OceanSide church of Christ
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QUESTONS AND ANSWERS
(2)
Victor M.
Eskew
INTRODUCTION
A.
When Philip met the eunuch,
he was reading from the prophet Isaiah (Acts 8:30).
1.
The exact text was Isaiah
53:7-8 (Acts 8:32-33).
The place of the
scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and
like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: in his humiliation his judgment was
taken away: and who shall declare
his generation? For his life is
taken from the earth.
2.
When the nobleman heard this
passage, immediately a question issued forth from his lips (Acts
8:34).
And the eunuch
answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of
himself, or of some other man?
3.
The heat was now on
Philip. Would he be able to answer
this man’s question? (Acts
8:35).
Then Philip
opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him
Jesus.
B.
We are, at times, like both
of these men.
1.
Sometimes we have
questions.
2.
Sometimes we are the ones
answering questions.
C.
In our lesson this evening,
we are allowing you to ask the questions.
We are going to do our best to answer some of the questions that have
been posed. Remember, the Q & A
box is on the table in the foyer.
Please submit your questions along with your name, and we will try to
answer them.
I. Is
there a contradiction found within the conversion accounts of Saul? Please look at Acts 9:7 and Acts
22:9.
A.
Let’s begin by reading the
two verses.
1.
Acts
9:7.
And the men
which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no
man.
2.
Acts
22:9.
And they that
were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice
of him that spake to me.
B.
The problem is very
apparent. Acts 9:7 states that they
heard a voice and Acts 22:9 declares that “they heard not the
voice.”
C.
The
answer.
1.
The Greek word is the same
in both verses, “akouo,” to hear.
2.
The cases of the verb are
different, however.
a.
In Acts 9:7, we find the genitive case. It expresses that certain sounds reached
the ears of the men, but there is no indication of
understanding.
b.
In Acts 22:9, it is the accusative case. Here, the hearing involves an
apprehension of the message spoken.
c.
Saul’s companions heard certain sounds, but they did not comprehend the
sounds they heard.
II. Please harmonize
the apparent contradiction between II Samuel 24:24 and I Chronicles
21:25.
A.
Again, let’s begin by
reading the verses.
1.
II Samuel
24:24.
And the king
said to Arunah, Nay; but I will surely buy it of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings
unto the Lord my God of that which doeth cost me nothing. So David bought the threshing floor and
the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.
2.
I
Chronicles 21:25.
And king David
said unto Ornan, Nay; but I will verily buy it for the full price: for I will not take that which is thine
for the Lord, nor offer burnt offerings without cost. So David gave Ornan for the place six
hundred shekels of gold by weight.
B.
The problem is simple to
state. The text of II Samuel
indicates that David bought Arunah’s threshing floor and oxen for 50 shekels of
silver. The book of II Chronicles
reveals another price, six hundred shekels of gold by
weight.
C.
The
answer.
1.
Nowhere in the text of the
Bible is the specific solution given.
2.
It is here that we pose a
“possible” solution to the problem.
Remember, if there is a “possible” solution, there is no
contradiction.
3.
Two possible
solutions.
a.
One article in the Pulpit Commentary had this solution: “No other course is left, therefore,
than to assume that the number must be corrupt in one of the texts.” The author makes the difficulty a
transmission problem. During the
time that the text was being copied, he believes that an error was made by one
of the copyists. He specifically
believes that the difficulty has to do with the fifty shekels of silver. NOTE: The problem is one of only a few, and it
does not involve a major doctrinal issue.
b.
Another answer is to assume that both prices were paid to Arunah. II Samuel says that David bought the
threshing floor and oxen for fifty shekels of silver. I Chronicles reveals that David gave six
hundred shekels of gold for “the place” the place being the entire land area
upon which the threshingfloor stood.
4.
Barnes Notes poses another possible answer. It does not really seem logical,
however.
“In explanation, it is
supposed – that the fifty shekels here mentioned were gold shekels, each worth
twelve silver shekels, so that the fifty gold shekels are equal to the 600
shekels; that our text should be rendered, David bought the threshing floor and the
oxen for money, viz., fifty shekels; and that the passage in Chronicles
should be rendered, David gave to Ornan gold shekels of value (or weight) of 600
shekels” (Barnes Notes, F.C. Cook, ed., “Samuel-Esther,” p.
128).
III. If you are baptized and
don’t go to church will you still go to heaven?
A.
The phrase “go to church”
involves the attendance of the worship services of the church. Thus, if one is baptized and does not
attend the worship services, can he still go to heaven?
B.
The answer to this question
is a simple, “No.” The writer of
Hebrews bluntly tells us not to forsake the assembly (Heb.
10:25).
Not forsaking
the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting
one another: and so much the more,
as ye see the day approaching.
1.
Those who forsake the
assembly have disobeyed a command of God.
2.
Only those who obey the
commandments will enter into the heavenly city (Rev.
22:14).
Blessed are they
that do his commandments, that they many have right to the tree of life, and may
enter in through the gates into the city.
C.
This question and answer
highlight the fact that there are conditions of salvation that come after one
has become a Christian.
1.
Obedience to the divine
commands is one of the conditions of salvation following
baptism.
2.
If these conditions are not
met, one can fall from the grace of God.
3.
It is imperative, therefore,
that we
a.
Constantly examine ourselves (II Cor. 13:5).
Examine
yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that
Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
b.
Keep under our bodies and bring them into subjection (I Cor.
9:27).
But I keep under
my body, and bring it into subjection:
lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should
be a castaway.
CONCLUSION
A.
We have four (4) more
questions that have been submitted.
We will answer those next month.
B.
Please, keep your questions
coming.
C.
The most important question
one can ask is the one asked by the Jews on Pentecost Day (Acts
2:37).
Now when they
heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the
rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
D.
Peter’s answer stands unto
this day (Acts 2:38).
E.
Those who gladly received
his word, did as they were instructed (Acts 2:41). Won’t you gladly receive the word and do
as they did?
