Directions: Click "Question:" to view the complete questions. Click "Answer:" to view the answer. Click the "Question:" or "Answer:" again to collapse them back down.

• Question: What does the bible say about suicide?
  • What does the bible say about suicide?
• Answer: (click here to see the answer)
  1. Scott,
  2. The Bible does not speak specifically to this subject. I am going to speculate why this question was asked. Many have lost loved ones to suicide. If that person trusted in Jesus Christ as his Savior, God sealed him with the Holy Spirit as soon as he trusted Christ. Therefore, that person would be with God in heaven even though this is a horrible way to leave this world.
  3. In Christ,
  4. Bob Hill
• Question: What biblical counselling can be used when counselling a sexually abused person
  • What biblical counselling can be used when counselling a sexually abused person
• Answer: (click here to see the answer)
  1. Tia,
  2. The most important material abused people need to learn and understand is that God loves them. Many of them have deep seated problems and usually do not think anyone really loves them.
  3. I would show them how our identity in Christ in Romans 6 frees us from the Mosaic Law and all sin. I would explain and have the person meditate on the first 11 verses of this passage until they become part of the person.
  4. I would also counsel with the whole book of Philippians, emphasizing the passages in the 3rd and 4th chapters: [This is my translation adapting the NKJV.] Phi 3:7-16 “But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, (and count them as rubbish,) that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through the faithfulness of Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the out-resurrection [The perfect Christian life.] from the dead. 12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Therefore let us, as many as are (would be – This is a subjunctive like statement. There is no verb to be here in the Greek. That’s why I supplied a subjunctive rather than the indicative that the NKJV supplied.) mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise [If you’re rebellious, for instance.], God will reveal even this to you. 16 Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind.”
  5. Phi 4:4-9 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
  6. 8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.
  7. Rom 6:3-14 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? [The Holy Spirit (1 Co 12:13) baptized us into Christ when we got saved.] 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death [We are now identified with His death. Therefore, we died to sin in Christ.], that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death [And we have.], certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6 knowing this, that our old man [The whole body of Adam. See Eph 4:20-24 But you did not so learn Christ, 21 if indeed you heard Him and were taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 to put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and to keep on being renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and to put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.(So, we put off the old and put on the new at the time we got saved. But the renewing of our mind is a continuous thing.)] was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. 7 For he who has died has been freed from sin. 8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. 10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. 11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. 13 And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.
• Question: Can you please explain Romans 3:31 on how we are to establish the law?
  • Can you please explain Romans 3:31 on how we are to establish the law?
• Answer: (click here to see the answer)
  1. Josh,
  2. Paul was presenting the method of salvation in Rom 3:27-4:5 “Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith. 28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law. 29 Or is He the God of the Jews only? Is He not also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also, 30 since there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. 31 Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law. 4 1 What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” 4 Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. 5 But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness”.
  3. As I look at this passage, Paul’s conclusion seems to be, that no matter what dispensation a person is in, faith is the important thing in God’s program. Those under the law may have had to produce works of the law, but it was really the faith that saved them.
  4. But, now we look at Rom 3:31. What did he mean when he wrote, “Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.”? I believe he began a long dissertation on justification by faith, along with its results. The culmination of the whole argument was, Rom 8:1-4 “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit (toi" en cristw ihsou mh kata sarka peripatousin alla kata pneuma Literally, to those in Christ Jesus not walking according to flesh but according to Spirit.). 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” I believe God meant, through Paul, that we would establish the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus by living in a loving way in the power of the Spirit.
  5. I believe this is the answer because we can fulfill the law without being under it by letting the Holy Spirit produce His love in our lives. That’s why Rom 13:8 says, “Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
  6. 11 And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. 12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.”
  7. Fulfilling the law is similar to establishing it. Some of the figurative translations of the word, isthmi, according to the BGD Lexicon are: establish, confirm, make or consider valid ti someth. confirm, hold against. stand firm, hold one’s ground (Ps 35:13) in battle; stand fast in it; stand firm; you stand firm because of your faith Ro 11:20. whoever stands firm in his heart; the foundation stands (unshaken); since the law stands firm [unchanged].
  8. Therefore, we who allow the Holy Spirit to produce the life in the Spirit, by faith, are the ones who establish the law, that it is good. The law was weak because of the flesh, but in the power of the Spirit, He can live the Christ life in us and establish the principles of the law in our lives.
  9. I hope this helps,
  10. In Christ Who provided this wonderful life,
  11. Bob
• Question:.. Is there any Scripture to support fighting in self-defense?
  • Is there any Scripture to support fighting in self-defense?
• Answer: (click here to see the answer)
  1. Corey,
  2. You asked an extremely difficult question, because I find no Scripture which supports fighting in self-defense directly. On a personal level, I believe God has principles for this dispensation similar to others. For Instance, in Rom 12:9-21 it zeroes in on the love we should have for everyone: Rom 12:9-21 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. 10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; 11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; 13 distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. 17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. 18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
  3. There is one part that seems to imply that there are situations where we can restrain ourselves, Rom 12:18 “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.”, but another passage seems to say we should not allow our loved ones to be abused: 1 Ti 5:8 “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” This could be interpreted to apply to food, clothing, shelter and protection.
  4. When john the Baptist, in a previous dispensation had the opportunity to respond to a soldier’s question, he didn’t make a strong pacifism statement. Instead, he emphasized fairness: “Luke 3:14 Likewise the soldiers asked him, saying, ‘And what shall we do?’ So he said to them, ‘Do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages.’”
  5. I do think Christians should attempt to live by Rom 12:18: “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.” I’ve found this to be the best way.
  6. In Christ, the Prince of Peace,
  7. Bob Hill
• Question: Hebrews was written to the circumcised, but what is the point of the book?
  • You may have a resource available in response to this question, but I will ask anyway. I understand that Hebrews was written to the circumcised, but what is the point of the book? It is certainly different in content than the other "general" epistles. Furthermore, to what does Hebrews 8:13 refer when it says that the old covenant is becoming obsolete? Is this the physical "dying off" of the old covenant believers? Hebrews 9:15 seems to indicate that the new covenant is now in effect. Is this the proper interpretation? Is the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ the current and effectual part of the new covenant which will not reach fulness until the age of the Gentiles is over?
• Answer: (click here to see the answer)
  1. Jeremy,
  2. I believe Hebrews was written to the circumcision believers to educate and warn them about the passing of the Old Covenant and showing them aspects of the new covenant. It showed the passing of the priesthood which was replaced by the new High Priest. It also contained many warnings about falling away and the serious consequences if they did.
  3. Heb 8:13 indeed says that the old covenant is passing away: "In that He says, 'A new covenant,' He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming [present participle] obsolete and growing old [present participle] is ready to vanish away." However, the old covenant is still there, and they are still under it. James attests to that also in 2:8-14: "If you really fulfill the royal law [The King's law - God's.] according to the Scripture, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself,' you do well; 9 but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors. 10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. 11 For He who said, 'Do not commit adultery,' also said, 'Do not murder.' Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. 12 So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty. 13 For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment. 14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?"
  4. You asked, "Is this the physical 'dying off' of the old covenant believers?" I don't think s. I believe they were still under the old covenant with only aspects of the new covenant coming in. The new covenant in its fullness will not be in place until the eternal state. Otherwise, why will there be a great battle after the millennium?
  5. In Heb 9:15, "And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance", we see that Christ's blood is the basis of the new covenant, but it doesn't say that it is instituted. It is still future.
  6. The death, burial, and resurrection of Christ is the basis for God to have a new covenant. The blood of Christ even makes us able ministers of the new covenant. There is only one death of Christ, and that death will be the basis of the new covenant as well as our remission of sins.
  7. In the name of our crucified, buried and resurrected Christ,
  8. Bob Hill
• Question:...churches in Revelation are written to...the 1st century or in the tribulation?
  • I understand that the letters to the seven churches in Revelation are written to circumcised believers, but are they to the circumcised during the 1st century or in the tribulation? Many evangelical scholars date Revelation at 90 A.D. By this time many of the circumcised believers would have died.
• Answer: (click here to see the answer)
  1. Jeremy,
  2. You are asking excellent questions. I can see you must be studying God's word a lot. I believe the book of Revelation was written to circumcision believers of the 1st century for the future tribulation. I think revelation was written quite late. Probably as late as the many evangelical scholars date it. That seems to cause some problems for our position since the members of the churches must have been fairly old.
  3. E.W. Bullinger, in his Apocalypse, makes a strong case for all these churches being future churches of the tribulation. I used to agree with him, but now I believe they were circumcision churches in existence at the time he wrote the book. The churches did not have to be very large to be counted as a church, but they were expecting to go through the tribulation. John seemed to think that he would be their companion, not only in the kingdom, but also in the tribulation, as Rev 1:9 shows us: "I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ." According to BGD, "companion" is "sugkoinwno", participant, partner; of business partners; that I might jointly share in it; fellow-worker in the gospel; sharers of the same grace as myself; sharer with someone in someth. [I edited out only the sources and the Greek words].
  4. However, the tribulation did not happen at that time, so the book will have its fulfillment in the future. You're right. most of the believers would have died by now, but there were still some alive at the time they received the book addressed to them.
  5. Now, of course, the whole book is future. Even the churches mentioned, most likely mirror churches that will exist in that horrible time of Jacob's trouble.
  6. In Christ Who will return for us before that day,
  7. Bob Hill
• Question:...What does the Bible say about drunkenness? Should our church let a man who gets drunk...
  • Bob,
  • What does the Bible say about drunkenness? Should our church let a man who gets drunk every week come to church?
• Answer: (click here to see the answer)
  1. Luke,
  2. The Bible forbids drunkenness. God doesn’t want us to be controlled by anything but His Holy Spirit. That’s what Eph 5:18 says. “And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit.”
  3. Drunkenness is classified with other sins of the flesh in Rom 13:12-14: “The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.” Partying and drunkenness are listed as works of the flesh in Gal 5:19-21: “Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
  4. Drunkards are listed as a class of the unrighteous who will not inherit the kingdom of God in 1 Co 6:9-12: Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. 12 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.
  5. Drunkenness was punished with church discipline along with five other sins in 1 Co 5:11-13: “But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; not even to eat with such a person. 12 For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? 13 But those who are outside God judges. Therefore put away from yourselves the evil person.”
• Question: ...they are saved after water baptism and that water baptism is a requirement for their salvation?
  • Bob Hill,
  • My question is regarding the salvation method during the kingdom gospel. According to Acts 2:38 "Then Peter said to them, "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." The method of salvation was repent and be baptized for the remission of sins. This was the message of the kingdom gospel." Is this means they are saved after water baptism and that water baptism is a requirement for their salvation? Then, how about Mark 13:13 " And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But he who endures to the end shall be saved." Is this means that water baptism was not enough for eternal security and that they can lose their salvation if they do not endures to the end? I praise the Lord for your ministry.
• Answer: (click here to see the answer)
  1. Dear Marlyn,
  2. Thank you for your question and kind remarks.
  3. We are faced by two gospels in the NT. We find this spelled out in Gal 2:7-9, “But on the contrary, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision had been committed to me, as the gospel of the circumcision was to Peter 8 (for He who worked effectively in Peter for the apostleship to the circumcision also worked effectively in me toward the Gentiles), 9 and when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that had been given to me, they gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcision.”
  4. Under these two different gospels we have some similarities. In both of them it is God’s grace that presents salvation to unbelievers. It is Christ’s death on the cross which provides salvation to all who will believe. It is our faith in Christ as our Savior which saves us.
  5. However, there are major differences in the dispensations linked with the circumcision gospel in the way a man’s faith must be demonstrated. There are always conditions under circumcision. Salvation under the circumcision gospel was conditional in contrast to salvation under the uncircumcision gospel that was given to Paul.
  6. As you pointed out, under the circumcision gospel they had to believe and be water baptized to be saved. “Mk 16:15-18 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” Acts 2:38 “Then Peter said to them, “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.” 1 Pet 3:21 There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” In contrast, Paul wrote back to the Corinthians in 1 Co 1:17, “For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.” Instead, the Holy did the baptism into the body of Christ and identified the believer with Christ’s death, burial and resurrection: 1 Co 12:13 “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body – whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free – and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.” Baptism was part of the gospel for salvation under circumcision, but it was not required at all under the grace message under uncircumcision. In fact in his last epistles, Paul says there is only one baptism, spirit baptism: Eph 4:4,5 “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism [Spiritual].”
  7. Works of righteousness, yes law works, were necessary for them to be saved under the circumcision gospel. That’s what Peter preached when he went to Cornelius’s house: Acts 10:34,35 “Then Peter opened his mouth and said: ‘In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. 35 But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.’” We see that works of righteousness were required by faith under the circumcision gospel. Under Paul’s gospel, the emphasis is that no works are required to be saved: Rom 4:4,5 “Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. 5 But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness.”
  8. Under the circumcision gospel, whatever prayers were answered: Mat 21:22 “And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” Mk 11:24 “Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.” John 14:13 “And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.” John 16:23 “Whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you.” 1 Jo 3:22 “And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.” 1 Jo 5:15 “And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.” In contrast, in the dispensation of grace, God doesn’t deal with us in such a miraculous way and answer whatever we pray: 2 Co 12:8-10 “Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” Instead, He promises peace. Phi 4:6,7 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
  9. Because the kingdom was being presented at first, and then offered after Christ died, was resurrected and ascended, there were sign gifts validating the kingdom in fulfillment of the prophecy in Isa 35. The Apostles were validated in this endeavor by signs and miracles. Their commission was linked with signs even in their epistles, with no hint that they would pass away. Many passages of Scripture show this: Mat 10:8 “Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.” Mk 16:17,18 “And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” Jam 5:14,15 “Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.” 3 John 2 “Beloved, I pray [or wish] that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” At first, Paul’s ministry was validated by the same gifts, but they began fading away, and they were gone by the time he was in the Roman jail. They diminish until they are gone in his last epistles: 2 Co 12:7-10 “And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me [not given by God (Jam 1:16,17), but allowed as with Job], a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. 8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 1 Ti 5:23 “No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your frequent infirmities.” 2 Ti 4:20 “Trophimus I have left in Miletus sick.”
  10. Under circumcision they had to hang in there to be saved: Mat 6:15 “But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Mat 24:13,14 “But he who endures to the end shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.” speaking to the Eleven Apostles, Christ admonished them in John 15:6, “If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.” Salvation was on the line if they didn’t hang in there. They had to make their election sure. They didn’t have eternal security. According to 2 Pe 1:10, they had to do things to make their election sure. “Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble.” They would know that they were still in the process of salvation if they kept His commandments. 1 John 2:3 “Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.” But members of the body of Christ were sure of their salvation because God seals us:
  11. Again, in contrast, we became dead to sin by our baptism into Christ’s death: Eph 1:4,5,11-14 “He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will 11 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, 12 that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. 13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.” Not only were we sealed, but this seal is so secure, it keeps us till the day that we’ll get our new bodies: Eph 4:30 “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”
  12. One more contrast! Under the circumcision gospel and epistles, they could sin a sin unto death. If they did that, they would be lost, and worse than that, they could not be renewed unto salvation again. A number of passages show us that. The first one, they were not to even pray for such a one. 1 Jo 5:16 “If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that.” Hebrews 6 shows the same problem. If they believe etc., and fall away, they can’t be renewed to salvation. Heb 6:4-8, “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 and have fallen away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame. 7 For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God; 8 but if it bears thorns and briars, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned.”
  13. Finally, the most freeing thing of all is this: we are dead to all our since, past, present and future. We died in Christ’s death. Rom 6:3,11 “Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 11 Likewise you also, recognize yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Because of Romans 6:11, what should we do? I think we can make a strong case from God’s word to first concentrate on loving God. Then, get concerned and learn how to present God’s message of grace. Then, lovingly share God’s wonderful gospel of Grace. Then spend time teaching the message of grace to those who are faithful. But above all, allow the Holy Spirit to fill you with love.
  14. I hope this answers your question.
  15. Love in Christ our Savior, Lord and Sealer,
  16. Bob Hill
• Question:...how can that determine the way we approach him, in prayer, worship and ministry?
  • What are the characteristics of god and how can that determine the way we approach him, in prayer, worship and ministry?
  • Is money the root of all evil or is the condition of our heart what matters?
• Answer: (click here to see the answer)
  1. Dave,
  2. God is passionate, loving, caring and merciful. He is the one who saved us from our sins. He is holy. We can approach Him because Jesus Christ made the way for us. We are already seated in the heavenlies: Eph 2:6 "and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus". We are, actually, His temple according to Eph 2:19: "Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens of the holies [in the Greek] and members of the household of God. Since we are that close to Him, we should approach Him in awe, realizing His holiness, and realizing that He wants us to love Him and everyone more than anything else. Then, ministry should flow out of the love you have for Him.
  3. The Bible says the LOVE of money is the root of all kinds of evil:1 Ti 6:10 "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." So from this, we can see it is a condition of the heart. But that is true of everything we do. If it is not from a pure heart before God, it is worthless.
  4. Love,
  5. Grandpa
• Question: how can we then be ministers of the new covenant...or how can we then be ministers
  • As believers in the dispensation of grace, if we are not part of the old covenant or the new one to come at the end of this age, how can we then be ministers of the new covenant (2 Cor 3:6) or how can we partake in the new covenant (1 Cor 11:25)?
• Answer: (click here to see the answer)
  1. Dear Jeremy,
  2. That is an excellent question. 2 Co 3:4-6 says: “And we have such trust through Christ toward God. 5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, 6 who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” The Greek underlying this translation says who also made us sufficient ministers of a new covenant [no article kainh" diaqhkh"] but that doesn’t solve the problem you presented. Paul is still a minister of the new covenant. So what is the answer to your question? Do we take part in the new covenant in any way?
  3. I believe the solution is found in the other passage you listed: 1 Co 11:23-27 “For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes. 27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.” Here, we see that the body and blood of the new covenant is the body and blood of the Savior, Jesus Christ. He only died once. He died for all. 2 Co 5:14-19 “For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; 15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. 16 Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.” Since there is only one sacrifice for sins according to Heb 10:12-20, “But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, 13 from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. 14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. 15 But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before, 16 ‘This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,’ 17 then He adds, ‘Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.’ 18 Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin. 19 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh.” Repeating my statement, since there is only one sacrifice for sins, we have to be able ministers of that aspect of the new covenant even though we have no part in the other covenant promises. For instance, the promises of complete knowledge so we would all be taught of God as it is reported in 1 John 2:20&27, “But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things. 27 But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him”, will apply to Israel when the new covenant is actually instituted in the eternal kingdom.
  4. Therefore, I believe we are ministers of the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, but we members of the body of Christ are not ministers of the covenant God made with Israel in the many places in the OT, Jer 31:31-37 “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah— 32 not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them, says the Lord. 33 But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 34 No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.” 35 Thus says the Lord, Who gives the sun for a light by day, the ordinances of the moon and the stars for a light by night, Who disturbs the sea, and its waves roar (The Lord of hosts is His name): 36 “If those ordinances depart from before Me, says the Lord, then the seed of Israel shall also cease from being a nation before Me forever.” 37 Thus says the Lord: “If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel For all that they have done, says the Lord.”
  5. I hope this answers your question.
  6. In Christ, Who died for us,
  7. Bob Hill
• Question: time and geography gaps in the bible?
  • Pastor Bob,
  • Here are a few questions from a close friend of mine. I have no clue even where to begin to answer these, so I would appreciate any help you could offer me! Thanks so much for putting up with me! :o)
  • "What about the time and geography gaps in the bible?" No mention of Asia or the Americas, and no mention of the dinosaurs.
  • Two in one- "Who was Cain scarred of when God banished him?" If there was ONLY Adam and Eve himself and Able(except Able was killed off) who was Cain going to be scarred of?
  • Why does the Old Testament preach Eye for an Eye theology and then Jesus preaches turn the other cheek?
• Answer: (click here to see the answer)
  1. Dear Holly,
  2. The Bible was written about the creation of the universe with an emphasis on the world and man. The emphasis was narrowed even further when man sinned and God began to reveal His plan of redemption for man. Because God was revealing His plan of redemption for man, He dealt only with man where he existed before the flood.
  3. After the flood, God dealt with the nations as they spread out from the area where the ark landed. God gives a comprehensive description of the nations in Genesis 10. This table of nations gives the descendants of Noah's three sons. The table seems to represent the tribes of the earth as far as we can ascertain. Noah's sons have seventy descendants listed. 26 from Shem, 30 from Ham, and 14 from Japheth. These tribes were arranged according to geographical patterns, with a summary in 10:32 "These were the families of the sons of Noah, according to their generations, in their nations; and from these the nations were divided on the earth after the flood." Next He mentioned the problem of Babel's idolatry and the confusion of their languages.
  4. From that point on, God zeroed in on the line of Messiah and Israel, the nation that would become His chosen people. He had a land for them, Palestine, where the Kingdom of Israel was established after the Exodus and the establishment of the monarchy under Saul, David and Solomon.
  5. Finally, after the judgment of Israel and Judah, the exile, and the restoration, Jesus the Messiah was born according to prophecy. There was no reason to even mention the nations which did not impact the environs of Israel. That's why there was no mention of England, Greenland, the Americas and the far east.
  6. Dinosaurs. Dinosaurs are mentioned in the Bible in Job 40 & 41.
  7. 40 15 "Look now at the behemoth, which I made along with you; He eats grass like an ox. 16 See now, his strength is in his hips, And his power is in his stomach muscles. 17 He moves his tail like a cedar; The sinews of his thighs are tightly knit. 18 His bones are like beams of bronze, His ribs like bars of iron. 19 He is the first of the ways of God; Only He who made him can bring near His sword. 20 Surely the mountains yield food for him, And all the beasts of the field play there. 21 He lies under the lotus trees, In a covert of reeds and marsh. 22 The lotus trees cover him with their shade; The willows by the brook surround him. 23 Indeed the river may rage, Yet he is not disturbed; He is confident, though the Jordan gushes into his mouth, 24 Though he takes it in his eyes, Or one pierces his nose with a snare.
  8. 41 1 "Can you draw out Leviathan with a hook, Or snare his tongue with a line which you lower? 2 Can you put a reed through his nose, Or pierce his jaw with a hook? 3 Will he make many supplications to you? Will he speak softly to you? 4 Will he make a covenant with you? Will you take him as a servant forever? 5 Will you play with him as with a bird, Or will you leash him for your maidens? 6 Will your companions make a banquet of him? Will they apportion him among the merchants? 7 Can you fill his skin with harpoons, Or his head with fishing spears? 8 Lay your hand on him; Remember the battle-Never do it again! 9 Indeed, any hope of overcoming him is false; Shall one not be overwhelmed at the sight of him? 10 No one is so fierce that he would dare stir him up. Who then is able to stand against Me? 11 Who has preceded Me, that I should pay him? Everything under heaven is Mine. 12 "I will not conceal his limbs, His mighty power, or his graceful proportions. 13 Who can remove his outer coat? Who can approach him with a double bridle? 14 Who can open the doors of his face, With his terrible teeth all around? 15 His rows of scales are his pride, Shut up tightly as with a seal; 16 One is so near another That no air can come between them; 17 They are joined one to another, They stick together and cannot be parted. 18 His sneezings flash forth light, And his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning. 19 Out of his mouth go burning lights; Sparks of fire shoot out. 20 Smoke goes out of his nostrils, As from a boiling pot and burning rushes. 21 His breath kindles coals, And a flame goes out of his mouth. 22 Strength dwells in his neck, And sorrow dances before him. 23 The folds of his flesh are joined together; They are firm on him and cannot be moved. 24 His heart is as hard as stone, Even as hard as the lower millstone. 25 When he raises himself up, the mighty are afraid; Because of his crashings they are beside themselves. 26 Though the sword reaches him, it cannot avail; Nor does spear, dart, or javelin. 27 He regards iron as straw, And bronze as rotten wood. 28 The arrow cannot make him flee; Slingstones become like stubble to him. 29 Darts are regarded as straw; He laughs at the threat of javelins. 30 His undersides are like sharp potsherds; He spreads pointed marks in the mire. 31 He makes the deep boil like a pot; He makes the sea like a pot of ointment. 32 He leaves a shining wake behind him; One would think the deep had white hair. 33 On earth there is nothing like him, Which is made without fear. 34 He beholds every high thing; He is king over all the children of pride."
  9. Two in one- "Who was Cain scarred of when God banished him?" If there was ONLY Adam and Eve himself and Able(except Able was killed off) who was Cain going to be scarred of?
  10. Cain was scared of his brothers and sisters and nieces and nephews and their offspring. He also married one of his sisters or nieces. I say this because Adam and Eve had many children after Cain and Abel. Genesis 5 tells us. 1 This is the book of the genealogy of Adam. In the day that God created man, He made him in the likeness of God. 2 He created them male and female, and blessed them and called them Man in the day they were created. 3 And Adam lived one hundred and thirty years, and begot a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth. 4 After he begot Seth, the days of Adam were eight hundred years; and he had sons and daughters. 5 So all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years; and he died.
  11. Finally, I want to answer your question, "Why does the Old Testament preach Eye for an Eye theology and then Jesus preaches turn the other cheek?" Here, we are dealing with a dispensational change. God is now dealing with Israel under the dispensation of the kingdom proclaimed. They were still under the law, but the long awaited kingdom that God promised back in 2 Sam 7, is being proclaimed to Israel.
  12. The aspect of the law Christ was dealing with was called the lex talionis, the law of retaliation. It was given to protect those who were rather harmless. But the retaliation meted out should not go beyond the offense. Christ was showing the righteous a better way. They would have humility and an unselfish attitude. The Lord Jesus Christ modeled this Himself.
  13. I hope this answers your questions.
  14. Love in Christ,
  15. Bob Hill
• Question: Using Romans 13, what should we do if the government banned Christian activity???
  • Using Romans 13, what should we do if the government banned Christian activity??? Would we be right in standing against the government God has ordained?
  • Corey,
• Answer: (click here to see the answer)
  1. That's a good question. The Jewish midwives did not obey the laws of Egypt, and God blessed them. This is stated in Ex 1:15-21:
  2. Then the king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives, of whom the name of one was Shiphrah and the name of the other Puah; 16 and he said, "When you do the duties of a midwife for the Hebrew women, and see them on the birthstools, if it is a son, then you shall kill him; but if it is a daughter, then she shall live." 17 But the midwives feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the male children alive. 18 So the king of Egypt called for the midwives and said to them, "Why have you done this thing, and saved the male children alive?" 19 And the midwives said to Pharaoh, "Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women; for they are lively and give birth before the midwives come to them." 20 Therefore God dealt well with the midwives, and the people multiplied and grew very mighty. 21And so it was, because the midwives feared God, that He provided households for them.
  3. Further, we see how the Circumcision Apostles acted in Acts 5:25-32:
  4. So one came and told them, saying, "Look, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!" 26 Then the captain went with the officers and brought them without violence, for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned. 27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, 28 saying, "Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man's blood on us!" 29 But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: "We ought to obey God rather than men. 30 "The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. 31 "Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 "And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him."
  5. Therefore, I believe the 13 chapter of Romans is a general principle, but when the government goes wrong, we should obey God rather than man.
  6. In Christ,
  7. Bob
• Question: ...fact in Theology class today that practicing gays and lesbians are not welcome in our church...
  • Bob,
  • Hi, quick question. When I brought up the fact in Theology class today that practicing gays and lesbians are not welcome in our church (we were discussing Platonism and Gnosticism), but those who are willing to repent and want forgiveness are, the teacher and most of the class jumped on my case and asked if they sin with homosexuality, what is to say other Christians are better with all of OUR sins? And they said we should look at the plank in our eyes before we see the speck in theirs.
  • After blushing profusely, I simply stayed silent for lack of an answer. How would you respond to this? I know in the Scriptures it explains that homosexuality is not welcome in the church, but others obviously DO commit sin. So why are all not welcome is the question I am asking, I guess.
  • If you could help in this matter, I would be much obliged. I need some good Biblical answers on this, especially one from my respected pastor.
  • Thanks!
  • In Him,
  • Holly Koch
• Answer: (click here to see the answer)
  1. Dear Holly,
  2. Thank you for the question. It is unfortunate how Christians are not willing to follow God's word. To begin, in Pro 6:16-18 it says, " These six things the Lord hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: 17 A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, 18 A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, 19 A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren." God wants the church to disfellowship those in verse 19 as well as a practicing homo, or fornicator. This kind of behavior is an abomination to God. Leviticus 18:22,23 says: "You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination. 23 Nor shall you mate with any animal, to defile yourself with it. Nor shall any woman stand before an animal to mate with it. It is perversion."
  3. In 1 Co 5:1-5, it tells us how to deal with sexually immoral people, not just homos or heterosexuals but all sexual immorality. It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles-that a man has his father's wife! 2 And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you. 3 For I indeed, as absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged (as though I were present) him who has so done this deed. 4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5 deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus."
  4. Holly, maybe God is too harsh for the Christians in your class. God wants us to deliver them to Satan. But, maybe Christians are more loving than God. [Sarcasm] God makes it very clear. Here is the rest of that chapter: 6 "Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? 7 Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. 8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. 9 I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. 10 Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 11 But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner-not even to eat with such a person. 12 For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? 13 But those who are outside God judges. Therefore put away from yourselves the evil person."
  5. Now, when the desired response occurred, God told them through Paul, to restore him:
  6. 2 Co 2:5-11 "But if anyone has caused grief, he has not grieved me, but all of you to some extent-not to be too severe. 6 This punishment which was inflicted by the majority is sufficient for such a man, 7 so that, on the contrary, you ought rather to forgive and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow. 8 Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him. 9 For to this end I also wrote, that I might put you to the test, whether you are obedient in all things. 10 Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ, 11 lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices."
  7. But here is probably the question underlying the problem you have experienced from your intolerant [I say intolerant because they don't tolerate you because you want to follow what God says in His word.] teacher and classmates. Must we forgive everyone, even those who are unrepentant? What does God say? God tells us in Eph 4:32, "And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you. What does God require for forgiveness?
  8. In the Old Testament, He lays it out this way: 2 Ch 7:13,14 When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, 14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. Psa 86:5 For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You. Psa 32:5 I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, I will confess my transgressions to the Lord, and You forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah
  9. Then, in the New Testament He also tells us: Acts 8:22 "Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. Acts 17:29-31 Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man's devising. 30 Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, 31 because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead. Acts 26:20 but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance. 1 Jo 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." From this, you can see, God demands repentance.
  10. In second Thessalonians, we see how God deals with those who persecute believers: 2 Th 1:3-10 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other, 4 so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure, 5 which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer; 6 since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you." God is just. He will take vengeance on those persecuting the Thessalonians.
  11. So, what are God's principles for us Christians to forgive? Forgive if he's repentant. Lk 17:3,4 If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. 4 And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, I repent, you shall forgive him. Mat 6:12-15 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13 And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. 14 For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
  12. What if he's not repentant? Mat 18:15-17 Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. 17 And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.
  13. How should we react inwardly when he won't listen? We must be careful. It's too easy for us to become angry and nurse it until we grow bitter. God told us to never be angry: Eph 4:31 "Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice." Bitterness causes misunderstanding and trouble. Heb 12:15 "looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled."
  14. God tells us to deal with him in this way: Tit 3:10,11 Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, 11 knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned. But, even when we do this, we must put on love. Col 3:12-16 "Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord."
  15. I hope this helps.
  16. Love,
  17. Bob
• Question: ...please explain what you mean by meditating and give some examples...
  • You are always saying that you should meditate on the Bible every day. I read the bible every day and try to pray every day but I think there is more to meditating than just reading and praying. Could you please explain what you mean by meditating and give some examples so I can better understand how to meditate.
  • Thanks for your time and good luck with your program
• Answer: (click here to see the answer)
  1. Bob,
  2. How can you meditate? Paul wrote some of the answers in Phi 3:7-19. The most important thing you must do, in my experience is to make it your first priority, and get to know about God.
  3. Learn about who God is as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
  4. Phi 3:7-9 "But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things (and count them as rubbish) that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faithfulness in of Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith upon belief."
  5. Then, get to know Him. This is very hard, but Hebrews 11:6 tells us:
  6. "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him."
  7. So, when we dwell on Phi 3:10 and what it means to us:
  8. "that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death."
  9. Then we see what we have - We are conformed to His death at the moment we believe. This makes it possible for us to know Him, the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings.
  10. Next, you must continue pressing on and making it your goal to love Him all the time.
  11. Phi 3:11-15 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. 12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Therefore let us, as many as are would be mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you.
  12. Then, by faith, claim what He tells you. For instance, Eph 3:17 tells you "that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith." You can love Him. When that happens, God produces more love in your heart for Him and for others.
  13. The reason we can be sure of this, is Eph 3:14-19:
  14. For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height - 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
  15. Practice telling Him you love Him, all day, everyday. You may go for hours at first, but keep concentrating on loving Him. You'll start loving God and others because He will make you a lover. Then these passages of Scripture will become important to you.
  16. Psa 139:23,24 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; 24 And see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
  17. Eph 3:19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
  18. Pray for love each day. Every morning when you begin your day with the Lord, ask the Lord for a loving heart. Paul prayed: Phi 1:9 "And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment." Tell Him throughout the day that you love Him, and ask Him to fill your heart with love.
  19. I thank God for this passage in 2 Co 4:16,17:
  20. "Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory."
  21. By faith, let His love transform you. 2 Co 3:16-18:
  22. Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
  23. I don't want to ask you to try to love more. I want to ask you to respond to your discouragements and failures and let them drive you to the only One who can completely fill you with love and comfort you. When that happens, love will flow from your inner man like a spring of water more than it ever did before. Love will be generated in your life by the Holy Spirit:
  24. Rom 5:5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
  25. But, if you're like me, and you're being convicted by your Father, you may still be thinking, I still don't know how to love God - maybe I can't love God. If so, I've been there before you. The way I am learning to love God is to operate by faith. We can acquire His love by faith. Believe that God can love through you. That's why God inspired Paul to write Phi 4:13, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
  26. As we are strengthened by meditating on His word, our faith will increase to the point that we see we can love God. Then, I carefully think about myself. Will I become more self centered or God centered as I continue getting older? Will I let things become more important than people? Or will I let God make me more like Christ in every area of my life? That's the key. Keep opening areas of your life to God. Let Him change you as you learn more and more to love Him, to turn to Him first, to glory in Him.
  27. In His love,
  28. Bob Hill
• Question: Do you think that the feeling of anger is wrong or how we release that anger that can ...
  • Do you think that the feeling of anger is wrong or how we release that anger that can be wrong?
  • Dave
• Answer: (click here to see the answer)
  1. Dave,
  2. I believe the feeling of anger is wrong unless it is righteous indignation. In James 1:19-21, it says, "So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; 20for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. 21Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls."
  3. When we first have the thought, before it causes anger in our mind, I don't think it is sin, but as soon as we take that thought and allow it to cause us to get angry, we have sinned. I think Eph 4:25-27 speaks to the issue. Therefore, putting away lying, "Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor," for we are members of one another. 26 "Be angry [I believe this is a concessive imperative-since they're going to get angry-ok, be angry, but do not sin. If they get righteously angry-watch out, don't let the sun go done before you get rid of it.], and do not sin": do not let the sun go down on your wrath, 27 nor give place to the devil.
  4. Love,
  5. Grandpa
• Question: Why is the Bible somewhat confusing? Why didn't God make all doctrinal issues...
  • Bob,
  • Why is the Bible somewhat confusing? Why didn't God make all doctrinal issues extremely straight-forward so there would be little or no disunity between denominations? Iam a Christian, and this question has always bothered me. I know of lost people who refrain from Christ because of this very problem. Thanks.
• Answer: (click here to see the answer)
  1. Steve,
  2. The Bible really isn't confusing. We have had the Bible distorted by everything from pagan philosophy-Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Plotinus, Augustine (was influenced by the preceding ones.), Calvin, and modern philosophical theologians. It also has been distorted by people who wanted to prove a point-they took stuff out of context, sometimes twisted it, and other times said the Bible said things it didn't say. Further, there is a lot of information in the Bible to learn. Most important, we should learn who He is and what He wants us to do. He wants us to love Him with all our heart. He wants us to live for Him as He empowers us.
  3. Finally, people use this as an excuse to not trust in Jesus as their Savior. Keep presenting the word of God to them, because it is sharper than a 2 edged sword.
  4. In the love of The Word Who became flesh and dwelled among us,
  5. Bob hill
• Question: ...when witnessing... should I have them say a prayer to vocalize what they believe?
  • When witnessing to an unsaved person, should I have them say a prayer to vocalize what they believe? Or is proclaiming to them the good news enough and in their minds if they believe, they are saved. I know that having the person say the "sinners prayer" is popular for Christians to use when witnessing to unbelievers.
  • I would not even be asking this question if I had not read in Joel Fink's book "Lordship Salvation and the Gospel of The Grace of God" where he wrote that the offer to an unbeliever to "Pray and ask Jesus to come into your heart and you will be saved" is not a biblical concept.
  • I kind of confused on this issue. I will be meeting again with this couple and I have already preached the gospel of the grace of God to them. I could use some advice.
• Answer: (click here to see the answer)
  1. Louis,
  2. I agree with Joel Fink that the offer to an unbeliever, to pray and ask Jesus to come into his heart and be saved, is not a biblical concept. But that doesn't mean it is flat out wrong. I think it is confusing. The unbeliever may think that praying a certain prayer is what saves him, but we know the person must believe on the Lord, Jesus Christ, that He is his savior in order for him to be saved.
  3. I would use the Romans Road portions of Scripture to point them to Christ, but they must believe. I would use Rom 3:23; 6:23; 5:8,9, and end up with 10:9,10.
  4. In Christ our Lord and Savior,
  5. Bob
• Question: ...about demonic possession... Bible tell us about how to confront and overcome evil?
  • Aloha Bob,
  • Why is it we hardly ever hear about demonic possession, casting out (down) demons, hell, and spiritual warfare in churches today ? what does the Bible tell us about how to confront and overcome evil ?
  • In Jesus Holy Name, Amen
  • Patrick B.
  • Wahiawa, Hawaii
• Answer: (click here to see the answer)
  1. Dear Patrick,
  2. We do hear about demons being cast out in lots of churches these days, and there is a great emphasis on spiritual warfare, but you hear it most in charismatic churches. Does that mean that I don't believe there is demon possession today? No! But I do not believe a Christian can be demon possessed. Satan and his demons can war against us, fighting with the Holy Spirit for the control of our mind, but that warfare is based on whether we are willing to set our minds on things above or the things here below. We are supposed to pull down everything that is exalted against the Lord. 2 Co 10:4-6 "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled."
  3. The sign gift of casting out demons along with the other sign gifts have passed away with the setting aside of Israel. You may be interested in my booklet, Tongues, The Sign Gifts and The Revelatory Gifts.
  4. If you have any further questions on this, just email me.
  5. In Christ,
  6. Bob
• Question:..."But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son..."
  • In Mark 14:32 Jesus say's "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father".
  • I heard R. C. Sproul say he thinks when it says "the Son" it just means Jesus the Man did not know the "hour", but the Son of God obviously does know. Would you agree with this, or are there somethings the Son does not know?
• Answer: (click here to see the answer)
  1. Dear Allen,
  2. Because of his strong Calvinist position, I understand why R. C. Sproul thinks "it just means Jesus the Man did not know the 'hour', but the Son of God obviously does know." We all tend to be driven by our theology.
  3. I believe we must bend over backwards in these situations and be very conscious of our bias. R.C. is a very intelligent man. I believe he is very sincere, but I disagree with him. Here's why.
  4. Every time when the Father and the Son are linked, I believe the Son is referred to as deity, not as the man. Here are all the verses from the NKJV that list both Father and Son. You can read them for yourself.
  5. Mat 11:27 "All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.
  6. Mat 16:27 "For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
  7. Mat 28:19 "For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels."
  8. Mk 8:38 "For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.
  9. "Mk 13:32 "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
  10. Luke 1:32 "He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His Father David.
  11. Luke 9:26 "For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father's, and of the holy angels.
  12. Luke 10:22 "All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him."
  13. John 1:18 No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.
  14. John 3:35 "The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand.
  15. John 5:19-23,26 Then Jesus answered and said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. 20 "For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel. 21 "For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will. 22 "For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, 23 "that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. 26 "For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself,
  16. John 6:27 "Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him."
  17. John 8:28 Then Jesus said to them, "When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things.
  18. John 10:36 "do you say of Him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, 'You are blaspheming,' because I said, 'I am the Son of God'?
  19. John 14:13 "And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
  20. John 17:1 Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: "Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You,
  21. Gal 4:6 And because you are Sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!"
  22. Heb 1:5 For to which of the angels did He ever say: "You are My Son, today I have begotten You"? And again: "I will be to Him a Father, and He shall be to Me a Son"?
  23. 2 Pe 1:17 For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
  24. 1 Jo 1:3 that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.
  25. 1 Jo 2:22-24 Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son. 23 Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also. 24 Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father.
  26. 1 Jo 4:14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world.
  27. 2 Jo 3,9 Grace, mercy, and peace will be with you from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love. 9 Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son.
  28. I am not a Kenotic theologian, but I do believe that God the Son emptied Himself of all the attributes of deity except the absolute ability to take them up again. He said repeatedly that He could do nothing of Himself when He was on this earth. I believe God suffered by being the Son who dwelled among us. In fact, I praise Him for bearing our burdens just as we did, only without sin.
  29. In the Son,
  30. Bob Hill
• Question: - What does it mean in... "delivered to Satan?"
  • I have a question for you Mr. Hill.
  • What does it mean in 1 Corinthians 5:5 and 1 Timothy 1:20 mean when Paul says he, “delivered them to satan”? And how would one go about doing that for the benefit of the believer?
  • Michael
• Answer: (click here to see the answer)
  1. 1 Co 5:1-13 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles—that a man has his father’s wife! 2 And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you. 3 For I indeed, as absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged (as though I were present) him who has so done this deed. 4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5 deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. 6 Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? 7 Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. 8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. 9 I wrote to you in the epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. 10 Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 11 But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person. 12 For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? 13 But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.”
  2. 1 Ti 1:18-20 This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, 19 having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck, 20 of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.
  3. I believe Paul’s decree for these two blasphemers was to deliver them to satan, a phrase, I think, refers to what we could call excommunication today. They would then be totally in the realm of satan with no fellowship with other believers. This would be like 2 Co 4:2-4 “But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.” This discipline was for the ultimate purpose of salvation, if they were, indeed, unbelievers, or restoration if they were believers. I think 2 Co 2:5-11 shows this: 2 Co 2:5-11 But if anyone has caused grief, he has not grieved me, but all of you to some extent—not to be too severe. 6 This punishment which was inflicted by the majority is sufficient for such a man, 7 so that, on the contrary, you ought rather to forgive and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow. 8 Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him. 9 For to this end I also wrote, that I might put you to the test, whether you are obedient in all things. 10 Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ, 11 lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.
  4. A less severe discipline was laid out by Paul in 2 Th 3:6-14: But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us. 7 For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you; 8 nor did we eat anyone’s bread free of charge, but worked with labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, 9 not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us. 10 For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. 11 For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. 12 Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread. 13 But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good. 14 And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed. 15 Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
  5. I hope this answers your question, Michael.
• Question: My question is, what is this deal with North and South Galatia?
  • I have a question.
  • I have a Charles Ryrie Study Bible and the comments on 2:1-10 say "Paul's account of the events recorded in Acts 11 (if the letter was written to the churches od South Galatia) or, less likely, Acts 15 (if written to North Galatia).
  • My question is, what is this deal with North and South Galatia? Why does the entended destination of the letter matter to whether Paul is referring to Acts 11 or Acts 15? What is the difference?
• Answer: (click here to see the answer)
  1. Dear Brian & Dawn,
  2. To begin, I believe Paul wrote Galatians at Corinth during the time covered by Acts 18:1-4. The historical background of this epistle is easy to discover once we determine whether the churches of Galatia which are addressed are Iconium, Lystra, Derbe, and Pisidian Antioch, the churches of the southern part of the Roman province of Galatia, or a group of churches in the north which would have been founded on a much later journey. This is significant for understanding the character of the church and the circumstances of the epistle to the Galatians.
  3. Although some able scholars, like Ryrie, believe it could have been written before, because of William Ramsey’s books on the archeology of what is modern day Turkey, I believe the epistle was written after the Jerusalem council of Acts 15. Further, if it had been written after Paul’s 3rd journey, it most likely would not be referring to the journey to Jerusalem found in the 11th chapter of Acts.
  4. There are a number of reasons I believe the council in Galatians 2 is referring to the event that took place in Acts 15. First, Judaizers had gone to Galatia and subverted these churches. Paul was amazed that his converts had turned so quickly from his gospel to a different (heteros) one which was not in the same (allos) rank as his (Gal. 1:6,7). He had preached a gospel which was not connected to circumcision and the Mosaic law (Acts 13:38,39; Gal. 5:2-4).
  5. According to Acts 16:4, Paul and Silas delivered the council’s decrees not only to the churches in Syria and Cilicia but also to the Galatian churches. That they also warned them at this time about the potential troublemakers, may be inferred from Paul’s statement in Galatians one. “As we [Paul and Silas] have said before, even now I say again, if anyone preaches a gospel to you [different] from what you received, let him be accursed.” So, the historical setting shows there is conflict between the Judaizers with their circumcision and law gospel and Paul and his gospel which he was commissioned to preach to the Gentiles, kings and Israel.
  6. The most able proponent for one position, C.H. Welch, holds to an early date for Galatians and believes it was written before the council of Acts 15. He wrote, “It is strange that Paul makes no reference to the ‘Decrees’ in Galatians, and this silence is taken as an indication that the epistle was written before Acts fifteen.”
  7. However, I believe Paul does not mention the decrees for a number of reasons.
  8. 1. He was establishing his complete independence from the apostles in Jerusalem. Instead of receiving anything from them, he added to their understanding and enlightened them with the new gospel which Paul preached among the Gentiles.
  9. 2. Paul had already delivered the decrees earlier. Acts 16:4 “And as they went through the cities, they delivered to them the decrees to keep, which were determined by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem. delivered them the decrees for to keep.” They had departed from them. Why should he appeal to the decrees again? Would they listen now when they didn’t before? He doesn’t appeal to the decrees in any subsequent epistle, even though he dealt with the same subject repeatedly.
  10. 3. Galatians 1:9, “As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed,” appears to be referring to the second missionary journey when he and Silas delivered the decrees and warned them about receiving a different gospel. Notice the change from we to I.
  11. Welch stated further, “The Judaizers could hardly ‘compel’ circumcision (6:12) after the decision at Jerusalem (Acts 15). But many strange things were done after Acts 15. Paul was constrained to pay charges for four men and purify himself according to the Jewish law. This was done to change the opinion of those that were “informed about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children nor to walk according to the customs” (Acts 21:21). He was rightly accused of teaching these things when we consider Romans 3:19-31 and Galatians 5:2-6. Therefore, if Paul could be compelled to do what he did in Acts 21, surely weaker brethren could be constrained to be circumcised even after they heard the decrees.
  12. From Acts 15:40-16:5, we see that these decrees were delivered on the second missionary journey, and “the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily.” This is why Paul was so amazed that they had departed from the gospel so soon.
  13. Paul used the word, proteron, in Galatians 4:13, “You know that because of physical infirmity I preached the gospel to you at the first.” This word is translated “before, previously, formerly, and former 7 of the 10 times it is used in the NKJV. In Hebrews 4:6 it is “those to whom it was first [could be formerly] preached did not enter because of disobedience.” In Hebrews 7:27 it is translated, “as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s.” Galatians 4:13 should be translated either “I preached the gospel to you the first [time], to proteron, or, “I preached the gospel to you formerly” [on the first missionary journey].
  14. I believe Paul wrote Galatians in Acts 18:1-4 when he was alone – none of his close friends were with him. In Acts 18:5, Silas and Timothy joined him in Corinth with good news from Macedonia. It was shortly after they returned to Corinth that he wrote 1&2 Thessalonians. Therefore, the first three epistles chronologically were Galatians, 1 Thessalonians, and 2 Thessalonians.
  15. What difference does it make? Really not any extremely significant difference, but it does help us see that Galatians was written very early rather than just before the book of Romans as Lightfoot believed. Lightfoot believed that because that part of Turkey was not considered to be part of the Roman province of Galatia when he wrote his commentary on Galatians in 1865. William Ramsey, who was the archeologist who discovered that the Roman province of Galatia extended far enough south to include the cities of Iconium, Lystra, Derbe, and Pisidian Antioch, wrote his observations in the Expositor from June 1898-September 1899, and his book in 1899, thirty-four years after Lightfoot wrote his commentary.
• Question: ...think all Biblical prophesy has been fulfilled, or will be fulfilled before the end of the age?
  • Do you think all Biblical prophesy has been fulfilled, or will be fulfilled before the end of the age?
• Answer: (click here to see the answer)
  1. Much biblical prophesy will never be fulfilled. When we look at Jonah’s prophecy and the prophecy about Hezekiah’s death, we see that God changed His mind, or repented. As we saw last week, God repented in 26 different portions of Scripture. Some prophecies that seemed to be unconditional were later found to be contingent upon someone’s actions, and God promised that “if that nation against whom I have spoken turns from its evil, I will repent of the disaster that I thought to bring upon it” (Jer 18:8).
  2. The best example of unfulfilled prophecy is found in Ezekiel 26 & 29. When we look at Ezeliel 26:1,2,7-14 we see that God says Nebuchadnezzar will destroy Tyre: “1 And it came to pass in the eleventh year, on the first day of the month, that the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2 Son of man, because Tyre has said against Jerusalem . . . 7 For thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I will bring against Tyre from the north Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, king of kings, with horses, with chariots, and with horsemen, and an army with many people. 8 He will slay with the sword your daughter villages in the fields; he will heap up a siege mound against you, build a wall against you, and raise a defense against you. 9 He will direct his battering rams against your walls, and with his axes he will break down your towers. 10 Because of the abundance of his horses, their dust will cover you; your walls will shake at the noise of the horsemen, the wagons, and the chariots, when he enters your gates, as men enter a city that has been breached. 11 With the hooves of his horses he will trample all your streets; he will slay your people by the sword, and your strong pillars will fall to the ground. 12 They will plunder your riches and pillage your merchandise; they will break down your walls and destroy your pleasant houses; they will lay your stones, your timber, and your soil in the midst of the water. 13 I will put an end to the sound of your songs, and the sound of your harps shall be heard no more. 14 I will make you like the top of a rock; you shall be a place for spreading nets, and you shall never be rebuilt, for I the LORD have spoken, says the Lord GOD.”
  3. But after many years of trying to take Tyre, God speaks again -- SIXTEEN YEARS LATER
  4. Ezek 29:17-30:1 And it came to pass in the twenty-seventh year, in the first month, on the first day of the month, that the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 18 Son of man, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon caused his army to labor strenuously against Tyre; every head was made bald, and every shoulder rubbed raw; yet neither he nor his army received wages from Tyre, for the labor which they expended on it. 19 Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Surely I will give the land of Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; he shall take away her wealth, carry off her spoil, and remove her pillage; and that will be the wages for his army. 20 I have given him the land of Egypt for his labor, because they worked for Me, says the Lord GOD. 21 In that day I will cause the horn of the house of Israel to spring forth, and I will open your mouth to speak in their midst. Then they shall know that I am the LORD.
  5. Many of God’s promises to Israel are conditional.
  6. Ex 33:2 “And I will send My Angel before you, and I will drive out the Canaanite and the Amorite and the Hittite and the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite.
  7. Ex 34:11 “Observe what I command you this day. Behold, I am driving out from before you the Amorite and the Canaanite and the Hittite and the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite.
  8. Ex 34:24 “For I will cast out the nations before you and enlarge your borders; neither will any man covet your land when you go up to appear before the LORD your God three times in the year.
  9. Josh 1:4-5 “From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the River Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your territory. 5 “No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you.
  10. Josh 3:10 And Joshua said, “By this you shall know that the living God is among you, and that He will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Hivites and the Perizzites and the Girgashites and the Amorites and the Jebusites:
  11. Josh 15:63 As for the Jebusites, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the children of Judah could not drive them out; but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Judah at Jerusalem to this day.
  12. Josh 16:10 And they did not drive out the Canaanites who dwelt in Gezer; but the Canaanites dwell among the Ephraimites to this day and have become forced laborers.
  13. Judg 2:1-3 Then the Angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said: “I led you up from Egypt and brought you to the land of which I swore to your fathers; and I said, ‘I will never break My covenant with you. 2 ‘And you shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land; you shall tear down their altars.’ But you have not obeyed My voice. Why have you done this? 3 “Therefore I also said, ‘I will not drive them out before you; but they shall be thorns in your side, and their gods shall be a snare to you.’ “
  14. Judg 2:19-22 And it came to pass, when the judge was dead, that they reverted and behaved more corruptly than their fathers, by following other gods, to serve them and bow down to them. They did not cease from their own doings nor from their stubborn way. 20 Then the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel; and He said, “Because this nation has transgressed My covenant which I commanded their fathers, and has not heeded My voice, 21 “I also will no longer drive out before them any of the nations which Joshua left when he died, 22 “so that through them I may test Israel, whether they will keep the ways of the LORD, to walk in them as their fathers kept them, or not.”
  15. Judg 3:1-6 Now these are the nations which the LORD left, that He might test Israel by them, that is, all who had not known any of the wars in Canaan 2 (this was only so that the generations of the children of Israel might be taught to know war, at least those who had not formerly known it), 3 namely, five lords of the Philistines, all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites who dwelt in Mount Lebanon, from Mount Baal Hermon to the entrance of Hamath. 4 And they were left, that He might test Israel by them, to know whether they would obey the commandments of the LORD, which He had commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses. 5 Thus the children of Israel dwelt among the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. 6 And they took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their daughters to their sons; and they served their gods.
  16. However, I do believe the prophecies that are apocalyptic, that is, unveiling, will be fulfilled as they were written. These would be prophecies such as Daniel’s and John’s Revelation of Christ.
• Question: ...Deuteronomy 28:13 & 44... What does it mean by "the head, and not the tail?
  • I have a ? about the Deuteronomy 28:13 & 44
  • What does it mean by "the head, and not the tail?
  • Thank you for you time. Ava
• Answer: (click here to see the answer)
  1. Dear Ava
  2. God promised to bless Israel over the nations. He would give them military success and prosperity so they would be above other nations (12,13). They would be the leader (the head) and not the follower (the tail). However, the opposite would be the result (43,44) if they were disobedient. Then, the nations around them would profit at Israel’s expense, and they would be over Israel (head).
• Question: ... the God of the Bible... violates, supposedly, His own rule of "thou shall not murder"...
  • I am witnessing to a pagan who doesn't think the God of the Bible is just because He violates, supposedly, His own rule of "thou shall not murder" when He allows Israel to stone the man gathing wood on the Sabbath, for example. Please respond.
• Answer: (click here to see the answer)
  1. Dear Mark,
  2. Actually, God didn't allow Israel to stone the man gathering wood on the Sabbath, the Lord commanded that he be put to death. God would have violated His own law if He did not follow it. Execution is not murder. God had laid out the consequences of presumptuous sins. That man did a presumptuous sin. Therefore, he was executed.
  3. Here is the account of that event: Num 15:30-36 "But the person who does anything presumptuously, whether he is native-born or a stranger, that one brings reproach on the Lord, and he shall be cut off from among his people. 31 Because he has despised the word of the Lord, and has broken His commandment, that person shall be completely cut off; his guilt shall be upon him." 32 Now while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man gathering sticks on the Sabbath day. 33 And those who found him gathering sticks brought him to Moses and Aaron, and to all the congregation. 34 They put him under guard, because it had not been explained what should be done to him. 35 Then the Lord said to Moses, "The man must surely be put to death; all the congregation shall stone him with stones outside the camp." 36 So, as the Lord commanded Moses, all the congregation brought him outside the camp and stoned him with stones, and he died."
  4. God is righteous, just and merciful. Because of His Holy character, He must follow His own law. He had His reasons for implementing the law like He did at that time. But we must remember, His justice is always tempered with mercy. That's what James 2:13 says: "For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment." That's what the whole Psalm 136 says. Here is the last verse of that Psalm: 23 "Oh, give thanks to the God of heaven! For His mercy endures forever.
  5. In God's love,
  6. Bob Hill