Answers

You ask Elim experts the questions. This month, it’s Rajinder Buxton, a member of the ministry team at Ryde Elim Church, Isle of Wight

“In my Father’s house are many rooms,” said Jesus. Was he speaking literally or figuratively?

Often in the Psalms, God’s “house” or “dwelling” is the temple in Jerusalem. Other times, it refers to the whole of creation, or even the whole universe. Some psalms describe God himself as our “dwelling place” (Psalm 90:1; 91:9). The point being, God’s “house” or “dwelling place” is wherever God is, wherever his presence is made evident and his will is done.

Whatever else it means, John 14:2 indicates, “There is plenty of room with God.” The word translated “mansions” (KJV) or “rooms” (NIV) means literally “abiding (not transitory) dwelling-places for individuals”. Whether they be opulent, ornate mansions or spectacular rooms, in God’s house there will be plenty of space for the family of God.

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him,” (1 Corinthians 2:9). It is going to be an amazing place and will blow our minds!

Can my name be blotted out of the Book of Life?

The Bible is clear that we are saved by faith through grace alone (John 3:16; Romans 10:9-10; Ephesians 2:8-9). It is this faith that determines whether our names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life (Revelation 21:27).

But there are references to a wicked person’s name being “blotted out” of the book (Exodus 32:33; Deuteronomy 25:19; Psalm 69:28). Some understand this to mean that the Book is a record of everyone who ever lived, and those who love the darkness and do shun the light have their names blotted out.

Others believe that when you put your faith in Jesus your name is then written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. The Book is filled only with the names of those who have eternal life through Jesus. Either way, the important thing is to know our name will only be in the Lamb’s Book of Life if we believe in Jesus and his sacrifice on the cross for all our sins.

Gentleness is a fruit of the Spirit, but how should it appear in the lives of believers?

Gentleness, as part of the fruit of the Spirit, can be described as “gentle strength” or “the godly exercise of power”. It is not weakness.

Jesus is our great example of gentleness (Matthew 11:29) and the Bible gives many illustrations, including being gentle in our speech (Proverbs 15:4 NLT), and in our marriage, wives (1 Peter 3:3-4) and husbands (1 Peter 3:7). It is to be shown towards everyone (Titus 3:2). In fact, it should be a lifestyle characteristic of all those who walk with Jesus (Ephesians 4:1-3, Titus 3:1-2).

Gentleness is the way to help those who have gone astray and is a quality required of church leaders. They are to be “not quarrelsome, but gentle” (1 Timothy 3:3) towards someone caught in sin or who has lost their way, restoring that person with a gentle spirit, not to shame them but bringing them back into alignment with the Word of God (Galatians 6:1).

This article first appeared in Direction Magazine. For further details, please click here.