Question Corner

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Mar 10, 1909

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 36, No. 10.

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2761.—Outward Man and Inward Man.

Please explain what is meant by the outward man and the inward man spoken of in 2 Cor. 4:16, and also the things not seen, in verses 17 and 18. J. H. W.

The outward man is the mere physical or earthly man. Our outward man perishes, falls, grows old, dies; the inward man would refer, of course, to the new heart, the new hopes, the new aspirations, the spiritual nature fed from the life of God. The things which are seen are the things which our physical eyes look upon; upon which the ambitions of the natural man are centered. The things not seen are the things which we grasp by faith; all the gracious promises of God with the inheritance which lies on before.

2762.—A Ransom for All.

In 1 Tim. 2:5, 6 we read, “For there is one God, and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus; who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified [to all] in due time.” Since death, destruction, was brought upon the whole human race through the disobedience of one man, does not the death of Jesus Christ provide for a resurrection from the dead for all, and does it not guarantee that a full, fair, and impartial opportunity shall be given to every member of Adam’s race for life everlasting? H. E. H.

The text does not read “to be testified [to all] in due time,” nor is there anything that will admit of this interpolation. The Revised Version reads “The testimony to be borne in its own times.” Rotherham’s translation from the Westcott and Hort text: “Who gave Himself a ransom in behalf of all, a testimony in its own fit times;” by which the apostle seems to mean simply this, that God’s promises were all fulfilled and the testimony of those promises demonstrated when Christ came and died. This does not imply that the world was in utter darkness or that there was not light enough to save the soul who really desired salvation. John bears witness of Christ: “That was the true light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.” John 1:9. One ray of light from God’s throne is sufficient to save a soul, if he with all his heart lets that light in. It matters not how it may come; it may come from the heavens, the contemplation of the stars: “For the heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament showeth His handiwork.” Paul quotes this very Psalm in Romans 10 as a proof that the very heathen have themselves heard. It may come, as it did to one infidel in the little flower, the Texas star, which he found worth while to contemplate for a few minutes till he saw God in its very arrangement. This, of course, is not the fulness of light which the Lord wishes to give to the world and which man, because he loves darkness rather than light, has shut away from him, but this is true, and it has been demonstrated again and again in the history of mission work and among the darkest tribes, that there were persons whose hearts cried out for God, and God heard and gave them light. Romans 1 teaches the same thing. The very goodness of God is manifested in His works of power and the soul that will yield to that light will always find enough to save him. God does save men from the Adamic death. There shall be a resurrection both of the just and of the unjust. “As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” Men are not responsible for Adam’s death. From all that for which they were not responsible, Christ saves them. They are responsible, however, for the use of their time and opportunity which God gives to every soul who has time given him at all upon the earth. They are responsible for the pleadings of the universal Spirit, and if they fail here, they themselves are alone responsible. It is not for men to measure out nor determine the amount of light which God gives to every soul. The one simple fact that not an intelligent soul upon this earth but what condemns himself when he does wrong, is evidence that he has light which he does not follow. And this is emphasized by the fact that he condemns his neighbor, when that neighbor transgresses his own standard of right. God does not condemn us without pointing out the way by which we may be saved from the condemnation. Poor, puny, mortal, self-complaining, self-justifying man would say, whatever God might do for the race, that some had better opportunities than others.

2763.—Secret Fraternal Organizations.

What is your stand regarding secret fraternal organizations? Please give reasons both from a spiritual and worldly standpoint. C. R.

From a worldly view-point wholly there may be benefit in some of the secret organizations, but from the true Christian standpoint there can be none; for the reason that in the church of the Lord Jesus Christ, according to 1 Corinthians 12, are found all the gifts and blessings that are necessary for His children. As expressed in the last verses of Ephesians 1, that church is “the fulness of Him that filleth all in all.” Why should Christians turn from God’s great reservoir which He has placed in this earth, and which is connected with the great Living Fountain, to the broken cisterns of this world?

Secondly, Jesus said: “I spake openly to the world; . . . and in secret have I said nothing.” John 18:20. He had no blessing, no truth, no secrets, but what He was willing that the whole world should share and receive benefit of them. They were not held for money or emoluments of any kind. The mysteries of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ were always to them who would submit themselves to Him. Not so with the fraternal organizations; they endeavor to hold the very best things which they may possess, many of which are utterly worthless even to the members alone.

Thirdly, the admonition to the church of Christ is: “As we have opportunity, let us work that which is good toward all men, and especially toward them that are of the household of faith.” Gal. 6:10. Fraternal organizations carry out that in part; they have regard for their own household, but wherever tests come, all those without must suffer. Then, too, there are the oaths; the extrajudicial oaths and vows that men are called to take upon themselves regarding that of which they know nothing, but which is in many cases to be afterward revealed. This is utterly out of harmony with the Gospel. From a worldly standpoint, it is questionable indeed, honeycombed as society now is with fraternal organizations, whether there is as much benefit in a fraternal organization as there is in money which is carefully saved and properly invested.

2764.—What About These?

I believe in the universal Fatherhood of God; in the spiritual authority and leadership of His Son, Jesus Christ; in the trustworthiness of the Bible as containing a revelation from God; in the certainty of just retribution for sin; in the final harmony of all souls with God. . . . R.

We have not space in this column to answer all the questionable theology which may arise in the minds of individuals. In the first place, as a Bible statement of creed, it is altogether incomplete. Like every human creed it is the expression, the mere opinion, of man instead of the word of God. The true Christian, the enlightened Bible Christian, has for his creed the word of God—the Bible. He finds that all-sufficient. That indicates that while in the sense of creation God is the Father of the race, yet in the sense of character He is the Father of all those who are in harmony with His will; and Jesus Christ is more than mere spiritual authority or leader. Through His redemption only are souls saved, and belief in Him is necessary for more than leadership, but for the salvation from sin. There will be just retribution for sin, but the Bible tells us that that retribution is death; and if the soul wishes to choose death or extinction of life, that is the privilege of that soul. God will not compel it to live; it therefore teaches no final harmony of all souls with God.

2765.—“Him That Is Weak.” Rom. 14:2.

Will you kindly explain the meaning of Rom. 14:2? Are we to understand thereby that vegetarians are weak, shallow, silly, puerile; and meat-eaters are strong, intelligent, resourceful, manly, etc., in contradistinction? J. W. C.

We are not to understand anything about either class in this chapter; if you will notice, the whole chapter revolves around one thing, and that is, judge not. It is not our business to sit in judgment upon the eaters of anything. Of course, the apostle is talking to Christians; their duty is expressed in the last verse of the preceding chapter: “Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof. But him that is weak in faith receive ye, yet not for decision of scruples.” The one thinks he can eat all things; another who has very weak faith, confines himself to a much more strict diet. It is not a matter of weakness of body or weakness of mind, but weakness of faith. Some have scruples that the others do not have. The thought of the apostle is that we should not judge one another. As to the relative strength and health of vegetarians as compared with flesh-eaters, this is practically demonstrated in the lives of thousands. One finds just as strong, just as intelligent, and generally more spiritual people among the vegetarians than he does among flesh-eaters. You will find, however, that many vegetarians are weak, not because of the vegetarian diet, but they have utterly ruined themselves on a mixed diet before they adopted vegetarianism. Almost invariably these will be found to be on the up-grade, with no desire to go back to a mixed diet.

2766.—The Name of “Christ.”—T. L. P.—

The mere word “Christ” amounts to nothing. The mere name “Church of Christ” amounts to nothing. We may call ourselves by the name; we may repeat it in our prayers; neither of these will save us. Saved by His name is saved by His character, and the church who is under His name is the church who has been baptized into His character. Let no one deceive you by empty words. It is character which God is after. There will be thousands upon thousands saved in the kingdom of God who know nothing of the word “Christ,” as we know it; but they have known this, that it means the absolute emptying of self, and that simple faith in God so that God could fill them with His own presence; and that is salvation through His name.

2767.—Genealogy of Christ. Matthew 1 and Luke 3.

In Matt. 1:1-16 the writer says that from David the line of Christ’s genealogy was through Solomon; and in Luke 3:23-38 the writer says that from David the line of Christ’s genealogy was through Nathan, a brother of Solomon. C. E. P.

The one gives the genealogy of Joseph, and the other of Mary; the one the kingly genealogy, or the royal line through Joseph because the line came through the males; the other the literal blood line through Mary. Joseph is mentioned instead of Mary because it was the custom to name the males instead of the females in the genealogical line, inasmuch as the inheritance came in that way.

2768.—The Time of the Crucifixion.—F. D.

See the article on Passover and Pentecost in last issue. It may help you. If not, write us again.