Eleven Arresting Questions

ELEVEN ARRESTING QUESTIONS

By Given O. Blakely

1. If eternal life is knowing God (John 17:3; 1 John 5:20), why are men so interested in obtaining knowledge in other areas – to the neglect of knowing God?

2. If men are known by their fruits (Matt 7:20), why does anyone attempt to explain immoral conduct?

3. If men live by every word of God (Lk 4:4), then how is it possible to sustain spiritual life independently of that word?

4. If those who communicate the Word of God are admonished to commit what they have learned to faithful men who will be able to teach others (2 Tim 2:2), why is it so rarely done?

5. If believers are admonished by the Word of God not to forsake the assembling of themselves together (Heb 10:25), why are there so many professing Christians who do so?

6. If "every man" who possesses hope in Christ purifies himself even as He is pure (1 John 3:3), how is it possible for someone with hope to continue in an unholy state?

7. If believers are told to mark those who cause divisions and avoid them (Rom 6:17), why are professing believers found within formalized sects?

8. If believers are to turn away from those who have only a form of godliness, rejecting the power of it (2 Tim 3:5), why are there believers in dead churches?

9. If it is not possible to become Christ’s disciple without forsaking all (Lk 14:33), then how is it possible to be a Christian while maintaining a fundamental alliance with this world?

10. If the love of God cannot be found in any person who loves this world (1 John 2:15), then how is it possible for a person who does love this world to be a Christian?

11. If those in Christ are not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers (2 Cor 6:14), why do professing Christians form such yokes?

It is time for all who claim to be Christians to take the Word of God seriously. This begins with preachers and teachers, who are to faithfully proclaim what has been revealed on these matters. Those who hear these words are then to conform their lives to them. If this is not done, then such people owe it to others to cease any formal identity with the body of Christ, and they should not be recognized as members of Christ. God does not receive such people, as is expounded in Second Corinthians 6:15-17. His reception is conditioned upon them coming out from among those who are defiled, and touching not the unclean thing. That is what He has declared: "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you" (2 Cor 6:14-17).

There is no room for a pretentious gospel that accommodates itself to those who prefer sin. The summons to "come out from among them" is a serious one, and it is to be heeded (2 Cor 6:17; Rev 18:4). Any Gospel that does not send forth this clarion call is no gospel at all. It is really "another Gospel, which is not another" (2 Cor 11:4; Gal 1:6). If this appears to be strong, remember that in Christ we are dealing with eternal issues. Preachers must preach, and hearers must hear, with the day of judgment in mind. While that is not the whole of the matter, it will assist men in obtaining the sobriety that is essential to a fellowship with Christ in this world, as well as that which is to come.

PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, use me in the good work of exposing the works of darkness, and enabling men to possess the light of life.