OceanSide church of Christ

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QUESTIONS & ANSWERS (69)

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.    Questions are important.  But, the heart behind the question is just as important?

1.        Note first that the heart resides in an individual.  It is the mind:  reasoning, will, and motives.

2.       Each individual who asks a question has one of two kinds of hearts:  a good heart or an evil heart.

3.       Jesus reveals why this is important (Matt 12:35).

 

A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things:  and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.

 

4.       When a man with a good heart asks a question, his motives and reasons for the question are good.  When a man with an evil heart asks a question, his motives and reasons for the question are evil.

5.       If the one answering the question knows the heart of the one asking the question, it will impact his answer.

 

B.      We assume your hearts are good when you ask your questions.  Thus, we seek to answer your questions as plainly and as simply as we can. 

 

C.     Today is our Q&A Sunday.  In this lesson, we will be examining two questions that have been submitted.

 

I.             QUESTION #1:  The Natural Man

 

A.    Stated:  Please explain “the natural man” found in I Corinthians 2:14.

 

B.      Answer:

1.        I Corinthians 2:14

 

But the natural man receiveth not the things of God:  for they are foolishness unto him:  neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

 

2.       There are many interpretations given to the “natural man” in this verse.

3.       Two Bible study principles are important as we seek to understand who the “natural man” is:  definition of terms and the context of the verse.

4.       Definition of natural.

a.       That which is produced by nature. 

b.      The natural man is the man produced by the union of a man and woman.

c.       The natural man is simply a regular man.

5.       Now look at the context.

a.       Paul is teaching the Corinthians about the revelation of God’s divine will in the context (I Cor. 2:9-16).

b.      God chose to reveal His will through men.  However, in order to do this the “natural” men had to receive divine revelation by means of the Spirit of God.

1)       Verses 9 & 11 teach us that man cannot know the mind of God all by himself.

 

For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him?  Even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.

 

2)      In order for man to know the mind of God, the Holy Spirit has to reveal it to man.

a)      “But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit…” (v. 10)

b)     “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God” (v. 12).

c)      “…But we have the mind of Christ” (v. 16)

3)      In verse 15, Paul refers to these inspired individuals as “spiritual.”  “But he that is spiritual judgeth all things…”

c.       So, the spiritual man is one who is inspired by the Holy Spirit to reveal the divine will of God to man.  The natural man, on the other hand, is just a normal man.

d.      In I Corinthians 2:14, Paul tells us three things about the “natural man.”

1)       Because he does not have the Spirit of God, he cannot receive the things of God.

2)      As a natural man, he often thinks the things of God are foolish.

3)      Because the Spirit is not revealing the mind of God to him, it is impossible for him to ever know those things, that is, come up with them by himself.

6.       NOTE:  Paul is not saying that we cannot know and understand the Bible until we have a supernatural work performed on our hearts today.  Paul told the church at Ephesus that they could read and understand his knowledge in the mystery of Christ (Eph. 3:3-4).

 

How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words; whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ).

 

II.           QUESTION #2:  On-line Worship

 

A.    Stated:  Is on-line worship scriptural?

 

B.      Answer:

1.        I hesitated to answer this question for two reasons.

a.       At this time, we have moved away from the pandemic and most individuals have returned to the worship services.

b.      This is a highly controversial topic.  If you oppose on-line worship services, individuals will question you, attack you, and reject you.

2.       As a preacher, I have opposed on-line worship from the very beginning.  There are six primary reasons why I do.

a.       If on-line worship is scriptural, we would not have to have local congregations.

1)       There could be just one place in the world where a worship service was conducted.

2)      This one worship service could be broadcasted throughout the world. 

3)      Everyone could have this service streamed into their home.  Interpreters could be used to translate the service.

4)      Yet, in the Bible local congregations are authorized by the Almighty God (Acts 14:23).

b.      If on-line worship is scriptural, then every member could do it at any time.  This building could be empty every worship service except for those who are authorized to conduct the service.  If not, why not?  Is this what God intended when He said:  “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” (Heb. 10:25).

c.       On-line worship makes the work of elders very difficult, if not impossible.

1)       Elders are supposed to watch for the souls of the members of the church (Heb. 13:17).

 

Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves:  for they watch for you souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief:  for that is unprofitable for you.

 

2)      When members are worshipping on-line, how do the elders know if the members are worshipping or not? 

d.      On-line worship makes individual less reverent and less participatory in the worship.

1)       They worship in their pajamas.

2)      The worship while eating their breakfast.

3)      They worship as they clean the house.

4)      They pause the worship and come back to it at a later time.

5)      They allow their children to go and play in another room during services.

6)      They do not participate in some aspects of worship as they should such as singing, praying, and giving.

7)      They record the service and watch is later.  Therefore, they are not really in the assembly on the Lord’s Day even though they watch the service sometime during the week.

e.       On-line worship has destroyed the concept of giving on the first day of the week.

1)       I Corinthians 16:1-2

 

Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.  Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.

 

2)      Members who worship on-line no longer give on the first day of the week. 

a)      They mail in their check any day of the week.

b)     Churches have set up accounts on-line so members can give with credit cards any day of the week.

c)      Question:  Is the pattern for giving set forth in the New Testament one that is supposed to be followed or not? (See Heb. 8:5)

f.        When individuals worship on-line, they cannot fulfill their obligations to their brothers and sister while worshipping.

1)       In singing we are supposed to “teach and admonish” one another (Col. 3:16).  How can we do this if we cannot hear one another?

2)      Part of our worship involves our provoking one another to love and good works (Heb. 10:24-25).  Again, how can we do this when we cannot see and speak to one another?

3)      Can we fail to fulfill our obligations to one another in worship and still claim that our worship is valid and acceptable to God?

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.    The natural man.  On-line worship.  Who would ever believe that a preacher would cover these two topics in one lesson?

 

B.      Hopefully, the things what we have presented have caused you to think.  Too, you should have even more questions about some of these subjects.  Put them in the Q&A box in the foyer.

 

C.     One other question that I had prepared to address involved demon possession. 

1.        Some may wish I would have covered it rather than on-line worship.

2.       It is fairly long, so we will look at it another time.

3.       Rather than being so concerned about demon possession, however.  We should be more concerned about the sin that inhabits our bodies.  (See Rom. 6:17-18).