Why Is There Silence In Heaven For Half An Hour In Revelation 8:1?

Re 8:1 When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.

Any answer to this will only be a speculation, and mine is no different. The silence in heaven for half an hour probably means that there are no Charismatics and Pentecostals there!

No, seriously. I think it's the silence of expectation and anticipation. They were all waiting to see what will take place at the opening of the seventh seal, and so, naturally, they become silent to see what happens. 

Why Did God Create Satan Knowing He Would Rebel?

There are many answers to this question. Be sure that the following answer I will be writing here would not be the only one.

Okay, why did God create Satan knowing that he would rebel?

First of all, we must know that when God created Satan, He created him in an environment and situation wherein there was every reason to love God and be faithful to Him. That there was absolutely no justifiable reason to go against God, that, if he would rebel, it would be out of inexcusable wickedness on his part.

With that in mind, the reason why God created Satan knowing full well that he would rebel against Him is that Satan would become an object lesson to the other angels, who would not follow Satan in his rebellion, to remain faithful to Him for all eternity.

In Satan and his fallen angels, they would see and realize the folly, the consequence and the cost of what it is to rebel against God. They would be wiser, not from their own follies, but through the folly of others, namely, Satan and his fallen angels.

Who Are The Seven Angels Of The Seven Churches In Revelation 1?

Re 1:20 "The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches.

The word "angel" just means a messenger. To me, the seven angels here are the seven human messengers to the seven churches. If you look at the steps as to how Revelation was communicated in chapter 1 verse 1, we read this:

Re 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants--things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John,

Notice that Revelation came from 1) God which He gave to 2) the Lord Jesus ("Him") given to 3) an angel 4) then to John then in Revelation 1:20 given to 5) the seven angels or messengers and then 6) to the seven churches

It would seem unthinkable and unlikely for John to pass on his message back to angelic celestial beings again in Revelation 1:20 after having received it from an angel. More likely, he would have passed it on to human messengers who will publicly read it in the seven churches.

What's the theme of the book of Revelation?

If you read it in its entirety in one sitting, you'll get this idea---after everything, after the smoke has cleared, in the end, team JESUS wins

Is Non-Denominationalism Another Denomination?

Often those who can't help but think in denominations use this objection to say that non-denominationalism is, in effect, another denomination.

The misconception is the failure to realize that non-denominationalism is not an organization but a belief and a conviction like Trinitarianism, the belief and conviction, derived from the Bible that there is one God who exists in three blessed persons.

A denomination is an organization that excludes some Christians from their fellowship if they don't accept certain distinctive doctrines that the organization holds dear.

Non-denominationalism, on the other hand, is a belief and a conviction that embraces and recognizes all those who trust in Christ as part of the one body. To avoid any semblance of divisiveness, they don't do anything and say anything that will go against the one body principle.

Did Jephthah Commit A Human Sacrifice?

Before we give an answer to the question, it would be in order if we recount the story. Here it is:

Jg 11:30 And Jephthah made a vow to the LORD, and said, "If You will indeed deliver the people of Ammon into my hands,

31 "then it will be that whatever comes out of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the people of Ammon, shall surely be the LORD'S, and I will offer it up as a burnt offering."

Jg 11:32 So Jephthah advanced toward the people of Ammon to fight against them, and the LORD delivered them into his hands.

33 And he defeated them from Aroer as far as Minnith-twenty cities-and to Abel Keramim, with a very great slaughter. Thus the people of Ammon were subdued before the children of Israel.

Jg 11:34 When Jephthah came to his house at Mizpah, there was his daughter, coming out to meet him with timbrels and dancing; and she was his only child. Besides her he had neither son nor daughter.

35 And it came to pass, when he saw her, that he tore his clothes, and said, "Alas, my daughter! You have brought me very low! You are among those who trouble me! For I have given my word to the LORD, and I cannot go back on it."

36 So she said to him, "My father, if you have given your word to the LORD, do to me according to what has gone out of your mouth, because the LORD has avenged you of your enemies, the people of Ammon."

No, Jephthah did not offer his daughter as a human sacrifice. Notice his vow very carefully in verse 31. He did not intend to commit a human sacrifice:

  "then it will be that whatever comes out of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the people of Ammon, shall surely be the LORD'S, and I will offer it up as a burnt offering."

Jepthah was referring to an animal sacrifice ("whatever" and "it"). However, he fulfilled the essence of his vow by giving up his daugther to be a perpetual virgin for life. Fathers at this time had authority over their own daughters whether they would marry or not. She would be dedicated to God to serve Him as a single woman for life.

Verses 38 and 39 make this very clear:


Jg 11:38 So he said, "Go." And he sent her away for two months; and she went with her friends, and bewailed her virginity on the mountains.

39 And it was so at the end of two months that she returned to her father, and he carried out his vow with her which he had vowed. She knew no man. And it became a custom in Israel

Why Did God Teach Israel To Distinguish Between Unclean And Clean Food In The OT?

The Old Testament does not give us an explicit reason for this. But here are possible reasons for it:

First, the animals that were labelled as unclean back then may have contained harmful micro organisms at that time. Hence, the prohibition. Hygienic and health issues.

Second, it was to symbolically inculcate in Israel the spiritual lesson that, in this fallen world, there is such a thing as being clean and unclean and the need to be spiritually cleansed. The symbol was a sign that points to the spiritual.

Third, it was to separate Israel from the surrounding nations. The unclean food that were prohibited were the regular diet of pagan nations. Fellowship is usually illustrated by two people sharing the same meal together. The categorization that this food is unclean while this one is clean was to create a separation between Israel and the pagans.

Evangelism: What Is It?

As they say, evangelism, is simply, a beggar telling his fellow beggar where he got free bread. It is informing an unsaved sinner how to be saved by faith in what the Lord Jesus did on the cross and His subsequent resurrection.

What Does "Seasoned With Salt" Mean In Colossians 4:6?

Col 4:6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

Salt is a preservative. It prevents corruption. It means that one's speech should be without a talk that corrupts.

Eph 4:29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.

Does God Hear The Prayers Of Sinners?

By "sinners" in this question, we mean unsaved unrepentant sinners. Here's the answer---Generally, though there maybe exceptions, God does not hear the prayers of unrepentant sinners.

Isa 1:15 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.

Pr 1:28 "Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me.
Pr 1: 29 Because they hated knowledge And did not choose the fear of the LORD,

Mic 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.

Isa 59:2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear.

To a man who has heard the Gospel and rejected it, here's what God has to say about him:

Heb 10:28 Anyone who has rejected Moses' law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.
Heb 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?

Most assuredly, though, the prayer that God hears from a sinner is the cry of repentance.

How Can Saved Sinners Enjoy Heaven With Unsaved Loved Ones In Hell?

Saved sinners will one day be glorified. This glorification brings about a radical change in our attitudes. We will have a perfect love for God, a perfect sense of the despicableness of sin, God's holiness and justice. On that great and awesome day, we will be perfectly all out for God from the inside out. We will be perfectly satisfied that God has been vindicated in His judgment against unsaved sinners.

In fact, even unbelieving parents, with a sense of composure, on many occasions, have given their approval in the execution of their own sons and daughters who have committed heinous crimes against humanity.

Glorified saved sinners will be like Aaron, when God, in judgment, justly executed his sons, who did not recognize, as they should, the holiness of God.

Le 10:1 Then Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it, put incense on it, and offered profane fire before the LORD, which He had not commanded them.

2 So fire went out from the LORD and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.

3 And Moses said to Aaron, "This is what the LORD spoke, saying: 'By those who come near Me I must be regarded as holy; And before all the people I must be glorified.'" So Aaron held his peace.

How Do I Know If I Found "The One" As My Life Partner?

Listen or read well. "The one" does not exists. You read that right. He or she does not exists. You could be married twice or thrice or more in your life in the providence of God.

"The one" who is totally compatible to you, where your triangles are perfectly congruent, will only come until the cows come home. You'll wait forever. He or she will not appear in your radar evah!

Marriage is not about finding the person whom you are so in sync with totally. No, it's about finding the person whom you are willing to commit your life to in spite of his or her flaws and imperfections. A person whom you are willing to work it out for life.

Of course, if you are a Christian you are only to marry a fellow Christian. Beyond this parameter, God gives you the privilege to choose. Okay?

1CO 7:39 A wife is bound as long as her husband lives; but if her husband is dead, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord.

What Is Life?

The opposite of life is death. Death means separation. When your spirit separates from your body, you experience physical death. Again, death means separation.

Now, if death means separation, life means union. When your spirit is united to your body, you have physical life. If you are spiritually united to God, the Creator, then you have life...true life.

How stupid of man to go to great lengths in trying to find the meaning and purpose of life just about everywhere and everyone else except in the One who originated it.

Man, as a sinner,  will forever find life meaningless without being reconciled and united to the One who gave it (the source of life, God the Creator) through the Lord Jesus Christ. If you miss out on God, you don't miss half of your life, no, you miss life itself!

Explain The Trinity

* There is only one God.

* The Father is God.
* The Son is God.
* The Spirit is God.

* The three are distinct persons.

Explain 1 Corinthians 2:14-15

1CO 2:14 But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.
1CO 2:15 But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one.

The things of God are beyond a man who is not in the right spiritual condition. An unsaved man (the natural man in verse 14) who is not aided by the Holy Spirit is like a blind man, who never saw the light of day since birth, attending a lecture about the colors of the rainbow. They have no value to him. In order to appreciate it, his eyes must be opened.

In the same way, in order to spiritually appraise, that is, in order to realize the value of the things of God, one must be spiritual or one must be aided by the Holy Spirit. Through the aid of the Holy Spirit he is able to discern and realize their worth.

This, in turn, affects his perspective and outlook in life. He marches through life to the sound of a different drumbeat. And the natural men around him find him an enigma and a puzzle. They don't understand him since he is out of step with them. They find him foolish since no one among them can truly appraise him and therefore understand him.



 

What Does The Term "Heart" In The Scriptures Mean?

In the Bible, the word "heart" could refer to one's a) mind b) desires c) will d) attitude and e) conscience. It also refers to other non-physical internal activities of man. "For from within, out of the heart of men...(Mr 7:21)

 * It could refer to the mind:

Mr 2:8 But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them, "Why do you reason about these things in your hearts?

Mt 15:19 "For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts...

* It could refer to one's desires:

Ro 10:1 Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved.

* It could refer to the will:

Ro 6:17 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.

Obedience requires the will.

* It could refer to one's attitude:

Mr 7:21 "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,
22 "thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness.

* It could refer to the conscience:

1Jo 3:20 For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.

When Is The Ideal Age For A Christian To Marry?

The ideal age for a Christian to marry is when he or she is Christlike enough to be a husband and a wife. Christlike character is the determining factor. Don't get married if you are not Christlike enough to be a husband or a wife.

What's The Best Way To Understand The Bible?

The answer that I am about to give assumes the following:

a) That you are already a Christian, someone indwelt by the Holy Spirit
b) That you have a heart ready to obey God's Word
c) That you have a default principle of understanding the Bible plainly and normally

The best way to understand the Bible is to READ it. Read it again and again and again. Acquaint yourself with its contents. Be familiar with it. Familiarize yourself with the territory, so to speak. Get to know it like a friend. Let it be your companion. Hang out with the Bible often. In the process of time, layer upon layer, it will open itself up to you.

One portion here is explained in another. The Bible best explains itself. And all this require time and effort on your part to read it.

Should Confessions Be Specific?

Yes, when a Christian sins, he should be specific and particular in his confession.

1Jo 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Notice that the word "sins" is plural. The condition described in this verse is not a general and wholesale confession of sins but a particular naming and judging of sins.

LEV 5:5 ‘So it shall be when he becomes guilty in one of these, that he shall confess that in which he has sinned.

Explain 1 John 3:6. Does It Refer To Sinless Perfection Of A Christian?

1 Jo 3:6 Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him.

The apostle John here was not teaching sinless perfection. James himself said: " For we all stumble in many things." (Jas 3:2) Notice, the pronoun used. He included himself as one who stumbles in many things. James did not claim sinless perfection for himself.

Even the apostle John, the very one who wrote 1st John himself said, again notice the pronoun used: "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." (1 Jo 1:8)

If John meant sinless perfection here in 1 John 3:6, then he, including James, would be disqualified and would be dismissed as someone who has neither seen the Lord nor known Him. Actually, the emphasis is on the tense of the verbs "sin" and "sins." Consulting other reliable translations, we read:

1Jn 3:6 No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him. NIV

1Jo 3:6 No one who continues in union with Him lives in sin: no one who lives in sin has seen Him or knows Him. WNT

The verse is actually talking about sinning as a lifestyle. It refers to an unchanged life. It's not talking about sinning as an exception in one's life but as something that characterizes it. There's a difference between stumbling into sin as opposed to swimming in it. A mountain of difference between being comfortable about sinning from grieving over it because of occasional slips here and there.

There is another way of looking at this verse. And it is this---it talks about sinning here as being lawless. Stick with me for a moment as I explain it further. Follow me closely. Think with me.

In John 3:4 we read this: "Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness."
From this verse down to verse 9, John talks about being lawless. Now, failing to obey God and being lawless are two different things.

A lawless man is someone who does not recognize any moral standard above him. He is a law unto himself. He makes his own rules and recognizes no authority above him. The man in Romans 7 is different. He is not lawless. In fact, he delights in the law. But because of his weakness, he fails to carry out the will of God for his life.

Observe and notice him:

Ro 7:15 For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do.

You see, he wills to obey the law. He hates failing to carry it out.

16 If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good.
17 But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.

You see, he agrees that the law is good. He is not against it.

18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find.

See, he wants to perform the law. But has no strength to execute it.

19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice.
20 Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.
21 I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good.
22 For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man.

You see, he delights in the law!

23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

The man in this section is not lawless, although he is a failure in carrying out the will of God.

Back to 1st John 3:4-9. John is saying that a Christian will never fall into this condition. His heart will always be desiring to obey God's will. But to fall into a condition of lawlessness, that, he won't do.

Whoever sins, in the sense of being lawless, has never seen God nor known Him.

What's The "Last Trumpet" In 1 Corinthians 15:52?

1Co 15:52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

Some say that the "last trumpet" here refers to the last trumpet of the seven trumpets mentioned in the book of Revelation. That would place the Church in the Tribulation Period. Other portions of Scriptures,  however, when considered, are clear on the fact that the Church will not go through the Tribulation Period.

I believe that the "last trumpet" mentioned here refers to the marching-away trumpet so commonly known in the 1st century among Roman soldiers. There were three trumpet calls for Roman soldiers.
The first trumpet was a call for them to rise and stand on their feet. The second trumpet was a call for them to fall in line. While the third and last trumpet was a call for them to march away.

1 Corinthians 15:52 is closely connected to 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17, the famous Rapture passage of the Bible.

 1Th 4:16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

1Co 15:52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

The last trumpet of 1 Cor. 15:52 is the trumpet of God in 1 Thes. 4:16. At the Rapture, our Commander will order the trumpet call to be made which would signal the Church of God to march away into heaven with the Lord.

It is called the "last" trumpet not because there will be preceding trumpet calls. No, rather it is a technical term that specifically pertains to the widely-known marching-away trumpet call. The term "last trumpet" was used to make it clear and plain that the call would not be for rising up and getting ready (as in the first trumpet call) or falling in line (as in the second trumpet call) but to march away.

It is not surprising that the Church of God is treated like soldiers because they ARE. Ever heard of the hymn "Onward Christian Soldiers?" Read Ephesians 6 and acquaint yourself with the Christian's battle armor.

The Rapture is the Christian's march to headquarters for rewards for his service down here.

What Does The Bible Say About Getting Into Debt?

The Bible does not condemn a person getting into debt. However, it contains warnings concerning it. Scripture recognizes its potential dangers. Far too many people get unwise in relation to debt. They don't know how to handle it wisely. Furthermore, debt could be habit-forming.

When the Bible says "Owe nothing to anyone..." (RO 13:8) it means to pay one's debt as it becomes due and demandable. It does not refer to an absolute across-the-board prohibition about getting into debt. If debt is sinful and wrong then so does lending. But lending in Scripture is not prohibited.

De 24:10 "When you lend your brother anything, you shall not go into his house to get his pledge.
11 "You shall stand outside, and the man to whom you lend shall bring the pledge out to you.

Since lending in Scripture is not prohibited then getting into debt could not be viewed as sinful. And so, again, when the Bible says "Owe nothing to anyone..." (RO 13:8) it means to pay one's debt as it becomes due and demandable. It does not refer to an absolute across-the-board prohibition about getting into debt since the lending of one which leads to debt in another is not frowned upon by Scripture.

Realize, however, that getting into debt is akin to a slave-master relationship.

PR 22:7 The rich rules over the poor, And the borrower becomes the lender’s slave.

Though such a state is not viewed as sinful, it is not viewed as the ideal in Scripture.

DT 28:12 “The LORD will open for you His good storehouse, the heavens, to give rain to your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hand; and you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow.

I have seen the flood of tears in many people's eyes concerning the financial ruin that they have brought upon themselves because of debt. It is my opinion that unless getting into debt secures for you a bigger and reliable financial gain in return as in a good business deal, debt should be avoided, if possible.

What Can You Say About Visions of Jesus In Our Times?

There are people reporting about seeing the Lord Jesus in dreams and visions who then claim to have believed in Him as a result of it. What does the Bible have to say about it?

Joh 20:29 Jesus said to him, "Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

The normative experience of Christians during the time of the apostles after the Lord ascended into heaven even when visions were still given as a part of God's continuing revelation back then was something like this:

 Joh 16:16 "A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me, because I go to the Father."

1Pe 1:8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,

Why Did The Lord Jesus Forbid Mary Not To Cling To Him And Yet Allowed Thomas To Do So?

JN 20:17 Jesus *said to her, “Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.’ ”

Joh 20:27 Then He said to Thomas, "Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing."

Mary was forbidden but Thomas was allowed. What do we make of this? Some say that between Mary in John 20:17 and Thomas in John 20:27, the Lord Jesus ascended to the Father and offered Himself there and went back to earth to meet with His disciples.

They say that Mary was forbidden because the Lord Jesus was yet to ascend to heaven but Thomas was allowed because He already ascended to the Father by this time and returned back to earth. They say that it was to fulfill the type of the First-fruits offering in Leviticus 23. That just as the First-fruits was first offered to God so the Lord Jesus did not allow Mary to touch Him because He must first offer Himself to God. God first, then Man.

This interpretation is possible and there is nothing heretical about it. But I think the simplest way to look at this event is this:

He was correcting two attitudes here. It appears that Mary wanted to have the physical presence of the Lord Jesus permanently. She would never let Him go from her ever again. Notice that Mary was "clinging" to Him. It's in the present tense in the Greek. Mary was continually clinging, fastening and binding herself to Him.

And so the Lord Jesus had to correct her attitude expressed in her actions: "Stop clinging to Me Mary with an attitude like that. I must go to the Father and present Myself to Him for you, for your brethren and for all the world. There I will physically present Myself to Him for your benefit. Mary, you will never lose Me again even though you may not see me physically for a time. I will be with the Father for you, and there I will prepare a place for you that you maybe with Me forever (John 14:3) when the time comes."

With Thomas' case, it is different. It was unbelief as to His physical resurrection. And so He allowed him to touch Him to prove His physical resurrection.

Did The Lord Jesus Have Brothers And Sisters?

Yes, He had flesh and blood brothers and sisters.

Mt 12:46 While He was still talking to the multitudes, behold, His mother and brothers stood outside, seeking to speak with Him.

47 Then one said to Him, "Look, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak with You."

Mt 13:55 "Is this not the carpenter's son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas?

56 "And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things?"

The Roman Catholic Church contend that the Greek word used here for brothers and sisters can mean relatives, and that it could be rightly applied to cousins or remote relatives. Yes, all that is admittedly true.

However, in another portion of Scripture this question is settled clearly once and for all. Psalm 69 is a Messianic Psalm. Notice the following:

* Ps 69:4 says: "Those who hate me without a cause..."
* Joh 15:25 "But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, 'They hated Me without a cause.'
.

As you can see, Psalm 69: 4 is applied to the Lord Jesus Christ in John 15:25.

* Ps 69:7 Because for Your sake I have borne reproach; Shame has covered my face.

8 I have become a stranger to my brothers, And an alien to my mother's children;

9 Because zeal for Your house has eaten me up (see John 2:16 below), And the reproaches of those who reproach You have fallen on me (see Romans 15:3 below).

Joh 2:16 And He said to those who sold doves, "Take these things away! Do not make My Father's house a house of merchandise!"

17 Then His disciples remembered that it was written, "Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up."

Ro 15:3 For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, "The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me."

You see, Psalm 69: 9 is applied to the Lord Jesus in John 2:16 and Romans 15:3 respectively. In Psalm 69:7-9 we clearly have the words of the Lord Jesus. And what does He say in verse 8? "I have become a stranger to my brothers, And an alien to my mother's children."

This shows that the words "brothers" and "sisters" we read in the New Testament in connection with the Lord Jesus Christ do not mean cousins or remote relatives. They are, in fact, His mother's children---His flesh and blood brothers and sisters.

What's Fellowship?

Fellowship is actively and consciously sharing something in common with another. A Christian can have fellowship with another Christian because they both have Christ as their Lord, Savior and their Life.

A Christian can have fellowship with God by being occupied with Christ. You must realize that God is Christ-centered. He has His sights on His Son. And if you are occupied with Him as God has Him in focus then both you and God have fellowship with each other in the person of Christ.

Explain Matthew 4:7 About Not Tempting God

Mt 4:7 Jesus said to him, "It is written again, 'You shall not tempt the LORD your God.'"

Prior to this, Satan told the Lord Jesus these words: "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.'"

To deliberately and intentionally put ourselves in harm's way just to see if God would fulfill His Word is tempting or testing God. The word "tempt" in the Greek carries the idea of testing or putting to test thoroughly.

To test God is to doubt His character. It is to insult and put into question His integrity and trustworthiness. It is a subtle way of saying: "God, you're not credible. I need proof. Do this and demonstrate to me your credibility."

That's sin. That's the unbelief and sinful audacity of a creator questioning the Creator!

Does Matthew Chapter 24 Describe The Tribulation Period?

Yes, the events presented in the 24th chapter of Matthew refer to the Tribulation Period. The context, the theme and its details all point to the Tribulation Period.

It began with a question in verse 3: "As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”
As you can see, the disciples were asking about eschatology, about end-time events. If you continue reading the entire chapter, there are details that specifically pinpoint to the Tribulation Period.

MT 24:8 “ But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.
Birth pangs elsewhere in Scripture is associated with the Day of the Lord. Notice:

1TH 5:2 For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night.
1TH 5:3 While they are saying, “ Peace and safety!” then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape.

Isa 13:6 Wail, for the day of the LORD is at hand! It will come as destruction from the Almighty.

Isa 13:9 Behold, the day of the LORD comes, Cruel, with both wrath and fierce anger, To lay the land desolate; And He will destroy its sinners from it.

Joe 2:31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD.

Joe 2:1 Blow a ram's horn in Zion, and sound an alarm in My holy mountain; let all the inhabitants of the land tremble. For the day of the LORD comes, for it is near at hand;
2 a day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness,

As you can see, the distress of the Day of the Lord is likened to a woman in labor and it is a day of wrath from God.

As we continue reading Matthew 24, we further read the following:

 MT 24:9 “ Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.

MT 24:21 “For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will.

There are other details in Matthew 24 which point to the Tribulation Period as the scene described in this chapter. But all these should suffice for now.

What Does The "World" Mean In Romans 12:2?

Ro 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world...

"World" here refers to society apart from God. The world has its own principles, systems and viewpoints that they operate by. It has its own politics, religion, entertainment, science, education, economy, morality and many others, all with the true God out of the picture. If ever God is in it, it is nothing but a distorted sprinkling of God in the mix---in effect, a false religion.

* You watch a documentary on TV, and you are presented with a different interpretation of the things in the world. It promotes evolution, same-sex marriage, premarital sex etc.

* You read a certain news agency online and all the advocacies that  it is promoting are anti-God movements.

* You go to a certain religious organization and you are taught a different way of salvation.

* You log in to social media and you read all kinds of opinions that leave God out.

* You listen to their moral men and women but it does not have God as its foundation.

This is the world of which Romans 12:2 is talking about.

Is Foot-washing An Ordinance?

There are some Christians who practice foot-washing as an additional ordinance to the Lord's Supper and Baptism. May God bless them.

However, personally, I believe, like many other Christians do, that there are only two ordinances that the Lord Jesus gave the Church, namely, Lord's Supper and Baptism. But I won't object to Christians, out of personal conviction, practicing foot-washing at all. I would certainly participate if given an opportunity.

In the book of Acts, the early Church only practiced the Lord Supper and Baptism. Foot-washing is mentioned in Paul's letters but only as a symbol in the context of humble service to the saints.

1Ti 5:10 well reported for good works: if she has brought up children, if she has lodged strangers, if she has WASHED THE SAINT'S FEET, if she has relieved the afflicted, if she has diligently followed every good work.

Was Mary Magdalene A Prostitute?

The widespread belief that Mary Magdalene was a prostitute is as credible as the belief that there were three kings who visited the Lord Jesus, that the forbidden fruit eaten by Adam and Eve was an apple and that the Lord Jesus was born on December 25.

No. There is no record in the Bible that Mary Magdalene was a prostitute. Period.

Mary Magdalene can only be identified as a prostitute if we confuse the woman in Luke 7:36-50 with Mary Magdalene in Luke 8:1-3.

Explain Matthew 16:20 Please

MT 16:20 Then He warned the disciples that they should tell no one that He was the Christ.

The Lord Jesus prohibited His disciples here from telling others that He was the Christ because of the unbelieving condition of Israel. Israel, as a nation, reached a stage wherein they finally decided to reject the Lord Jesus. Further evangelism was futile.

MT 16:20 Then He warned the disciples that they should tell no one that He was the Christ.
MT 16:21 From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day.

Israel only wanted Him for the material benefits that they can reap out of Him. They only wanted Him as their political King. They never saw the need to be saved and receive Him as their Savior.

What's The Importance Of The Virgin Birth?

It is important for two things:

First, if the Lord Jesus was the result of the union between Joseph and Mary then He would have been disqualified to occupy the throne in Israel.

Joseph was a descendant of Coniah. Coniah or Jeconiah and his descendants were forever barred from occupying the throne of David (See  Jer. 22:24-30 and Matthew 1:12)

Matthew is the genealogy tracing the Lord Jesus from David to Joseph His stepfather. Luke is the genealogy tracing the Lord Jesus from David to Mary His mother. Thus, the Lord Jesus was qualified to sit on David's throne as King because He was also in David's line through her mother. God declared in the Old Testament that the king who would reign in Israel forever must come from David's line though not through Jeconiah.

Second, if the Lord Jesus Christ was the result of the union between Joseph and Mary then He would have inherited a sinful nature from them. The sin nature is passed from parents to their children by natural birth. This would disqualify Him from being the Savior.

It should be noted that Mary was simply a vessel or a container of the human body of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord's body was formed miraculously without the union Joseph's sperm cell and Mary's egg's cell. The Lord Jesus was IN Mary but not OF Mary.

Notice:

Mt 1:20 But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived IN HER is of the Holy Spirit.

What Does Providence Mean?

It is God's orchestration and arrangement of all things towards His purpose. Every single moment   we are in the ocean of God's providence. Whatever situation we find ourselves in is God's providence. Everything has a purpose that will eventually lead to His ultimate purpose.

Did The Fact That The Lord Jesus Was Tempted Imply That He Could Sin?

No. The Lord Jesus had no sinful nature to give way to temptation. He was both impeccable and holy inwardly and outwardly.

Heb 4:15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.

The expression at the end "without sin" is literally sin apart in the original Greek. That is, He had no sinful nature to respond to the temptations from without. Some would object that if He was not susceptible to commit sin, what was the point of the temptation? It would not be a real temptation, so they say.

First, it would help to view that temptation could also mean testing. The Lord Jesus was tested not to show that He was not pure gold, but, on contrary, to demonstrate that He truly was pure gold. His temptation was a demonstration that He could not sin and therefore qualified to be man's Savior.

Second, an impregnable fortress could be attacked. A seven-fleet warship could be besieged by row boats. Some people could be that stupid. Sin makes people and Satan that stupid even to attempt such an offensive. The attack is real. The castle feels it. The warship senses it. But it cannot topple or sink it.

What Does It Mean For The Lord To Come "Quickly" In Revelation 22:20?

Re 22:20 He who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming quickly." Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

It refers to His coming for His Church. "Quickly" means suddenly and imminently. The Rapture will take place unexpectedly, without warning at any moment.

Explain John 4:24: "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."

Joh 4:24 "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."

God is Spirit, as such, He cannot be confined and limited in one place for people to go to and worship. The Jews may think that it is only in the temple in Jerusalem that God must be worshiped. The Samaritans may think that God is to be worshiped only in Mt. Gerizim.

Joh 4:21 Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father.

Joh 4:23 "But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.

The hour has indeed come, the new dispensation of worshiping God has been established. God will no longer be worshiped in Jerusalem's temple exclusively. Since God is Spirit, people can worship Him in every place, as long as it is in spirit and in truth.

"In spirit," that is, inwardly and not just outwardly. The Jews had ceremonies, rituals and external semblance of worship but their hearts were far from worshiping God. They went through the motions but the heart, the inward man, the spirit was not in it.

"In truth," that is, in sincerity and in accordance to God's revelation. The Samaritans established their own standard in worshiping God. They did not submit to the revelation of God in the Scripture as to how to worship Him. The result? It was false worship. It was unacceptable to God.

God is not only concerned about sincere worship (the problem of the Jews) He is also concerned about right worship (the problem of the Samaritans). It must be based on His Word, His truth.

 

What Is It To Pray In Jesus' Name?

 Joh 14:14 "If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.

Praying in the Lord's name is not a tag line that we conclude our prayers with. It's about an attitude of the heart.

Praying in His name is to pray in His authority. We pray because He commanded us to pray.

It also means to pray according to His merit. We approach God in prayer according to the worthiness and merit of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Furthermore, it also means to pray with His interest in mind. We pray only for things that are in accordance with His will.

Are There Degrees Of Sin?

Yes, there are. For sure, the one who commits actual murder is worse than the one who only did it in his head. Here are Bible verses showing degrees of sin:

Joh 19:11 Jesus answered, "You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above. Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the GREATER SIN."

Mt 23:14 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive  GREATER CONDEMNATION.

Greater condemnation implies greater guilt. Greater guilt implies a greater sin.

Mt 7:3 "And why do you look at the SPECK in your brother's eye, but do not consider the PLANK in your own eye?

Someone who has a plank or log of sin in his own life has no moral ascendancy to rebuke and correct the speck of sin in another's life. Notice how the Lord Jesus spoke of a speck of sin and a plank of sin in this verse. It only means that there are degrees of sin.

Why Was The Lord Jesus Baptized?

Mt 3:13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him.

Mt 3:15 But Jesus answered and said to him, "Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he allowed Him.

To be sure, He was not baptized as a repentant sinner. He had no need to repent. He was the perfectly sinless One. The purpose of baptism is identification.

The waters of the Jordan represented judgment. As repentant sinners came to John for baptism, they were saying in effect: "I am a sinner who deserves to be judged. My baptism is the symbolic act of identifying myself with the Jordan river which represents judgment."

The Lord Jesus' baptism, on the other hand, served as a pledge of what He will do for them at the cross. He identified Himself with them as the one who will bore the just judgment that they deserved.

God has a righteous and just claim against man's sin. He demands justice and punishment which we truly deserved. The Lord Jesus' baptism was Him saying in effect: "I am identifying myself as the Sin-bearer of all men. I am taking up their judgment on Myself. God's righteous and just demand must be met and satisfied. Sin must be paid. And so, symbolically, through baptism, I am pledging Myself as the payment."

What Exactly Was Pilate's Sin?

Cowardice. He knew that the Lord Jesus was innocent, that He was not worthy of death, but, still, to please the crowd, he went on to wash his hands off the matter and handed the Lord over to the murderous decision of the people.

He was a true politician, a people pleaser.

What's The Connection Of Bethlehem, Nazareth And Capernaum To The Lord Jesus?

He was born in Bethlehem, grew up in Nazareth and had His headquarters in Capernaum when He started His ministry.

What Is A Prophet?

A prophet is God's spokesman. He is God's mouthpiece, so to speak. God has a message to convey, the prophet speaks for God to the people whom the message is intended to be given.

It must be made clear that a prophet is someone who receives a revelation from God firsthand. God directly reveals the message to him, and he, in turn, proclaims the message to the people.

Why Is It Important That The Lord Jesus Was Born Of A Virgin Mother?

It is important for at least three reasons:

First, it was prophesied in the Old Testament Scriptures.

Isa 7:14 "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.

It would have broken the truthfulness of God's Word if He was not born of a virgin.

Second, it was to protect Him from inheriting fallen man's sinful nature.

The sinful nature is passed from parents to children. If His birth was the result of a union of a fallen man and a fallen woman, then He would have been contaminated by sin. His conception and birth was not the result of a union of a sperm cell and an egg cell. Mary's womb was simply the vessel or container of a baby who was miraculously conceived in the womb.

Thus, He could be humanity's Savior and new Representative Head.

Third, it was to preserve and protect His kingship.

The Messiah to be born was to be the King of Israel. Mary's genealogy can be traced to the line of kings that was qualified to inherit the throne. On the other hand, Joseph, His stepdad, in His humanity, belonged to a line that was disqualified to inherit it.

Joseph belonged to the line of Coniah. His line was disqualified from inheriting the throne. See Jer. 22:24-30 and Matthew 1:12.

Matthew is the genealogy of Joseph. Luke's is that of Mary. Both came from a royal line with Joseph's line disqualified. However, Mary's was not. Joseph was only His stepdad, while Mary was His biological mother.

If He was not virgin born, if He was the product of the union between Joseph and Mary, He would have been disqualified as king.

What Is Prayer?

Every Greek word behind the English word prayer in the New Testament always has the idea of asking. Basically, prayer means asking things from God.

The popular idea that prayer is talking to God, that it is adoring Him, confessing your sins to Him and giving Him thanks is not prayer at all.

Adoring God is adoring God. Confessing your sins to God is confessing your sins to God. Giving Him thanks is giving Him thanks. Prayer is prayer, asking things from God.

Now, one may adore God with prayer, one may confess his sins with prayer, one may give God thanks with prayer but prayer always means asking things from God.

If you only adored God, confessed your sins to Him and give Him thanks without requesting or asking things from Him, then you have not prayed to God.

Prayer means asking things from God. It could be a request for something spiritual or something physical. Prayer is acknowledging our needy condition and our dependence on God.

Knowing that prayer is asking things from God, this should encourage us all the more to pray to Him for everything.

If We Have Free Will In Heaven Can We Choose To Sin There?

God gave Man (Adam and Eve) free will in the garden. But when man fell into sin, man's will became in bondage to sin. At salvation, man's will is freed.

When we go to heaven we won't choose sin anymore. Here are some reasons:

First, Satan won't be there to tempt us.

Second, the lessons of the consequences of the Fall will be so ingrained in us.

Third, the sight of people being punished in hell will deter us from choosing sin.

Fourth, we will have perfect insight into things. We will have perfect insight about the character of sin and see it clearly with all its ugliness.

Fifth, being rid of a sinful nature and having a new nature, we will have a perfect hatred of sin just like the Lord Jesus Christ

Sixth, we will be perfectly filled with the Holy Spirit, walking in Him.

Seventh, the sight of the glory of God will attract us to Him and will cause us to love Him even more with all our hearts. 


Eighth, if God was chosen and loved here in this fallen world with significant temptation, then all the more there in heaven, where every single temptation would not be allowed.

Explain Psalm 15:4---Are We To Despise The Wicked? What About Loving?

Ps 15:4 In whose eyes a vile person is despised, But he honors those who fear the LORD; He who swears to his own hurt and does not change;

Just as we don't esteem anyone who wants to kill and rape our own mothers, so a godly person does not esteem those who hate God.

The godly despises the ungodly person for his lifestyle but he also loves him enough that he wants him to repent and be saved.

Is It Wrong To Condemn?

Biblically, the word "condemn" just means to declare as guilty and to treat as guilty. It's the opposite of justification. When you say to a murderer "That is wrong, you will be punished in hell for it," you are, by that very act, condemning.
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Is it wrong to echo God's judgments that He revealed in His Word about it? No.

Righteous condemnation is not wrong. We have the right to call something as wrong and declare God's punishment of it, so we have the right to condemn. However, the EXECUTION of that condemnation (sending the guilty to hell) is not ours. It is God's. You can't do it anyway, even if you try.

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Is it wrong to condemn? It is wrong to condemn the guiltless but it is not wrong to condemn the guilty.

Mt 12:7 "But if you had known what this means, 'I desire mercy and not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the guiltless.

Does Deuteronomy 10:17 teach that there are many gods and lords?

De 10:17 "For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality nor takes a bribe.

In the absolute sense, there is only one true God and Lord of all---Yahweh. However, the pagan nations worship other gods and lords. 1 Corinthians 10:20 states that these are demons:

"Rather, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons."(1 Cor. 10:20)

These are nothing but idols. "Therefore concerning the eating of things offered to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but one. For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth---as there are many gods and many lords" (1 Cor. 8:4-5)

The verse (Deut. 10:17) is saying that whatever gods and lords the pagans worshiped, God is sovereign over them all. He is greater. He is more powerful. He is above them all.

Explain Spiritual Maturity In Simple Terms

Spiritual maturity is simply Christ-likeness. The more Christ is formed in you, the more mature you are. May God grant me holy desires as He works to sanctify me.

Explain "Judge Not, That You Be Not Judged" In Matthew 7:1 Please

Let’s take a look at the verses:

Mt 7:1 “Judge not, that you be not judged.

2 “For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.

3 “And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?

4 “Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye?

5 “Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

Consider three things here: a) The Person Addressed b) The Point Announced and c) The Principle Advanced

* The Person Addressed

Notice verse 5, these verses are addressed particularly and specifically to a “Hypocrite.”

A hypocrite is someone who playacts a role. He is someone who assumes a character that is not really true to his person in real life. In Greek, the word “hypocrite” was used with actors on stage who wore masks as they playact. 

* The Point Announced 

The point of these verses is that if we are hypocrites, then we have no right to judge others. We have no right to say that what others are doing is wrong when we ourselves are doing the very same things (even worse) that we find wrong in others. The Lord was talking about hypocritical judgment. 

The whole situation is silly. The Lord Jesus deliberately used a silly illustration (a man with a plank in his eye offering to help a man with a speck in his eye) to emphasize the silliness of it all.

* The Principle Advanced

However (notice verse 5), the Lord Jesus does allow us to judge others on the condition that we have first cleaned up our own act. The verse is not a blanket, across-the-board prohibition of making a judgment. It says: “First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

When we see that others are doing wrong, we (if we are not hypocrites) are in the position to rebuke or admonish the one who is doing wrong, not out of self-righteous condescension but out love and affection. We point out their erroneous ways to lovingly help. 

What's The Difference Between Law And Grace?

Law was basically a system of merit. Blessing was conditioned on man's performance. It blesses the deserving. Law says: "Do this and live." Law makes demands but does not supply the power. Law goes together with meritorious works and self-effort.

Grace, on the other hand, is based on the undeserved favor of God in Christ Jesus. Man does not work in order to be blessed but works through love because he is blessed. It blesses the undeserving. Grace says: "Believe and live. And now that you are alive do this." Grace beseeches and then gives the power to do it. Grace goes together with reliance and faith.

Law kills and condemns. Grace makes alive and justifies. Law says: "Love your neighbor as yourself." Grace says: "Love your neighbor as I have loved you."


There are many other differences but this should suffice.

What Can You Say About Gambling?

Gambling is destructive. It promotes covetousness, violates the work ethic taught in the Bible and it is something that is potentially addictive. In addition, it does not promote the development of Christ-like character in the Christian. On the contrary, it weakens it.

Can Evil Spirits Possess A Saved Sinner's Body?

There is no record in the New Testament wherein we can find any true believer being possessed by evil spirits. There was no exorcism ministries practiced among believers toward fellow believers.

The Holy Spirit is greater than Satan: 

1Jo 4:4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

Satan cannot even touch one of God's children to injure or harm him (and demonic possessions are always harmful and injurious): 

1Jo 5:18 "...he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him."

The Lord Jesus Christ is the Good Shepherd who laid down His life for saved sinners. He who laid down His life will protect His sheep with all His might from demonic possession: 

Joh 10:28 "And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.

The believer (the entirety of him including his physical body) is Christ's possession. Look, it is in Christ's hand. The Good Shepherd assures that no one shall be able to snatch the saved sinner away from His hold to possess him

When the Lord Jesus rebuked Peter and called him "Satan" in Matthew 16:23, he was not indicating that Peter was possessed by Satan. No, He used the word "Satan" to mean adversary. Peter was being adversarial to God's cause.

Mt 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."

In another translation, the word "adversary" is used:

Mt 16:23 and he having turned, said to Peter, `Get thee behind me, adversary! thou art a stumbling-block to me, for thou dost not mind the things of God, but the things of men.' (YLT translation)

Evil spirits only dwell in a house (man's body) wherein God the Spirit does not dwell and occupy:

Mt 12:43 "When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none.

44 "Then he says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.' And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order.

45 "Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation."

What Is The New Birth?

The new birth refers to a spiritual event in which God imparts a new life, implants a new nature and forms a new man. It only happens to a sinner who trusts in the Savior for salvation.

Can You Give A Tip On How To Interpret The Bible?

Plainly and Normally Please!

God says what He means and means what He says. Therefore the Bible must be understood plainly and normally. Satan wants us to think that the meaning of a verse lies somewhere hidden or behind the plain, face value meaning of the text.

Deviating from the plain and normal understanding of the Scriptures is one of the reasons why the Bible is diversely interpreted. Plain and normal interpretation is not the culprit for the existence of various interpretations. It is the solution to it.

True, the Bible conveys a spiritual message. But its spiritual message is conveyed through plain and normal language. Satan has successfully smoke-screened the message of the Bible in many people's minds by propagating the idea that the message of the Bible lies somewhere under the plain and normal understanding of the text.

True, the Bible employs poetry and therefore employs a lot of figures of speech. Plain and normal interpretation recognizes and treats figures of speech in the Bible as such, fully aware that behind every figure of speech lies a plain and normal meaning. This method recognizes the figure of speech, treats it as such but looks for the plain and normal meaning.

Not everything in the Bible is poetic however. A lot of it is plain prose---straight forward and direct in-your-face words. What's poetic about "You shall have no other gods before Me" for example? Or "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life?"

Satan has robbed many of us of the Word of God by making us believe that the plain and normal understanding of the text is not the way to go in reading the Bible. Thereby, making many of us disobey God's plain revelations and commands. You can't be wrong when you take God at His Word PLAINLY and NORMALLY.

Explain 2 Corinthians 13:5

2Co 13:5 Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? unless indeed you are disqualified.

This verse is often misapplied and misused. What the apostle Paul is actually saying in effect here is:

"You Corinthians are doubting my apostleship. Do you want proof that Christ is really speaking in me as an apostle? I will give you one: YOU YOURSELVES are my proof that I am an apostle. Examine yourselves! You became Christians because of me. Test your own selves. Don't you recognize that Christ is in you as a result of my ministry?--unless indeed you are disqualified. If you became genuinely saved because of my ministry, how can you be doubting my apostleship?"

Start reading from verse 3 and then jump all the way to verse 5 to get the idea. Verse 4 is a parenthesis, a digression.

2Co 13:3 since you seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, who is not weak toward you, but mighty in you.

(4 For though He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you).

5 Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? --unless indeed you are disqualified.

The Corinthians were being misled by the teachings of false teachers in their midst. These false teachers were convincing the Corinthians that the apostle Paul was not a genuine apostle. That his message was false. Many of the Corinthians were led away from Paul because of this.

A) The apostle Paul had to defend his ministry in this epistle. As an example, just read chapters 11 and 12.

B) 2Co 3:1 Do we begin again to commend ourselves? Or do we need, as some others, epistles of commendation to you or letters of commendation from you?

2 You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men;

3 clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart.

Paul does not need to have a certificate or letters of commendation for the Corinthians to accept him. The Corinthians themselves were his living letters of commendation certifying his ministry. They became Christ's because of Paul.

C) He has been defending his apostleship since the first letter:

1Co 9:1 Am I not an apostle? Am I not free? Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord?

2 If I am not an apostle to others, yet doubtless I am to you. For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.

3 My defense to those who examine me is this:

ILLUSTRATION

One time a watchmaker woke up one morning hearing loud noises in the basement. He found out that his watches were having a protest rally against him. They were screaming and holding up placards that read: "You are not a watchmaker!!! You are false!!! Give us proof that you are indeed a watch maker!!!"

The watchmaker replied: "You seek proof that I am a watchmaker??!! Well, look at yourselves! Have I not made you?! Are you not genuine watches because of me?!"

The apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 13:5 was not telling the Corinthians to step back for awhile, have a neutral view of themselves and then find out whether they were indeed Christians or not. (Hey, the apostle Paul was sure that they were Christians. By the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he called them "Brethren" 8 times in this epistle). He was telling them to examine themselves, confident that they will find out that they were indeed Christians. Vindicating his ministry as a result.

2Co 13:3 since you seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, who is not weak toward you, but mighty in you.

2Co 13:5 Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? --unless indeed you are disqualified.

2Co 13:6 But I trust that YOU will know that WE are not disqualified.

Look at yourselves! I trust that you will find out that we are genuine indeed.

The misapplication and misuse of this verse has often resulted in morbid introspection, depression and doubts concerning one's salvation. A Christian can never find assurance of salvation by looking at self. King David would surely have severe doubts concerning his salvation looking at his life when he backslid from God for a year. A sinner is saved by trusting in the Word of God, he will be assured by the Word of God.

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His Blood makes us safe. His Word makes us sure. Holy and righteous living, loving the brethren, spiritual growth etc. are confirmatory evidences. But the source of assurance is the Word of God; His promise and guarantee that whoever genuinely trusts in His Son will be saved. The repentant thief on the cross had little time for spiritual growth, he had no opportunity to love the brethren. All he had was the sure word and promise of the Savior. And it was enough.

P.S. It is true that the Spirit bears witness with our spirit. But the Spirit witnesses through the Word, not apart from the Word.

What About UFOs?

Although we do not deny that many UFO videos and photos are hoaxes and fakes, and that some are high tech military innovations, we nonetheless say that there are genuine UFO cases, that UFOs are real. Evidence however point to the fact that they are not extra-terrestrials. They are extra dimensional. They do not come from another planet or galaxy. They come from another dimension; the spirit world.

There is evidence that these "objects" have the ability to materialize and dematerialize without a trace. They can travel at speeds that defy physics. They can hover at close distances without making the slightest sound. They defy sonic boom effect. They have the ability to shape shift while in flight.

They can change size and color and can appear selectively to certain individuals; they might appear to you but not to the person beside you. They have the ability to penetrate the ground. Many witnesses say that these things appear to be alive almost. One witness said that he smelled sulfur when he saw one of them. (Demonic possession in exorcism is characterized by sulfuric smell). One UFO follower confessed that he saw a head floating in his room while a UFO was outside his house. On top of it all, UFO messages to their contactees are directed against one person: the Lord Jesus Christ.

Dr. Joseph Allen Hynek, an astronomer, was commissioned by the US government to study this increasing phenomenon. He literally studied thousands of UFO cases around the world for years. He set out to prove the UFO phenomenon as false at the outset. This became his life work. He came to the conclusion, after years of study, that UFOs are not inter galactic but "demonic." 

Jacques Vallee is another authority on UFOs. One of the most respected researcher in this field in the world came up with the same conclusion that these UFOs are not inter galactic but spirit beings.

What Is Wisdom?

Biblical wisdom refers to the right and successful use of knowledge in a practical way. It's having knowledge of the precepts and principles of the Word of God and knowing how to skillfully apply it in the situations of daily life.

A wise person is a person who lives skillfully. Sadly, it's possible to be high on knowledge but low on wisdom.

What's A Parable?

A parable is an earthly story with a spiritual meaning. It is something put beside another to make a comparison. It is actually a story that functions first as a picture, secondly, as a mirror and then a window.

A parable is a word picture. As you think it through, you see yourself in it. And then you learn a whole new perspective on spiritual and heavenly things.

A good teacher is one who can teach a truth through a story.

Is God's Love For A Saved Sinner The Same As His Love For His Unique Son---Jesus?

Yes. God's love for His adopted sons is the same love He has for His unique Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

God's love for saved sinners:

Ro 1:7 To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

God's love for His unique Son---Jesus Christ:

 Mr 1:11 Then a voice came from heaven, "You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

The same term of endearment He calls His Son is the very same term He calls saved sinners.

See it this way---let sunshine represent God's love. Let a vine represent Christ. God's love always shines upon Christ. Christ is the very center of God's love.

Now, saved sinners are branches grafted into the vine who is Christ. Since the branches are now in the vine, now a part of Him, the very sunshine that shines upon the vine is the very sunshine enjoyed by all its branches.

God does not only love the Head, He also loves the body with the same love He has for the Head. Christ is the Head while saved sinners are His body.

Do The Principles Prescribed By Paul In Romans 6 Really Work Against The Power Of Sin?

A lot of Christians maybe wondering if the principles prescribed by Paul in Romans 6 really work against their battle against sin.

They somewhat tried the principles of a) realizing that they died with Christ and was raised with Him, b) they reckoned that they are dead to sin and alive to God in Christ and c) then they rendered themselves to the service of righteousness, and yet, in their experience, they seem to fall into sin over and over again.

And so they asked: "Does it really work?"

Reply:

There are many people who know the mechanics of how to float on water lying on their back and yet fail to put it into practice in actual experience, and then there are people who do not only know about the mechanics, but more than that, they really do float on water, applying the principles.

Does this mean that the principles do not really work just because there are people who fail to float on water with the head knowledge of how to do it?

No, the principles will work for everyone. The problem is not in the principles but in the inept application of the principles.  

It's the same way with the principles enunciated by Paul in Romans 6. A lot of Christians have head knowledge of the mechanics but they bungle it when it comes to actually putting it into practice.

Either one or two or all three are not truly and consistently applied. Thus, the failure.

Will Saved Sinners Remember Their Sins In Heaven?

Revelation chapter 5 is a scene that will take place in the future in heaven. It contains the song of redeemed sinners. Part of the lyrics of their song is the following:

Re 5:9 And they sang a new song, saying: "You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation

They will not be singing this song unintelligently. That is, they will not be singing this song without knowledge as to why the Savior was slain and why His blood was shed for their redemption. They will know full well that He shed His blood for the sins that they committed.

They will recognize the fact that they were redeemed from sin. Yes, they will remember what they did but it will become the dark background upon which the redemption of the Lord Jesus Christ will shine brightly in their eyes and will be appreciated by them for all eternity.

Eternal gratitude and love will flow from their hearts to the Savior knowing who they were and what they did. In heaven, they will be well aware that they are there as sinners saved by grace.

Please Explain Colossians 1:27: "Christ in you, the hope of glory"

Col 1:27 ... Christ in you, the hope of glory.

We have here three things to consider. We have here a) People b) with their Possession and c) their Prospect

* The People: "...you..."

The pronoun "you" refers to people who have trusted in Christ for salvation. Paul is specifically referring to non-Jewish people who have trusted in Christ

* Their Possession: "... Christ in you..."

Of all the wealth they could possibly possess as God's children, they have Christ in them! The Jews counted the non-Jews as down and out and spiritually bankrupt. But when they trusted in Christ, they now have Him as their incomparable possession. They are tremendously wealthy!

* Their Prospect: " ... Christ in you, THE HOPE OF GLORY."

The Jews put off the non-Jews as a people without a future, spiritually speaking. But all that changed when they possessed Christ. His glorious future will be their future! They have become co-heirs with Christ. Christ in them is just the installment of what they could have in the future.


The Point---Now that they have Christ, they therefore can anticipate and expect a bright and glorious future.