OUR QUESTION CORNER by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Sep 11, 1893

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 19, No. 44.

OUR QUESTION CORNER.

By Editor

[From time to time we will reply under this head, if deemed advisable, to such candid inquiries on scriptural topics or moral questions as may be sent us. Questions which minister strife to no profit to our readers will not be answered here. Correspondents wishing a reply to their questions must give their full name and address, not for publication unless they wish, but as an evidence of good faith on their part, and to give us opportunity to reply by letter if deemed best. It is always well to inclose stamp. The questions will be numbered continuously.]

105. DID GOD KNOW?

DID God know when he created man that he would fall?

He certainly must have known; for he is infinite in knowledge, and therefore he cannot be surprised at aught that occurs or may occur. “Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.” Acts 15 : 18. “There is no searching of his [God’s] understanding.” Isa. 40 : 28. See also Psalms 139. God knows everything, but what of it?

106. EZE. 36:25.

Kindly explain Eze. 36:25.

The text reads: “Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean; from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.” The figure is from the ancient practice of ceremonial cleansing, by the sprinkling of water. See Lev. 14 : 4-9. It will be noticed that under the Levitical law the ceremony performed was not a real cleansing; it had rather the force of a judicial sentence that the cleansing was accomplished. But when God cleanses by his Spirit (2 Thess. 2 : 13), by the blood of Christ (Heb. 10 : 29; 1 Peter 1 : 2), and by his word (Eph. 5 : 26), he actually cleanses and sanctifies the soul which believes in him. This is just what is promised in Eze. 36 : 25.