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Q. How can we know that we bare fruit for the Lord and we are not a dead
branch being cut off? (08-18-10) A. This question
comes out of the context of Jesus' teaching regarding the vine and the branches contained in John 15:1-11. First, it is important to determine what fruit is to be born by those who are attached to the vine. It is sometimes
argued that the fruit a Christian is to bear is another Christian, and although we are to be evangelistic people, this is
not what Jesus had in mind here. Using the analogy of the vine and the branches, the fruit of a branch is not another
branch. The goal of a cucumber vine is not to produce more cucumber vines, but to produce cucumbers. The Scriptures
describe the fruit we are to bare as the fruit of the Spirit - love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
meekness, temperance (Galatians 5:22, 23). A related passage is found in 2 Peter 1:5-11. A dead branch will not bear this kind of fruit.
Second, we must maintain our connection to Jesus.
No fruit can be born by the branch if it does not remain attached to the vine (John 15:4-6). Only those who abide in Christ bear fruit. This necessitates faithfulness in worship, prayer, study, and commitment
to Christ. He is to have first place in our lives (Colossians 1:18), and we are to seek His kingdom first (Matthew 6:33). If we cut ourselves off from Him we become a dead branch and destined for the fire. We are to conform to His
example (1 Peter 2:21). He is to live in us (Galatians 2:19, 20).
Third, His word must abide in us (John 15:7). We must know His will and commit ourselves to doing it. He said, "He that rejecteth
me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last
day" (John 12:48).
Fourth, we must continue in His love (John 15:9). There is nothing mysterious about this. He went on to say, "If ye keep my commandments,
ye shall abide in my love..." (John 15:10). And, then Jesus followed that up with an admonition to love one another (John 15:12, 17).
When the fruit of the Spirit is seen in our lives; our ties to Christ are strong and maintained by worship,
prayer, and study; His word abides in us, and we continue in His love by keeping His commandments; we
can be confident that we are not a dead branch, but a fruitful branch for the Lord. Q.
How many times can a person be baptized? (06-18-10) A.
The word "baptism" comes from a Greek word which originally meant "to dip repeatedly,
to immerge, submerge; to cleanse by dipping or submerging, to wash, to make clean with water" (Thayer's
Greek-English Lexicon, page 94). But, in the New Testament the Greek word "baptisma"
means "immersion, submersion" (Thayer, page 94). John the Baptist baptized (Matthew 3:7; Mark 1:4). Jesus demanded baptism (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15, 16). Jesus and His disciples were more successful than John at making and baptizing disciples, even though Jesus did not
immerse anyone Himself (John 4:1, 2). Baptism, contrary to what some argue today, is part of the "new birth" which Jesus demanded in
His conversation with Nicodemus (John 3:3, 5, 7). The elements of the new birth are "water and the Spirit" (John 3:5). The new birth includes baptism, but if the Spirit is missing, then in spite of the fact that an immersion occurs,
a new birth does not take place. One could be repeatedly immersed without ever being born again. Suppose that
someone is immersed (baptized) to please a mate, a boy friend, a girl friend, etc., it could be said that they had been
baptized but not born again. The perquisites for baptism are hearing (Matthew 28:19; Romans 10:17), believing (Mark 16:16; Hebrews 11:6; John 8:24), and repenting (Acts 2:38). One must be properly taught, believe the gospel, and willingly repent of sins before baptism is valid.
It is possible to be baptized many times and never be born again or experience the new birth. The New Testament actually
offers an example of about twelve men who were baptized a second time. Paul encountered these men in Ephesus.
They knew nothing of the Holy Spirit, but had been baptized into John's baptism. Paul explained the difference to them,
and they were then baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus (Acts 19:1-7). A person may be baptized many times, but the new birth occurs only once, and once is all that is necessary.
Just as physical birth is a single event, so is the new birth of which baptism is a vital part. It occurs
only once! There is therefore no need for repeated baptisms for the remission of sins. When a Christian sins he/she
must repent and seek God's forgiveness through prayer and not re-immersion (Acts 8:22). Q. Is saying words like gosh, golly, heck, darn, dang,
etc. the same as saying the "bad" words? (11-22-09) A. The words which are mentioned are euphemisms. Euphemism comes from a Greek word meaning "auspicious, sounding,
good," and involves the substitution of an agreeable or inoffensive expression for one that may offend or suggest
something unpleasant. Gosh is a euphemism for God, as is golly. The meaning of any euphemism is easily determined by consulting
a good dictionary. Christians should make every attempt to insure that their speech is compatible with their Christian profession.
Christianity demands a bridled tongue (James 1:26). Jesus reminded His disciples that the words we use are a reflection of our hearts, and that we will be justified or condemned
by our own words (Matthew 12:34-37). The apostle Paul warned against profanity, slander, and lying in his letter to the Colossians (Colossians 3:8-10). Further, Christians are charged to "Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know
how to answer each person" (Colossians 4:6). And, "Let no corrupt talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion,
that it may give grace to those who hear" (Ephesians 4:29). Sins of the tongue are common to all men. James writes that the man who does not stumble in what he says, is a perfect
man and able to bridle his whole body (James 3:2). He then went on to write: "...no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth
come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so" (James 3:8-10). We must watch what we say, and how we say it! Euphemisms are "softer" expression of "harsher"
words. It is hard to imagine Jesus using either. We would all be well advised to pray the prayer of the Psalmist: "Let
the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer"
(Psalm 19:14). Although euphemisms are certainly preferable to the harsh, vulgar and foul language of the world, it would be far better
not even to use them! Q. Is suicide a sin, and
if so, how does the victim repent and be forgiven, supposing he had already been baptized? (11-15-09) A. Suicide is "self murder," and murder of another, or
of self, constitutes sin (Exodus 20:13). It is also contrary to the concept of "self-love" which is expressed by Paul in the statement: "For
no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church" (Ephesians 5:29). Clear and right thinking people do not intentionally inflict pain or harm upon themselves in an attemp to take their own
life. Behind many suicides or attempted suicides are underlying mental, emotional, or chemical imbalances which result in
thoughts and actions which would not be the case if the mind was working properly. In the case of Judas, probably the best
example of suicide in the New Testament (Matthew 27:1-10; Acts 1:16-20), he was in a deep state of emotional turmoil, resulting in his taking his own life. He certainly could have repented, as
did Peter upon denying the Lord, and found the same forgiveness, but he did not. It is impossible to repent of suicide, but
it is also true that many suicides are the result of mental instability, the inability to properly process information and
make sound judgments, and thus the actions of one incapable of thinking clearly. God, who is all wise and merciful, will certainly
take into consideration the mental state of one who takes his/her own life. We must leave that judgment in the hands of the
ONE who alone knows best and always does what is right!
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