Questions and Answers

Answer: Two scriptures can help clarify this question. In 1 Corinthians 2:10 Paul explains that God reveals things to us via His Spirit and Acts 2:38 says, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."

These scriptures tell us that God reveals things to us (His way of life) prior to baptism via His Spirit but we actually receive it after being baptized. Put another way, God's Spirit works with us prior to baptism and becomes part of us (dwelling within us) after we are baptized.

Answer: The belief that God has already predetermined our lives and our rewards or punishments is a mistaken understanding of the subject of predestination.

Regarding predestination, Ephesians 1:5 tells us that God "predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself." Speaking of Christ, verse 11 says, "In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will." Romans 8:29-30 adds, "For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified."

In reading these scriptures, there are two ways we can understand predestination. One way is to assume that God has everyone's life already planned out and that He already knows what we are going to do. Another way to understand predestination is from the perspective that God planned the purpose for human beings in the beginning (to become His sons and daughters), although He doesn't know what each of us will do. Let's consider a few additional scriptures to see which way we should understand these passages.

In Genesis 4 we read of God talking with Cain, who was upset that his offering was not accepted. God told him, "If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it." If God had already predetermined what Cain would do, it would have been pointless to give Cain the advice to "rule over" sin. God gave Cain this advice and then allowed him to make his own decision.

This is free moral agency—the opportunity God gives us to make choices regarding what we will do. In Deuteronomy 30:19, God encouraged the ancient Israelites to "choose life"—that is, choose His way of life so they could receive blessings. Again, if God already knew what choice they would make, this encouragement would have been pointless.

In accordance with these passages (and many more throughout the Bible), we realize that God wants us to choose and live His way of life, but He doesn't know in advance what each of us will do.

Answer: The simple answer is that there is a huge difference between these two observances. One is a biblically sanctioned Holy Day of God; the other is a man-made festival without biblical authorization. One teaches us how to live godly lives; the other masks this important truth.

The Days of Unleavened Bread, commanded by God (Leviticus 23:6) and observed by the early Christians (1 Corinthians 5:6-8), teach us to put sin (represented by leavened items such as bread and cake) out of our lives. This festival teaches us that we must overcome sin with the help of God's Spirit and live righteously.

Easter, in contrast to the Days of Unleavened Bread, not only lacks biblical authorization, it was designed by men who deliberately tried to replace God's commanded festival with one of their own. Trying to justify this deed, they decided to give this festival a Christian meaning—one to celebrate Christ's resurrection. As wonderful as Christ's resurrection is, the Bible tells us to annually commemorate His death (Luke 22:19; 1 Corinthians 11:24-25). By the way, where do you read about using rabbits and Easter eggs to remember Christ's resurrection in the Bible? Answer: Nowhere.

Given the history of Easter, it is quite understandable why so many people today think of Christianity as only a celebration of what Christ has done for us instead of the honorable quest to live godly lives. If you want all the facts, request our free booklet, Holidays or Holy Days: Does It Matter Which Days We Keep?

Answer: It appears that your tutor has not read the biblical account very carefully. Genesis 4:25 states very clearly that after Abel's death, Adam and Eve had another son, named Seth. The Bible goes on to say in Genesis 5:4 that Adam fathered "sons and daughters" after Seth was born.

We can infer from the account that Cain's wife, mentioned in Genesis 4:17, was a daughter of Adam and Eve. In those early days of the human race, Adam and Eve's sons married their sisters, as there were no other human beings.

Your question actually touches on a broader topic—the debate in some schools over whether to allow the teaching of "intelligent design" as an alternative to evolution. What is sad is the degree to which some educators go to imply that evolution is the only "intelligent alternative" in the debate! It most certainly is not!

Actually, the "intelligent design" explanation is the only one that can satisfactorily explain how any life ever appeared or how this planet even appeared. So stand your ground and don't let yourself be intimidated or be made to feel that what you believe is somehow "uneducated." Many intelligent and thoughtful people do not agree with the basic premise of evolution.

See the article, "Darwinism in the Classroom," which appeared in the Fall 2003 Vertical Thought, for a more complete treatment of this subject. Find it on the Web at: www.verticalthought.org/issues/vt01/darwinism.htm.

Answer: When we examine the Bible we find that observing this important festival was for those who had entered into a covenant relationship with God. Under the Old Covenant, the symbol of having entered into this solemn agreement with God was circumcision of the males. Baby boys were circumcised when they were eight days old and thus, the entire family (assuming all the males over eight days of age were circumcised) was eligible to partake of the Passover—a festival that pointed toward Christ's coming crucifixion (1 Corinthians 5:7). If a new family wanted to observe this festival, their males had to first be circumcised (Exodus 12:48).

Under the New Covenant, Paul taught that "circumcision is a matter of the heart, spiritual and not literal" (Romans 2:29, Revised Standard Version). Under the New Covenant, entering into a covenant relationship with God occurs when a person's heart is convicted to repent of his or her sins and he or she is baptized and receives the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:37-38). When we receive God's Holy Spirit via this process, we then "belong" to God (Romans 8:9, RSV) —we have entered into a covenant relationship with Him.

When young people mature and undergo heartfelt repentance and baptism, they enter into a covenant relationship with Jesus Christ and are then ready to observe the Passover—an annual reminder of this covenant (Matthew 26:26-28). If you are a young person not yet baptized, why not ask a minister if you can come watch the Passover service (without participating) to learn more about this solemn observance?