...We Answer

Not every answer might comply with everybody's way of seeing things. Then I kindly ask you to hold it with Paul, who said in 1 Corinthians 13 that we now see in part. All of us answering here, stick to the basic faith statements as defined in the Apostle's Creed, yet further to that we know that there are also Biblical topics not related to salvation itself, that different people understand and see differently. So please keep this in mind in case you "stumble" over a certain answer - we would like you to be blessed by the challenge of different aspects!

Answer Set 20

Question: As you know that one of the Ten Commandments speeks about committing adultery and in my opinion that is one of the most sinful act that a man or woman could commit.....My question for you is this: if one of the parties did commit that sinful act and told the other party that they did and they asked God and the other party for forgiveness and the person did forgive the other party that commited that sinful act, would God, still punish the person that committed the sinful act?

Answer from Polly: There is no sin greater than another except the one of refusing to accept the urging and conviction of the Holy Spirit to accept Jesus Christ as your Savior (Luke 12:10, John 3:16-18, John 16:8). James 2:10-11 tells us plainly that if you break one of the Laws then you are guilty of breaking them all. The great news is that "if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9, Matthew 6:14, Psalm 85:2, 86:5, 103:12).

Question: Why is important to us today that the Jews finished rebuilding the temple during the Old Testament? How is Haggai relevant to us today? Thank you.

Answer from Polly: The Temple was the unique symbol of God's abiding presence with His people. "There above the cover between the two cherubim that are over the Ark of the Testimony, I will meet with you and give you all my commands for the Israelites" (Exodus 25:22, Isaiah 37:16). The returning exiles excused themselves from rebuilding the Temple until they all had comfortable homes and were in a better financial position to take on a large project like building a temple. We use the same excuse today; "I don't think God wants me to give go the church, missions and etc. until I am in a state of financial security". Haggai directly rebuked and reminded the Jews and us today that the time to engage in God's work is now! The rebuilding of the Old Testament Temple represented restoration of the people's relationship with God. Today when we see personal "ruin" and needs of other Christians and do nothing we demonstrate our failed relationship with God (1 John 3:17, James 2:15). We are God's Temple (1 Corinthians 3:16) and are obligated to keep His Temple built up and "out of the ruins" (1 Corinthians 6:19, 1 Thessalonians 5:11).

Question: How does a Christian show that he/she is a kingdom builder for Christ? Please give scriptures that can be found to support answer. I kindly thank you for your help. May God bless you.

Answer from Polly: By their fruit you will recognize the builders of the Kingdom of God (Matthew 7:15-20); the good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart and the evil man brings things out of the evil stored up in his heart (Luke 6:43-45); also read James 3:5-18 to find the wisdom that comes from Heaven and the wisdom that comes from the devil. Shepherds (preachers, ministers, leaders) who feed only themselves are trees without fruit; uprooted; twice dead (Jude 12-19) but the builders keep themselves in God's love, being merciful to those who doubt (Jude 20-25). Christians bear fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God (Colossians 1:6-12); the fruit of the light of the Lord consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth (Ephesians 5:8-20). You will find the fruit of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22-25 and the acts of the sinful nature in Galatians 5:16-21.

Question: I have pondered this question for two years, and have come up with some tentative answers, but would like to hear your answer and thoughts. I know you are a student and lover of God's word and I respect that. My question is: How was it possible for Naaman to function in the capacity as the Captain of the host of the King of Syria being a Leper? (II Kings 5: 1.)

Could Naaman possibly have been a Leper according to Leviticus 13:12-13? He still would have been considered a leper, but just white, and odd looking; If Naaman was not a leper under the guidelines of Lev 13:12-13, why did the prophet Elisha tell his servant Gahazi "The leprosy of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed forever, and Gahazi went out from Elisha presences as a leper white as snow". What is meant by white as snow, or what is the original Hebrew word for white? And was Gahazi considered clean?

Answer from Polly: Yes, indeed Naaman was a leper and you are right in assuming that no leper was cured in Elisha the prophet's time, "only Naaman the Syrian", according to Jesus Christ (Luke 4:27). No cure for leprosy was known and in Israel lepers were normally isolated from non-lepers, but this was not always the custom in other nations including Aram. Since Naaman was a successful and courageous warrior and highly regarded by the King of Aram, Ben-Hadad II. Therefore, Naaman was able to carry on his duties as long as the disease permitted him to do so.

The slave girl whom Naaman had given to his wife as a servant, told her mistress, who told her husband, that a prophet, Elisha, living in Samaria could cure leprosy. No leper had been healed by Elisha but the slave girl had faith in his supernatural power. The Aramean King, anxious for his valuable commander to be cleansed, sent Naaman, letter in hand, to the King of Joram who he assumed would order the prophet to cure him. The Israelite King had no use for the prophet who constantly opposed him and wanted little contact with him and refused the request. Naaman would learn, even if Joram and their King had not, that there was a true prophet in Israel and went to directly to Elisha's door. Elisha sent a messenger to tell Naaman to dip seven times in the Jordan River and he would be free from the disease. [note: the cure lay not in the water of the Jordan but in obedient faith in God's promise through His prophet]! Naaman was angry because his pride was offended since Elisha did not greet him in person and because he did not want to wash in the muddy, inferior waters of the Jordan instead of his hometown rivers, the Abana and Pharpar. His servants convinced him that it would do no harm to "try it" so Naaman humbled himself and obeyed the Word of the Lord and was cleansed.

The statement that Naaman's leprosy would cling to his servant, Gehazi was because Elisha "put it on him" because he lied in his greed for the giftsthat Elisha turned down. Naaman's leprosy had been removed from him for his trust in and obedience to God. Now, ironically, leprosy would cling to Gehazi for his lack of trust in and obedience to God and for bringing dishonor to God's name. Remember that leprosy was not always a disease as much as it was a "condition" which caused rejection and scripture does not tell us if Gehazi was ever cleansed from this leprosy. The Hebrew word for white is Lavan (you asked). Another side note is that I like to think Naaman was cleansed because he went "outside the camp bearing the disgrace He bore" (Hebrews 13:12-13), since he made the effort to seek out the prophet and cleansing through faith.