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• Question: Is God both male and female?
  • Genesis 1:27 it appears to be saying that God created man in His own image, both male and female, He created them,
  • I have heard that it has been taught that God is male gender, and I have now heard it taught that
  • " I AM" is both male and female. Do you find evidense that supports that God is a male? Do you find evidense to the contrary that supports the idea that God is both male and female? I know what I believe and my faith does not waiver as a result of this question but my pastor has taught this in a recent bible study that I have not attended and a few members of the congregation are becoming confused and upset by this line of teaching. One thing taught was that when we look on the face of God we will see a man's face and when He turns away from us we will see the face of a woman. ?
• Answer: (click here to see the answer)
  1. Whenever God is referred to with a name that can have gender significance, the Father and the Son are always masculine. The Holy Spirit, because of the gender of the word Spirit in Greek, is usually referred to with neuter pronouns. However, even in His case there are two exceptions I have found. They are in John 16:13,14 “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.” I’m including the Greek (Graeca II font) for these verses in case you might want it. o{tan de; e[lqh/ ejkei`no", to; pneu`ma th`" ajlhqeiva", oJdhghvsei uJma`" eij" pavsan th`n ajlhqeivan ouj ga;r lalhvsei ajfÆ eJautou`, ajllÆ o{sa ajkouvsei lalhvsei kai; ta; ejrcovmena ajnaggelei` uJmi`n. 14 ejkei`no" ejme; doxavsei, o{ti ejk tou` ejmou` lhvmyetai kai; ajnaggelei` uJmi`n.
  2. God is never referred to as mother or daughter, but this does not mean that there are no feminine metaphors used to show characteristics of our Father. Paul used feminine metaphors to describe himself. For instance, in 1 Th 2:7,8 Paul compares himself to a nursing mother: “But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children. 8 So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us.”
  3. There is no biblical basis for the statement your pastor made. But feminist theologians are trying to change what the Bible says.
  4. If this doesn’t answer your questions or if you have any more questions, be sure to write or call our live broadcast at 1-2 pm Mountain time on Mondays.
  5. In Christ,
  6. Bob
• Question: Does God forgive a sin if we have not repented for it?
  • Scriptures tell us that we are to forgive only the repentant (Luke 17:3-4 and 2 Cor 2:5-11). This appears to cross the dispensations. God forgives of all sins when we believe (Eph 4:32). This would mean we could have sin in our lives we haven't repented for at our moment of belief. Does this then make God's forgiveness to us different than how we are to forgive others?
• Answer: (click here to see the answer)
  1. Josh,
  2. God desires that we in this dispensation have a total change of mind. That’s what the Greek word metanoew means. The passages where God requires this in Paul are as follows:
  3. Acts 17:30 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.
  4. Acts 20:21 testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
  5. 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.
  6. Rom 2:4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?
  7. 2 Co 7:9,10 Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. 10 For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.
  8. 2 Ti 2:25 in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth,
  9. However, this does not mean that we have to confess and/or repent of each sin as they do in 1 Jo 1:9, in the dispensation when the tribulation will be going on. Repentance is a quality of the heart. We are saved as soon as we sincerely believe.
  10. Further, I don’t think we can dogmatically say that 2 Co 2:5-11 demands repentance for each sin. This example has more to do with fellowship in the church. This guy should be purged out of the church until he has a better attitude. And in this case it seemed to work. 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.
  11. In Christ,
  12. Bob
• Question: If two men fight and one man touches the others genatils does he get his hand cut off?
  • A friend told me that there is a story in the Bible where God says that if two men get into a fight and the one man touches the other man's genatils then the guilty party should have his hand cut off. My friend could not remember the story exactly but he said that he was sure there was a story like this. Is there a story in the Bible which is even close to this? If so where? And why would God give this command? And does this apply to us today?
  • Thanks,
  • John
• Answer: (click here to see the answer)
  1. John,
  2. There was a law of retaliation in the Bible. It was given to insure equitable punishment for injuries so the punishment would fit the crime. For instance, a slave who had his eye put out was freed (Ex. 21:26). This law is applied to a situation similar to the one you asked about in Deu 25:11,12 “If two men fight together, and the wife of one draws near to rescue her husband from the hand of the one attacking him, and puts out her hand and seizes him by the genitals, 12 then you shall cut off her hand; your eye shall not pity her.” This law was probably put here to protect a man’s ability to produce children, because it follows the law of levirate marriage: Deu 25:5-10 “If brothers dwell together, and one of them dies and has no son, the widow of the dead man shall not be married to a stranger outside the family; her husband’s brother shall go in to her, take her as his wife, and perform the duty of a husband’s brother to her. 6 And it shall be that the firstborn son which she bears will succeed to the name of his dead brother, that his name may not be blotted out of Israel. 7 But if the man does not want to take his brother’s wife, then let his brother’s wife go up to the gate to the elders, and say, ‘My husband’s brother refuses to raise up a name to his brother in Israel; he will not perform the duty of my husband’s brother.’ 8 Then the elders of his city shall call him and speak to him. But if he stands firm and says, ‘I do not want to take her,’ 9 then his brother’s wife shall come to him in the presence of the elders, remove his sandal from his foot, spit in his face, and answer and say, ‘So shall it be done to the man who will not build up his brother’s house.’ 10 And his name shall be called in Israel, ‘The house of him who had his sandal removed.’”
  3. Christ gave some different principles under the dispensation when the proclamation of the kingdom was being made by Him, and later by His apostles: Mat 5:38-42 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40 If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. 41 And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. 42 Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.”
  4. For our dispensation it is similar. There is punishment, but not physical punishment since we are not under a theocracy. Paul wrote in 1 Co 5:9-13 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. We aren’t supposed to judge those who are not saved, only those in the church. God judges those who are not saved. Therefore, the principle God wants us to have today is certainly different. Don’t go to law. Let the church decide as much as it can. 1 Co 6:1-11, Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? 2 Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 3 Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life? 4 If then you have judgments concerning things pertaining to this life, do you appoint those who are least esteemed by the church to judge? 5 I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you, not even one, who will be able to judge between his brethren? 6 But brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers! 7 Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated? 8 No, you yourselves do wrong and cheat, and you do these things to your brethren! 9 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.
  6. Therefore, John, I believe the OT law does not apply to us. Remember Paul wrote in Rom 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.
  7. In Christ,
  8. Bob
• Question: I once was told that worrying is a sin. Is this true?
  • I once was told that worrying is a sin. Is this true? If not is there some reason that people might believe this that you know of?
• Answer: (click here to see the answer)
  1. John,
  2. In Romans 14:23, it says, "But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin." And in Phi 4:6 it says, "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."
  3. Therefore, I would say worrying is not trusting God, and that's the essence of sin.
  4. In Christ,
  5. Bob
• Question: Aren't the Jews only people of the tribe of Judah?
  • A lot of people that I know, including pastors usually refer to all of Israelites (present day) as Jews? Aren't the Jews only people of the tribe of Judah? From how most people talk, I would conclude that the 144,000 of Revelation will be 144,000 JEWS. However, if Jews are only the tribe of Judah, this is incorrect and people are willfully leaving out the other 11 tribes. What is your take on this?
  • God Bless,
  • Dave
• Answer: (click here to see the answer)
  1. Dave,
  2. I can see why you would think that, but the word Jew was used for all the tribes probably because Judah was the tribe that the kings came from.
  3. Let's take the Apostle Paul as an example. He was born in the tribe of Benjamin, but he still called himself a Jew:
  4. Rom 11:1 I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
  5. Phi 3:5 circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee;
  6. Acts 21:39 But Paul said, "I am a Jew from Tarsus, in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city; and I implore you, permit me to speak to the people."
  7. It was the term that Gentiles as well as Jews used when speaking about the people of the nation of Israel.
  8. In Christ our Savior and theirs,
  9. Bob
• Question: Should we be tolerant and show mercy rather than judge homosexuals?
  • Bob,
  • James 2:13 has been used to counter those who judge homosexuality. That we should be tolerant and show mercy rather than judge them. Could you please explain this verse. It would be most appreciated.
• Answer: (click here to see the answer)
  1. Mary,
  2. When we read James 2:13 in its context, I think it was addressing the sins of those written to by James. They were the dispersion of Israel (James 1:1). They were still under the law. Let’s read it in its context: James 2:8-13 If you really fulfill the royal law 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.
  3. We will not be judged by the law of liberty, which is the Mosaic Law, verse 11. Therefore, this passage cannot be applied to us. We are cleared from all sin. Read Romans 6:3-14. Verses 14 & 15 explicitly state we are not under the law: Rom 6:14,15, “For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace. 15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not!”
  4. The world of unbelievers is also under the law: 1 Ti 1:8-11 “But we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully, 9 knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, 10 for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine, 11 according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God which was committed to my trust.”
  5. Since we are not under law, and the world is under law, what should we do. Use the law in a loving presentation of the gospel since it is the love of Christ that motivates us according to 2 Co 5:14,15, 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.
  6. Now, we are supposed to judge those in the church and later, the world, according to 1 Co 5:9-6:11: I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. 10Yet 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. 11But 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. 12For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? 13But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.” 6:1Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? 2 Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 3 Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life? 4 If then you have judgments concerning things pertaining to this life, do you appoint those who are least esteemed by the church to judge? 5 I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you, not even one, who will be able to judge between his brethren? 6But brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers! 7 Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated? 8 No, you yourselves do wrong and cheat, and you do these things to your brethren! 9 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.
  7. One more thing that we must consider is what it says in James 1:19,20, So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; 20 for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
  8. If you have any questions on this response, please write me again.
  9. Bob
• Question: Does God hear the prayers of the unrighteous, or those that are unsaved?
  • Does God hear the prayers of the unrighteous, or those that are unsaved?
• Answer: (click here to see the answer)
  1. Josh,
  2. This is a difficult question. Much Scripture shows that God will not hear, listen to, people, His people, Israel. But it always tells why. Here are those Scripture passages:
  3. Psa 66:18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear.
  4. Isa 1:10-18 Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom; Give ear to the law of our God, you people of Gomorrah: 11 “To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me?” Says the Lord. “I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fed cattle. I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs or goats. 12 When you come to appear before Me, who has required this from your hand, to trample My courts? 13 Bring no more futile sacrifices; Incense is an abomination to Me. The New Moons, the Sabbaths, and the calling of assemblies—I cannot endure iniquity and the sacred meeting. 14 Your New Moons and your appointed feasts My soul hates; They are a trouble to Me, I am weary of bearing them. 15 When you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you; Even though you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood. 16 Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes. Cease to do evil, 17 Learn to do good; Seek justice, rebuke the oppressor; Defend the fatherless, plead for the widow. 18 Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
  5. Isa 59:1-3 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear. 2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear. 3 For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; Your lips have spoken lies, your tongue has muttered perversity.
  6. Jer 7:12-16 But go now to My place which was in Shiloh, where I set My name at the first, and see what I did to it because of the wickedness of My people Israel. 13 “And now, because you have done all these works,” says the Lord, “and I spoke to you, rising up early and speaking, but you did not hear, and I called you, but you did not answer, 14 therefore I will do to the house which is called by My name, in which you trust, and to this place which I gave to you and your fathers, as I have done to Shiloh. 15 And I will cast you out of My sight, as I have cast out all your brethren—the whole posterity of Ephraim. 16 Therefore do not pray for this people, nor lift up a cry or prayer for them, nor make intercession to Me; for I will not hear you.”
  7. Jer 11:14 “So do not pray for this people, or lift up a cry or prayer for them; for I will not hear them in the time that they cry out to Me because of their trouble.
  8. Jer 14:10-12 Thus says the Lord to this people: “Thus they have loved to wander; They have not restrained their feet. Therefore the Lord does not accept them; He will remember their iniquity now, and punish their sins.” 11 Then the Lord said to me, “Do not pray for this people, for their good. 12 When they fast, I will not hear their cry; and when they offer burnt offering and grain offering, I will not accept them. But I will consume them by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence.”
  9. Eze 8:17,18 And He said to me, “Have you seen this, O son of man? Is it a trivial thing to the house of Judah to commit the abominations which they commit here? For they have filled the land with violence; then they have returned to provoke Me to anger. Indeed they put the branch to their nose. 18 Therefore I also will act in fury. My eye will not spare nor will I have pity; and though they cry in My ears with a loud voice, I will not hear them.”
  10. Mica 3:4 Then they will cry to the Lord, But He will not hear them; He will even hide His face from them at that time, because they have been evil in their deeds.
  11. Zec 7:12-14 “Yes, they made their hearts like flint, refusing to hear the law and the words which the Lord of hosts had sent by His Spirit through the former prophets. Thus great wrath came from the Lord of hosts. 13 Therefore it happened, that just as He proclaimed and they would not hear, so they called out and I would not listen,” says the Lord of hosts. 14 But I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations which they had not known. Thus the land became desolate after them, so that no one passed through or returned; for they made the pleasant land desolate.”
  12. This next passage has been used to prove “God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him.” But when you read the context, it is spoken by the unbelieving leaders of the Jews, and they are usually wrong. In this case they were wrong.
  13. John 9:29-33 “We know that God spoke to Moses; as for this fellow, we do not know where He is from.” 30 The man answered and said to them, “Why, this is a marvelous thing, that you do not know where He is from; yet He has opened my eyes! 31 “Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him. 32 “Since the world began it has been unheard of that anyone opened the eyes of one who was born blind. 33 “If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing.”
  14. Since unbelievers do not have a vital relationship with God, I think we can draw the conclusion that God does not listen to them. Most likely, the first time God listens is when they trust Him as their Savior.
  15. I hope this answers your question,
  16. Bob
• Question: If we who are spiritual are able to judge all things, how can we not be judged...
  • If we who are spiritual are able to judge all things, how can we not be judged by anyone else (1 Cor 2:15-16)? Could not someone else who was spiritual judge us?
• Answer: (click here to see the answer)
  1. Josh,
  2. The first thing we must realize about this passage is the translation of two words, “comparing”, sugkrivnonte" and “judges” ajnakrivnei. When we translate them better, we can see what’s going on better. Here’s my translation with the reasons I translated it that way:
  3. 1 Co 2:13-16 These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing explaining [I think this should be translated, explaining spiritual things to spiritual (people), sugkrivnonte". BGD’s 3rd point in their Lexicon is “3. explain, interpret . . . pneumatikoi`" (masc.) pneumatika; sugkrivnonte" interpreting spiritual truths to those who possess the Spirit 1 Co 2:13]. 14 But the natural man [The unsaved man] does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned or evaluated [ajnakrivnetai discern, evaluate, examine]. 15 But he who is spiritual judges evaluates [ajnakrivnei discern, evaluate, examine] all things, yet he himself is rightly judged evaluated [ajnakrivnetai discern, evaluate, examine] by no one. 16 For “Who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.
  4. One thing for sure! The [soulish yuciko;"] man does not have the Holy Spirit. The things of the Spirit are foolish to him. Therefore, he cannot even begin to evaluate the things that one does who has the Holy Spirit. However, there is a modification of this evaluating ability of the spiritual man. In 1 Co 3:1,3,4, the Corinthians are called fleshy [sarkikoiv]. Someone who allows the flesh to guide him, even though he is saved, will make bad decisions. However, yet he is not evaluated by the soulish man.
  5. Soulish [yuciko;"] things are described this way: Jam 3:15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual [yucikhv], demonic. Jude 19 These are sensual [yucikoiv] persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit.
• Question: Did God condone slavery
  • Recently I have been studying the topic of slavery in the Bible. My findings somewhat shocked me. It appears that Scripture does not explicitly forbid it. First, during the antebellum period in US history some interpeters alluded to Noah's prophetic curse upon Canaan as justification for enslaving the blacks. This seems like a weak argument to me. Can the Africans trace their descent to Ham? Even if they could, this interpretation seems to be a strech. Also, another place in the OT seems supportive of this cruelty. Leviticus 25:44-46 appears to be a huge proof-text for slavery. This section completely approves of slavery, and even reduces these people to the status of "property" (v.46, NKJV).
  • In the NT Paul condonded of the institution of slavery (cf. 1 Tim. 6:1,2; 1 Cor. 7:21). How do we deal with these texts? If I were a Christian abolitionist living in America 150 years ago, then I think my case in opposing slavery from a Scriptural persepective would be minimal.
  • Peace and Grace in Christ,
  • James
• Answer: (click here to see the answer)
  1. James,
  2. I believe the incident with Noah and Canaan was more prophetic than a curse in the sense that Noah was laying this on him. However, there is a lot of debate on that passage.
  3. As to your other questions, I think God did not address the issue of slavery for a number of reasons. First, the Bible refers to slavery as already being in place in the ancient world before God called Abram out of Ur of the Chaldees. At that time, God didn't talk about slavery. If slavery was not an option in the ancient world, instead of slaves, the people would be killed. So instead of slaves you would have dead people. I would vote for slavery under those conditions. If the principles laid down in the passages I will list were followed, I think slavery would have passed away quickly.
  4. In the NT, Jesus and the apostles did not make it their priority to free slaves because it was more important to free the world from sin by preaching the gospel. When Paul spoke to the issue, he was inspired by God to write in Eph 6:9, "And you, masters, do the same things to them, giving up threatening, knowing that your own Master also is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him."
  5. Slavery was much better in the ancient world of Israel since it was regulated thoroughly. It was certainly better than debtor prisons in fairly recent times. They had civil rights, housing and could earn money and finally buy their freedom. When the crop would fail a few years in a row, the poor farmer would have to sell himself into slavery. The alternative was death from starvation.
  6. The Nuzi Tablets, and Genesis show slaves as being part of the family more than as property. For instance, when Abram did not have an heir, he said that his slave, Eliezer of Damascus, would be his heir (Gen. 15:1-3). The slaves and their masters worked together and seemed to be treated very equitably.
  7. In his letter to Philemon, Paul asked Philemon to treat Onesimus as a brother in Christ, not as a runaway slave. By doing this, he showed how Christians should respond toslavery. Remember, Paul wrote Gal 3:28, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus." He also told Philemon in verse 18, "But if he has wronged you or owes anything, put that on my account."
  8. I don't want any of this presentation to be construed as being positive for slavery. God hated divorce, but in Mat 19:8, Christ "said to them, 'Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so.'" I believe God hates slavery, but because of man's evil ways, he regulated it. There is no way that the biblical material could be used to back up slavery if a person read all of the Bible on that subject. Here is a partial citation of the verses:
  9. Ex 20:10 but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates.
  10. Ex 21:20,21 "And if a man beats his male or female servant with a rod, so that he dies under his hand, he shall surely be punished. 21 Notwithstanding, if he remains alive a day or two, he shall not be punished; for he is his property."
  11. Lev 25:39-55 And if one of your brethren who dwells by you becomes poor, and sells himself to you, you shall not compel him to serve as a slave. 40 As a hired servant and a sojourner he shall be with you, and shall serve you until the Year of Jubilee. 41 And then he shall depart from you-he and his children with him-and shall return to his own family. He shall return to the possession of his fathers. 42 For they are My servants, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt; they shall not be sold as slaves. 43 You shall not rule over him with rigor, but you shall fear your God. 44 And as for your male and female slaves whom you may have-from the nations that are around you, from them you may buy male and female slaves. 45 Moreover you may buy the children of the strangers who dwell among you, and their families who are with you, which they beget in your land; and they shall become your property. 46 And you may take them as an inheritance for your children after you, to inherit them as a possession; they shall be your permanent slaves. But regarding your brethren, the children of Israel, you shall not rule over one another with rigor. 47 Now if a sojourner or stranger close to you becomes rich, and one of your brethren who dwells by him becomes poor, and sells himself to the stranger or sojourner close to you, or to a member of the strangers family, 48 after he is sold he may be redeemed again. One of his brothers may redeem him; 49 or his uncle or his uncles son may redeem him; or anyone who is near of kin to him in his family may redeem him; or if he is able he may redeem himself. 50 Thus he shall reckon with him who bought him: The price of his release shall be according to the number of years, from the year that he was sold to him until the Year of Jubilee; it shall be according to the time of a hired servant for him. 51 If there are still many years remaining, according to them he shall repay the price of his redemption from the money with which he was bought. 52 And if there remain but a few years until the Year of Jubilee, then he shall reckon with him, and according to his years he shall repay him the price of his redemption. 53 He shall be with him as a yearly hired servant, and he shall not rule with rigor over him in your sight. 54 And if he is not redeemed in these years, then he shall be released in the Year of Jubilee-he and his children with him. 55 For the children of Israel are servants to Me; they are My servants whom I brought out of the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.
  12. Deu 5:14 but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your ox, nor your donkey, nor any of your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates, that your male servant and your female servant may rest as well as you.
  13. Deu 23:15,16 "You shall not give back to his master the slave who has escaped from his master to you. 16 He may dwell with you in your midst, in the place which he chooses within one of your gates, where it seems best to him; you shall not oppress him."
  14. I hope this helps some. It is a complex subject,
  15. Bob
• Question: Should we pray for those that are ill?
  • Due to the lack of miracles and healing in our dispensation today, how should we pray for those that are ill, if at all?
• Answer: (click here to see the answer)
  1. Josh,
  2. That’s another good question. When we search Paul’s epistles, we see that the only time he prayed for a sickness – at least, the thorn in his side can be construed to be sickness – was when he prayed for himself. God said in 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, 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.
  3. There is nothing wrong in praying for someone’s health, it’s just that God doesn’t seem to be answering those kinds of prayers in this dispensation. Since that is true, I think we should not offer the false hope of healing or prosperity by saying we will pray for those things for people. What we can and should pray for is wisdom, comfort, that they will be strengthened in the inner man, that they will be sensitive to the Spirit’s leading. We should pray for one another a lot. That’s what the body of Christ is all about.
  4. They can pray whatever prayers in the next dispensation, but there’s not one whatever prayer in Paul’s epistles. Check it our yourself. But do pray, that we mind have a fertile soil for fruitful ministries.
  5. In Christ, the giver,
  6. Bob
• Question: If a man is born and never gets to hear the gospel is he going to hell?
  • Dear Bob,
  • If a man is born and never gets to hear the gospel is he going to hell?
  • Holly
• Answer: (click here to see the answer)
  1. Holly,
  2. After Adam sinned, God seems to have given him the plan of redemption. (See E. W. Bullinger, The Witness of the Stars.) Was there any message about, that is, was there any preaching of the gospel of God and His plan of redemption for the first 2,500 years? I believe there was. How did God do this? I believe He used three ways.
  3. He used the stars. Rom 10:17,18 “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. 18 But I say, have they not heard? Yes indeed: ‘Their sound has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.’” Paul quoted this portion of Scripture from: Psa 19:1-6 “The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork. 2 Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge. 3 There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard. 4 Their line has gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them He has set a tabernacle for the sun, 5 which is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoices like a strong man to run its race. 6 Its rising is from one end of heaven, and its circuit to the other end; And there is nothing hidden from its heat.” This is not just a heritage to Israel, it’s for the whole world. Deu 4:19 “And take heed, lest you lift your eyes to heaven, and when you see the sun, the moon, and the stars, all the host of heaven, you feel driven to worship them and serve them, which the LORD your God has given to all the peoples under the whole heaven as a heritage.”
  4. He used His handiwork, creation: Rom 1:18-23 “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and deity, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.”
  5. Isa 40:21-26 “Have you not known? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? 22 It is He who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers, Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them out like a tent to dwell in. 23 He brings the princes to nothing; He makes the judges of the earth useless. 24 Scarcely shall they be planted, scarcely shall they be sown, scarcely shall their stock take root in the earth, when He will also blow on them, and they will wither, and the whirlwind will take them away like stubble. 25 ‘To whom then will you liken Me, Or to whom shall I be equal?’ says the Holy One. 26 Lift up your eyes on high, and see who has created these things, Who brings out their host by number; He calls them all by name, by the greatness of His might and the strength of His power; Not one is missing.
  6. He wrote His law in the hearts of man. Rom 2:9-16 tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; 10 but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 11 For there is no partiality with God. 12 For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law 13 (for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified; 14 for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, 15 who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them) 16 in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.
  7. However, from Gen 11:4 it seems that man corrupted the original zodiac God gave to Adam. God gave His written revelation to Moses. Then, He progressively gave further revelation until the canon was closed with the book of Revelation. Gen 11:4 “And they said, ‘Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top with the heavens [All the stars of the zodiac; a representation of the heavens. Towers of these types have been found in Babylon.]; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.’” I believe the original zodiac was given by God to Adam. I believe it contained the gospel message. Again, see Bullinger’s The Witness of the Stars.
  8. But, God wanted to make sure the gospel was propagated, that’s why Psalm 19:7-14 finishes with the written word.
  9. Psalm 19:7-14 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; 8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; 9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. 10 More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. 11 Moreover by them Your servant is warned, and in keeping them there is great reward. 12 Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults. 13 Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; Let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, and I shall be innocent of great transgression. 14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.
  10. This showed two ways God revealed His word. The written word seems to be better for evangelism and Christian growth, but remember, there were 2,500 years before there was any written word validated as inspired. The only conclusion I can make at present is that Paul refers to this gospel of the stars in Col 1:23, “if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached in [en] every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.” He also referred to the gospel in Col 1:5,6 “because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel, 6 which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth.”
  11. His handiwork still shows His eternal power and deity. Men are without excuse. They have always had the witness of the stars and God’s handiwork: Rom 1:16-20 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven upon all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is evident in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible things are clearly perceived, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and deity, so that they are without excuse.”
  12. I must reiterate, even those who have not heard the spoken gospel are mentioned in Rom 2:14-16 “for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, 15 who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them) 16 in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.” The potential is still there for men who have not heard the written gospel to be accused or excused by the law written on their hearts. However, there is only one name “under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). The death of our Lord Jesus Christ has provided redemption for everyone.
  13. That was an important question, Holly.
  14. Bob
• Question: Did Noah take fish on the ark?
  • Grandpa,
  • I was wondering did Noah take fish on the ark? I was thinking about how we have two kinds of fish, salt and fresh. It struck me that if the world was covered in water how did the fresh water fish survive? How did the fish get to this continent if they were on the ark?
  • Dave
• Answer: (click here to see the answer)
  1. Dave,
  2. No, I don't think Noah had fish or even sea mammals on the ark. We have no idea about the salinity of the water, either. I believe the fish had a large enough gene pool that they could adapt to the gradual increase of salinity as salt was washed out of the earth into the sea until fresh water fish would be shocked by an extreme difference and salt water fish would be shocked by the lack of salt in fresh water habitats.
  3. During the actual flood, there would most likely be a pretty good survival rate of sea creatures even under the extremely violent situation that occurred.
  4. Grandpa
• Question: Can you tell me the difference between Sheol, hell, the abyss and the bottomless pit?
  • The abyss, Sheol, and the lake of fire the grave others Hell and the bottomless Pit. can you help me to understand the difference who goes to which and what they are? and If your wondering, and I know you are I am born again, saved, bought by the blood of My lord and king Jesus Christ, that died on the cross to pay my penalty for sin.
• Answer: (click here to see the answer)
  1. Dear Ed,
  2. The Bible mentions a number of places where those who die go. It mentions heaven, paradise, Sheol, the grave, the pit, Hades, Abraham’s bosom, Gehenna, the abyss, the lake of fire, and Tartarus. What do these terms mean? You didn’t ask about heaven. So we will only discuss heaven and paradise as it relates to our subject. I’ll address your questions in what I think is a logical order.
  3. First, what is Sheol? The Hebrew word Sheol is equivalent to the Greek word Hades (Act 2:27; Ps 16:10). It is translated hell in Deu. 32:22; Ps 9:17; 55:15; 139:8; Pr 5:5; 7:27; 9:18; 15:11,24; 23:14; 27:20; Is 14:9; Eze. 31:15-17; 32:21,27; Am 9:2; Hab 2:5. It is translated pit in Num 16:30,33. It is translated grave in Gen 37:35; 42:38; 44:29,31; 1 Sa 2:6; 1 Ki 2:6,9; Job 7:9; 14:13; 17:13; 21:13; 24:19; Ps 6:5; 30:3; 31:17; 49:14,15; 88:3; 89:48; 141:7; Pro 30:16; Ecc 9:10; Song 8:6; Hos 13:14. It is transliterated Sheol in 2 Sa 22:6; Job 11:8; 17:16; 26:6; Ps 16:10; 18:5; 86:13; 116:3; Pro 1:12; Is 5:14; 14:11,15; 28:15,18; 38:10,18; Is 57:9; Jon 2:2. There is the lowest, taghtee, Sheol in Deu 32:22; Ps 63:9 (lower parts of the earth); 86:13; Notice the context of Eze 31:16-18.
  4. From examining all this biblical material, I have come to these conclusions:
  5. 1. Sheol is the realm of the dead (Pro 7:27).
  6. 2. It is deep in the earth (Deu 32:22). At the foundations of the mountains (Job 11:8; Ps 139:8). Higher than heaven contrasted with deeper than Sheol (Am 9:2). Digging down to Sheol contrasted with climbing to heaven. One part is specifically designated as lower Sheol.
  7. 3. All men in general (Job 7:9; Ps 89:48), the wicked (Num 16:30-33; Job 24:19; Ps 9:17; 31:17), and the righteous (Gen 37:35) go to Sheol in the O.T.
  8. 4. There is very little description of Sheol. To the anguished it represents relief (Job 14:13). To the ancients, it was completely cut off from the existence of the living on earth. It represented the cessation of his earthly life with all of its accomplishments for the individual (Ecc 9:10; Ps 6:5; Isa 38:18).
  9. 5. Conscious existence in Sheol is portrayed in Isa 14:9-15 and Eze 31:15-17; 32:21, although it is brought out clearly first in Lk 16.
  10. 6. Sheol is portrayed as a sort of fortress with bars, gates, chambers, and keys (Job 17:16; Ps 18:5; Pro 7:27; Jon 2:2).
  11. 7. An unidentified group of beings called the r’phaeem also are in Sheol (Pro 9:18; Isa 14:9).
  12. 8. Sheol is in some way, perhaps even physically, connected with abaddon, the abyss of the N.T. (Job 26:6; Pro 15:11; 27:20; Rev 9:11).
  13. 9. Although man has no power to deliver himself from Sheol, Yahweh is able (Isa 2:6; Ps 16:10; 30:3; 49:15; Hos 13:14).
  14. What is Hades? The following passages are a complete concordance of the word. Mat. 11:23; 16:18; Lk 10:15; 16:23; Act 2:27,31; Rev 1:18; 6:8; 20:13,14. After studying these Scripture passages on Hades thoroughly, I believe:
  15. 1. Hades is talked about consistently in a negative way.
  16. 2. The soul went to Hades while the flesh would see corruption (Act 2:27,31).
  17. 3. According to Christ’s account of Hades in Lk 16: The rich man’s body was buried, but he went to Hades (23). Abraham, Lazarus, and the rich man were conscious. The rich man was tormented in Hades (23) because: He sinned (Deu 15:7-17; Ps 112:9; Pro 19:17; Mat 5:7; Lk 12:20,21); He didn’t believe God’s law (29,30); There was a good part where Lazarus was in bliss with Abraham and a place of torment where the rich man was in torment; There was an impassable gulf between these two places.
  18. What is Gehenna? The following passages are a complete concordance of the word. (Mat 5:22,29,30; 10:28; 18:9; 23:15,33; Mk 9:43,45,47; Lk 12:5; Jam 3:6).
  19. What is the abyss? The following passages are a complete concordance of the word. Lk 8:31; Rom 10:7 with Deu 30:13; Rev 9:1,2,11; 11:7; 17:8; 20:1,3.
  20. What is Tartarus? 2 Pe 2:4. The BGD Greek Lexicon explains Tartarus thus. “Tartarus, thought of by the Greeks as a subterranean place lower than Hades where divine punishment was meted out, was so regarded in Jewish apocalyptic as well.” Durant records (V.2, p.99), “Hesiod’s mythology . . . . Out of the mating of . . . Uranus and Ge . . . came a race of Titans . . . Uranus liked them not, and condemned them to gloomy Tartarus. . . . The Titans captured Olympus . . . (But when Zeus grew up, he) plunged the Titans back into the bowels of the earth.”
  21. The lake of fire is found only in the book of Revelation in these verses: Rev 14:10,11; 19:20; 20:10,14,15; 21:8.
  22. Fire is used with these words: Gehenna (Mat 5:22; 18:9); Wailing and gnashing of teeth (Mat 13:37-42,47-50); Eternal (Mat 18:8; 25:41-46; Jud 7); Not quenched (Mk 9:43-48); Indignation (Heb. 10:27); Tormented (Rev. 14:10,11).
  23. I hope this answers all your questions. If not, email me some more.
  24. In Christ, we are seated in the heavenlies, Praise God,
  25. Bob Hill
• Question: If infants born with a sin nature die prematurely are they going to hell?
  • If infants cannot proclaim that they follow God and they are born with a sin nature, are those babies that die prematurely or from SIDS going to hell automatically? Or if a man is born into a barren part of Africa and never even gets to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ, is he just unlucky enough to in that position and is going to hell as well?
  • Help because these are plaguing me and I am interested in details of the foundation of our church.
  • Thanks and God bless!
• Answer: (click here to see the answer)
  1. Dear Holly
  2. We might start out with a different question than you asked. We have to ask this question first. Does a young child have sin? If so, and he dies, does he go to heaven? If there is a certain age of accountability, what is it? What scriptural basis is there for any of this, especially an age of accountability?
  3. In the OT we find that little children had no knowledge of good and evil. Deu 1:39 “Moreover your little ones and your children, who you say will be victims, who today have no knowledge of good and evil, they shall go in there; to them I will give it, and they shall possess it.” The fulfillment of the promise was held over for the next generation, those who were still children. These were too young to make responsible choices (they today have no knowledge of good and evil).
  4. In the Immanuel prophecy found in Isaiah, we find that the age of accountability, knowing good from evil, was part of the account. Isa 7:14-16 “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. 15 Curds and honey He shall eat, that He may know to refuse the evil and choose the good. 16 For before the Child shall know to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land that you dread will be forsaken by both her kings.”
  5. In the prophecy of Jonah, we have an interesting account of the number of people in the city. Jonah 4:11 “And should I not pity Nineveh, that great city, in which are more than one hundred and twenty thousand persons who cannot discern between their right hand and their left.” It is generally calculated that the young children of any place are a fifth of the inhabitants, and consequently the whole population of Nineveh would amount to about 600,000.
  6. The Lord, Jesus Christ, spoke about a child in this way in Mat 18:2,3 “Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, 3 and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.’” This concept was reiterated shortly after, in Mat 19:13,14 “Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 But Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.’” An account similar to the Matthew 18 incident is found in Luke 18:16,17 “But Jesus called them to Him and said, ‘Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. 17 Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.’”
  7. Rom 9:10,11 attests to the innocence of the very young. “And not only this, but when Rebecca also had conceived by one man, even by our father Isaac 11 for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls.”
  8. Rom 5:12-18 shows that Christ died for the original sin of Adam that had “spread to all men, because all sinned in Adam.” “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned—13 (For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come. 15 But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. 16 And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification. 17 For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. ) 18 Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life.” Just as Adam caused all to be sinners, including little children, the 18th verse shows that Christ’s death resulted in justification from Adam’s original sin for all men.
  9. Therefore, if a child dies before he reaches the age of accountability, he will go to heaven. Let me know if this does not answer all of your questions on this issue.
  10. Love,
  11. Bob
• Question: Is there a literal satan?
  • I was wondering why the Bible sometimes translates "satan" as "adversary", such as in Num. 22:22. Also, sometimes the usage of this term is symbolic, such as when Jesus refers to Peter as "satan". These passages, among others, have brought me to the point that I question whether there is a literal satan. I think it possible that the figure of "satan" is just a literary technique, or maybe an office, filled even by an "angel of the Lord" (Num. 22:22). I assume that you do believe in a literal satan, so I was wondering if you could tell me what leads you to believe this doctrine (Literal Satan).
  • Thanks for your time. (Even though I disagree with you a lot on theology, I enjoy listening to you)
  • stainless
• Answer: (click here to see the answer)
  1. Stainless,
  2. I hope you disagree with me in the areas in which I’m wrong. I’ve been wrong so many times that I like to hear where I’m wrong so I can study the Word of God more and maybe get it right. However, I think your off base on this one after reviewing the material I gathered below. I agree that the word satan is used in some cases as a figure, but that doesn’t take away from the reality of his existence. Would you show where satan is not viewed as a person. His name usually has the definite article with it. He is treated as a person many times.
  3. Thanks for your question. I had not done a complete study on that devil in the area you asked about.
  4. In Christ,
  5. Bob
  6. The following quotation is from The Abridged Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew-English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997. I edited it.
  7. ÷f;c; n.m. 1. adversary. 2. Satan. — 1. adversary, in gen., personal or national; subj. God. 2. superhuman adversary: a. of Job, one of µyhil¿aÔh; ynEB . b. of h. p. of Isr. bef. . c. as n.pr. ×c Satan. ÷f'c; vb.denom. be or act as adversary — Qal. I. hn:f ci n.f. accusation. II. hn:f ci n.pr.putei (hostility).
  8. Num 22:22 Then God’s anger was aroused because he went, and the Angel of the Lord took His stand in the way as an adversary against him. And he was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him.
  9. Num 22:32 And the Angel of the Lord said to him, “Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out to stand against you, because your way is perverse before Me.
  10. 1 Sam 29:4 But the princes of the Philistines were angry with him; so the princes of the Philistines said to him, “Make this fellow return, that he may go back to the place which you have appointed for him, and do not let him go down with us to battle, lest in the battle he become our adversary. For with what could he reconcile himself to his master, if not with the heads of these men?
  11. 2 Sam 19:22 And David said, “What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah, that you should be adversaries to me today? Shall any man be put to death today in Israel? For do I not know that today I am king over Israel?”
  12. 1 Kin 5:4 But now the Lord my God has given me rest on every side; there is neither adversary nor evil occurrence.
  13. 1 Kin 11:14,23,25 Now the Lord raised up an adversary against Solomon, Hadad the Edomite; he was a descendant of the king in Edom. 23 And God raised up another adversary against him, Rezon the son of Eliadah, who had fled from his lord, Hadadezer king of Zobah. 25 He was an adversary of Israel all the days of Solomon (besides the trouble that Hadad caused); and he abhorred Israel, and reigned over Syria.
  14. 1 Ch 21:1 Now Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to number Israel.
  15. Job 1:6-9,12 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. 7 And the Lord said to Satan, “From where do you come?” So Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.” 8 Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?” 9 So Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing? 12 And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person.” So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.
  16. Job 2:1-4,6,7 Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the Lord. 2 And the Lord said to Satan, “From where do you come?” So Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.” 3 Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil? And still he holds fast to his integrity, although you incited Me against him, to destroy him without cause.” 4 So Satan answered the Lord and said, “Skin for skin! Yes, all that a man has he will give for his life. 6 And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, he is in your hand, but spare his life.” 7 So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord, and struck Job with painful boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head.
  17. Psa 109:6 Set a wicked man over him, and let an accuser stand at his right hand.
  18. Zec 3:1,2 Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to oppose him. 2 And the Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, Satan! The Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?”
  19. The following quotation is taken from Bauer, Gingrich and Danker, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1979. I edited out the useless stuff.
  20. satavn, oJ indecl. and satana`", a`, oJ; the gen. satanov" Lk 11:18 P) lit. the adversary, in our lit. only the Adversary in a very special sense, the enemy of God and all of those who belong to God, simply Satan (on the concept of Satan cf. the lit. s.v. diavbolo" 2), almost always w. the art. (Bl-D. §254, 1), without it only Mk 3:23; Lk 22:3; 2 Co 12:7.—Mt 4:10 (here, as well as in the two passages at the very end of this entry, without the art. and in the voc.); Mk 1:13; 3:26; Lk 11:18; 22:31. W. diavbolo" of the same being Rv 20:2; cf. 2:9f; Pol 7:1. The Antichrist appears katÆ ejnevrgeian tou` satana` 2 Th 2:9. He incites men to evil Mk 4:15; Ac 5:3; 1 Cor 7:5; 2 Cor 2:11; Rv 12:9. Esp. did he instigate Judas’ evil deed by entering into the traitor Lk 22:3; J 13:27. Causing sickness Lk 13:16 (s. devw 1b, end). Hence driven out in healings Mt 12:26; Mk 3:23. Hindering the apostle in his work 1 Th 2:18 (cf. Julian., Ep. 40 68 p. 46, 19 Bidez-Cumont eij mhv ti daimovnion gevnoito kwvluma). Causing false beliefs to arise 1 Ti 5:15; hence the one who denies the resurrection and judgment is called prwtovtoko" tou` ". Pol 7:1; 2. Persecutions of Christians are also inspired by Satan Rv 2:13a, b (on the qrovno" tou` ". cf. qrovno" 1e); hence the Jews who were hostile to the Christians are called sunagwgh; tou` ". Rv 2:9; 3:9. God will crush him Ro 16:20. Jesus saw Satan fallen (or falling) fr. heaven Lk 10:18. Imprisoned, but freed again after the millennium Rv 20:7. oJ ". metaschmativzetai eij" aggelon fwtov" Satan disguises himself as an angel of light 2 Co 11:14. aggelo" satana` 2 Co 12:7; aggeloi tou` ". hJ ejxousiva tou` ". the power of Satan Ac 26:18; cf. 1. 2. paradou`naiv tina tw`/ ". 1 Co 5:5 (s. oleqro"); In Mt 16:23; Mk 8:33 Peter is called Satan by Jesus, because his attempt to turn the Master aside fr. his God-given duty to suffer for mankind has made him a tempter of a diabolical sort, who might thwart the divine plan of salvation.
  21. Mat 4:1-11 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the Devil. 2 And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. 3 Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” 4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ “ 5 Then the Devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’ and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’ “ 7 Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’ “ 8 Again, the Devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.” 10 Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ “ 11 Then the Devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.
  22. Mat 12:26 “If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand?
  23. Mat 16:23 But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”
  24. Mk 1:13 And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan, and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to Him.
  25. Mk 3:23,26 So He called them to Himself and said to them in parables: “How can Satan cast out Satan? 26 “And if Satan has risen up against himself, and is divided, he cannot stand, but has an end.
  26. Mk 4:15 “And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts.
  27. Mk 8:33 But when He had turned around and looked at His disciples, He rebuked Peter, saying, “Get behind Me, Satan! For you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”
  28. Lk 4:1-13 Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2 being tempted for forty days by the Devil. And in those days He ate nothing, and afterward, when they had ended, He was hungry. 3 And the Devil said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” 4 But Jesus answered him, saying, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.’ “ 5 Then the Devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6 And the Devil said to Him, “All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. 7 “Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours.” 8 And Jesus answered and said to him, “Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ “ 9 Then he brought Him to Jerusalem, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here. 10 “For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you,’ 11 “and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’” 12 And Jesus answered and said to him, “It has been said, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’” 13 Now when the Devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time.
  29. Lk 10:18 And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.
  30. Lk 11:18 “If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? Because you say I cast out demons by Beelzebub.
  31. Lk 13:16 “So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound—think of it—for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?”
  32. Lk 22:3,31 Then Satan entered Judas, surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve. 31 And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat.
  33. John 13:27 Now after the piece of bread, Satan entered him. Then Jesus said to him, “What you do, do quickly.”
  34. Acts 5:3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself?
  35. Acts 26:18 ‘to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’
  36. Rom 16:20 And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
  37. 1 Co 5:5 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.
  38. 1 Co 7:5 Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
  39. 2 Co 2:11 lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.
  40. 2 Co 11:14,15 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.
  41. Eph 6:10-16 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.
  42. The Holy Bible, New King James Version. Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc., 1982.
  43. 1 Th 2:18 Therefore we wanted to come to you—even I, Paul, time and again—but Satan hindered us.
  44. 2 Th 2:9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders,
  45. 1 Ti 1:20 of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.
  46. 1 Ti 5:15 For some have already turned aside after Satan.
  47. Rev 2:9,13,24 “I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 13 “I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is . And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. 24 “Now to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say, I will put on you no other burden.
  48. Rev 3:9 “Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you.
  49. Rev 12:7 And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, 8 but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. 9 So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
  50. Rev 20:1-3,7-10 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 2 He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; 3 and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while. 7 Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. 9 They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. 10 The Devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are . And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
• Question: Do you have an overview of the book of Hebrews?
  • I heard only a portion of a response to a call you had on Hebrews. Do you have an overview of the book?
  • ps, We are Plot readers
• Answer: (click here to see the answer)
  1. Dear Lynn,
  2. Here is a chapter from my book, The Big Difference. I am using GraecaII and HebraicaII fonts.
  3. The Big Difference
  4. By Bob Hill
  5. The Epistle to the Hebrews
  6. Hebrews was not written by Paul. This is maintained by most conservative scholarship.[1] Rotherham states it rather bluntly:
  7. The one point which for myself remains firmly settled is the purely negative one: that whoever wrote this Epistle it was not the Apostle Paul. In holding fast to this conclusion, I find myself in excellent company. Professor Peake says: “Nothing is so certain with respect to the authorship as the negative conclusion that it was not written by Paul . . . . These differences not only preclude Pauline authorship; they show conclusively that Paul can have nothing to do with the Epistle directly or indirectly. It is in no sense a Pauline Epistle, and only in the loosest sense can it be spoken of as Pauline in theology.”[2]
  8. I do not think it is necessary to know who wrote Hebrews, but it is important to rule out Pauline authorship. This is essential to understand this epistle when we see the concepts presented by the writer. It would be presumptuous to say this epistle is Pauline in any sense unless it could be shown that the theology is the same as that of the Pauline Epistles.
  9. 2:3 How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him.
  10. From this key passage, we see, “salvation . . . was confirmed to us by those who heard”, the most important portion of scripture against the Pauline authorship. If Paul received his gospel from “those who heard,” how could he write Galatians 1:1,11,12,16; 2:2?
  11. Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead), 11 But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. 12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ. 16 to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood, 2:2 And I went up by revelation, and communicated to them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to those who were of reputation, lest by any means I might run, or had run, in vain. No one confirmed salvation to Paul. Christ solely and directly revealed the gospel to him.
  12. 2:1-4 Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. 2 For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, 3 how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, 4 God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?
  13. Here, we see that the writer was addressing, at least, nominal believers. He is concerned “lest we drift away.” In Hebrews 3:1 we have further evidence that the author considered his readers to be believers. He called them “holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling.” The author must have had some authority with these circumcision believers, for as we read the epistle, we quickly see that he is calling circumcision believers from the sacrificial system mandated by the law to the redemption provided by the high priest, Christ.
  14. 3:6 But Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.”[3]
  15. A. T. Robertson comments about this verse in this way:
  16. If we hold fast (ean katascwmen). Condition of third class with ean and second aorist (effective) active subjunctive of katecw. This note of contingency and doubt runs through the Epistle. We are God’s house if we do not play the traitor and desert.[4]
  17. Robertson saw the great number of 3rd class conditional passages dealing with salvation in Hebrews. Because a 3rd class condition meant, in this case, maybe we will hold fast or maybe we won’t hold fast, he was constrained to make his “contingency” statement. This and the other passages we will deal with fit the conditional requirements of the covenant of circumcision. Many different faith-works are required under that covenant depending on the specific dispensation.
  18. The use of the term house, in the context of “Moses . . . in all his house,” is reminiscent of, “the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Mat. 10:6) and “a slave does not abide in the house forever, but the son abides forever” (John 8:35), as well as its use later when quoted from Jeremiah in Hebrews 8:8-10. House seems to emphasize, the Jewishness of this epistle. The conditions are repeated in 3:6. They will be part of the house of Israel, God’s covenant nation, if they “hold fast.”
  19. 3:11-14 So I swore in My wrath, they shall not enter My rest. 12 Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; 13 but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end.
  20. Again, we find a 3rd class conditional statement in verse 14 similar to that of 3:6. The perfect tense, “we have become partakers,” offers no security for these believers. All the perfect does here is stress the present consequences of the past act of belief. They are currently partakers of Christ. They must hold “steadfast to the end” if they want to maintain that relationship. Theologians often appeal to the perfect to show the security of the believer. We have already seen in John eight[5] that this is not a valid argument. It is invalid here, also. However, these statements are in complete harmony with the conditional aspect of circumcision which God made with Abraham.
  21. I want to make one further comment about Greek tenses and a circumcision believer’s security. The perfect, “we have become partakers”, used here gives no more security to them than the aorist passive participle in Hebrews 6:4. There they “have become partakers of the Holy Spirit,” but if they fall away, they cannot be renewed to repentance.
  22. What does partaker mean? According to the lexicons and theological dictionaries, mevtoco" means: a sharer or participant in, a partner. The meaning of this word has nothing specifically to do with eternal salvation. The holding fast does. Obedience, faithfulness, and endurance are important under the covenant of circumcision. It is difficult to prove whether the author was writing about current blessings or eternal blessings by partaking in Christ. But if they did not hold their confidence to the end, the implied threat from the context of 12-19 was extremely serious. If they were like those who hardened their hearts (Psalm 95), they too would fail to enter into rest. They would be lost.
  23. Hebrews 4:3 contains an interesting statement. “For we who believed enter that rest, as He has said.” Is the writer contradicting himself by now saying that they “do enter that rest”? As we look at the Greek text behind the translation, we see that we have an aorist participle, pisteuvsante" (believed), showing an action which precedes the action of the main verb, eijsercovmeqa, (we are entering). Robertson says this is an “emphatic futuristic present middle indicative . . . . We are sure to enter in, we who believe.”[6]
  24. Greek grammars instruct us that the present tense should be translated progressively. Another rule states that the action of the aorist participle, we who believed, takes place before the concept expressed by the finite verb, eijsercovmeqa, (we are entering). In other words, looking back from the day of judgment, those who could be described as oiJ pisteuvsante", (the ones who believed), are the ones who are entering into the rest. This is similar to the enduring and abiding statements in portions such as Matthew 24:12-14 and John 15:6. Therefore, of course, the author did not contradict himself.
  25. 4:11 Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience.
  26. This passage supports our statements about 4:3. They must be “diligent to enter that rest.” When their whole life is viewed by God, it will have to fit the statement, “They were united by faith with those who heard [and believed]” (4:2).[7] Here again, we see the necessity of obedience (4:6) to enter into the rest. The rest seems to be salvation.
  27. 5:9 And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.
  28. Although obedience is emphasized greatly in the circumcision writings, we also find it many times in Paul’s writings. In Romans 6:16-18 we find it is necessary for justification or imputed righteousness.
  29. Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness (h] uJpakoh`" eij" dikaiosuvnhn)? 17 But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. 18 And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.
  30. Obedience is not the issue. What must be obeyed? That is the issue. In Paul’s ministry, this is the message that had to be obeyed: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31). Under the circumcision covenant and writings, the faith/obedience had to be demonstrated in works.
  31. 6:4-12 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 if they fall 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. 9 But, beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner. 10 For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister. 11 And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, 12 that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
  32. Controversy surrounds this important portion of Hebrews. If you pick up five different commentaries, you’ll find five different solutions. Solutions? Yes, because there is a serious problem here which must be solved no matter what your theological position is.
  33. The first question we must answer is this: were these people saved?[8] We must look at the word saved. What does it mean? Today we can say, “Yes, I am saved” (Eph 2:8). But under the covenant of circumcision and its gospel, there doesn’t appear to be enough evidence for a person to say what we mean when we say, “We’re saved.” When we say, “We’re saved,” we mean, “I know that I’m going to heaven no matter what.” We can say that because we are sealed by the Holy Spirit until the day of redemption (Eph. 4:30).
  34. The circumcision believers were in the process of salvation. If they believed, held fast, endured to the end, abided in Him, kept the commandments, then, they would receive salvation at the end of their lives (Mat. 24:13,14; John 15:5,6; 1 John 2:3; 1 Pet. 1:5). They could have assurance but not security. Assurance would be theirs if they were doing what God required. That’s why 1 John 2:3-5 is a passage on assurance, not security. Many passages from the circumcision writings give the same assurance. However, they can’t guarantee security of salvation. Salvation is always conditional under the covenant of circumcision. Therefore, considering the strong positive statements about them, we must conclude that they were believers before they sinned.[9] Once they fell away, they were in the worst situation possible. Why? Because once they had believed and then had fallen away, they could not re-enter the salvation process. Why? Because their sin would be similar to the sin in Numbers 15:30,31:
  35. 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. 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.
  36. I believe the writer alludes to this Numbers passage in Hebrews 10:26-29:
  37. For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. 28 Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?
  38. Notice how Hebrews 10:28 points to the passage immediately following our quoted passage, Numbers 15:32,33:
  39. 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.
  40. Observe the dreadful declaration of verse 29. Similar passages are found in other circumcision epistles: 1 John 5:16 and 2 Peter 2:20. Why would God be so severe in this situation? This severity is not unwarranted, but consistent with the concepts of the circumcision covenant already distinctly stated in the gospels.[10]
  41. Under the domain of the circumcision covenant, the new covenant was replacing the old. The redemptive elements were already in place. Now, other aspects of the new covenant were being realized. All of the circumcision epistles display a greater responsibility in obedience and endurance because of the greater knowledge they have after they experienced the blessings of 6:4,5. They needed teachers in 5:12 because of their sluggish hearing. If they continued in their sluggishness (6:12) they would end up like those in 2 John 8-10 and Hebrews 6:4-6. By the time 1 John was written, John can tell those abiding in the word that they have no need of teachers. The anointing they received teaches them concerning all things (1 John 2:20-27). But it is for this reason that the fallen of Hebrews 6:6 cannot be renewed to repentance again. They have no excuse for falling away. They have experienced the blessings of the new covenant.
  42. The most important benefit of the new covenant was the work of the Holy Spirit as described in two passages: Ezekiel 36:26,27,
  43. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.
  44. and Jer 31:34, “None of them shall teach his neighbor, and none his brother, saying, ‘know the Lord,’ for all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them.” These passages are referred to in Hebrews 8:10-13. I believe this new work of the Holy Spirit is described when it says they “tasted . . . the powers of the age to come.” If they would fall away, it would be impossible to renew them, because they would actually have partaken of the new covenant in its many facets by the power of the Holy Spirit and then rejected it. How appalling! How blasphemous! How inconceivable! How would they escape if they neglected “so great [a] salvation” (2:3)? It is clear. They would not escape.
  45. In Luke 12:8-12, Jesus gives a similar warning to His disciples concerning the unpardonable sin. Therefore, I conclude that the impossibility of being renewed is a divine penalty similar to the statement in Matthew 12:32: “It will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.”
  46. “They crucify again for themselves the son of God,” shows they have no use for Him. In Galatians 6:14, Paul seems to be saying that the world has no use for him and he has no use for the world. Not only do they have no use for Him, but because of the persecution of believers in Rome, to whom Hebrews was written,[11] they “put Him to an open shame,” or made a public spectacle of Him in the act of denying Him.
  47. When he says he is “confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation,” he bases it upon their deeds introduced by the explanatory for, gar, in verse 10. I think it is clear that these believers are in the process of salvation. He is confident of this even though he is giving them such solemn warnings.
  48. Verses 11 and 12 express his desire for them. He doesn’t want them to imitate the fallen. He wants them to “imitate those who through faith and long-suffering inherit the promises.” To do this, they must be diligent to the end. Abraham “obtained the promise after he had suffered long” (6:15). Part of the method required by God for salvation under the circumcision covenant was endurance.
  49. From this warning passage with its conditional salvation, the author turns to the immutable, God’s oath, the hope, and the redemption provided by Jesus, the eternal priest according to the order of Melchizedek. The only complete citation of Jeremiah 31:31-34 is made as he contrasts the inadequacies of the old covenant with the sureties of the new in chapters 9 and 10. The greatest point of contrast is redemption. The priestly sacrifices were insufficient for a number of reasons, but the “offering of the body of Jesus Christ,” was a once for all event.
  50. 10:9-14 then He said, “Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God.” He takes away the first that He may establish the second. 10 By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11 And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 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.
  51. By this “one offering,” He finished His work of redemption. Those in verse 14 described as being sanctified [present participle] are the ones who are perfected – if. It is conditional. This present participle shows only those who will continue in their process of sanctification will be the ones perfected. Why is this? Christ’s act applies to Israel collectively. Security for a member of the body of Christ depends upon his corporate membership in the body of Christ. He becomes a member of the body by faith. Then he is sealed. In the same manner, the covenant blessings only pertain to those united to the true Israel. This too is a matter of faith (Rom 2:28,29; 9:6-8,30-10:4). But that faith must be expressed by works and endurance (Mat 24:9-14). There is no sealing. After being purged in the tribulation (Zec 13:8,9), true Israel will be saved (Rom 11:25-27).[12] This is reason he exhorts them to draw near and “hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering” (Heb 10:23) as soon as he completes his quotation from Jeremiah 31. Then, he immediately launches into the most poignant warning passage in the whole epistle, Hebrews 10:26-39. But first we will deal with Hebrews 8:7-13.
  52. 8:7-13 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second. 8 Because, finding fault with them, He says: “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; 9 not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they did not continue in My covenant, and I disregarded them,” says the LORD. 10 “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel: After those days,” says the LORD, “I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 11 None of them shall teach his neighbor, and none his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them. 12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” 13 In that He says, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.
  53. The great advantage of the new covenant over the old seems to be the enabling power it has when it is written on their hearts. Jeremiah 32:40b gives another facet of the enabling power, that is, fear of God. The old covenant failed “because they did not continue in” it. The new covenant will succeed. Since He will put His laws in their minds, write them on their hearts, and put His fear in their hearts, they will have perfect knowledge of the Lord. That is why the punishment for faithlessness is so severe. If they turn from Him when they have that perfect knowledge, “it is impossible . . . . if they fall, to renew them again to repentance” (Heb. 6:4-6). The judgment is so severe because the knowledge is so complete. The warnings seem extreme until we view the content of the covenant and the distressing results of falling away.
  54. Hebrews 8:13 shows us the status of these believers in relation to the old covenant. For them, it is still in effect. It is becoming obsolete, [palaiouvmenon, present participle], and growing old, [ghravskon, present participle], but it has not yet vanished away. That is why James wrote that they will be judged by the law (James 2:12). We can see from the context, James 2:8-13, that the law of liberty is the Mosaic law.
  55. The ninth chapter of Hebrews contrasts some elements of the covenant which is vanishing away with the one which is beginning to be implemented. The emphasis is upon the redemptive portion of the new covenant. The tenth chapter continues these contrasts and emphasizes the perfection of Christ’s sacrifice.
  56. 10:10-12 By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11 And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins, forever sat down at the right hand of God
  57. Verse 10 could be better translated, “In the accomplishment of this will is based all our sanctification, effected by the self-offering of Christ.”[13] The believers are in a state of sanctification. Their present state is a result of Christ’s once for all offering. We must look elsewhere in this epistle to see if their sanctification would continue and finally be completed. This is the reason the writer issues so many warning passages. He wants them to endure unto the end to complete their sanctification. Their salvation seems to be closely linked with their sanctification.[14] Their salvation is a process. It is progressive. The fourteenth verse shows the progressive nature of this sanctification.
  58. 10:14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.
  59. This priest, Christ, has offered one sacrifice for all times, in contrast to the priest who frequently offered. He does not have to repeatedly offer sacrifices for sins. Those being sanctified can rely on the perfection of this provision.[15] Therefore, because of the perfection of this sacrifice, the believer cannot take it lightly. They are exhorted to provoke one another to love and good works as they see the day drawing near (Heb 10:25).
  60. 10:26 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins.
  61. This is willful sin. [16] There is no longer a sacrifice because the priest could sacrifice only for sins of ignorance, or unwillful sins as it shows in Heb 9:7, “But into the second part the high priest went alone once a year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the people’s sins committed in ignorance.”
  62. Here is a condition of their sanctification. Refer back to the discussion on 3:12,13 and 6:4-6. This sin is apostasy. There is no longer a sacrifice because the sacrifice has already been made, and they have rejected Him. Delitzsch accurately shows that true converts could fall from salvation.[17]
  63. The word “willfully,” found here, is eJkousivw" . It is the key to understanding the nature of the unpardonable sin discussed here. The LXX of Numbers 15 uses forms of this word repeatedly. However, in Numbers it is with the alpha privative which changes the meaning to, “unintentional.” This is used in 15:24-29. Willful, presumptuous sin has dire consequences in both Numbers and Hebrews. That’s why the writer of Hebrews issues such dreadful warnings. Numbers 15:30 tells them:
  64. But the person who does anything presumptuously, whether he is native-born or a stranger, that one brings reproach on the LORD [Compare “put Him to an open shame” of Hebrews 6:6.], and he shall be cut off from among his people. 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.
  65. Following this statement in Numbers, an incident is related which illustrates the severity of an intentional offense. Numbers 15:32-36 shows that death was the result of this kind of sin. “His guilt is upon him.” He was lost. The Hebrews, to whom this epistle was written, were well aware of the Numbers passage. Now, they too had this extremely severe warning. They heard, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Heb. 10:31). What did they have to look forward to if they sinned willfully? Nothing but “a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries” (Heb. 10:27).
  66. Notice the allusion to the Numbers 15:32-36 incident in Hebrews 10:28, “Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.” But here, the punishment is more severe because their knowledge is so complete. Compare Hebrews 10:16 with 1 John 2:20,27. The knowledge aspects of the new covenant are in place for them. Here, in Hebrews 10:29, we see that even though they were sanctified,[18] their punishment would be “much worse” than the man who was cut off in his guilt.
  67. 10:29 Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?
  68. There must be degrees of punishment.
  69. 10:35-39 Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: 37 For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not delay. 38 Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him” [from Hab. 3:3,4 LXX]. 39 But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.
  70. Here, we see it is possible for them to cast away their confidence. In Ephesians 3:12, we have our confidence because we are in Christ and sealed there (Eph. 4:30). In contrast, they must endure to receive the promise. Here, again, there is a condition. God required conditions right from the beginning of the conditional circumcision covenant. Notice how the Habakkuk quote ends: “If anyone draws back, my soul has no pleasure in him.” The interpretation of that verse is given immediately, “those who draw back to perdition.” It is interesting that the writer literally says, “But we are not of shrinking, unto destruction, but of faith unto preservation of soul.” Then he devotes himself to that great chapter on faith.
  71. As for us, even though our salvation is secure, we must strive to please God by loving Him and allowing His love to flow through us producing godly Christians. We must feed on God’s word and allow His spirit to make us men and women of faith, completely dependent on our great Father.
  72. Considering the covenant foundation of this epistle, it is fascinating to notice that the faith chapter does not mention the faith that Abram manifested for salvation when his faith was imputed for righteousness. It seems that the Holy Spirit chose the quotations from the records of the Old Testament very carefully on a dispensational basis. He chose those incidents which agreed with the faith-works concept of the covenant of circumcision, here. In Paul’s epistles, He chose the faith concept of Genesis 15:6.
  73. 12:25 See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape, we who turn away[19] from Him who speaks from heaven.
  74. Again, the punishment was severe when they did not heed Him who spoke from the mountain (Heb. 12:18,26). But the punishment is worse for those who do not listen to Him when He speaks from heaven. Conditional is written all over this book. This is all in line with the standards of the covenant of circumcision which God began with Abraham. And for Israel, this conditional covenant will last forever. Genesis 17:7,19 said, And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you. 19 Then God said: ‘No, Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his descendants after him.’”
  75. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  76. [1] A. T. Robertson, Zahn, E. F. Harrison, F. Delitzsch, J. B. Rotherham, Alford, Farrar, Westcott, G. Lunemann in Meyer’s Commentary, and Moll in Lange’s Commentary are a few of the authors. In Moulton’s Grammar of New Testament Greek, v. 2, p. 11, this statement is made in relation to the number of compound verbs found per page of Greek text. “A fondness for compounds is fairly enough noted as a characteristic of an individual style: for example, the contrast between the figures for Paul and for Hebrews (3.8 per page and 8.0) is enough to discredit the Pauline authorship of the Epistle, were there further need of witnesses.” Also, an interesting book by A. Welch, The Authorship of the Epistle to the Hebrews, (Edinburgh & London: Oliphant, Anderson & Ferrier, 1898) argues cogently for a Petrine authorship. I agree with him. However, the important point is: Paul did not write it as Hebrews 2:3 further shows.
  77. [2] J. B. Rotherham, Studies in the Epistle to the Hebrews, p. 7.
  78. [3] The Majority Text, a, A, C, and D support the text against p46 & B.
  79. [4] A. T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament, p. 355.
  80. [5] The Journal of Theology, v. 4 n. 4, 1990-91, p. 8.
  81. [6] Robertson, p. 361.
  82. [7] Majority Text and Egyptian Text. ajkouvw seems to have the meaning “hear and believe” in these portions of Hebrews: 2:3; 3:7,15.
  83. [8] See Fisher’s articles in The Journal of Theology, v. 4 n. 1, 1990, pp. 11-13, and v. 4 n. 2, pp. 11-15.
  84. [9] Michaelis in TDNT, v. VI, p. 171, says, “Although the sense seems to be ‘fallen away’ along the lines of . . . parapivptw does not mean ‘to fall away,’ but ‘to offend,’ ‘to fall,’ ‘to sin,’ as in the LXX. In elucidation one may adduce eJkousivw" aJmartavnein in the related Hb. 10:26, especially as the reference in both cases is not to specific offences as such, but to these as the expression of a total attitude.”
  85. [10] The Journal of Theology, v. 4 n. 4, 1990-91, pp. 6-8.
  86. [11] D.S. DeWitt, “The Value of Hebrews 13:24 for Determining the Destination of the Epistle,” Journal of Grace Theology, v. 1 n. 1, 1964, pp. 10-17. I agree that it was sent to Rome.
  87. [12] I think Paul refers to the circumcision believers as the Israel of God (Gal 6:16).
  88. [13] Franz Delitzsch, Commentary on the Epistle to the Hebrews, (Minneapolis: Klock & Klock, 1978), v. II, p. 156.
  89. [14] Delitzsch, pp. 158-163. Delitzsch shows that forever, ei*" toV dihnekeV", in verse 12 refers to Christ’s sitting in contrast to the frequent, pollavki", standing of the priest. “This man, on the contrary, having offered one sacrifice on behalf of sins, sat down for perpetuity on the right hand of God.” In verse 14, he comments on teteleivwken, the perfect, “it is perfect, requiring no addition; but, at the same time, it is not as to its effect a past work, but one perpetually realized in those who accept it, and as thereby being sanctified (touV" a&giazomevnou", pres. part.). It needs therefore no repetition. . . . The a&giazovmenoi are those who by acts of faith . . . make the accomplished work of Christ individually their own.”
  90. [15] Delitzsch, p. 163. I think his concluding comments are excellent. “The being sanctified (in which is here included both imputed and imparted holiness, and cleansing from sin, justification and sanctification) is the subjective process by which the perfected objective work of Christ is realized in believers. Those who submit themselves to the gracious rule of the high-priestly King, find Him all that they can require by His one self-sacrifice: they can add nothing to His perfect work.”
  91. [16] Delitzsch, p. 184. Delitzsch states that sin, “ aJmartanei'n [to sin] is here the same as peripesei'n [fall away] at ch. vi. 6, and ajposth`nai ajpo; qeou` [depart from God] at ch. iii. 12. . . . The sin meant is that of apostasy; unfaithfulness to God, and to His manifestation in Christ, being the ground and foundation of all other sin.”
  92. [17] Delitzsch, pp. 184,185. “ejpivgnwsi" designates an active application of the mental powers to some one definite object, and consequently a complete and intelligent apprehension of its nature: whence it follows that we may speak of a false gnw'si", but not of a false or unreal ejpivgnwsi". The sacred writer, therefore, clearly intimates by the very choice of the word that it is not a mere outward and historical knowledge of which he is here speaking, but an inward, quickening, believing apprehension of revealed truth. That after such apprehension of truth apostasy is possible, that even those once truly converted may fall away from grace, has been already shown at ch. vi. 4-8; and we have already come to the conviction that the impossibility of renewal there predicated of such apostates is not to be understood as a merely relative, but as an absolute impossibility. The same assertion is made here. To those who after full enlightenment thus fall away, all prospect of future grace and repentance is foreclosed.”
  93. [18] Notice how this precludes limited atonement. Here is a person who was sanctified (aorist passive) by the blood of Christ. Now he is lost.
  94. [19] Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament. It’s a present participle, ajpostrefovmenoi
• Question: Should we go for the gold? Will we have to give account for every sin?
  • Can you please explain the concept of rewards when we get to heaven (1 Cor 3:5-15)? Will we have to give an account for every sin that we have committed? Also, this make it seems like some Christians could be pursuing good works on earth just for the hopes of heavenly rewards.
• Answer: (click here to see the answer)
  1. Josh,
  2. You picked the classic passage for rewards. Thinking of the Olympics, the Apostle Paul wrote that we should go for the gold in 1 Co 9:24 “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.”
  3. Now he wasn’t really talking about a gold medal, but a God medal. In the same way, it’s easy to think, “It isn’t worth it to get a God medal.” But we’d be wrong if we think that way. That’s why Paul wrote about the discipline of training in 1 Ti 4:6-10 “If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, trained [entrefw bring up, rear, then train in tini, something. ] in the words of the faith and the good doctrine which you have carefully followed. 7 But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness. 8 For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come. 9 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance. 10 For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe.”
  4. What are the rudiments of this training? The spiritual gift of self control is important.
  5. 1 Co 9:25 “And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate [BGD, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian gives, egkrateuvomai - control oneself, abstain from something. ajpo panto" ponhrou pragmato" from every evil deed. As a consequence of the fear of God. Exercise self-control in all respects of athletes 1 Co 9:25] in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. 26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. 27 But I discipline [symbolically (Aristophanes, polei" upwpiasmenai, treat cities roughly, torment, maltreat) 1 Co 9:27 (of the apostle’s self-imposed discipline. But the expression is obviously taken from the language of prize-fighting vs. 26).] my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.
  6. The same word is used in sexual matters. 1 Co 7:8,9 “But I say to the unmarried and to the widows: It is good for them if they remain even as I am; 9 but if they cannot exercise self-control (egkrateuontai), let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.” But there’s more to it than just saying you must control yourself. We must set a goal. Paul showed us how in Phi 3:12 “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.”
  7. Loving God with all our might and loving others is what God wants more than anything else.
  8. Phi 3:13,14 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.
  9. We must use God’s word as our training manual and live our lives by it. When Paul began his book to the Romans, he had not been to Rome. So, he wrote in 1:11,12, “For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established [confirmed, established, strengthened BGD] – 12 that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.
  10. At the end of his manual he summed up its three parts. My gospel is extremely important if we are going to do good works for the right reason. Rom 16:25a “Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel.” It’s absolutely necessary to know the gospel for this dispensation so we can live the Christian life.
  11. Paul wrote about our justification in Rom 3:21,22 “But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God, through faithfulness of Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe.” He wrote about our security. Rom 8:29 “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.” He wrote about our life. Rom 6:4-11 “Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, 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, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6 knowing this, that our old man 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. He also wrote about the revelation of the mystery. Rom 16:25b,26a “And the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began 26 but now has been made manifest.” I believe strongly that we must understand the mystery of the body of Christ – that He broke down racial enmity in His body by uniting us all in one body, the church.
  13. I believe this shows us the thrust of His goal for us so we can grow in His love. We see from Paul’s prophetic writings that we’ll be raptured and miss the great tribulation. All of these are important for us to become established in the faith. Paul endured much hardship, was persecuted, and punished because of the message of grace. He did it all for one reason.
  14. We also know that Paul emphasized evangelism. We will be judged for what we do after we’re saved, but it won’t affect our salvation. In 1 Co 9:16-19, Paul wrote, “For if I evangelize, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not evangelize! 17 For if I do this willingly, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have been entrusted with a dispensation. 18 What is my reward then? That when I evangelize, I may present the gospel of Christ without charge, that I may not abuse my authority in the gospel. 19 For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more.”
  15. Necessity may have been laid upon Paul, but from 2 Co 5:14,15, we see that the motivation should be love. “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. Then, in the passage you mentioned, you’re right, we can’t lose our salvation, but we may lose our reward. Notice, the context is serving God in evangelism. 1 Co 3:7-15 “So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. 8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. 9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building. 10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. 11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.”
  17. Another thing that we have to consider, that has helped us in our church is we have varying temperaments and are uniquely different, but deep down, we’re really all on the same emotional level. I think there are at least five deep undeniable needs we all have in common. We need to be forgiven, and we Christians are. We need to be loved, but many Christians don’t feel like they are. We need security, and if we don’t have bad theology, we know that we do. We need to be significant, and that causes us to set goals which are sometimes faulty. We need hope, and if we know God’s word, we have that.
  18. All our other inadequacies flow naturally from these basic needs when they aren’t, or perceived as not, met. God really knows our needs because He has feelings Himself, and His Son experienced our feelings and temptations. He knew what it was like to be despised, forsaken, and all alone. He formed the body of Christ to help meet our needs, to comfort us and make us feel like we belong.
  19. But the body of Christ is made of imperfect Christians who will fail us – sometimes at our greatest moment of need. O