Question Corner

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Feb 20, 1896

“Enquire, and make search, and ask diligently.”

No. 264. Can Not Sin.

PLEASE explain 1 John 3:9, and tell me when “he is born of God so that he can not sin”? M. R.

The text reads as follows: “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him; and he can not sin, because he is born of God.” The idea of committing sin, as will be seen by the context, is the habitual practice of sin. It does not imply that one may not make a mistake, or err from the right, but that he willingly does not choose sin. He can not, because he will not. It does not refer to a physical impossibility, but that the heart can not yield to sin, because it does not desire so to do. It is different in nature and purpose. For this use of “can not” see Luke 14:20. The man could not come because he would not, he had no desire. “He can not sin” is rendered by Rotherham, “He can not be sinning.” The Syriac by Murdock reads, “Every one that is born of God, doth not practice sin; because his seed is in him, and he can not sin because he is born of God.” This condition takes place when the soul yields all to God for all time and by faith receives Christ instead of self.

No. 265. Candlemas Day.

PLEASE tell us the origin of Candlemas day? M. F. B.

The word comes from the two words “candle” and “mass.” The day occurs February 2, and is said to be kept in memory of the purification of the Virgin Mary and the presentation of Christ in the temple. The great number of candles lighted are said to represent the expression in Simeon’s song, “a light to lighten the gentiles.” See Luke 2:32. Its origin is ascribed by Bede to Pope Gelasius in the fifth century. It was forbidden in England in 1548. The “Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia” says: “In all its details, however,—the lighting of candles, the consecration by the pope of all the candles to be used in the service during the year, etc.,—the Candlemas, Festum Candelarum, shows itself to be a mere Christianization of an old pagan feast celebrated in Rome just at the same season, by purification of the whole house, in order to make it ready for the returning sun, and by lighting of candles and torches, in memory of Ceres searching after Proserpina.” Ceres was in the Roman mythology the goddess of harvests and Proserpina was her daughter. It will be seen that the sun-worship creeps in, as it does into most heathen feasts.

No. 266. Is It Transgression of the Second Commandment?

A correspondent—J. F. G.—quotes the second commandment, and suggests that illustrations in books and pictures on the walls are a transgression of God’s law, and that when we clean and dust the pictures, we are serving them.

It may be that this is so. There may be men and women—it may be so with our querist—who can not look upon pictures without adoring or worshiping them. Some men worship their houses, some their barns, and others their horses and cattle. But there are others who can build comfortable houses, who can adorn the walls so as to make home pleasant, who can keep their houses clean, without worshiping anything in it. The dusting of a picture is not the serving of it, but of our friends and loved ones, to whom home is made more pleasant; and we are “by love” to “serve one another.” The second commandment forbids idolatry—false worship—which first of all begins in the heart, and the root of which is selfishness. The temple of the Lord was adorned with images of cherubim and of pomegranates, to beautify, not to worship. If there is any transgression of the second commandment in the way our correspondent refers to, it is generally the worship of self, but this may take place in the bare walls of a prison as well as in a moderately furnished home. And yet we do not believe in extravagance; rather should the Christian deny self for the needs of others.

No. 267. Zech. 8:23.

WILL you kindly explain through your paper Zech. 8:23, and oblige, C. K.

The text seems to have reference to the time of the Christian dispensation, when men of all nations should take hold of the one Great Jew, the Shiloh of the tribe of Judah. See Gen. 49:10; John 4:22; 10:16. It would also refer to the Jerusalem of the Christian dispensation when Jesus as high priest reigns. See Heb. 12:22–24; Gal. 4:26. The taking hold is by faith, becoming one in him. This work goes on till the children shall all be gathered home.