p. 171 | Question Corner by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Mar 24, 1914

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 41, No. 11.

Question Corner

By Editor

We can not answer repeatedly in the same volume questions upon the same scripture. The name and address must accompany question. It is well always to enclose stamp for reply.

4279 — WHO HAVE ASCENDED TO HEAVEN?

Please explain John 3:13. Do we not understand that Enoch and Elijah have ascended up into heaven? If so, why does the Saviour use this expression in John 3:13?

John 3:13 reads: "And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but He that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven." This verse comes in connection with the Saviour's talk to Nicodemus. He asked Nicodemus, "If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?" Verse 12. Then follows the thirteenth verse, in which He makes the statement that "no man hath ascended up to heaven, but He that came down from heaven." In other words, the Son of man who came down from heaven is the only one who can reveal heavenly things. No man has ascended up to heaven and been permitted to return to this earth. "There is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." Acts 4:12. And even Enoch and Elijah, who were translated to heaven, were taken there by the power of the Son of man Himself. They did not go by their own power. And so the lesson that Christ was teaching Nicodemus is literally true, that Christ is the only source of communication between heaven and earth.

4280 — THE CONVERSION OF PETER

Please explain Luke 22:32. Was Peter not converted before this?

Verse 24 indicates that there was still selfishness in the heart of Peter. One who was looking for the highest place for himself could not do much to strengthen his brethren. At that time, right at the close of Christ's ministry, when they had been associated with Him closely for three years, and had listened to His instruction, there was strife among them as to who should receive the highest honors. This shows that they had not been fully converted, for there is none of self in the heart that is wholly regenerated by the love of Christ. Love "seeketh not her own." Verse 31 shows that Peter had a prominent part in the discussion, and this is what led to the Saviour's remark. That he was not thoroughly converted at that time is also shown by his subsequent denial of Christ. The disciples did not yet comprehend the full import of the invitation, "Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart." The meek and gentle Saviour humbled Himself, that mankind might be elevated and exalted; but the disciples had not partaken of this spirit of self-abnegation.

Selfishness is at the foundation of all sin. Satan's aspiration to exalt himself (Eze. 28:2, 5, 6, 17; Isa. 14:12-14) was what made it necessary to cast him out of heaven. Regarding the great apostate church against which the prophecies of the Bible warn us, it is stated, he "opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God." Self-exaltation seeks the best for itself, no matter how much misery, sorrow, or suffering it brings upon others. The spirit of Christ seeks to give the best to the other person, no matter how great the sacrifice or the suffering one has to endure in bestowing these blessings; and it was not until after the disciples had seen the indescribable agonies and sufferings of Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane, in the judgment-hall, and upon Calvary, that they realized the true nature of sin and the awful wickedness of exalting self. The disciples had learned many valuable lessons from Christ, but it was not until they got a true view of Him in His suffering and death that they received a humble opinion of themselves and became truly converted.

4281 — CHILDREN FREE FROM SIN

If a young man and a young woman both are converted, repent, and are baptized, and receive the Holy Ghost, and are free from sin, then marry and have children, will the children be free from sin? If not, why not be free?

Questions of that character are often thought of by individuals, and the principal thing that they accomplish is to provoke discussion, without doing any good. Hundreds of pages of so-called scholastic theology have been devoted to just such questions; and after they were discussed and rediscussed, what did they amount to?

The individual who has actually come in contact with the word of God, and who has tasted the joys of salvation, knows that the Christian life is a growth; and the young man or the young woman who has been converted and received the power of the Spirit of God, has all the trials of the Christian life before him. "The path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day." Prov. 4:18. The "perfect day" is not at the beginning of his career. The newly converted person is spoken of as a babe in Christ (1 Cor. 3:1, 2; Heb. 5:12-14), and he is to "grow up into Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ." Eph. 4:15.

Job was considered a perfect man in his day, and one who had a deep Christian experience, and yet he said, "When He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold." Job 23:10. It takes trials to develop and refine the Christian into the beautiful character of Christ. The Scriptures are full of similar experiences. And no matter how well children may be born, it is essential that their training be right if they are to remain innocent and free from sin. We can not get away from the divine plan, "Train up a child in the way he should go." Prov. 22:6.

There are well-known cases of children who were born in heathen homes, and started out in life under all of the degrading influences of demon-worship, but have been brought under Christian influences and into Christian homes early in life, and stand on a level intellectually and morally with some of the very best children that were born under more favorable circumstances. The training of children has a great deal more to do with their after-life than the conditions of their birth, even though these conditions of birth may be very important and very helpful in themselves alone.