Please explain the Scripture, “The poor ye have always with you.” (`John 12:8`.) Does this mean that there will always be poor on the earth?
Jesus was addressing His disciples, and through them all consecrated Christians. At Jesus' second coming all of His faithful followers, then remaining on the earth, will be taken away to heavenly conditions, as He stated that He would go away to prepare a place for these, and He would come again for them, and when [...]
Is it proper for a Christian to engage in physical exercises? I know of some people who seemingly think it a sin to devote any thought to the care of the body.
The mind or will is the master of the body. The condition of the mind is largely affected by the condition of the body. A sound mind in a sound body is the ideal condition. To keep the body and the mind healthy, it is essential that they be exercised. Inaction produces decay and disease. Any [...]
How shall we understand the scripture: “And they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more” (`Isa. 2:4`)
The Prophet Joel foretold just the conditions that we see about us in the world today (see `Joel 3:9-11`). The Lord Jesus also informed His followers that "wars and rumors of wars as well as dreadful calamities would continue all down through the centuries until the time of His second advent (`Mat. 24:6,7`), and then [...]
Paul claimed to be an apostle and saw Jesus. The choice of Matthias to be the successor of Judas by the Eleven was before the descent of the holy spirit at Pentecost. Was Paul the successor of Judas, remembering there were to be but twelve Apostles, and that Matthias was not afterward heard of?
The eleven apostles were acting without authority in selecting Matthias to be the successor of Judas. Jesus had instructed them to stay in Jerusalem and to wait for the outpouring of the holy spirit at Pentecost. It was during this waiting period and before they received the anointing of the holy spirit, they mistakenly cast lots and chose Matthias. The Lord did not [...]
What is the scriptural method of ordination of church leaders? Should the congregation choose its representatives?
Priestcraft, and not the teachings of our Lord and his apostles, is responsible for the division of the church into two classes called "clergy" and "laity." It is still the spirit of priestcraft that seeks to lord it over God's heritage in every way possible--proportionately to the density of the ignorance prevailing in any congregation. The [...]
Please explain 1 John 3:8: "Whosoever is born of God doth not sin; for His seed remaineth in him; and he cannot sin because he is born of God."
A better translation from the original Greek manuscripts renders the passage as, "No one who has been begotten by God practices sin; because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been begotten by God." This begetting takes place at the time of the receiving of the holy Spirit. In other [...]