How do I know if I have faith?
I would start by reviewing the things that each of us already has faith in (even in non-religious contexts). Whether we are consciously aware of it or not,...
Question
by
Jack Gutknecht
, Arizona Bible College graduate and Dallas Seminary graduate
What is the nature of God's Word as it is taught in Psalm 119?
In other words, what does God's Word accomplish? Psalm 119: 1-2, 9, 11, 24, 28-29, 37-38, 41-42, 45-46, 49-50, 62, 67, 70, 98-100, 103, 105, 111, 114, 116, ...
Psalms 119:1 - 176
Question
by
Jack Gutknecht
, Arizona Bible College graduate and Dallas Seminary graduate
What are the names for God's Word in Psalm 119?
What is it called (119:1, 3-37, 39-40, 42-69, 71-116, 119-120, 123-131, 133-148, 150-164, 166-176)
Answer
by
Tim Maas
, Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army
Why was divorce permissible due to adultery according to Matthew 19:9?
In my opinion, placing the focus in Jesus' teaching on the permissibility of divorce in the case of adultery is misreading His intent. He was seeking to...
Answer
by
Tim Maas
, Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army
Why did Jesus refer to The Queen of Sheba and Solomon in Luke 11:31?
Just to briefly add to the above question and answer, the Bible passages to which Jesus was referring with regard to Solomon were the accounts in 1 Kings 10...
Comment
by Omar Flores
Is it biblically correct or ok for Christians to be Eastern Stars or Free Masons?
Comment:
Wow I did not know that about the masons on what you wrote in the end. Thanks.
Question
by
Robert Chiappardi
, Counselor at Salvation Army ARC, Richmond, VA
Why did Jesus refer to The Queen of Sheba and Solomon in Luke 11:31?
Is this referring to the Book of Wisdom (Wisdom of Solomon) of the Deuterocanonical books?
Luke 11:31
Answer
by
John Moyo
, Christian youth teacher
Why did Jesus refer to The Queen of Sheba and Solomon in Luke 11:31?
Here Jesus is lamenting the reluctance exhibited by the Jews to listen to his teaching by comparing them not only to to Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, but...
Comment
by Danny Hickman
, Believer in The Gospel Of Jesus Christ
Can an unmarried man and woman living together and having a sexual relationship go to heaven if they love each other but do not marry?
Comment:
"All those bible verses about fornication" is about what we call "casual sex." Sex for recreational purposes apart from THE WOMAN committing to submission to...
Answer
by
Tim Maas
, Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army
Is it biblically correct or ok for Christians to be Eastern Stars or Free Masons?
Because there are a variety of denominational positions on Masonic activities, I would say that it would be difficult to generalize among all Christians with...
Answer
by
Tim Maas
, Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army
What lineage did Jesus come from of the three sons of Noah after the flood?
Although the ancestry of Jesus contained in Matthew 1 only begins with Abraham (previously known as Abram), tracing the genealogical lines prior to Abraham's...
Comment
by lorna froese
What does the Bible say about an out of body experience / astral projection?
Comment:
I agree we need to be careful about visions and dreams whether they line up with the truth of God's Word. The brain has a powerful way of making connection...
Comment
by Kelli Hamann
, Loving Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Teacher, Musician
What does the "husband of one wife" phrase in 1 Timothy 3:2 mean? Can a divorced man serve as a pastor, elder, or deacon?
Comment:
This might be the policy at your church, but it certainly isn't the policy of all churches. Case in point: My husband grew up as a PK with a clear calling on...
Comment
by James Kraft
, 74 year old retired pipeline worker
What is wrong with being a grouchy giver? (as opposed to a "cheerful giver" in 2 Cor. 9:7) The job still gets done.
Comment:
We are not talking salvation. That is a free gift from God. Romans 6:23. We are talking about rewards in this life and in heaven. First Corinthians 3:11-23....
Comment
by Danny Hickman
, Believer in The Gospel Of Jesus Christ
When Paul spoke of speaking in tongues in 1 Corinthians 14, was it a language that only God can understand?
Comment:
Cindy, you have my support, for all the good it's worth. Gibberish, bottom line. If God does something it is undeniably Him, no guessing is needed. When...
Question
by
Charles Mann
Comment
by Paul Desing
What did Jesus mean when He said "I am the door"?
Comment:
Jesus alone is the entrance into anything, and all things pertaining to GOD.
Comment
by Paul Desing
What did Jesus mean when He said 'I am the Light of the World'?
Comment:
Light illuminates the reality of things, and exposes things attempting to shroud themselves in darkness. Not only is Jesus the Truth, but He is the one who...
Comment
by Paul Desing
What did Jesus mean when He said "I am the way and the truth and the life"?
Comment:
Jesus alone is the perfect response to GOD = the life and the truth. His sacriface and risen life is the only acceptable response to GOD = the way.
Comment
by Paul Desing
What did Jesus mean when He said, 'I am the Bread of Life'?
Comment:
What is ingested as the staple of one's life is what is referred to. Jesus represents the word of GOD, perfectly received and responded to. Apart from Jesus...
Comment
by Danny Hickman
, Believer in The Gospel Of Jesus Christ
Does Deuteronomy 22:28-29 command a rape victim to marry her rapist?
Comment:
Of course there's grace in the times lived before Jesus. Adam and Eve kept living "in the flesh" after disobeying due to God's favor for His creation. Did...
Comment
by Danny Hickman
, Believer in The Gospel Of Jesus Christ
Does Deuteronomy 22:28-29 command a rape victim to marry her rapist?
Comment:
A wise person doesn't flout God's laws, "pre -christian" or otherwise. The law is good (Rom 7:16). I agree with the law. I just can't figure out how to...
Comment
by Danny Hickman
, Believer in The Gospel Of Jesus Christ
Does Deuteronomy 22:28-29 command a rape victim to marry her rapist?
Comment:
Gary W and John Matthews, both good doctrinal comments. The New law is not a new one per the Apostle John, and at the same time it is new, per John (1 Jn...
Comment
by John Matthews
, Retired Professional Singer, Conductor and Seeker
What is wrong with being a grouchy giver? (as opposed to a "cheerful giver" in 2 Cor. 9:7) The job still gets done.
Comment:
"Giving is for rewards in Heaven." Isn't that what drove Martin Luther to break from the Roman Catholic Church? Buying your way to heaven? I would be a...
Comment
by John Matthews
, Retired Professional Singer, Conductor and Seeker
What does the Bible say about a Christian serving in the military?
Comment:
The New Testament does deal with persons in the existing army of the time, but Jesus never exhorted his followers to join the military. Jesus, and others,...
Comment
by James Kraft
, 74 year old retired pipeline worker
Is Romans 7:14-25 describing a believer or an unbeliever?
Comment:
Romans 3:23 ALL have sinned and come short of the glory of God. All, not some, but all. Romans 3:10 There is none righteous, no not one. When we trust Jesus...
Comment
by James Kraft
, 74 year old retired pipeline worker
How does predestination work as described by scripture?
Comment:
The only difference between heaven and hell is John 3:18. John 1:12 and Romans 1:16 Romans 4:5-8 John 6:40. First Timothy 2:4 First John 2:2. Romans 6:23....
Answer
by
Jack Gutknecht
, Arizona Bible College graduate and Dallas Seminary graduate
What is the story of Sarah and Hagar?
When Sarah and Abraham cast Hagar out, she was friendless. The Bible has much to say about friendlessness. Moses exhorts God's people in Dt. 31:6, "Be strong...
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for
Julian Pechacek
Silver Teacher award!
Criterion: Write an answer that receives 5 votes.
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Should Christians support the nation of Israel?
Comment
by Kelli Trujillo
, Loving Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Teacher, Musician
When a person is speaking in tongues at a church, are they speaking or praying to God, or are they making nonsense babble?
Comment:
Hi, John. The scriptures I mentioned have to do with different aspects of speaking in tongues, so I don't think it would make sense for all of them to be...
Comment
by John Matthews
, Retired Professional Singer, Conductor and Seeker
When a person is speaking in tongues at a church, are they speaking or praying to God, or are they making nonsense babble?
Comment:
Kelli, are all of the scripture examples you list followed when you, personally, speak in tongues? Is there someone present to interpret? Is it an earthly...
Comment
by Shirley H
, Wife, mother, veteran in the spiritual war we all face!
What was God doing before He created the universe?
Comment:
AMEN!! Vincent, Chris, Joyce and Bobby and Chuck! Exactly! Understand what you all mean!!
Question
by
Anonymous
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Billy P Eldred
Silver Teacher award!
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Why do so many Christians fail the 'practice what you preach' standard?
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for
David Armstrong
, Just a follower of Jesus. I believes the Bible is G-D's Word
Silver Teacher award!
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What was God doing before He created the universe?
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Tim Maas
, Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army
Silver Teacher award!
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What do I do if my friends are not believers, but I think God put me in their lives for a reason?
Answer
by
Tim Maas
, Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army
What would you say to a friend who said, "I do not believe in heaven or hell per se..."?
I would agree that God does reveal Himself in nature from the standpoint of an orderly universe. But that is not the only way He does so. Another way is...
Answer
by
Tim Maas
, Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army
What would you say to a friend who said, "I do not believe in heaven or hell per se..."?
I would agree that God does reveal Himself in nature from the standpoint of an expansive and orderly universe (Psalms 19:1-6; Romans 1:18-21). But that is...
Answer
by
Tim Maas
, Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army
What is meant by "I have given you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions"?
Jesus spoke these words in Luke 10:19 following the return of the seventy-two disciples whom He had sent out to the various towns that He Himself would later...
Answer
by
Tim Maas
, Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army
Did God prepare the Lake of Fire and Heaven before He created the heavens and the earth?
In His teaching on the judgment of the sheep and the goats at the close of the age in Matthew 25:31-46, Jesus spoke in Matthew 25:41 of the eternal fire...
Comment
by Tim Maas
, Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army
How would you answer a friend who said, "I am not a biblical literalist and not a sin-focused or original sin believer."?
Comment:
Yes, you are correct. That was a typo in the online version. (The hard-copy version of the text that I am looking at as I write this says, "Now if we mean...
Comment
by Jack Gutknecht
, Arizona Bible College graduate and Dallas Seminary graduate
How would you answer a friend who said, "I am not a biblical literalist and not a sin-focused or original sin believer."?
Comment:
Tim, I read pages 23 and 24 of the online Mere Christianity pdf. I get the gist. It is good. But his one statement on p. 24 I think has a typo--"Now it we...
Answer
by
Aurel Gheorghe
Did God prepare the Lake of Fire and Heaven before He created the heavens and the earth?
Genesis 1 and Genesis 2 details God's act of Creation but is silent about any Lake of Fire being created or planned. However, the lake of fire is being...
Comment
by Jack Gutknecht
, Arizona Bible College graduate and Dallas Seminary graduate
How would you answer a friend who said, "I am not a biblical literalist and not a sin-focused or original sin believer."?
Comment:
Tim, I think further that she believes in natural theology because this is what she wrote to me: "For me, Christianity is not ritualized or full of rules,...
Comment
by James Kraft
, 74 year old retired pipeline worker
What are the strengths and weaknesses of the pre-wrath view of the rapture?
Comment:
There is an interesting analogy of a Jewish wedding to the rapture of the church, the bride of Christ. When a Jewish couple were betrothed, engaged to be...
Comment
by Danny Hickman
, Believer in The Gospel Of Jesus Christ
What should be the Christian view of Harry Potter?
Comment:
I take this answer (that sounds like one given by a person running for political office) to mean that this make believe story is okay for christian families...
Answer
by
Shirley H
, Wife, mother, veteran in the spiritual war we all face!
How would you answer a friend who said, "I am not a biblical literalist and not a sin-focused or original sin believer."?
This is a tough question to answer without using quotes from scripture. So here goes... Remember that Job in the Bible was a very good man. He was blameless...
Comment
by Danny Hickman
, Believer in The Gospel Of Jesus Christ
Does Deuteronomy 22:28-29 command a rape victim to marry her rapist?
Comment:
If the fathers of those rape victims would have done what the men in the neighborhood I grew up in would do, NO, that kind of lawlessness wouldn't go...