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Q&A – Is it right for Seventh-day Adventists to celebrate Christmas?

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Christmas is a pagan holiday with a Christian name. In fact, the Pagan culture has had a great influence on our civilization, such as the names of the days of the week. However, since Sunday was named for the sun god and Monday for the moon god, we do not hesitate to live our normal lives on those days and call them by their given pagan names. We do not worship on Sunday, but we do not hesitate to pray on that day or to do missionary work.

Consider when Jesus was here on earth when one of the Pharisees asked Him if they should pay taxes to Caesar. Jesus told them, “Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and unto God the things that are God’s.” Matthew 22:21. Under the guidance of our heavenly Father we have to live in this world and cope with who and what we live with.

Regarding Christmas, we have already established the fact that it is of pagan origin, but we cannot ignore the fact that it is here. It is the time of the year when people take vacations, especially schools. It is the time of the year when people, businesses, and social groups are giving greetings and presents to one another. Many do this just for prestige, some for love, some for other advantages, but gifts and greetings are prevalent. Because the world and churches are doing these things at Christmas time, would it be wrong for a Seventh-day Adventist to give a gift to someone or to take a vacation at Christmas time or to wish someone happy holidays?

I do believe it is wrong to ascribe the joy of Christmas to the birth of Christ, for that is false theology, and children should be taught the truth at all times. Never, never lie to a child. Tell them the way it is—there is no Santa Clause. They can’t help but see and hear about it, but they must know the truth. However, it is not wrong to give children gifts because you love them, or even to give gifts for appreciation to your friends and loved ones. Just don’t forget that the best Friend we have is Jesus, and He deserves the best gift.

Now let’s learn what the Lord has revealed to us. “While urging upon all the duty of first bringing their offerings to God, I would not wholly condemn the practice of making Christmas and New Year’s gifts to our friends. It is right to bestow upon one another tokens of love and remembrance if we do not in this forget God, our best Friend. We should make our gifts such as will prove a real benefit to the receiver. I would recommend such books as will be an aid in understanding the Word of God, or that will increase our love for its precepts.” The Review and Herald, December 26, 1882.

If you have a Bible question you wish to have answered, please e-mail it to: ruthgrosboll@stepstolife.org.

Q & A – Is the 144,000 mentioned in Scripture a Literal or Symbolic Number?

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There is much speculation on this question. It is never wise to express one’s own opinion on any Bible subject but search to see what the Bible and then the Spirit of Prophecy have to say about the subject. Human reasoning often distorts the spiritual impact that the inspired word has for the reader. It is always best, without trying to reason as to what it might mean, to simply accept what is says.

I have found no place in the inspired writings that tells us if “144,000” is a symbolic or actual accounting number, but I believe if we are faithful, someday we will find out. The important thing to know about the 144,000 is not the meaning of the number, but what makes this group of people different from all of the other redeemed.

They are first mentioned in Revelation 7:3, 4. It says that they are going to be sealed in their foreheads. To be sealed means to be sealed shut. There is nothing more that can be done about it; the work has been finished. You could say, “the dye is cast”; whatever decisions have been made are there to stay. Their minds have been made up and no one can change them.

Revelation 14 gives a little more description of the 144,000. It says that they have the “Father’s name written in their foreheads.” They are “redeemed from the earth” and then it goes on further to say that they are “not defiled with women” and also they are “redeemed from among men.” “They follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth” and in their “mouth was found no guile, for they are without fault before the throne of God.” Verses 1, 3, 4, 5.

We know from these texts that these people are humans and are redeemed from this earth so they come from among us. It would be well for us to examine our characters because, even if we are not one of the 144,000, we want to be among the saved in the kingdom of heaven, and we know that all who enter there must have on the robe of Christ’s righteousness which is without any spot of sin or stain.

Christ has completed His work in these people and what a character they have developed! Some say that is impossible but Paul said, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Philippians 4:13.

“All things” means also perfecting a character like the one which is ascribed to the 144.000. We must remember it is only through Christ. We cannot do it by ourselves, “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” Philippians 2:13. God said to Abraham, “Is any thing too hard for the Lord?” Genesis 18:14. Since the Lord said there are going to be “144,000 living saints” (Testimonies, vol. 1, 59), He is able to produce them, and if we wish to be among them we need to be working on our characters now.

We are told in the Spirit of Prophecy,

“Heaven is to begin on this earth. When the Lord’s people are filled with meekness and tenderness, they will realize that His banner over them is love, and His fruit will be sweet to their taste. They will make a heaven below in which to prepare for heaven above. …

“If you would be a saint in heaven, you must first be a saint on earth.” Sons and Daughters of God, 112.

If you have a Bible question you wish to have answered, please e-mail it to: ruthgrosboll@stepstolife.org.

Questions & Answers – Many people want to go to heaven but will they all be there?

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“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16. Jesus died for everybody and His heart yearns over each human being.

Consider this quotation: “Those who think of the result of hastening or hindering the gospel think of it in relation to themselves and to the world. Few think of its relation to God. Few give thought to the suffering that sin has caused our Creator. All heaven suffered in Christ’s agony; but that suffering did not begin or end with His manifestation in humanity. The cross is a revelation to our dull senses of the pain that, from its very inception, sin has brought to the heart of God. Every departure from the right, every deed of cruelty, every failure of humanity to reach His ideal, brings grief to Him.” Education, 263.

Sin is a terrible enemy and is responsible for all the pain, sickness, death and sorrow that has happened in this earth for the past 6,000 years, to say nothing of the billions of human beings who have been crippled and mentally deficient. Praise God, He is determined to rid the universe of sin. If it were allowed to enter heaven we would have this misery repeated over again, only on a larger scale.

After our first parents (Adam and Eve) fell into sin (disobedience to God), He had such pity for the human race that He was willing to sacrifice His only begotten son, who suffered unbelievable torture and death to save the human family from the results of sin, which is death.

At such a heavy cost for the redemption of man, no one who is clinging to sin could be allowed into heaven, for sin would ruin the whole universe again. Everyone must make their own choice either for the pleasures of sin for a season, or for a life of victory through Jesus to overcome sin and enjoy eternal life.

It is sin, the transgression of the law (I John 3:4), which causes all the misery and heartache in the world.

God’s law is a law of love. The foundation of His kingdom is the Ten Commandments, which may be summed up in the following words: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.” Luke 10:27. It is imperative that those who enter heaven keep His law, to prevent the whole sin problem from erupting all over again. It would only be safe for God to take to heaven those who love His law and are happy and determined to live by its precepts.

Sin must be eradicated from the life. God has promised power to overcome sin and the devil. Those who follow in the footsteps of Jesus, believing in Him, will endure to the end and be saved.

If you have a Bible question you wish to have answered, please e-mail it to: ruthgrosboll@stepstolife.org.

Q&A – If I go to Church on Saturday, can I go on Sunday?

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We could ask ourselves the question, “Why do we go to church?” Is it to be sociable and see our friends, to enjoy the music and singing, or do we go just to hear a good sermon? The real purpose for attending church is to worship God, regardless of what day or where we go.

Because we go there to worship God, it would be well to obey and please Him. God is love, and to worship Him we also must love Him. When we love someone we like to do the things that are pleasing to them so it is necessary to find out what pleases God. He has told us in His Holy Book, the Bible, to “remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.” Exodus 20:8–11.

“When God says, Keep holy the seventh day, he does not mean the sixth, nor the first, but the very day he has specified. If men substitute a common day for the sacred, and say that will do just as well, they insult the Maker of the heavens and of the earth, who made the Sabbath to commemorate his resting upon the seventh day, after creating the world in six days. It is dangerous business in the service of God to deviate from his institutions. Those who have to do with God, who is infinite, who explicitly directs in regard to his own worship, should follow the exact course he has prescribed, and not feel at liberty to deviate in the least particular because they think it will answer just as well. God will teach all his creatures that he means just what he says.” The Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 1, 280.

When Jesus was here on earth He said, “The Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.” John 8:29. We also read, “And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up for to read.” Luke 4:16.

In putting these two texts together it is clear that it is pleasing to God to worship on the Sabbath (the seventh day).

Looking at the history of Sunday worship we see that Sunday was named to honor the sun god and not the God who created the sun, but the sun itself. Satan, the enemy of heaven, diverted worship from the creator to the created. We have been admonished to avoid the appearance of evil and in attending a Sunday keeping church and recognizing Sunday as a day of worship we are actually honoring the one who instigated worship of the sun god, Satan, whose aim it is to influence everyone to oppose God’s commandments.

If you have a Bible question you wish to have answered, please e-mail it to: landmarks@stepstolife.org.

Q&A – How Do I Receive Strength from God?

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There are many times in life when it seems that we are alone and there is no one who understands our own peculiar problems. They may be problems that we have initiated ourselves, or they may be problems coming from our workplace, or our associates, the government, the church, or school or from some other outside source. Whatever or wherever the problem exists, it is apparently something that you are unable to solve. Because of it, you may be losing sleep, you may even be losing weight, you may be losing friends or money, or you may be losing confidence in yourself and others may be losing confidence in you.

However terrible the situation always remember that God is still in control and He is still a God of love. “He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.” I John 4:8. In His love He wants the best for you and we need to have confidence in His love. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28. Notice that this promise is to those who love God.

Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15) so putting these two texts together, things will work together for good if we love Him and then if we do love Him, we will be keeping His commandments. “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.” I John 5:3.

To receive strength from God, first we must ask. Jesus said, “And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” Luke 11:9, 10. Later on Jesus told His disciples, “And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.” John 14:13, 14.

We must ask in faith, for Jesus said to many of those whom He healed, “Thy faith hath made thee whole.” Matthew 9:22. This is mentioned also in other places in the Gospels. It says in Hebrews 11:6, “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” It is necessary to believe that God will do what He says and that He loves us enough to do what is best for us even if it isn’t the very thing we think is best. A very comforting and assuring verse is Psalm 37:4: “Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.”

In review, the way to receive help from God is to believe that He is and that He will do what He says; then ask for what we need, according to His will. In order for us to receive, we must love God and if we love Him we will keep His commandments. If we keep His commandments He will answer our prayers according to His will.

“Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” Matthew 22:37–39.

If you have a Bible question you wish to have answered, please write to Steps to Life or e-mail it to: landmarks@stepstolife.org.

Q&A – Baptism in the Holy Spirit; what does that mean?

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To baptize is to initiate or to begin a process of transformation. This process is brought into existence through the Holy Spirit, but each of us must yield our hearts so that transformation can take place in our lives.

The act of baptism means to dedicate your life to the Lord. Baptism in the Holy Spirit means that the Holy Spirit has begun to purify your heart and your life. This process is also known as the new birth. “The new birth consists in having new motives, new tastes, new tendencies. Those who are begotten unto a new life by the Holy Spirit, have become partakers of the divine nature, and in all their habits and practices, they will give evidence of their relationship to Christ. When men who claim to be Christians retain all their natural defects of character and disposition, in what does their position differ from that of the worldling? They do not appreciate the truth as a sanctifier, a refiner. They have not been born again.” The Review and Herald, April 12, 1892. In reality, they have not allowed the Holy Spirit to transform their life.

It is our privilege to receive the “baptism of the Holy Spirit” daily, if we will pray for it. This is how the purification process continues in our lives. God promises to give us a new heart and a new spirit and He will cause us to walk in His statutes (Ezekiel 11:19, 20). When we dedicate our heart and life to Him, He gives us of His Holy Spirit to begin that process and to continue that process if we want it continued.

We are told that even Jesus received that baptism of the Holy Spirit daily so He could impart to others. “Daily He received a fresh baptism of the Holy Spirit. In the early hours of the new day the Lord awakened Him from His slumbers, and His soul and His lips were anointed with grace, that He might impart to others. His words were given Him fresh from the heavenly courts, words that He might speak in season to the weary and oppressed. ‘The Lord God hath given Me,’ He said, ‘the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: He wakeneth morning by morning, He wakeneth Mine ear to hear as the learned.’ Isaiah. 50:4.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 139.

“O that the baptism of the Holy Spirit might come upon you, that you might be imbued with the Spirit of God! Then day by day you will become more and more conformed to the image of Christ, and in every action of your life, the question would be, ‘Will it glorify my Master?’ By patient continuance in well-doing you would seek for glory and honor, and would receive the gift of immortality.” The Review and Herald, May 10, 1892.

Remember that God wants each of us to be new creatures. He says, “Behold, I make all things new.” Revelation 21:5. “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature.”
II Corinthians 5:17.

If you have a Bible question you wish to have answered, please write to Steps to Life or e-mail it to: landmarks@stepstolife.org.

Questions and Answers: Is it because we cannot see the Lord that we Seem to Follow Satan?

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We cannot physically see either the Lord or Satan at this time; but we can see the fruits of each. Jesus tells us, “By their fruits ye shall know them.” Matthew 7:20.

Satan has usurped, or seized, the temporary leadership of this world through Adam’s fall. We are born into this world with the propensity, or natural inclination, to follow Satan, the god of this world. And “the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” II Corinthians 4:4.

For this reason, we need to be in the School of Christ so that we may be able to identify the path we are on and to identify, by our own fruits, whom we are following.

We are told in Revelation 3:18 to “anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see” spiritual things. To anoint means to consecrate by applying oil—the oil is the Holy Spirit. When we apply that oil, we can have the power of clear discernment between good and evil.

“Let the heavenly eyesalve be applied to the eyes of your understanding that you may distinguish between truth and error. Search the Word; and when you find a ‘Thus saith the Lord,’ take your stand.” My Life Today, 73.

“Our only safety is to be shielded by the grace of God every moment, and not put out our own spiritual eyesight so that we will call evil, good, and good, evil. Without hesitation or argument we must close and guard the avenues of the soul against evil.” The Adventist Home, 403.

The god of this earth has blinded many eyes, and that is why many cannot see and they follow Satan. We need to ask God daily for that eyesalve that will give us spiritual discernment to see where the devil is deceiving us and for the grace to turn away from following Satan. Make your choice today to sit in heavenly places with the God of Heaven.

In I Kings 18:21 Elijah said, “How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him.” When you have spiritual discernment, you will want to choose the God of heaven and not the god of this earth. You will no longer halt between two opinions.

When the eyes have been enlightened with spiritual eyesight, we will no longer follow Satan.

If you have a Bible question you wish to have answered, please write to Steps to Life or e-mail it to:
landmarks@stepstolife.org.

Q&A – Am I being a hypocrite to pray when I don’t feel like it?

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A hypocrite is somebody who professes certain things or qualities without really possessing those qualities in themselves.

When you pray, or talk to God, at a time you do not feel like it simply means that you are not depending upon feelings, but you are rendering your heart to God by faith.

It is dangerous to solely depend upon feelings, because they are as changeable as the weather.

“A large class of the professed Christian world are watching their feelings; but feeling is an unsafe guide. … Satan can move upon our feelings, and he can so arrange surrounding circumstances as to make our feelings changeable. Victory in God is not feeling, but faith. It is the faith that will not yield although there are seeming impossibilities to be encountered.” The Signs of the Times, May 22, 1884.

We should never depend upon our feelings in matters of praying. In fact, at the time when we do not feel like praying is when we most need to draw near to God and talk with Him.

“As soon as one begins to contemplate his feelings he is on dangerous ground. If he feels happy and joyous, then he is very confident and has very pleasing emotions. The change will come. There are circumstances that occur which bring depression and sad feelings; then the mind will naturally begin to doubt whether the Lord is with him or not.

“Now, the feelings must not be made the test of the spiritual state, be they good or be they discouraging. The word of God is to be our evidence of our true standing before Him.” In Heavenly Places, 126.

Satan might try to make us feel like hypocrites but we must remember that talking to God when we do not feel like it gives us just the strength and faith we need for that moment. “This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” I John 5:4.

“Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.” Mark 9:24. We must live by faith in Jesus and in His Word which tells us to, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28. And in Isaiah 26:3 we are told, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”

It is good that our minds are stayed on Him and by faith we talk to God and do not follow our emotions of the moment. This is not hypocrisy, but faith! When you kneel down to pray, even when you do not feel like it, the devil has lost the battle for that moment.

If you have a Bible question you wish to have answered, please write to Steps to Life or e-mail it to: landmarks@stepstolife.org.

Q&A – Do we need to follow the example of Daniel?

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Some Christians say that we are under grace and do not need to follow the example of Daniel in diet. Is this true?

We are under God’s grace. When you understand what is included in the meaning of grace you will then follow God’s Word without allowing others to influence your thinking.

John 1:12, 13 tells us that, “As many as received him [Jesus], to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name; Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”

To those who received or associated themselves with Jesus, He gave power to become the sons of God. When you associate yourself with Christ, He gives you that power to become a child of God reflecting God’s character in all areas of your life. The following is a most wonderful explanation of what is included in the meaning of grace.

“He who receives Christ by living faith has a living connection with God, and is a vessel unto honor. He carries with him the atmosphere of heaven, which is the grace of God, a treasure that the world cannot buy.” “Ellen G. White Comments,” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 1, 1097.

Jesus walked in the atmosphere of heaven and did the will of the Father in all areas of His life. It was because Daniel and his three friends lived in that atmosphere and walked with God that they were so blessed.

If we are truly walking in that same atmosphere, which is the grace of God, we will want to do all that the Lord asks us to do. God desires us to be healthy, and through His Word He gives counsel and examples such as the experience of Daniel and his three friends.

God tells us that we are His temples and the Spirit of God dwells in us. While under His grace, walking in this atmosphere, we would want to do everything we can to keep these temples from being defiled. See I Corinthians 3:16, 17. When we read healthful counsel in His Word, knowing that the grace of God would not lead us against His Word, we will say, as did Paul, “We ought to obey God rather than men.” Acts 5:29.

Now that we understand that being under grace is carrying the atmosphere of heaven with us, reflecting God’s character in all areas of our life, we will choose to continue to walk in that atmosphere.

Contrary to having freedom to do anything we want and disregard God’s counsel on how to live, eat or dress, it is because of His grace that we choose to obey Him. We can begin right here and now to walk in those heavenly places, discarding worldly counsel and accepting God’s Word. Our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. It would be wise to do all we can to maintain it in a healthy condition to give God the honor and glory He deserves.

If you have a Bible question you wish to have answered, please write to Steps to Life or e-mail it to: landmarks@stepstolife.org.

Questions and Answers – Which Interpretation is Right?

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Many people interpret the Bible. How do you know which interpretation is the right one?

To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” Isaiah 8:20.

The Bible is our guide to lead us to heaven and we do not want to take anybody’s word, but go to the Scriptures for ourselves to seek light. We are individually accountable to God. When we accept somebody else’s word on what the Bible says, we have then put man over and above the Word of God. “We ought to obey God rather than men.” Acts 5:29.

“Especially should we entreat the Lord for wisdom to understand His Word. … Satan is an expert in quoting Scripture, placing his own interpretation upon passages, by which he hopes to cause us to stumble. We should study the Bible with humility of heart, never losing sight of our dependence upon God. While we must constantly guard against the devices of Satan, we should pray in faith continually, ‘Lead us not into temptation’ [Matthew 6:13].” The Faith I Live By, 331.

Many place their own interpretation on the Scriptures. Each of us, individually, needs to know what God’s Word says. We are to study “precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little” (Isaiah 28:13) so that we may understand what God is saying to us. Many people may interpret the Bible as to what they think the Word of God says, but the Bible will interpret itself.

Here is one example of how we may be led astray in the last days by listening to others. “Unfaithful watchmen hindered the progress of the work of God. As the people were roused, and began to inquire the way of salvation, these leaders stepped in between them and the truth, seeking to quiet their fears by falsely interpreting the Word of God. … The blood of these souls will be required at their hand.” The Story of Redemption, 361.

There are many religions, many interpreters, but what saith the Lord? When we sit down with the Word of God and humbly ask for God’s Holy Spirit to teach us, He will answer that prayer. You can then begin to search the Word of God for yourself. Using a Bible concordance, you can look up specific words which will lead you to all of the books of the Bible that may contain that subject, and as you bring all of those verses together, God will, through His Word, teach you what truth is and what error is. You need not follow anybody’s interpretation unless it is found in the Bible.

Let the truth be read by you, as it is in Jesus and not as it is according to what somebody else said. God, through His Holy Spirit, is our teacher. “Through thy precepts I get understanding.” Psalm 119:104. It does not say through the understanding of others.

If you have a Bible question you wish to have answered, please write to Steps to Life or e-mail it to:
landmarks@stepstolife.org.