Hello friends. How about an “Amazing Fact”? Gobies are small fish that during low tide like to swim in rock pools at the edge of the ocean. One species, the Bathygobius, often swim from one tidal pool to another. Researchers intrigued by this habit decided to investigate. They discovered that this little fellow always jumps in just the right direction and at just the right distance without ever landing on the rocks. Although much of the area around the pool is exposed rock and little fish cannot see from one tidal pool to the next; it never misses.
How does the fish know just how far to leap and in what direction? Scientists have discovered that when the tide is in and covers the rocks the little fish swims around and then arises over the bumps and hollows so that when the tide is out it knows exactly where to jump. In other words this amazing fish is able to pre-memorize the shapes of all of the rocks and then calculate where the water will pool. How could a small fish have enough wisdom to go about in advance and learn all of that? Well stay tuned for more as “Amazing Facts” brings you this edition of “Bible Answers Live”.
[PROGRAM INTRODUCTION]
Pastor Ross: Hello friends welcome to this live National and International Bible study. My name is Jean Ross and Pastor Doug Batchelor is out this evening. If you have a Bible related question the number to call is 1-800-GOD-SAYS that is 1-800-463-7297. The phone lines are now open and this is a good time to call to get your Bible question on the air this evening.
I opened the program talking about an amazing fish that has the ability to swim and actually memorize while it is swimming the different shapes of rocks and alter during low tide to jump from one tidal pool to another. How could a small fish have enough wisdom to go about in advance and learn all of this?
Well the Bible tells us that God is the one that provides for all of His creatures. And that no doubt also includes this little fish. God is the source of all wisdom. You know friends wisdom is a very important thing. The Bible speaks a lot about wisdom. And we also know that wisdom is necessary to live the Christian life. But, where can we get wisdom? James Chapter 1:5 says, “If anyone lacks wisdom let him ask of God who gives liberally and will not withhold and it will be given to him.” Friends that is good news. Do yoU need wisdom? Perhaps you need it in a business decision or a relationship? Perhaps you are wondering about where truth is and how you can discover it. Ask God He is the source of all wisdom and He’ll be happy to direct in your life.
Well friends before we begin our questions this evening we need to ask God for wisdom when we open up the Bible and His book we need the Holy Spirit to guide us. We’d like to begin the program with a short prayer. Dear Father now as we open up the Bible and begin to look for answers we ask for your leading and your guiding. We ask a special blessing upon those who are listening this evening and those who are calling in. For this we ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Well as we said earlier this is a live, interactive Bible study and you can call in with your Bible question. The number again to call is 1-800-GOD-SAYS or 1-800-463-7297. There is another number that I will give you it is our resource number 1-800-835-6747 and from time to time we will be sharing some resources that will help you in your search for truth and your study of the Bible. If you would like to learn more about wisdom and what the Bible has to say about wisdom and how we can allow God’s wisdom to lead in our life, we have a free offer and all you have to do is call that resource number and ask for the offer, “Life in the Spirit”. It will explain how we can walk in harmony with God. How we can receive His wisdom and allow His word to transform our lives. To receive that free offer “Life in the Spirit” again the resource number is 1-800-835-6747. This is a free resource and we encourage you to call and receive that.
We also like to place some internet questions at each of our programs and the first one we’d like to deal with tonight is this. God said to Adam and Eve that in the day you shall eat thereof you shall surely die, Genesis Chapter 2:17. Why didn’t they die that day?
Well traditionally the word die in Genesis Chapter 2:17 is you shall die which is also noted in the margin of most Bibles. It meant that Adam and Eve had entered the process of dying the day they ate of the fruit. At the beginning of sin they had a major change and they began to die. Even though it took them hundreds of years. God stressed this to them later when He said to them, “For dust you are and dust you shall return.” Genesis Chapter 3: 19. Another thought concerning this verse when God said in the day you eat thereof you shall surely die. If you look in 1 Peter Chapter 3:8 it says, “But, beloved be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day with the Lord is as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day. It is interesting to note that the oldest person, Methuselah, died at the age of nine hundred and sixty-nine. No one has lived over a thousand and died. There are of course some who have been translated to heaven who have not seen death, Enoch and Elijah. Methuselah dies at nine hundred and sixty-nine just a few years short of a 1000. So in that sense they did die that very day if you use the principle of one day equaling a thousand years.
The second question we’d like to take a look at. Since God created Lucifer isn’t He really responsible for his sin?
Well the answer friends is no. You see God created Lucifer a perfect sinless angel. Lucifer made himself into a devil. Freedom of choice is a corner stone principle of God’s government. This was true when God created Lucifer and the other angels. It was also true when He created Adam and Eve. And friends it is still true today for you and for me. God knows before we are born how we will live, but even so He gives us life and the freedom to choose whether we will live for Him or for Satan. The gift of freedom reveals to us that God is a just, open and loving God.
In the beginning the Bible tells us when God created everything it was very good; Genesis Chapter 1:31. But, now the whole world lies in wickedness. 1 John Chapter 5:19. But, the Bible also tells us that God will cleanse the earth of sin and sinners and He will create a new earth; Revelation Chapter 21. Friends we must use our fantastic God given freedom to choose to serve Him and we need to do that now. Like Joshua of old we must say as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord; Joshua 24:15. If you would like more information about where sin and suffering came from if God is so good why is there pain and sorrow in the world? We have a free offer we would like to make available to you. It is an “Amazing Facts” study guide it is entitled “Did God Create the Devil?” and it deals with the subjects we had spoken about in if God is so good why bad things happen. Did God create Lucifer and if He did is He responsible for sin etcetera, etcetera.
To receive a study guide call the resource number 1-800-835-6747. To call the studio with your question call 1-800-GOD-SAYS or 1-800-463-7297 and we are going to go to the phone lines now. And Del Roy is online and he is listening from Florida. Del Roy welcome to the program.
Del Roy: Thank you.
Pastor Ross: And your question?
Del Roy: My question is in 1 Corinthians Chapter 7: 6 It is where Paul says, 6 “But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment.” But then in Chapter 7: 9 is he still speaking of his personal opinion or is he speaking of the house of God?
Pastor Ross: You know from verse 6 we have the indication here that Paul is giving good counsel, but not necessarily a direct commandment from God. In other words he is saying, 6 “But, I speak this by permission, and not of commandment.” It is good advice and he is speaking as a Pastor, but he is not saying this is a commandment from God. And the reason being if you look at the next verse; verse 7--and Paul by the way just to give this in context –is speaking of marriage and in verse 7 it says, “For I wish that all men were as even I am, but each man according to his own gifts of God has given him, one in this manner and another in that.” In other words Paul is on his missionary activity and he is at this point single it seems. And he is saying I wish all men were as I in order to preach the gospel and travel and do mission work. But he says this is just by permission not necessarily a command from God.
Del Roy: So then is this verse is it inspired then?
Pastor Ross: I think it is. Absolutely. All Scripture is given by the inspiration of God; 11 Timothy Chapter 3:16. But, Paul here is clearly stating that he is giving counsel and he is giving Pastoral counsel so which is very good if it is coming from Paul, but he is saying that this is not something that God has clearly commanded.
Del Roy: Okay. Thank you.
Pastor Ross: Well thanks for the call a good question.
We are going to go to our next caller. Elaine is on the phone calling from Pennsylvania. Elaine welcome to the program.
Elaine: Pardon me?
Pastor Ross: Welcome to the program.
Elaine: Thank you. My question is in Leviticus 11: 27 where it says that whatever goes on the paws of all kind so animals and go on and are unclean for you. And whoever touches any carcasses shall be unclean until evening. It says a carcass does that mean dead. I think in terms of like dogs and cats. Does it mean like…
Pastor Ross: Yeah like you touch a dead dog or a cat.
Elaine: I am thinking about live ones more than a dead one.
Pastor Ross: Oh okay. The principle we have here is for what you can eat and cannot eat. So there are clean animals that are permissible to eat and there are unclean animals. Leviticus 11 gives us that list. Just quickly to summarize it. Animals that have a divided hoof and that chew the cud according to Leviticus 11 they are clean and you can eat them. However there are some restrictions there and the Bible tells us not to eat the blood. And also don’t eat the fat because that is unhealthy for you. There is also the admonishment here not to eat the carcass and that is the dead animal and is unclean. So an unclean animal would be one that does not have a divided hoof and that does not chew the cud or it might have a divided hoof, but it does not chew the cud. Or it chews the cud like a camel, but doesn’t have a divided hoof.
Elaine: Umm-hmm.
Pastor Ross: So an animal that is classed as unclean is if it dies the admonition is to don’t touch it. Now the reason for that is if they did touch it they would be unclean until the evening or it is because of sanitary reasons. God wanted them to be healthy and of course a dead animal and especially if it has been lying in a hot day out in the field somewhere or the desert; it’s got all sorts of germs.
Elaine: Umm-hmm.
Pastor Ross: So God‘s admonition is don’t even touch it and if you do touch it you are unclean until evening and you have to wash your hands and so on. That was a principle that was given for health purposes for Israel and the dietary restrictions of clean and unclean is also for health principles and that is valid and is true today. Does that help a little?
Elaine: Yes it does it helps a lot. Thanks.
Pastor Ross: You know also let me mention here a study guide we have that deals with the subject in further detail. It is called “God’s Free Health Plan” and to receive that and it is free just call the resource number it is 1-800-835-6747. Ask them for “God’s Free Health Plan”. It will explain clean and unclean animals as well as a lot of other good information.
Elaine: Okay.
Pastor Ross: Alright and thanks for calling.
Our next caller is Laura and she is on the phone from Michigan. Laura welcome to the program.
Laura: Yes, hi I’m Laura and I’ve got a question about Matthew…
Pastor Ross: Laura are you still there and could you repeat that verse?
Laura: Matthew 24:5
Pastor Ross: Okay Chapter 24 Matthew 24:5. Okay I’ve got it.
Laura: Yes it says, “Many will come saying I am Christ, but will mislead many.” Will you explain this to me?
Pastor Ross: Okay in Matthew 24 just to give you a little background Jesus is giving the disciples certain signs of His second coming as well as the destruction of Jerusalem that happened in 70 A.D. and He says that one of the signs of the nearness of His coming is that people will say that they are Christ. They will claim that they have the powers of Christ and that they are Jesus incarnate and so on and He says they will deceive many. So if we look at what is happening today in the world we can find in different places there are people who are claiming to be Christ and they are deceiving many. Does that make sense Laura?
Laura: Yes. That does make sense thank you.
Pastor Ross: You know we also have a study guide dealing with the second coming and we want to give you all kinds of resources so that you can study this out further. To receive that call the resource number but, first the resource guide is called “The Ultimate Deliverance” it talks about the second coming of Jesus; the signs of his second coming and it also helps us not to be deceived by the devil because he is going to try to deceive as many as he can. To receive that free resource on the second coming call the resource number 1-800-835-6747 and ask for the study guide “The Ultimate Deliverance”. Friends we still have few lines that are still open if you’d like to get your question in this evening call the resource number; actually call the number in to our studio 1-800-GOD-SAYS or 1-800-463-7297. I will give you in a few moments the resource number you can call I order to get something.
We’re going to go to the phone lines. Our next caller is Phil and he is listening on W21-9 CE from Illinois. Phil welcome to the program.
Phil: Thank you very much I appreciate you taking my call. My son is studying to be a youth Pastor and he asked me a question this afternoon he said, “Dad was there a time when Jesus completely separated Himself from God and He was no longer God? Like when He died or something like that?” I said, “Well that’s an interesting question because I know when He separated because of sin the Spirit had to leave Him because God could have nothing to do with sin.” And so the question is whether there was a time when Jesus was a man and no longer God?
Pastor Ross: You know that is a good question. Let me answer that I don’t believe there was ever a time when Christ was not God. However in speaking of His death there is the situation where if how could Jesus die if He were God? In that case He laid aside His divinity, but He still had the power of God. And Jesus said no man takes my life from me I lay it down and I take it up again. So in order for Christ to take up His life and have the power of resurrection He still had to be God.
Phil: He was still God.
Pastor Ross: Right. How could Jesus die and still be God? That is a mystery that we have throughout the long ages of eternity.
Phil: Right. It is a profound question.
Pastor Ross: From a Biblical base we have no indication that at any point Christ’s life and even at His death that He was not one with the Father. He had the characteristics of divinity.
Phil: Yes that is a thoroughly difficult question I appreciate your frankly bring ing the only verses I could think of, too. To say there was never a time when Jesus wasn’t God and yet there was that time that He was totally separated from the Father and it is because of the three persons of the trinity. I guess it makes sense that He was always God, too. So that is a real complex subject and I appreciate your time.
Pastor Ross: Absolutely yes—good question and we appreciate your call.
Our next caller is Barbara and she is listening from WMCA in New York, New York. Barbara welcome to the program.
Barbara: Oh hi. God bless you. I have a question and I am not quite sure. I know I’ll say the trinity, the three person, the Godhead, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Now I am not quite sure I pray through Jesus Christ as my mediator. But, I always give praise to the Father in the morning and in the evening. Is that correct or should I be praying directly to the Father or directly to Jesus? I am not quite sure about it you see I am all confused.
Pastor Ross: Okay. Alright let’s see if we can try and shed a little light on that.
Barbara: Okay.
Pastor Ross: Are you familiar with the Lord’s Prayer?
Barbara: Yes.
Pastor Ross: When the disciples came to Jesus and said Lord teach us how to pray. Remember that and Jesus began giving an example for asking and He said when you pray say; what did He say?
Barbara: Our Father which art in heaven.
Pastor Ross: Our Father which art in heaven hallowed be they name. We find Christ directing His prayers to His Father and He gave an example for the disciples to direct their prayers to the Father and Jesus also said the Father is more willing to give you the Holy Spirit than parent s are to give good gifts to their children. So we find in Scripture that prayers are directed to the Father, but we pray in the name of Jesus; He is our intercessor. And so even though we can pray directly to God, we always end by saying, “In the name of Jesus.” We are asking Christ to intercede on our behalf and bring that request before God.
Barbara: So having a relationship with Jesus Christ is like talking to Him on a winter morning like every day? Like you would talk to your best friend? Or maybe this is the way I see it and maybe I think incorrectly.
Pastor Ross: No you are absolutely correct.
Barbara: Okay.
Pastor Ross: We are to communicate with Jesus through prayer, but when we pray to the Father we are praying to Jesus. Jesus is aware of our prayers. And there is nothing wrong with asking in a special way for Christ to guide us. We have the example of Stephen when he was being stoned in the book of Acts.
Barbara: Correct.
Pastor Ross: And he cried out to Jesus. He said Lord Jesus receive my spirit. So there we have an example I the New Testament of someone praying to Jesus calling to Christ to help. But, then again the overwhelming majority of prayers in Scripture are to the Father. But, there is nothing wrong in praying to Jesus.
Barbara: Okay because it is like I have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. He is like my everything anyway. He is my Savior anyway. And I give my thanks each day to the Lord the Father, but I don’t say anything about the Holy Spirit. Except other than; thank you for being in a—as it says in the Bible.
Pastor Ross: Barbara are you still there? I think we might have lost her there. Barbara I appreciate your call. You know this is an important subject. We have a study guide dealing with this that would help some folks I think when it comes to prayer. Who do we pray to and it’s a little booklet entitled “Teach Us to Pray” and if you want to receive this call 1-800-835-6747 and ask for the little booklet “Teach Us to Pray” and we will be happy to send that out to you.
Our next caller is Ross and he is calling from North Carolina listening on WBAJ. Ross welcome to the program.
Ross: How are you doing?
Pastor Ross: Good.
Ross: My question relates to a question that was asked a moment ago. And I see it in Leviticus and Acts. In Acts when Paul is writing he says that he doesn’t want to bear the Gentiles more than that which will burden them. And he says which is to abstain from the meat of unclean animals and from blood. And I was just wondering what does he mean when he says to abstain from blood?
Pastor Ross: Okay good question. Let’s give a little bit of a background to our listeners who might be familiar with the situation. We find that after the resurrection of Jesus and especially after the conversion of Paul. He became from Saul to Paul. The gospel began to be preached amongst the Gentiles. And there were many Gentiles who believed in Jesus and became part of the church. There were also some Jewish Christians at the time who also believed in Christ. But, they insisted that these Gentile believers would ha e to observe all of the ceremonial laws of the Old Testament. These laws would include some of the feast days that we have in the Old Testament and circumcision was another thing that they felt was necessary. But, Paul felt if they believed in Christ and they would keep the Ten Commandments and were committed to that; that was enough. There was a council in Jerusalem of the leaders of the church and it was there that a decision was made that these Gentile believers would not have to keep all of these ceremonial laws of the Jews that were trying to get them to keep. However, they did say that they would abstain from blood and they were not to eat blood and the reason for that is we have a principle in Leviticus where the Bible very clearly states that we should not eat blood. And the reason is the bible says the life is in the blood; Leviticus Chapter 17: 11 it also mentions that and we know today that the blood carries the toxins around the body and it is just unhealthy to eat blood. So for health purposes that admonition was given not only to the Jews, but also to the Gentiles.
Ross: Okay. That’s perfect.
Pastor Ross: Does that help?
Ross: Yes.
Pastor Ross: Okay let me also mention Ross this free study guide. It deals with the subject of what you should eat and shouldn’t eat and how we should we relate as Christians. It is called “God’s Free Health Plan” and it is an “Amazing Facts” study guide and to receive it all you need to do is call 1-800-835-6747. Alright appreciate your call.
Our next caller is John and he is calling from Jersey City, New Jersey listening on WMCA. John welcome to the program.
John: Good evening. How are you?
Pastor Ross: Good evening; very good.
John: I was cut off on you last week.
Pastor Ross: Okay.
John: And this is the same question I had in Isaiah 65: 17-21, but I can just deal with 20 tonight if you are going to give me some reference on it.
Pastor Ross: Okay you said Isaiah 65: 20?
John: Yes and it says, “Never again will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not live out his years; the one who lives at a hundred will be thought a mere child; the one who fails to reach a hundred will be considered accursed.” Now this is in the new heaven and the new earth.
Pastor Ross: Now the question is remembering from last week is how a child can die at a hundred if this is in the new earth? There shouldn’t be any death—according to Revelation Chapter 21. First of all the word there die can be understood as coming to an end or reaching its’ completion. It seems from this verse that children will grow a little slower than they do now. Right now at 15-16-17 years; I don’t know, they become a youth. But, in the new earth it seems the children will grow slower. All the way up to about one hundred years. So it is not speaking about death in heaven, but rather where a child becomes a youth it would be at about one hundred years of age. Does that make sense John?
John: Well it says in the new heaven and the new earth; there is no more dying.
Pastor Ross: We are not talking about a physical death here. Because the wages of sin is death and there is no sin in the new earth. But, we’re talking about in the sense of a child is no longer a child after one hundred years. Death is the end so the end of the childhood would be at one hundred years. That doesn’t mean a child dies, but is a youth or a young man or young woman or something along those lines. We are not talking about a physical death here.
John: Okay.
Pastor Ross: You know we have a study guide dealing with the new heavens and the new earth that touches on the subject in a little more detail. I think you’d enjoy reading that and all you have to do is call the resource number to get it; it is called “Colossal City in Space” and the number John is 1-800-835-6747. Just call and ask for the new heavens and the new earth study guide “A Colossal City in Space”. Well friends we hear the music playing in the background and we are coming up on our half an hour break. Don’t go away we are going to be back with more Bible questions. We hope that you have been blessed so far and trust that as we continue to open up the word of God and study together that God will guide in a very special way. Friends again have your pencils ready we are going to give you some numbers her in just a few moments. But, stand by for an important announcement and we will be right back.
[COMMERCIAL BREAK]
Pastor Ross: Hello friends welcome back. This is “Bible Answers Live”. My name is Jean Ross. Pastor Doug Batchelor is out this evening. If you have Bible related question; we’d love you to join us. The number to call here to the studio is 1-800-GOD-SAYS or 1-800-462-7297.
Before we go back to the phone lines in the second half of the program, I would like to remind you of some great online resources that “Amazing Facts” has to help you I your study of God’s word. Of course the “Amazing Facts” website is filled with all kinds of great resources. You can actually send a Bible question to us right online. Click on the link at the “Amazing Facts” website that says, “Contact us” and there is a place there for you to type in your Bible related question. We also have some other websites that deal with some rather important topics. One is “Sabbath Truth dot org” you can go to that website simply “WWW dot Sabbath truth dot org” and you can also get more information on the Sabbath you can go to “WWW dot Hell Truth dot org” and it will also tell you what happens because there are a lot of questions today and confusion about that. Like how can loving God burn sinners forever? That website has a number of great resources. We also have a website “WWW the truth about death dot org” and that also has an outstanding number of resources. It gives hope and encouragement because with Christ death is not a fearful thing and we have the hope of a glorious resurrection. So I encourage you to take a look at those websites when you have a chance and of course don’t forget the “Amazing Facts” website. It is filled with all kinds of great resources.
We are going to go to the phone lines now and Marilyn is listening on WKPRZ from San Diego, California. Marilyn welcome to the program.
Marilyn: Hi.
Pastor Ross: Hi.
Marilyn: I have a question about Solomon. He was given the wisdom, the intelligence, but I just don’t understand where the king nine was a ruler? King Solomon used forced labor and slavery to build the temple? Did he do that?
Pastor Ross: Alright well let’s quickly talk about that. The work involved with the temple and the building of the temple; it was the national treasure of Israel. And it was something that people willingly got involved with and building. Even though they volunteered their time often, but it was something that people were willing to do. It wasn’t a forced labor on the building of the temple.
Marilyn: Okay no slavery involved?
Pastor Ross: No. Not to build the temple.
Marilyn: Okay.
Pastor Ross: Yeah probably he would have gotten as many helpers as he wanted to help building on the temple because that was the nation’s treasure and it was being built for God.
Marilyn: It was a misinterpretation of the time on how they read you the Bible or write it. You know forced labor I always thought of slavery.
Pastor Ross: And it could be again that it depends on which translation you have; it could have been some of the folks or people that were volunteering, some of the materials that were used in the building of the temple came from some of the heathen nations during the time of David. The wood, the cedar that was used in the building of the temple came from some of the nations as gifts. But, the actual work and building the temple was volunteer and also paid. Solomon paid for the building of the temple as well.
Marilyn: Right. Okay thank you.
Pastor Ross: Alright thank you for your call Marilyn. Our next caller is Shawn and he is listening from WMZU from Michigan. Shawn welcome to the program.
Shawn: Thank you. I listen to you every week and it is just fascinating. I have a question and unfortunately was not able to find a Chapter and verse. But, the quote being from Paul where he says let this sign be in you which was also in Christ Jesus who being in the form of God or maybe it was the form of man not to be equal with god, but my question is that there is a glitch when I try to understand that. In the larger context what does it mean to put on the mind of Christ as Paul refers to it several times please?
Pastor Ross: Okay, great question. The verses you are referring to there are Philippians Chapter 2:5 and verse 6 goes on.
Shawn: Right.
Pastor Ross: Paul write, “Let this mind be in you which also was in Christ Jesus.” Then he explains what that mind is in verse 6 “Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God.” 7 “But made himself or no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men.” So here the mind of Christ as explained by Paul in Philippians 2: 6 and 7 is a humbling of oneself. Christ is one with the Father; He is equal with God, but He laid aside all of the glory of heaven and took upon himself the form of a servant and humbled himself even to the point of death. So in that spirit of humility; that mind of surrendering all to Christ was what Christ did.
Shawn: Oh I see. Pastor would that be like if the Lord himself was able to become a man and humble himself to that level so much more should we as—is that what he is trying to say? Is that the sign?
Pastor Ross: Yes absolutely. There is another verse that ties into this in Romans Chapter 12:16 where Paul again writes and says, “Be of the same mind towards one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.” So he is using again the same idea of having a mind of Christ of having humility towards each other.
Shawn: And also is quite like take the lowest seat at the table.
Pastor Ross: That is right. That’s right. Don’t take the highest place because someone greater or more important will come and then you’ll have to get up and move and then you will be humiliated. But, rather go to the low seat. So the principle there is to have that humility that Christ had.
Shawn: Thank you.
Pastor Ross: You’re welcome. Thanks for your call. Our next caller is Michael and he is listening on KCJR from Fort Worth, Texas. Michael welcome to the program.
Michael: Thank you. My question is what does the Bible say about Ash Wednesday?
Pastor Ross: What does the Bible say about Ash Wednesday? Well to be honest, it doesn’t say anything.
[Laughter]
Pastor Ross: Especially, with the words “Ash Wednesday” that phrase is not in the Bible.
Michael: Okay well that is what I thought, but a lot of people carry out that tradition and put symbols on their forehead. Do you know why they do that?
Pastor Ross: You know I am not quite sure why. I do know that during the Dark Ages after starting around the 200 A.D. to 300 A.D. period as the Christian Church had suffered a severe time of persecution in the years by some of these Roman Emperors. But, then at the time of Constantine, where Christianity was made legal it was allowed and Christians were not persecuted as the Church began to gain more sway over the people and especially over the pagans there were a number of pagan ideas, rituals and practices That slowly over time crept into the Christian Church. And there were many of them and this “Ash Wednesday” probably has its’ roots at that same time with one of the pagan rituals that sort of came in to the Christian Church.
Michael: Okay so do you know and I know this is not Bible based so that’s where it is a tradition, right?
Pastor Ross: Yes.
Michael: Now I know we should not carry out any tradition that violates the law of God so would you know if that—celebrating that now would that be considered a violation of any law?
Pastor Ross: Well you know Michael if it is not in the Bible; and we are not told or commanded in Scripture to do it and especially if it is related to religion in that sense, I would refrain from it.
Michael: Okay.
Pastor Ross: I would want to make my stand on the Bible and the Bible only.
Michael: Right. Well that’s what I want to do and I am mostly asking in regards that I have a few friends that actually practice this. Now, I do not because I know we share the same faith because I really didn’t know much about “Ash Wednesday”. I thought this would maybe be a good source to find out.
Pastor Ross: Sure. You might want to do a little more research and you might even wasn’t to go to the “Amazing Facts” website and type in “Ash Wednesday” there is a search bar and see what you come up with. I don’t have time to go into too much detail. But, again we want to make our stand on the Bible and we want to encourage people tostand on the Bible.
Michael: Okay. Thank you very much
Pastor Ross: Thanks for your call we appreciate it. We’ll go to our next caller who is Dixon listening on WMCA from Brooklyn, New York. Dixon welcome to the program.
Dixon: Yes.
Pastor Ross: And your question?
Dixon: My question is it after a person has died is it Biblical or is it right to have a memorial service a year after they have died? Is it okay?
Pastor Ross: The reason for doing it a year after the person is dead is that because of circumstances that they weren’t able to get the body or something along those lines?
Dixon: Well the person who died a year ago we had a memorial service with the family who is not of the faith and so we had a memorial service and I want to know is it right or not?
Pastor Ross: First of all from a Biblical basis there’s nothing wrong with having a memorial service or if you are having a funeral service. There is no timeline given as to when that should happen. There might be times especially around the anniversary of the death of a loved one that the person might want special encouragement or maybe there needs to be a friend come by and encourage them. Maybe they want to reflect on the life of the loved one. There is nothing wrong with that at all.
Dixon: Okay. That answers the question.
Pastor Ross: Well alright hopefully that would help. We have some examples in Scripture of people for example Joseph who died in Egypt and he was buried and he asked if they would take his bones back and bury in the Promised Land. Or if an Israelite died they took his bones and buried it and say in the cave of where the other patriarchs are buried. Well Abraham and so on and then there was some sort of service or memorial when that happened and that was years after the fact that he had died.
Dixon: And also to encourage the others to walk in his footsteps.
Pastor Ross: Yes absolutely. Absolutely.
Dixon: Okay. Well thanks a lot for that.
Pastor Ross: Well you’re welcome. I appreciate your call and our next a caller is Ricky listening on KOPG from Minnesota. Ricky welcome to the program.
Ricky: The show earlier you were referring to children slowly maturing in heaven. And you mentioned the hundred year mark and I was just thinking about it and when they do mature how will there be any more children in heaven? Will there be any more children and if so; how?
Pastor Ross: Well good question. There will probably come a time where there won’t be any more children in heaven and maybe that is why it takes them so long to grow up because they are special. But, there will come a time when all of them will grow up and remember one time someone asked Jesus on one occasion concerning marriage in heaven?
Ricky: Umm-hmm.
Pastor Ross: And Jesus said you will be as the angels not marrying or giving in marriage. So there won’t be procreation marriage as we have it here today.
Ricky: Yeah.
Pastor Ross: So yes a time will come in heaven and in the new earth where the children will grow up.
Ricky: And then another question about that are what about the real aged people when they die? Would they look as the same age or do you think they would be younger in heaven?
Pastor Ross: Well I am sure they are going to look younger because they are going to have a glorified body. And there won’t be all the aches and the pains and what exactly they will look like we are not quite sure. We know that we will recognize each other in heaven and we know we’ll have the same body that Jesus had when He rose from the dead because Jesus ate after the resurrection. So we’ll be able to eat so I think we are going to be at that perfect age in heaven whatever that is.
Ricky: So would married people have a different type of relationship then?
Pastor Ross: You know I don’t know. The Bible doesn’t tell us it is just that Jesus said we will be like the angels not marrying or giving in marriage.
Ricky: Yeah okay.
Pastor Ross: Alright thanks for your call Ricky we appreciate it. We’re going to our next caller Dan is calling from Sacramento, California listening on WKFIN. Dan welcome to the program.
Dan: how are you doing?
Pastor Ross: Good.
Dan: My question is in Exodus Chapter 20: 4 it is the second commandment and telling us not to have any graven images and so forth. I just wondered if you have any thoughts about why some people pray to images or any kind of images or the like the statue of Mary and so forth actually pray to it and you know the Bible tells us not to and speaks against that.
Pastor Ross: Okay well you are right the Bible does speak against it and that is one of the commandments you find in Exodus Chapter 20 where God says we should not make a graven image or bow down to a graven image. In some instances the people will give the excuse that they are not actually worshipping the idol, but are just a reminder or whatever of God. However that argument is also used when it comes to pagan worship. For Hindus for example they don’t really believe that the stone figure in front of them really is the god but they believe it represents the god. It is by showing reverence to the idol they are showing reverence to their god. So the idea of saying in a Biblical sense or even a Christian sense that it is permissible to bow down or worship an image as a reminder of god it is just not Biblical. Does that help Dan?
Dan: Yeah it does a lot. Thank you.
Pastor Ross: Alright appreciate your call and we have a study guide dealing with the Ten Commandments. And it explains a lot because each one goes into a lot of detail and particularly this one as it has to do with the bowing down and worship of images. It is entitled “Written in Stone” and Dan if you’d like to get that all you have to do is call our resource number 1-800-835-6747 ask for the study guide “Written in Stone” and they will be happy to send that out to you.
Alright we are going to our next caller and Taria is listening from WTIN in Orlando, Florida. Taria are you there?
Taria: I am and good evening.
Pastor Ross: Good evening.
Taria: My question comes out of John 17: 6. Where Jesus is praying to the Father and He says I have manifested your name to the man whom you have given me out of the world. Is there a specific name He is referring to? I understand manifested to be revealed because he later mentions in verses 11 and 12 Holy Father keep through your name those whom you have given me and then while I was in the world I kept them in your name.
Pastor Ross: Okay well very good question. If there was some special name that Jesus told His disciples of that we should know about today I am almost positive that one of the gospel writers would have mentioned it. We have no account in the full gospels of any special name or any special way in which we need to refer to God. When Jesus says I have manifested their names; a name represents the character. Back in Bible times the name was very significant. They didn’t name their children until they had some kind of a feel as to their character. Sometimes certain situations at their birth would determine what their name would be. And so a name represents character and we find throughout Scripture; that names are given for God. Jesus said this of himself; I am the living bread. I am the living water. Jesus refers to Himself and the different names as a different aspect of His character when He says I have revealed your name speaking about Jesus revealing to His disciples His character to them of God.
Taria: Okay. I wondered about that for a while and I am glad I called in. Thank you.
Pastor Ross: Well alright appreciate your calling. Our next caller is John and he is listening on the internet from Ohio. John welcome to the program.
John: Hey Pastor Jean. Thank you for taking my call.
Pastor Ross: You’re welcome.
John: My question is regarding the gift of tongues. I have a gifted family member that often prays in tongues and it is kind of confusing for me and I am just curious. I have a two-pronged question. Are tongues just speaking another human language that they did not know? Or is it a spirit language from God? And number two what is it in the church that perceive that and when should it be used?
Pastor Ross: Okay good questions. The clearest way to understand the gift of tongues is when there was a man in Acts Chapter 2 that when the disciples gathered together there in the upper room just before this at the ascension of Christ He had told the disciples to go preach the gospel to every nation, kindred, tongue and people. And here the disciples are gathered together and they are burdened with what Jesus had just told them to do. And I imagine the disciples saying how can we ever do this on our own? They were gathered together in one accord and were fervently asking God for wisdom and asking God for the gift of the spirit. The Holy Spirit comes upon them with power and they begin to speak in other tongues. In Jerusalem at that time there were people from different countries that were there and Jerusalem was sort of the cross roads between the north and the south from Africa and Asia and Europe; people would travel up and down Palestine past Jerusalem. You find people getting up and preaching and people were able to hear Peter in their own language. So the gift of tongues is used first of all for the spreading of the gospel. And it is the ability to speak in a language that you do not know beforehand. God gives you supernatural ability to communicate the gospel with somebody else. That is the manifestation of the gift of tongues. Does that make sense John?
John: Yes I understand that part, but I guess in 1 Corinthians 13 it says speaking in the tongues of men and angels; what is the tongue of angels because that is kind of confusing?
Pastor Ross: Okay. This is about love and Paul says that even though I speak in the tongues of men and angels, but have not love, it profits me nothing. Paul is saying that even if I am an eloquent speaker and I can speak in different languages and even if I spoke the language of heaven, but I didn’t have love; it would profit me nothing. So the emphasis of that verse is for needing love not speaking some unknown language. He is just saying even if I could speak the language of angels or the language of heaven, but I did not have love and he goes on and gives other illustrations of even if I sell all my goods to feed the poor, but I have not love it profits me nothing. So he is not thinking about a specific language when he says I speak in the language of men and angels. He is saying that even if he could speak the language of the angels and I didn’t have love nothing would happen.
John: It is not necessarily a fluid language that other men have a different interpretation to understand?
Pastor Ross: Well some people have the gift of interpretation in being able to interpret from one language to another. But, the gift of tongues is always for the communication of the gospel, the preaching of the gospel and it is some type of a language they can actually understand. When Paul speaks about praying in an unknown tongue for example in a church there is somebody that comes that speaks a language that nobody else understands and he says you need to have an interpreter. Otherwise it is not going to profit. God understands what you are saying and is can edify yourself, but nobody else can understand what you are saying and you need an interpreter. So the tongues and the gift of tongues are for the communication of the gospel. You know John we have a little booklet that goes into much greater detail than we can here on the program concerning the gift of tongues. It is called “Captured by Tongues” and it is written by Pastor Doug Batchelor. I would encourage you to call the resource number and get that little book “Captured by Tongues”. The number to call is 1-800-835-6747 and just asks for that little book “Captured by Tongues” and we’ll be happy to send that out to you.
John: Thank you very much I appreciate it.
Pastor Ross: Alright you are welcome and appreciate your call. San Diego is listening on KNDL from Lakeland, California. San Diego welcome to the program.
San Diego: Hi my question is in the book of Acts I don’t remember what Chapter or verse and I can’t look it up because I am driving, but when the apostles sold everything and spread it evenly amongst each other; do you know what I am talking about?
Pastor Ross: Yes.
San Diego: Would that be considered a type of communism?
Pastor Ross: Alright good question. Let’s give a little bit of a background here. The early church and Christians gathered together and sold whatever they could. Some sold properties or whatever they could. They brought the profits and they laid it feet of the apostles. Now it was two-fold. It was on one hand to help the spreading of the gospel to pay for the preaching of the word. This provided for the missionaries that would go out that were the disciples of God and so it was given in a sense as offering is given. It was also used to take care of the poor or the widows. So it wasn’t equally distribute dot every single believer, but as they had need they would receive form this fund, but it was mostly used for the propagation of the gospel and the spreading of the word. That is different than our understanding of communism today.
San Diego: Oh okay than k you for it.
Pastor Ross: Alright appreciate your call. Our next caller is Joe and he is calling from San Diego, California and listening on KPRZ; Joe welcome to the program.
Joe: Hey what’s going on? I have a question. Do you need to speak in tongues to know you have received the Holy Spirit? I was talking to somebody and he said no you don’t. The Holy Spirit is in five sixteen, but I am thinking of somebody who just got save and they are coming to church they are going to go to one service and get the hands laid on and get delivered and just start walking in that love and forgiveness when they have just come from a broken world. So my question is do you need to speak in tongues because I know the Bible says it, but a lot of different Christians believe that you don’t need to speak in tongues and that has been an argument and I am kind of confused.
Pastor Ross: Alright Joe good question. First of all do we have any record of Jesus speaking in tongues? And the answer to that is no. We don’t have any record of people in the Old Testament speaking in tongues. And were they saved, yes; did they have the Holy Spirit, yes they did. Do you have to have the gift of tongues in order to be saved the answer is no. We need to recognize that the gift of tongues is one of the gifts of the Spirit. There are many gifts of the Spirit. You have prophecy. You have tongues and the gift of healing and etceteras. What are needed to be saved are not the gifts of the Spirit but the fruit of the Spirit. Now the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, long-suffering, gentleness, meekness and self-control. You can read about that in Galatians 5:16 that are the fruit of the Spirit and that is different from the gifts of the Spirit.
And of course that doesn’t happen overnight. As the Holy Spirit works in the heart of the believer little by little they become more like Jesus. It is the work of a lifetime to reflect Christ and His character. So no you don’t have to speak in tongues, but we do want to pray and ask for the fruit do we can be like Jesus. Joe you could call the resource number and get the booklet “Captured by Tongues” it will explain ht subject in further detail. The number is 1-800-835-6747.
We are going to our next caller and have just a few more minutes left. We have Joseph listening on WMDG from Westland, Michigan. Welcome to the program. Joseph are you there or can you hear us? Joseph you might need to call back we don’t seem to have you online here. We are going to our next caller Sonora listening from New York on WMCA. Sonora are you there?
Sonja: Yes it is Sonja Pastor.
Pastor Ross: I apologize. We have just one minute left.
Sonja: That is alright. I just want to know the Bible says that Satan was lifted up with pride because of the great beauty that God gave him. Is pride—can you define pride in the Bible? What does God mean by pride and is it ever good?
Pastor Ross: Alright good question. I am going to give you the quick answer here. Pride leads to sin and the bible talks about we need to have the mind of Christ. We spoke a little earlier about the mind of Christ being a humble mind; a willingness to submit to the will of God. A stubborn selfishness or pride fullness leads to sin. You are correct that’s what happened in heaven when Lucifer rebelled. Sonja I am going to have to move on along here we are running out of time. Friends I want to remind you to take a look at the “Amazing Facts” website; which is just “WWW dot Amazing Facts dot org” and thank you for joining us this evening. And remember next week we’ll be on the air again and until then God Bless.
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