Question 360: What Is The “Call” To The Ministry?

Answer:

One of the best evidences of a genuine call is the possession of those special qualifications which add in marked degree to the usefulness of the believer. If, under his addresses in Sunday School or at prayer-meetings or at mission churches YHVH has acknowledged His work and souls are led to Moshiach, there is strong reason to believe that it may be his duty to devote all his time to preaching and pastoral work. A man's own intense desire to preach and the concurrent opinion of experienced believers that his work would be useful in the pulpit, are also indications. The basis of all qualifications for the ministry however, is that there must be in the heart an intense love of souls, consecration to Gospel service and a sense of personal acceptance, pardon and regeneration through Moshiach. None but one who has himself travelled the road that leads to the Cross can guide others along the same path. See Colossians 1:28; Matthew 15:14; Luke 6:39.

Question 359: Is It Possible That The Miracle Of The Incarnation May Be Repeated?

Answer:

The word "possible" is inappropriate in such connection, because nothing is impossible with YHVH; but when we hear of His doing something utterly inconsistent with His ways, we know that it cannot be true, because He would never contradict Himself. All the teaching of the Bible, the Epistle to the Hebrews especially, leads to the conclusion that Moshiach is the one and final incarnation of YHVH. There is no need of another, because He fully satisfied the Divine purpose and has been found to fully satisfy the need of man. Many have arisen since His time, as He warned us there would, who have claimed to be YHVH in human form, like some who even in recent years have made such a claim; but they were and are impostors. They are deceiving many, as Moshiach said impostors would (see Matthew 24:24), but not those who look to Moshiach for light and guidance.

Question 358: Does YHVH Approve Of The Marriage Of An Unbeliever To A Believer?

Answer:

The whole question at issue is fully and fearlessly discussed in 2 Corinthians 6:14-18. This is Paul's interpretation and it stands good today as a general rule of Christian conduct. Nevertheless, we are not to judge those who may ignore the injunction, for in 1 Corinthians 7:14, the apostle shows how such a union may after all accomplish beneficent results. From this verse to chapter 7:1 inclusive, the apostle seems to forbid too much social interaction generally with idolatrous and heathenish people, rather than to have in view the marriage relation especially. In 1 Corinthians 7:12-16, separation from the unbelieving husband or wife is discountenanced, because the believing spouse may be able to sanctify - that is, make holy - the unregenerate mate and may affect conversion to salvation. In the same chapter and other passages of the apostolic writing’s marriage is encouraged without any restrictions. In Galatians 5:1 and Acts 15:10, the word "yoke" is used in a somewhat similar connection to that supposed to contain the implied prohibition. In Philippians 4:3, Paul addresses some unknown individual as "yoke-fellow" and it is quite certain he does not mean his wife. But if it is admitted that the text cited prohibits intermarriage between believers and unbelievers, it must be construed with reference to the conditions of sensual idolatry universally prevailing at that period in the city of Corinth. Paul was addressing a small community of believers in a very large heathen city and it is as if we should advise believers in China and India not to intermarry with Buddhists and Mohammedans, only more aggravated.

Question 357: What Does The Bible Say About Marriage And Divorce?

Answer:

The Bible Law on marriage and divorce may be learned from the following passages: Genesis 3:24; Matthew 19:5; by Peter in Mark 10:7, 8; Ephesians 5:31; Matthew 19:6; Mark 10:8; Mark 10:9; Malachi 2:16; Matthew 5:32, 19:9; 1 Corinthians 7:11; Matthew 19:9; Luke 16:18; Mark 10:11; Luke 16:18; Matthew 5:32; 1 Corinthians 7:11; Romans 7:2; 1 Corinthians 7:39; Romans 7:3; 1 Corinthians 7:39.

Frequently asked questions and answers

Question 356: Did Paul Discourage Marriage?

Answer:

In the 7th chapter of 1 Corinthians Paul had apparently been asked questions by the Church in Corinth which tended to disparage marriage and to regard it as an undesirable state when one of the parties is an unbeliever. His long reply may be summed up in a few words: "Abide in your present station, for the time is short." He believed that, by remaining single, he could devote himself more acceptably to his Gospel work. The passage in 1 Timothy 5:14 is not inconsistent with the other, for the circumstances of the two cases were different and, in the latter, he commends marriage under certain conditions, as an antidote to certain temptations.

Question 355: Does YHVH Work Miracles At The Present Time?

Answer:

This is a question often asked. The arm of Omnipotence is not shortened that it cannot save. Thousands have been restored in mind and body in answer to the prayer of faith. Yet He never works unnecessary miracles. YHVH has given us means and endowed us with intelligence to use these means and He will not withhold His blessing upon their use when we ask it in faith. We ask Him to feed us, but we must labour with our hands and not expect Him to bless our idleness nor our lack of effort. So, if we ask Him to heal us, we must use in faith the means He has supplied, with all the intelligence He has given us. It is simply "tempting YHVH" to neglect His means. Yeshua Himself applied the clay and the spittle to the eyes of the blind. Naaman had to bathe in the Jordan. Even in the healing of the soul, which is an operation of Ruach HaKodesh, we must co-operate and while He works in us, we ourselves must work with "fear and trembling." And if Divine Wisdom should see fit to withhold the boon, we crave in the form we ask, we must submit in faith to His will, as He knows what is best for us. Strength is often made perfect in weakness and many things we mistakenly call evils are blessings in disguise.

Question 354: Is The Love Of YHVH Towards Man To Be Interpreted Individually?

Answer:

This question has often disquieted believers under affliction. It has often appeared to the godly man, as it did to Job, that the children of YHVH fare no better in the world than the wicked. But we are taught in a multitude of passages in the Bible, that YHVH does know and care for the individual. Moshiach was very explicit on the subject. (See Matthew 10:29-31.) The promise in the New Testament to Moshiach's followers is not of prosperity, but that they shall receive strength to bear their afflictions and that those afflictions shall work for good to them. Our prayers would be simple mockeries if we did not believe in YHVH's care for the individual. The believer, like the world-ling, is subject to natural law and other things being equal, a blow that would kill a world-ling would kill him. It is often difficult to understand why so many afflictions fall to the righteous which the wicked escape, but YHVH does not explain these particular trials. He expects us to trust Him and to be assured that "He does not willingly afflict nor grieve" us and to patiently wait the revelation which will make all things clear.

Question 353: Does The Bible Say Anything About Life Insurance?

Answer:

There is nothing in Scripture bearing on the subject of life insurance, but there are various passages on thrift and on making provision for old age. If you turn to 1 Timothy 5:8 you will find a very definite statement on the subject. Evidently Paul did not believe that any man claiming to be a believer was justified in leaving his dependent ones to be a burden on the community, either during his life or afterward. There are birds and other animals that give improvident man a lesson by the way they lay up a store of food against the winter season. Yeshua in Matthew 6:31-34 was not rebuking thrift, but worldly-mindedness and vanity. He was referring to those who pursued the things of this life as the supreme object. He wanted His followers to "take no thought (anxious care or worry) for the morrow." He had no word of condemnation for attention to business, but business gains, wealth, possessions, etc., are all of secondary importance and worry about them springs from the heart's distrust of YHVH and does no good, but rather evil.

Question 352: Can A Believer Keep The Moral Law?

Answer:

To un-fallen man, obedience to the moral Law would undoubtedly have been within human reach, but to fallen man it stands as an unattainable ideal, to which he may strive, but in vain. There is none without sin (1 John 1:8) and as a perfect obedience to YHVH's Law implies entire sinless-ness, it is obviously impossible that such obedience can be rendered by mortal man. But to those who are in Moshiach this difficulty is overcome. (Romans 4:7.) They are not under the Law and consequently are not to be judged by the Law. (Romans 6:15; 1 John 3:9.) Moshiach, by His perfect obedience and His sufferings for their sins, has satisfied the Law in their behalf. (2 Corinthians 5:2a.) Thus, when grace enters the heart, its sinfulness is removed. The righteousness and perfect obedience of Moshiach being imputed to His people, they are accepted of YHVH. (Romans 3:24; 2 Corinthians 12:9.) Believers therefore, should not serve in the bondage of fear, as under the Law (1 Timothy 1:9), but in love, as under grace in Moshiach Yeshua. (Romans 8:1-15.)

Frequently asked questions and answers

Question 351: How Can The Kingdom Of YHVH Be Established Before The Judgement Day?

Answer:

The Kingdom of the Moshiach, which was foretold by many of the prophets and is further explained in the New Testament, is a divine, spiritual Kingdom, to be built up in the hearts of men and ultimately to become universal. It is described in the early prophecies as a coming golden age, when the true religion should be re-established and universal peace and happiness should prevail. Unquestionably, it was regarded by the Jews in a temporal sense only, but the Saviour Himself declared it to be a Spiritual Kingdom and His followers look forward to its highest realization only after His return. Meanwhile, it is being established now; from the beginning of the Christian dispensation, it has progressed in the hearts of men. That Yeshua Himself intended to convey this is made clear in Matthew 8:12, 11:12, 11:28; Mark 12:34; Luke 11:9, 11 and many other passages which deal with the various phases of the same subject Matthew 24 describes the condition of the believers at the judgment and their welcome to the fullness of the completely established Kingdom, with all its blessings and rewards.