Who wrote the second set of tablets?

Question: Context:  Exodus 31:18 and 32:16 make it clear that God wrote the first set of tablets of the covenant.  Moses broke those tablets (Exodus 32:19). Question: In Deuteronomy 10:1-5, Moses (talking about the second set of tablets of the covenant, not the first set that he broke) says God wrote on the tablets.  Likewise,…

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Your article on homosexuality was a little harsh, but it’s dead-on

Question: I was googling around, and I stumbled upon one of your web pages which I found extremely helpful: Should Churches Accept Homosexuality. I just wanted to say thank you for having it up on the web for all to see.  Homosexuality and “Cafeteria Christians” are important issues in the world today, and I think the…

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How can I overcome my evil thoughts even though I am Christian already?

Question: How can I overcome my evil thoughts even though I am Christian already? Answer: I’ve always been amazed at how many people think that Satan gives up and goes away just because a person has become a Christian. Satan isn’t going to stop tempting you with sin (evil thoughts), he is going to work…

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Will God forgive me if I continue to sin?

Question: I would like to know if God will forgive me if I sin? What if I asked for His forgiveness, but there are times that I am still doing the bad things, such as sleeping with my fiance though we are not yet married? There are times I realize that I have done something…

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What is meant by “one will be left and the other taken”?

Question: Where it says one will be left the other taken away, (always mentioned by people with the rapture and stuff). I was wondering what was your take on that verse. Answer: The same illustration is used in two different contexts, though the overall meaning of the illustration is the same: “But of that day…

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It seems obvious to me that Nicolaitans refers to the clergy system in the Roman Catholic Church

Question: Regarding the word “Nicolaitan”.  Indeed many definitions from lexicons simply say something that doesn’t really lend any specific information to what it means.  However certain things should be glaringly obvious here from the start. It’s mentioned twice. Romans Catholics claimed it was just some short-lived sex cult with some guy Nicolas at the helm.…

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The spirit cannot be God

Question: [Note: This has been severely reduced from the original because it was too long and filled with twisted usage of the Scriptures. I am only presenting a summary so you can get the gist of the arguments made.] The spirit cannot be God. If your congregation is singing praises to the holy spirit, you…

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By what name shall we address the Father?

Question: By what name shall we address the Father? Answer: God, the Father, refers to Himself by a variety of names. The implication is that one name alone is inadequate to describe His nature. The sermon outline, “The Name of God” for a list of names and their meanings. When you address your parents, I…

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Is it right for my wife to live apart without divorcing me?

Question: I was reading your article regarding if divorce is a sin. I have been studying this and other areas of sin and forgiveness, and I have a question to present. I have a personal interest in this topic as my Christian wife has left (abandoned) our marriage union and refuses to live together several…

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What is the history behind the articles on head covering?

Question: This summer my family and I joined the Church of Christ in Vienna, Austria, after having fellowshipped in Evangelical Churches for the last 20 years. Since the Church of Christ is rather new to us, I did some research about the movement, read a lot about Barton Stone and Alexander Campbell, as well as…

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Is there a distinction between forgiveness and redemption?

Question: First, I must say that your web site is fantastic!  There is much cool stuff here that I wish I had more time to read. At Bible class last night, the issue of forgiveness vs. redemption and taking away sin came up.  The issue, and my question, is whether forgiveness and redemption are the…

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Is Sunday the only day of worship or can we worship God any day?

Question: Is Sunday the only day of worship or can we worship God any day? I have read in the second chapter of the book of Acts, verse 46, that the Christians worshiped daily in the temple. Answer: “So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they…

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Are we sinning whenever we don’t think about God?

Question: Hi, Whenever I get free time I like to imagine random things. It has been kind of a hobby every since I was a child. I feel like writing a story sometimes with the ideas I get in my mind.  However, my friend recently told me that whenever we don’t think about God we…

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Appreciation

Question: I would like to take this time away from my day to say thank you for providing the most informative and edifying web site.  I, myself being a member of the church and suffering from ambulatory concerns due to in service-related medical conditions that inhibit me from going to services as often as I…

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How are the churches of Christ so similar to our beliefs?

Question: I’m a Messianic Jew. We believe the Jerusalem church is ours of course in conjunction with Acts 2. Yet the Church of Christ is so similar to our beliefs in the Torah of God. (Torah meaning God-breathed).  Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21. What relation is there of the Church of Christ to us? Answer:…

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Is the Devil the apple that Adam and Eve ate?

Question: So is the Devil the apple that Adam and Eve ate? Answer: First, the Bible doesn’t say Adam and Eve ate an apple. That is an old myth from the days when people assumed that red fruits were poisonous. The tree was a unique tree called the tree of the knowledge of good and…

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Who was the only man in the Bible forbidden to marry?

Question: Who was the only man in the Bible forbidden to marry? Answer: “The word of the LORD also came to me, saying, “You shall not take a wife, nor shall you have sons or daughters in this place.”” (Jeremiah 16:1-2). The reason for this is that Judah was going to face gruesome death and…

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What does ‘Name it and Claim it” mean?

Question: What does ‘Name it and Claim it” mean? Answer: “Name it and claim it” is the slogan of the Positive Confession movement, also known as Word-Faith. At the heart of the movement’s teaching is the idea that faith is what we say, not what we have in someone else. “The term “positive confession” refers…

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Should the church building be used for weddings or funerals?

Question: A good friend of mine told me about your web site and that your material has been a wonderful resource for him. You have a wonderful article answering the question: “Is it scriptural to have recorded music (not vocal) in a wedding ceremony that is held in the church building?“ In that article you…

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What happened between Israel and Edom to cause Amaziah to invade them?

Question: What happened between Israel and Edom prior to II Chronicles 25:13? Answer: The invasion of Edom by King Amaziah of Judah is recorded in II Chronicles 25:5-16 and II Kings 14:7. Edom had been made a subjected nation by King David (II Samuel 8:13; Psalm 60:1). However, during the reign of King Joram, Edom…

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What is the difference between a Greek and a Gentile?

Question: Can someone help me understand who is referred to when the Bible speaks of a Greek and Gentile? For instance, Timothy’s father was Greek. Does that mean he was a Gentile? And Paul said in Romans 1, “It is the power of God … to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” Is…

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How can we be children of God and slaves of God at the same time?

Question: I have been struggling with the concept of “children of God.” I understand we are made children of God when we becoming Christians, yet we are bondservants to God and Christ — we are servants. I was wondering when it refers to us being children of God, is it a general reference like the…

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What do you think about the World Bible School?

Question: I am currently taking an introductory lesson from the World Bible School.  Can you tell me what your opinion is regarding their lessons, if you have encountered them, or you can tell me what you think of the World Bible School itself?  Do you find them helpful? If not, why not? Thank you, sir.…

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Is it a sin to have sex with my ex-husband?

Question: Is it a sin if you are having intercourse with your ex-husband? The reason for divorce is adultery. He has a girlfriend but denies it. He is a born again Christian. I still love him but he never speaks about making up, we only have intercourse. Is this biblically wrong? Answer: “Marriage is honorable…

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How do you handle people trying to pull you into their problems?

Question: I am a Christian and so is the rest of my family.  I request your prayer on behalf of my son, myself, and fellow Christians.  My son and I used to work at a Christian school.  However, we no longer are there — by choice I might add. The little school is really being…

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How do I explain the second coming?

Question: I have a question:  how do I explain the second coming?  I heard how you described it when you gave the explanation of the rapture, but I’m still confused.  Am I understanding correctly that Jesus will descend with the angels and the dead in Christ will rise up to meet him in the air…

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What is the Christian’s response to postmodernism?

Question: I have been learning about postmodernism recently and have been surprised to hear their views about reality is socially constructed and accepting contradiction. I am wondering what the Christian response is to postmodernism? How do you refute the social construction perspective? How do you respond to people that are living with a postmodern view…

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Can you make some recommendations for a computer for a 14-year-old?

Question: I am hoping someone can help me sort through a lot of questions I have. First, my 14-year old son would really love to have a computer in his own room for Christmas.  We are in need of a new computer anyway and since this is something he has wanted for several years, we…

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Why were men in Jesus’ day required to have beards and not shave?

Question: Why were men in Jesus’ day required to have beards and not shave? What is the symbol of the beard? Answer: I’m not aware of any statement in the Bible indicating a requirement to wear a beard. There was an earlier question that talks about beards: Where does the Bible say facial hair is wrong? While…

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