My dear friends,

In this particular letter I had been planning to take up a number of Biblical questions that constantly come to this ministry. Some issues in our faith repeat and repeat as believers seek to rightly divide the Word of God.

Interestingly enough, a letter arrived just this morning which brought up some of the very matters I would have discussed. So I’ll follow the order of this particular letter and answer those questions. Space permitting, we’ll took at some additional questions as well.

1. What is the bottom-line meaning of Christ’s death?

The writer points out that other Christians were crucified and suffered just at much. She wondered how one physical death could atone for all sin. The issue in the Messiah’s death is not how horrible it was or the amount of pain He suffered but in the fact that He was sinless. God had already made His terms in Exodus 12:5; He would accept as a recompense for sin the blood of a lamb “without blemish.” All other Christians who died were blemished by their sins and could not serve as a proper atonement before God. The manner of the Messiah’s death was not so important as was the fact of bloodshed. In Lev. 17:11 God says He will accept the blood for remission of sins. The cross does serve the purpose of answering several subtle Old Testament types (symbols) as Jesus taught Nicodemus (John 3:14–15).

2. How can we be held responsible for sin since it is unavoidable?

With unbelievers there is a necessity that they be told the Biblical way of salvation. It hat been told far and wide and it will be more so in the future (Matt. 24:14). God is ultimately the fair judge of all those who have not heard. We can ascertain some of His standards from the judgement of the sheep and the goats after the Tribulation Period (Matt. 25:31–46). Since all unbelievers have a way of salvation, those who hear of it and reject it can certainly be held responsible for their sins. The others we must either reach or leave to the justice and mercy of God.

Believers are not held responsible for sin, of course. Their sins were paid in full at the cross.

3. Is baptism necessary for salvation?

No, baptism is an act of obedience to God and consecrates us at priests in the New Covenant (Exodus 29:4). If it were a necessity, then it would take two things to be saved—the cross and baptism. No wonk of human merit counts for salvation. “It is the free gift of God” (Eph. 2:8–9), “while we were yet sinners” (Rom. 5:8). It it rather an offense to the sacrifice of Christ to suppose that some act of volition on our own part can get us to heaven.

The writer wished that there was a verse that said, “Here are the only requirements for salvation…” Acts 16:31 is such a verse. It states simply, “Believe on the Lord Jesus and thou shall be saved…”

4. Is the stony of Adam and Eve intended to be taken literally?

Yes, every word in the Bible is the Word of God and must be taken at face value unless it is clearly indicated that symbolism is intended. The Messiah believed in Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham, Jonah and all the rest and lived His life accordingly. I’m not about to disagree with His interpretation.

5. Why did the people in Genesis live so many years?

Different natural conditions obtained on the earth in earlier days, and they will again in the Kingdom to come. Some believe that a “firmament” of water in the atmosphere diffused the sunlight and spared men the aging effects of solar radiation. The water came down in the flood when men, by their sins, literally changed nature. (It brings to mind what we are presently doing to the ozone layer). The lifetimes began to shorten after Noah so that the patriarchs lived less than two centuries. And finally ordinary men had to settle for “threescore and ten” and that’s what we’ll have until the return of the King.

That finishes our correspondent’s questions. You’re all welcome to send in your own and to watch this letter and the Levitt Letter for the answers. We really can’t answer each question personally, of course, but we’ll try to cover what we receive in these publications.

Thanks so much for your wonderful response to our Christmas brochure. Another one is enclosed for your convenience and we deeply appreciate your doing your Christmas shopping with our ministry. We believe our gift items are every bit as fine as those you buy in stores, but when you buy here, you help us get the Lord’s work done.

We have a price now for the Christmas tour and the news is good. This 10-Day tour, including Christmas morning in Bethlehem, will be $1696. Tour prices vary with the season and with the Israeli economy, but experienced travelers will realize that this is a bargain. We honestly fill our trips very quickly and so if you want to go this Christmas (Dec. 19–28) contact us immediately. (There’s time for a last minute decision on our Ministers Tour Nov. 29–Dec. 6 for ministers and wives only. Give us a phone call if you can make it).

Please forgive me for sounding like a salesman. My fondest dream is that none of this would be necessary and that this ministry would be able to survive on the support of cheerful givers. FrankLy though, times are a Little tough right now and we really need the help. Thanks so much for your faithful contributions which have taken us so far.

In His Love,