OceanSide church of Christ

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QUESTIONS & ANSWERS (50)

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.    In Titus 3:9, Paul instructed the young minister about foolish questions.

 

But avoid foolish questions…

 

B.      In an article entitled, “Come Let Us Reason Together,” by Allen Webster, in the January, 2019 issue of The Spiritual Sword, he noted some of the foolish questions debated by people in the Middle Ages.

1.      What shape are Gabriel’s wings?

2.      Are there any angels with baritone voices?

3.      Did Pilate us soap when he washed his hands?

4.      How much wine did guests drink at the wedding in Cana?

5.      Could an egg laid on Passover be eaten?

 

C.     Paul would not have answered any of these questions.  They were foolish.

 

D.    So far, for our Q&A nights, you have not asked any foolish questions.

1.      There have been some interesting questions.

2.      There have been some controversial questions.

3.      There have been some difficult questions.

4.      But, no foolish questions.

5.      NOTE:  If there are ever questions I can answer or do not want to answer, I can just say:  “That is a foolish question, and Paul told me to avoid it.”

 

E.      In tonight’s lesson, we will be examining three of your questions.

 

I.                   QUESTION #1:  HUSBANDS AS SPIRITUAL LEADERS

 

A.    Stated:  Why is it so hard for the husband to be motivated to become the spiritual leader?  (Sometimes the woman has no choice because the husband doesn’t want to be the spiritual leader).

 

B.      Answer:

1.      The Bible teaches that the man is to be the spiritual leader of the home.

a.      Ephesians 6:4

 

And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath:  but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

 

1)      The father is given the responsibility to bring up the children in the ways of God.

2)      Why?  He is the head.  He is the leader.  He is the point man in the home.

b.      Genesis 18:19

 

For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.

 

1)      Abraham was a patriarch, that is, a father of his home.

2)      God commends Abraham.  Why does he commend him?  Because “he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord…”  Abraham was commended for being the spiritual leader of his home.

c.       When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, the first person God confronted was Adam (Gen. 3:9-11).  He was the spiritual leader of the home.

2.      The question, however, is why doesn’t a man assume Christian leadership in the home?

a.      Some Christian men are immature.  They have not grown to accept their responsibilities.

b.      Some Christian men are lazy.  They do not want to invest the time and effort into leading their family.

c.       Some Christian men are too busy.  They have not ordered their lives with the kingdom of God being at the top of their list.

d.      Some Christian men are just arrogant and disobedient.  They do not care what God requires of them.  They just refuse to be the spiritual leader in the home.

3.      In our study of I Samuel, we found that Eli, the high priest, was severely judged by God because he was not the leader he should be in his house (I Sam. 3:10-14, esp. v. 13).

 

For I have told him that I will judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not.

 

a.      God took Eli’s situation very seriously.

b.      He still takes spiritual leadership in the home very seriously.  Fathers will give an account to God about how well they have led their families.

 

II.                QUESTION #2:  THE HOLY SPIRIT

 

A.    Stated:  Why do we rarely speak of or mention the Holy Spirit in the church?

 

B.      Answer:

1.      There are at least three major reasons we do not discuss the Holy Spirit very much in the church?

a.      We are ignorant about the Holy Spirit and His work.

b.      We are fearful of the Holy Spirit because of the vast amount of error that is taught regarding Him.

c.       It is a very controversial subject and we do not want to engage in controversy.

1)      Is He a being?  Or, is He a force?

2)      Can man speak in tongues?  Or, can man not speak in tongues?

3)      Is the Bible inspired?  Or, is the Bible not inspired?

4)      Can men perform miracles today?  Or, have miracles ceased?

5)      Does the Holy Spirit literally dwell in the Christian?  Does He dwell through the Word?

6)      Does the Holy Spirit work apart from the Word?  In conjunction with the Word?  Or, solely through the Word.

2.      Another reason is because the Holy Spirit does much of His work through the Word of God.

a.      The Holy Spirit revealed the Word of God to man (II Pet. 1:21).

 

For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man, but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

 

b.      It is He who instilled divine power in the Word to work and operate effectively in our lives (Heb. 4:12).

 

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

 

c.       When the Word of God is operating in our lives, therefore, the Holy Spirit is also working in our lives. 

1)      He is doing it through an instrument, an agent, or a medium.

2)      The New Testament reveals that the things that the Word does for us is also done by the Holy Spirit.

 

THE WORK                                      THE HOLY SPIRIT                          THE WORD

 

Instructs                                              Nehemiah 9:20, 30                             II Timothy 3:16-17

Begets                                                  John 3:5                                              I Corinthians 4:15; James 1:18

New Birth                                           John 3:5                                              I Peter 1:22-23

Quickens                                             John 6:63                                            Psalm 119:50

Teaches                                               John 14:26                                          Titus 2:11-12

Convicts                                             John 16:8                                            Titus 1:9

Comforts                                             Acts 9:31                                             Romans 15:4

Gives love                                           Romans 5:5                                         I John 2:5

Saves                                                   I Corinthians 6:11                              James 1:21

Washes                                               I Corinthians 6:11                              Ephesians 5:26

Sanctifies                                            I Peter 1:2                                           John 17:17

Converts                                             John 16:7-8                                         Psalm 19:7

Makes free                                          Romans 8:2                                         John 8:32

Strengthens                                        Ephesians 3:16                                               Acts 20:32

Indwells saints                                   Ephesians 5:18-19                              Colossians 3:16

Leads                                                  Romans 8:14                                       Psalm 119:105

Witnesses                                            Hebrews 10:15                                               Jeremiah 31:31-34

Produces fruit                                     Galatians 5:22-23                               Colossians 1:5-6

 

III.             QUESTION #3:  THE CRUCIFIXION

 

A.    Stated:  Did those who crucified Jesus nail his feet to the cross?  Thomas did not mention Jesus’ feet, only his hands and his side (See John 20:25).

 

B.      Answer:

1.      Let’s look at John 20:25.

 

The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord.  But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.

 

a.      Thomas was not present when Jesus appeared first to the apostles.

b.      They affirmed to him that they had seen the Lord.

c.       Thomas was not going to believe based on their testimony alone.  He wanted direct evidence.  He wanted to touch the nail prints in Jesus’ hands and touch the scar on His side made by the sword of the Romans soldier.

d.      He did not mention Jesus’ feet.  So, were the feet of Jesus pierced?

2.      The answer to the question is a resounding:  “Yes.”

a.      John 19:16-18

 

Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified.  And they took Jesus, and led him away.  And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of the skull, which is called in Hebrew Golgotha:  where they crucified him, and two other with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst.

 

b.      The text plainly says that they crucified him.  Crucifixion involves three nails, one for each outstretched hand and one for the feet that were placed one on top of the other.

c.       This position allowed the most suffering for the longest amount of time.

1)      If only the hands had been pierced, the lungs of Jesus would  have filled with fluid and He would have suffocated.

2)      His feet allowed Him to push up in order to breath. 

3)      This up and down motion could go on for hours, even days.

3.      Thomas wanted to see Jesus’ hands and His side.

a.      The hands would prove He had been crucified.

b.      The side would prove He has been pierced.  Note:  This was not done to everyone that was crucified.  It was unique to Jesus’ death.

4.      John 20:27-28

 

Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side; and be not faithless, but believing.  And Thomas answered and said, My Lord and my God.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.    When I finish Q&A Night, I always hope that I have answered the questions that have been asked in such a way that the person who has asked it is satisfied and understands. 

 

B.      I try to stay directly on topic and try not to read into the question something that is not there.

 

C.     Tonight, our topics have been weighty.

1.      Spiritual leadership in the home

2.      The Holy Spirit

3.      The crucifixion of Jesus

 

D.    In Revelation 22:17, we read:  “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come…”

1.      These are the words of the divine invitation.

2.      They are inviting sinners to come to Jesus for forgiveness of sins and the relief of a heavy burden.

3.      Are there some in the audience who need to come?