Batchelor and Pastor Dick Debit is in Africa conducting an evangelistic series for the next couple of weeks so I am doing my best with our staff here to wing it and be patient with me. We are going right back to the phones. We got off to a good start the first half our and we are talking now to Nichole who is calling form New Market, Alabama and listening on WOCG welcome Nichole.
Nichole: Hello my name is Nichole and I have a question about predestination. A girl in my school class that thinks since God knows if we are going to be saved or not and lost what is the point of us trying to be Christians? I wondered if you have any Bible reference or text or reference I could use to tell her that we make our own choice to decide whether we are going to be saved or lost.
Pastor Doug: Well because God is all knowing does not mean that God is making all of His creatures to do things. The idea that God is forcing or choosing arbitrarily who He will or won’t save that is a terrible doctrine. Because it basically says that we don’t have love and love is a choice. Well it is also a gift of God in our hearts. But, if a weather man looks at a satellite picture and predicts some rain you can choose to get an umbrella or to get wet. Just because God tells us He knows what the future is doesn’t mean that we can’t do our best to prepare for the future. That is why God puts prophecy in the Bible so that we will know what is coming and in some cases prepare.
Nichole: Yeah.
Pastor Doug: But, just because the Lord knows what is happening doesn’t mean that we don’t have a choice. And so there is a lot on this subject of predestination. The Bible says that God wants everyone to be saved and those who are not saved are largely because of their choice and you can read that in 2 Peter Chapter 2: 20 and yet there are some people who start put saved and then they turn away from the lord and then of course Ezekiel says that if a wicked man turns from his wickedness back to righteousness he will be forgiven. We get to choose.
Nichole: She just feels that since God knows I am going to be lost why I have to live righteously I guess.
Pastor Doug: Well why is she assuming that she is going to be lost?
Nichole: I don’t know she has a lot of questions and I am trying to help her.
Pastor Doug: Well why would Jesus say for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son. That whosoever believes that means she can choose to believe the Bible and the Bible ends with a great invitation where He is talking about the water of life. And He says whosoever will let him come and take of the water of life freely. If your friend said I don’t want it because God already knows then it is her choice not His. Do you say what I am saying?
Nichole: Yes I see.
Pastor Doug: So you can quote those Scriptures to her. Whosoever will let him come? Salvation is a choice and I hope that helps a little Nichole.
Nichole: Yes well thanks a lot.
Pastor Doug: Alright God bless you. Talking now to Solomon in New York on WMCA and getting a lot of calls from New York tonight and your question Solomon?
Solomon: Yes, yes. Good evening my question is would God kill Himself or commit suicide because of what Adam did? Why can’t God forgive Adam because He is a forgiving God? Why did He have to kill Himself you know?
Pastor Doug: Alright a good question. The Lord is not only a loving Father and creator He is the ultimate King and Judge. And He has laws and when the law is broken there is a penalty for the law. And God’s law is not like our civil law where we vacillate a lot in how we implement penalties. I know of somebody who recently got thrown in jail for several years for possessing marijuana and I am not justifying this, but at the same time somebody else who is guilty of deliberate murder gets and equal sentence. Do you know what I am saying? But, let me finish my thought. So the world does unequal justice, but God’s laws are perfect and if the penalty for sin is death while God wants to forgive man the penalty must be paid. God loves us so He says I will pay the penalty.
Solomon: Yes, but He is a just God and He has to do justice in anything He thinks of or anything He does. If Adam committed this sin Adam should have been punished not that God punishes Himself. And I will give an example if a criminal appears before a court and the Judge says well put me in jail and release this criminal then justice is not served. Even if God kills Himself Adam is going unpunished. So you know why God would have to do this thing because God didn’t do this thing Himself. Adam did it so Adam is the guilty one and we see in the Bible that God punished Adam and he made Him go out of the Garden.
Pastor Doug: Well you are leaving out the component of love Solomon. Let me give you an example. There was a King who had a son and he told his subjects that nobody was supposed to look upon his harem. Well the penalty was to have their eyes put out if they looked upon the king’s harem. The king’s son thought well I don’t need to listen to the law because I am the prince. And he went waltzing off into the harem one day and after all the women screamed the word got back to the king that his crowned prince had broken his law. Well the king had to keep the law, but he also loved his son. So what he did is he put out one of his son’s eyes and one of his own. This tells you something about how much God loves us in that He didn’t want to destroy us for sin, but He said I will take your suffering that you deserve because I love you so much. It is something like I heard about a boy that kept disobeying his mother and she finally had reached her wits end and this was back in the day when they used to take their kids out back to wood she and she said I can’t put up with this any longer. I want you to go find a willow switch and bring it to me. They lived down on a farm and he went and got a willow switch and brought it to her and she said that is not big enough get a bigger one. He brought back another and she said that is not long enough or thick enough get a bigger one. So he came back with this big long and thick willow switch and is just trembling now. And she said now I want you to beat me because I have failed you as a mother in that I have not been able to teach you to obey. And it so broke his heart that he had to beat his mother and so God has shown us something about His character in that He loves us and suffered for us.
Solomon: yes I understand the example you gave, but what I am saying is like where is the justice done when you are punishing someone innocent because of someone who was guilty and where is the justice in this? God is a God of justice and love, but it doesn’t mean you kill an innocent being.
Pastor Doug: Well that innocent being is dying voluntarily. Another example Solomon and I know you believe the book Daniel. In the book Daniel it says that the king made a law that anyone who prays to anyone other than the king for thirty days would go to the lion’s den. Daniel was caught praying and the king did not want Daniel to go to the lion’s den, but he could not change his law. So for one night he put him in the lion’s den. Then after that he threw into the lion’s den those that had tricked him. And so a king that makes a law and doesn’t keep it and so God so loved us that He didn’t want us to take the sin penalty which is death. He said I will take it for you that you can live and He basically purchased us with His redemption. I hope this helps a little bit, but that is probably all we can cover on that right now. I need to move on here and talk with Jesses who is calling—
Solomon: Thank you.
Pastor Doug: --you are welcome Solomon. We’ll talk to Jesse line 10 in Walla Walla, Washington going to the west coast welcome Jesse.
Jesse: Hi and yes the question was on the Passover and in Luke 22: 19 Jesus it says He took bread and brake it and gave it to them saying this is my body which is given for you and do this in remembrance of me. And then in the same cause it goes on to say in 1 Corinthians 11: 23 “For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus which that same night…” which was the Passover night “…in which He was betrayed took bread.” 24 “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.”
Pastor Doug: Alright now your question? Pleas summarize the question don’t just go along and read a bunch of Scriptures you need to summarize the question we have about a minute or so.
Jesse: And if Jesus kept the Passover then feel like I am commanded to keep it because He kept it. And if I don’t then I feel like I am breaking His commandment.
Pastor Doug: Well I think that every Christian should keep the Passover.
Jesse: Alright.
Pastor Doug: Now let me explain what I am saying if you read in 1 Corinthian 5: 7 “Purge out them the old leaven , that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us:”. Every Christian that celebrates the Lord’s Supper as you just stated he is keeping the Passover. So we don’t kill lambs anymore and obviously the Passover has gone through a transition. Instead of killing lambs we now celebrate communion or the Lord’s Supper. And that is the modern equivalent to the Passover that Jesus was the fulfillment. It would really be lack of faith for us t keep the Passover the way the Jews did because Christ is now our Passover and when we have the Lord’s Supper that angel of judgment passes over the same way he did for the children of Israel because of our faith in the blood of the Lamb. Does that make sense Jesse?
Jesse: Yes very much so. Praise God thank you.
Pastor Doug: Okay thank you very much I hope that helps you. You know moving along here talking to Yonkers, New York. How do I say your name as Hopeton? Your question tonight.
Hopeton: Yes, sir. And thank you for taking the call. It is my first time on your show.
Pastor Doug: We’re glad you called.
Hopeton: Yeah I just want to get your teaching on this market extra Biblical revelation of the Scripture. When the full is written of the full length of the Scripture leaves to God’s people and teaches that all things brings back all Scriptures to their remembrance more over Jesus said--
Pastor Doug: Now are you reading something to me?
Hopeton: No, no, no, I just want to get your teaching on this.
Pastor Doug: Okay those are alright then go ahead.
Hopeton: Moreover Jesus said the kingdom of heaven is in you so I cannot understand how some churches bring up about some extra Biblical revelation and what is your teaching on that?
Pastor Doug: Well I want to go by what the Bible says. Do you believe in the gifts of the Spirit?
Hopeton: Oh yes.
Pastor Doug: Do you still believe that we need the gifts of the Spirit in the church?
Hopeton: Well maybe some of them.
Pastor Doug: Why would you say some of them? Which ones do you think we don’t need?
Hopeton: Okay we don’t need prophecy and we don’t need tongues.
Pastor Doug: Wait a second here. If God has said God has set some in the church some apostles, secondarily prophets, then I would think that is still a gift that God wants us to have. Now that—the fact that God speaks to people and inspires people doesn’t mean that those revelation are on the same caliber as Scripture, but God still does inspire and speak to and through His people.
Hopeton: No maybe we don’t understand each other on this I am not talking about things like this. I am talking about like the Roman Catholic teaching about Mary you know they have books that work along with the Bible. And people like the Jehovah witnesses and the Mormons.
Pastor Doug: Well if anybody is putting something on the same level as the Bible I would think of course that is very dangerous. Because the word of God is complete, but that doesn’t mean that God doesn’t still have prophets and the example of this would be--God when He does anything significant He raises people up at different times in history to prepare them. For instance before the flood He raises up a prophet called Noah and Enoch and before the Exodus He raises up Moses, Miriam and Aaron. For the captivity in Babylon He raises up Jeremiah and Isaiah and even in the time that before Jesus comes He sends a prophet before His face. Now if the Lord sent a prophet before His face in the first coming of Jesus it shouldn’t surprise us if He sends a prophet before His face in the second coming of Jesus because you read about in Malachi Chapter 4 “Behold I send you Elijah the prophet before the great and dreadful day of the Lord. So obviously God is going to have Revelation through His people to prepare the world for what is coming. Does that make sense?
Hopeton: Yeah it do, but in time of old God uses people to prophet, but in these days He chose His son who is the only one who lives in us so why do we need a prophet?
Pastor Doug: Well Jesus is just saying there in Hebrews that His revelation is superior. If I take your argument you are making it seem as if when Jesus came we do not need prophets anymore, but when you read the book of Acts there were many prophets after Christ that came and spoke the gospel. So we may just have to agree to respectfully disagree on this one Hopeton and I need to move on to try to get some other callers in Denise in New York welcome to the program you’re on the air with WMCA.
Denise: Well good evening Pastor Doug.
Pastor Doug: Hi.
Denise: I have a question of course and is it Biblically correct to have a Christian humor incorporated into Christian publication i.e. newsletters.
Pastor Doug: Well the Bible says we should avoid foolish jesting. Now that doesn’t mean that Christians should not have humor because I can see where Christ incorporated something that could be defined as humor or irony when Jesus talks about a man with a log sticking out of his eye taking a spec out of someone else’s eye is usually a picture that solicits a smile. Or if you try to picture a camel squeezing through the eye of a needle that is a little bit of Jewish sarcasms or irony and straining a gnat to make sure you don’t get a gnat in your water and yet swallowing a camel. So humor is not a sin the Bible says that God laughs. The Bible says avoid foolish jesting. The humor of the world which is based usually sensual and dirty and I think Christians should be ashamed to be involved in that either by listening or speaking. But, I don’t think that Christians should cheapen the gospel with foolish jesting either. Now you asked about cartoons. Do you mean like animation or newspaper cartoons?
Denise: Well it is yeah it is like it dealt with Christian cartoons and some of it is silly. But, others actually have a Bible verse underneath it. Or a suggestion of a Scripture and I was thinking of using the cartoon as a visual way of incorporating it into a Bible study.
Pastor Doug: If you can do it and as long as it is something that is not in bad taste and if you have got something that involves humor that does have a point. Because many good stories and parables they are sermons and they begin with a point to capture people’s attention, but it begins with the spirit and judgment that you don’t want to cheapen the gospel by foolish humor.
Denise: Like audio and visual?
Pastor Doug: Yeah. So that would be the point just to make sure that you maintain a reverence for the gospel and things are done tastefully and that would be my advice. I hope that helps a little Denise. And moving onto speak with oh I hope I am saying your name right. Is it Naceum? Yes in Lake Brook, New Jersey?
Naceum: Yes. Hi, Doug.
Pastor Doug: Hi and welcome. Your question tonight?
Naceum: I am a little bit nervous so you’ll have to excuse me.
Pastor Doug: I am nervous, too. So we’ll work together.
Naceum: My question basically is regarding the Sabbath. Basically I guess if you are not Jewish what is the point of keeping the Sabbath? I mean if you will look in Exodus 31: 16 & 17. It clearly says that the children of Israel are supposed to keep the Sabbath. I mean it is a covenant between God and the children of Israel forever. So basically my question is if you are not Jewish why do you need to keep the Sabbath?
Pastor Doug: Well let’s talk about it. When God first made the Sabbath when was it historically? Do you have a Bible?
Naceum: Yes.
Pastor Doug: Okay Genesis Chapter 2 right?
Naceum: Let me get to that.
Pastor Doug: Okay keep it that this is when He blesses this all in Genesis 2 this seventh day.
Naceum: So the day in itself has sanctifications right?
Pastor Doug: How many people were in the world when He did that?
Naceum: Well there was just Adam well--
Pastor Doug: No Eve was made, too.
Naceum: Yes Adam and Eve.
Pastor Doug: Were they Jewish?
Naceum: They were not Jewish no.
Pastor Doug: Alright that could be why Jesus said in Mark Chapter 2: 27 that the Sabbath was made for man. He used the word man there not Jew or Israel.
Naceum: But, I understand, but how do you understand then? How do you understand the verse? You know Exodus 31: 16 through 17 in Exodus? Because it says clearly it is a covenant between me and children of Israel forever.
Pastor Doug: Well yes because and keep in mind that every Christian is grafted in the stalk of Israel. Let me give you an example and this is a deep teaching that I think you that you can appreciate it. The new covenant—well let me back up—Are Christians like you and I are we saved on the old covenant or the new covenant?
Naceum: Ah well I am not a Christian so.
Pastor Doug: Well in the New Testament Christians are based on the new covenant.
Naceum: Yes.
Pastor Doug: Let me quote the new covenant to you. It says in the New Testament in Hebrews 8: 8 “…I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel…” So everybody who is saved in the new and the old covenant whether they are Christian or Jew. They are all saved under a covenant made with Israel. And so for God to say that the Sabbath is a covenant that He ratified with Israel does not mean that it did not exist before that and it does not mean that it isn’t for all people. Another example would be is if you are in your Bible and look at Isaiah 58 it says that anybody who joins God’s people and keeps the Sabbath whatever their nation I will make them joyful in my house of prayer.
Naceum: Is that referring to anybody as keeping the Sabbath of the Jews? It is not--
Pastor Doug: Well keeping the Sabbath of God. Let me quote the commandment for you.
Naceum: That Sabbath was given to the Jews.
Pastor Doug: Wait a second here. If you quote the commandment it says in Exodus 20: 8 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.” It says the Sabbath day is of the Lord not the Jews. 10 “But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God:”
Naceum: Right, but God was speaking to the Jews.
Pastor Doug: Well they were the people who got all Ten Commandments so are the other nine commandments just for Jews?
Naceum: Well He gave all the commandments to the Jews so if you just look at the context there it--
Pastor Doug: Do you think that only the Jews should keep all the Ten Commandments?
Naceum: 100 per cent.
Pastor Doug: Just the Jews. Well then we respective fully disagree.
Naceum: Right and I am just saying because isn’t that who God gave it to? I mean like I am going to accept what the Bible says. He gave it to the Jews and He gave the Ten Commandments to the Jews. So if you are not Jewish so you --
Pastor Doug: He gave the Ten Commandments to Jews to commit to all people. The Bible says in the New Testament Paul says God has committed the oracles of truth to Israel, to the Jewish nation to spread around the world for everybody. They were the ones that were basically the keepers of the library, but it was for everybody. And that is why Jesus said to take the gospel to the entire world and teaching them all things I have commanded you about the gospel and all things I have commanded you to the world. I hope that helps Naceum and I am not even sure I am saying your name right. Bu, we have to move on and Guy who has been waiting patiently is next is in is this Ensenada, California?
Guy: Yes it is Pastor.
Pastor Doug: Okay your question.
Guy: Well I was reading the other night in 1 Kings Chapter 10: 14 “Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred threescore and six talents of gold,” I wonder if this has anything to do with the number of the beast in Revelation 13: 18. Do they have any correlation and is there any prophetic value?
Pastor Doug: You have got a good eye. You know I have seen that, too, and it jumped out at me. And you are the only other person I have had to call in and mention that, which I can remember. I tell you what when I read that the very same thought came to me and I can give you a couple of thoughts, but I won’t give you any conclusions because I won’t claim to have the answer on that. I began to wonder what the significance of the gold that came to Solomon in one year and at the end of the world? One thing I could think of is that Solomon reigned at the time of the highest time in the Nation Spiritually. The Jewish Star of David has six points it’s made of two triangles and they say that this was not created by David, but during the time of his son, Solomon who began to use that and some people have played with that star to make it say three and three and six, six, six, which would be the sign of the Solomon Kingdom. It is interesting that when you get to the New Testament and you look at the beast Guy, he does things in sets of three too, it’s a beast, a dragon, a false prophet. Three unclean spirits like frogs, the plagues fall on a third of the trees, a third of the rivers and do you see what I am saying? See I am saying that everything is done in sets of threes. I don’t know exactly what that means, but I think there is a connection is what I think I am saying. I hope that helps a little.
Guy: Alright. Thank you.
Pastor Doug: Yes a good question. Jacob we just have about two minutes left. Can we do anything in two minutes and you are calling from Compton and you are on the air WMCA. Jacob are you there?
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Pastor Doug: Okay we are going to go on to Keisha in Queens, New York. Keisha in just a minute or so can you ask a question?
Keisha: Yes I would like you to explain to me Ephesians 4: 5 it says one Lord and one Savior and one baptism.
Pastor Doug: Okay you want me to try to explain that?
Keisha: Yes I just want you to explain where it says one baptism what it means? Does it mean that you only get baptized once?
Pastor Doug: Well I think there are a few things implied there one truth is implied. The word one in the Bible means unity. Jesus said that keep in mind to think of three things there. There’s God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit one Lord, one faith, one baptism. We want the baptism of the Spirit and we want to follow the Lord Jesus in the faith of our Father and so you have got hat aspect. I think there is one truth we are baptized into. There is one true Lord. The Bible says hear oh Israel the Lord thy God is one. Paul was saying that the church should be united because there is one Lord, one faith, one baptism. And Jesus prayed the apostles would be one so you see I think the emphasis of Paul here is the oneness.
Keisha: Are you saying it is okay to get baptized more than once?
Pastor Doug: Yes it has nothing to do with getting baptized the second time. You look in Acts Chapter 19 and you have got some people that were baptized a second time and both times they were baptized by God’s servant one by John the Baptist and the other one Paul. So there is nothing wrong with the second baptisms long as you have Biblical reasons for that. I hope that helps you and if we did not get to your call tonight friends we apologize.
Keisha: Okay.
Pastor Doug: We’ll do our best and give us a chance again next week and thank you for tuning into “Bible Answers Live”. I want to also remind you that we are entirely faith based and any donation you make helps to keep us on the air. I would appreciate any offering of any size we have a special gift we are offering this month. It is a collection of our books of “Amazing Facts” that we are happy to give you and just request it when you call in with a gift of any size. Remember that Jesus is the truth that sets you free.
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