p. 6 | Question Corner by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Sep 26, 1906

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 32, No. 37.

Question Corner

By Editor

1892.—Hopelessness in Persistent Sin.

The unrepentable sin is the unforgivable sin, the sin that can not be removed, because God will not compel the soul to give it up, and the soul still continues therein. Read Heb. 6:4-8 in the light of this: "For as touching those who were once enlightened and tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the age to come, and then fell away, it is impossible to renew them again unto repentance [why?]; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put Him to an open shame." That is, they continue to do this, doing it constantly, as the illustration immediately following shows: "For the land which hath drunk the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them for whose sake it is also tilled, receiveth blessing from God; but if it beareth thorns and thistles, it is rejected and nigh unto a curse; whose end is to be burned." The surest way to bring an unmitigated, unrepealable curse upon ourselves is to turn all God's blessing into our own selfish channels, and there continue. The heart soon gets where it does not sense the sin, and will not, and, therefore, can not, turn from the sin.

1893.—Building Again.

Is it right for us to give money to build up what God has permitted to be burned down?

That depends on several things. If God permitted a thing to be burned down because He was not glorified thereby, if those connected with it could so relate themselves to Him that He should receive the glory, why not build again? If He suffered the burning to try the faith of His people, why not build again? Israel was defeated when they went against the wicked city of Ai, but they went again under different circumstances and conquered. Read Joshua 7 and 8. Twice the children of Israel went up against the wicked Benjamites and were defeated, yet the Lord sent them the third time. Judges 20:18-35. God permitted Jerusalem and the holy temple to be destroyed and burned with fire (2 Chron. 36:14-21); yet He punished the peoples who mocked her in her desolation (Eze. 25:1-11), and He it was who gave commandment to build (Ezra 1:1-3), and reproved His people because they were so slow and selfish (Hag. 1:2-9). As to whether it is the duty of our questioner to give or not we leave with him and God.

1894.—Women Keeping Silence.

Please explain 1 Cor. 14:34, 35.

This question was explained in the SIGNS OF THE TIMES of July 18, 1906, page 433, question 1858.