1097. G. T. D. Death of Christ.—Yes, Christ died. He says, "I am He that liveth, and was dead." Rev. 1:18. Christ is also God (John 1:1-3), the eternal Son of the Father (2 Cor. 1:3; Rom. 1:1, 3; Heb. 1:4), "being the brightness of His [the Father's] glory, and the express image of His [the Father's] person" (Heb. 1:3); "for it pleased the Father that in Him [Christ] should all fulness dwell" (Col. 1:19). So it is true that He died for us; yet the world was not left without God.
1098. G. V. W. Rom. 14:4-6.—The lesson of the apostle Paul in Rom. 14:1 and forward is not as to what day we should keep, but that we poor humans are not judges as to the what or the how. "Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea [in spite of all human judgment], he shall be holden up; for God is able to make him stand." It is for man to know between himself and God which is right. If he is serving God, he will do what God commands. If he is serving men, he will always be trembling under what man may judge. The apostle wants men to stand with God in all they do, each for himself, and not condemning others. Obey God, and leave judgment to the end. Col. 2:16 refers to yearly sabbaths of the typical system. See the yearly sabbaths of Leviticus 23, and compare verse 38.
1099. J. B. S. Passion Plays.—The Passion Play is only a form of human idolatry, based on works of merit, and making a gain of godliness. The very idea of one acting out Christ Jesus is abhorrent to a devout mind. It is but the counterfeit of living Christ's life from His Spirit within. Many whose lives are unaffected by the cross or Spirit of Christ, will be moved to mere emotion by a play. It is one of Satan's devices to satisfy the longings of the human heart.
1100. F. A. A. Luke 11:24-26. The parable is an illustration to show that it is not only necessary that sin shall be removed, but the heart and life must be filled with love and good works for God. If this had been the case, the evil spirit would have found no place when he returned. What causes a man to backslide is that his whole being is not yielded to God to do His will.
1101. F. A. A. Kingdom of Heaven. The kingdom of God is the kingdom of heaven. The terms are used interchangeably.
1102. A Subscriber. 1 Tim. 4:1-5. This scripture does not use the word "meats" as referring to "flesh." The Greek word broma means food of any kind. See Matt. 14:15; John 4:34. The one thing to find out in all this food question is indicated in verse 5: Is the food sanctified by the Word of God? That person who believes and knows the truth will eat and drink to God's glory (1 Cor. 10:31), not to satisfy appetite or lust. No Adventists of which we know forbid food of any kind. Man can eat anything he pleases, from snakes and lizards to the finest grain and fruit. But the latter is the better meat, O, so much better!
