OceanSide church of Christ

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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS (8)

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.     Questions have always been posed by students to their teachers.

1.      In the Gospels, Jesus was asked 61 questions by others during His ministry.

2.      He asked 52 questions and answered them.

3.      This makes a total of 113 questions that Jesus answers in the Gospels.

 

B.     We have encouraged you to ask your questions and put them in the Q&A box in the foyer.  Each 1st Sunday night of the month, we will do our best to answer some of your questions.

 

C.     Thought:  When you ask the questions, you set the tone and tenor of the lessons, NOT the preacher.

 

I.                 QUESTION #1:  Demon possession

 

A.     Stated:  Are evil spirits able to possess people today?

 

B.     Answer:

1.      NO

2.      Let’s give some rationale for this statement.

a.      Demonic spirits are real, living entities.  They exist in the unseen realm.

b.      When demonic spirits inhabit the bodies of humans, a supernatural event transpires.

c.      The spirit enters the human body and is able to control the body of the individual.

1)      A son possessed (Matt. 17:15)

 

Lord, have mercy on my son:  for he is a lunatic, and sore vexed:  for oftentimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.

 

2)      The man dwelling in the tombs (Mark 5:2-5)

 

And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, who had his dwelling among the tombs, and no man could bind him, no, not with chains:  because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broke in pieces:  neither could any man tame him,.  And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones.

 

3.      In order for a person to be healed of demon possession, miracles would still have to be able to be performed.  The miraculous age, however, has ceased.  Three major passages prove this.

a.      Acts 8:14-18

1)      Acts 8:18

 

And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money.

 

2)      Only the apostles could transfer miraculous abilities to others.  When the last apostle died, miracles could not be passed on to others.

b.      I Corinthians 13:8-13

1)      I Corinthians 13:10

 

But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

 

2)      Miracles were needed in the first century in order to reveal God’s Word to man and to confirm the revelation.

3)      When the full, complete written revelation from God to man was given, the perfect, then that which was in part, the miraculous manifestations of the Spirit, came to end.

c.      Ephesian 4:7-14

1)      Ephesians 4:13

 

Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.

 

2)      When Jesus ascended to heaven, miraculous gifts were given to equip the church.  They were given “till,” which indicates a certain point in time.  “Till we all come in the unity of the faith…”  “The faith” is the system of faith.  When the complete revelation of the Word of God was given, the gifts would end.

3)      In verse 14, the apostle seems to long for that day for very specific reasons.

 

II.              QUESTION #2:  Hell

 

A.     Stated:  Why don’t we go into a deep study of the subject of hell fire?  I have been in Florida for 4 years and have heard so little about it.  Is it is not a necessary subject?

 

B.     Answer:

1.      There are several reasons we do not hear very much about hell.

a.      There are many who do not believe hell exists. 

Quote:  “Did you know that there is a solid scriptural case to be made against the idea of Hell?  Many non-Christians have rejected the concept of hell, but it may come as a surprise to learn that there is a growing number of Bible-believing Christians who also reject the notion-not in spite of Scripture but because of it” (“Honest Questions and Answers about Hell,” Mercy Aiken and Gary Amirault, www.tentmaker.org/articles/ifhellisreal.html).

b.      Second, we live in a society that loves to feel good.

1)   Hell does not make people feel good.

2)   Israel experienced this during her history (Isa. 30:9-10).

 

That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the Lord:  which say to the seers, See not, and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits.

 

c.      We have preachers who cater to the desires of their listeners.

1)      Joel Osteen:

 

Larry King:  “But you’re not fire and brimstone, right?  You’re not pound the decks and hell and damnation?”

 

Joel Osteen:  “No.  That’s not me.  It’s never been me.  I’ve always been an encourager at heart.  And when I took over from my father he came from the Southern Baptist background and back 40, 50 years ago there was a lot more of that.  But, you know, I just - - I don’t believe in that.  I don’t believe - - Maybe it was for a time.  But I don’t have it in my heart to condemn people.  I’m there to encourage them.  I see myself more as a coach, as a motivator to help them experience the life God has for us” (www.forgottenword.org/joelosteen, html)

 

2)      Paul told Timothy to preach the Word (II Tim. 4:2, because there would come a time when people would reject the truth and desire teachers to scratch their itching ears.

d.      Ministers have a limited number of lessons they preach each year.

1)      100 lessons each year

3)      They are commanded to preach the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27).

 

For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.

 

 

C.     Is preaching about hell a necessity?  YES!

1.      It is a Bible subject.

a.      In the New Testament, the word “hell” is mentioned 23 times.

b.      There are three different Greek words that are translated hell:  hades, gehennah, and tartarus.

c.      The first mention of hell is in Matthew 5:22.

 

But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment:  and whsoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

 

2.      To be like Jesus, we must teach about hell.

a.      The word “gehennah” means the fires of eternal condemnation.  It is the final destination of the devil, his angels, and all wicked people.

b.      Jesus taught about this place more than any other person in the New Testament.

1)      The word is found 12 times in the New Testament.

2)      Eleven of the twelve times, Jesus is the one who mentions it.

3)      Matthew 10:28

 

And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul:  but rather fear him which is able to destroy both body and soul in hell.

 

3.      Preaching about hell is a motivator that will cause some to obey the gospel and continue steadfastly in the faith.

a.      II Corinthians 5:11

 

Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men…

 

b.      Jesus (Matt. 23:23)

 

Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?

 

c.      Paul (II Thess. 1:7-9)

 

And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:  who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.     Most individuals enjoy Q & A nights.

1.      The format is different.

2.      There is a lot of variety in the subject matter.

3.      Many of the questions are on the minds of everyone.

4.      People like to listen to see if they agree or disagree.

 

B.     There are three common questions asked by all men.

1.      Listed:

a.      Where did I come from?

b.      Why am I here?

c.      Where am I going?

2.      Two answers:

a.      Without God – no answers make sense

b.      With God – all makes sense