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What is the difference between being born again and saved?
Question: The thing that I’m trying to figure out is the difference between being born again and saved. I was told that they are the same thing, but I don’t see how they are. Does the new birth save the soul? I thought the new birth causes the spirit to be recreated, and obedience to…
Read MoreHow will male virtues be passed on without spanking?
Question: I am a Swedish man living in Denmark, not a Christian or religious at all, but I am brought up in a tradition where spanking and what my father called “male virtues” was normal. This was in the ’60s and beginning of the ’70s. I do agree that for boys it is a necessary…
Read MoreWhat are the biblical consequences to lying?
Question: What are the biblical consequences of lying? Answer: In a list of things that the Lord hates we find lying. “These six things the LORD hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in…
Read MoreIs repentance necessary to be saved?
Question: When Peter preached to Cornelius and his household, was repentance anywhere in his sermon? Is a person born again by faith and repentance, or by faith? I think that I was born again when God revealed His Son to me, and I believed in Him, am I completely wrong? I believed in Him first,…
Read MoreHow many children did Abraham have?
Question: How many children did Abraham have? Answer: Abraham had a son, named Ishmael, by his wife’s maid, Hagar, whom he had taken as a concubine (a servant who was also a wife) (Genesis 16:3-4). However, since he was not the child promised to Abraham and Sarah, he was not allowed to inherit (Genesis 17:18-21).…
Read MoreBoy – girl relationships don’t affect studies do they?
Question: Boy-girl relationships don’t affect studies, do they? Answer: I assume that your parents object to you dating while you are in school. Unfortunately, they are making a valid point. Back in the days when Israel called up its volunteer army, certain people were asked not to serve: “Then the officers shall speak to the…
Read MoreWhy is sex a sin?
Question: Why is sex a sin? Answer: The short answer to your question is that sex is not a sin, but it can become a sin in certain situations. “Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge” (Hebrews 13:4). The Greek word koite is translated as “the bed” in…
Read MoreShould the Father only be addressed as Yahweh and the Son as Yahshua?
Question: I have stopped using the words “God” and “Jesus”. It has come as a revelation and blessing to me that these words are inappropriate as names for our Father and His Son. There is a whole “World” in their names Yahweh and Yahshua. Answer: Oddly enough, God uses the name “God” (elohim in Hebrew, theos in Greek)…
Read MoreWhere does it say the Holy Spirit is God?
Question: Where does it say that the Holy Spirit is God? Answer: “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? While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in…
Read MoreIs “hell” a proper translation of “Gehenna”?
Question: The word Hell like the word baptism is not really a proper translation is it? I looked up the word hell and it is Gehenna, and Gehenna is a place, Originally the Valley of Hinnom, near Jerusalem (ISBE). So it would be helpful to use Gehenna instead of hell, just as I find it…
Read MoreWhat is meant by an elder being the husband of one wife?
Question: What does the statement husband of one wife mean in regards to an elder? Answer: “The husband of one wife” (I Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:6). Only a married man may be an elder. Single men are eliminated as well as men who practice bigamy. The Law of Moses did allow some men to have multiple…
Read MoreCan a man be both a preacher and an elder?
Question: Can an elder function as an evangelist and vice versa? Answer: The word “pastor” in Ephesians 4:11 comes from a Greek word referring to a shepherd. This is the man charged with the care and feeding of a flock. As with the office of the evangelist, this office is described by a variety of words. We…
Read MoreMust an elder have faithful children?
Question: Is it necessary for an elder to have children faithful in the church? If yes, then how many? Answer: “Having children who believe, not accused of dissipation or rebellion” (Titus 1:6). “He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity” (I Timothy 3:4). The purpose…
Read MoreWho removes an elder from office?
Answer: If an elder sins, who removes him from office? Answer: Paul told Timothy, “Do not receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses. Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear. I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and…
Read MoreWho appoints elders?
Question: Who appoint elders? Answer: The qualifications for the position of elder are found in lists recorded in I Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9. That the eldership is a distinct duty is clearly seen in I Timothy 3:1, “It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires…
Read MoreIs sex within marriage a privilege to be earned?
Question: Thank you for the timely reply. Though I do not agree with your comments, I find it interesting that you did not address the conclusion I stated about oral sex, cross-dressing, etc. being acceptable if sex is reduced to a physical level only (which is what happens when the situation occurs as I described). We…
Read MoreWhere does the idea that Hell is a place of torment come from?
Question: Where does the idea that Hell is a place of torment come from? Answer: Let me recommend the article, “What is Hell Like?” which explains the biblical teaching on Hell in detail.
Read MoreEvidence that meat is acceptable food offends a reader
Question: It is very strange for you to promote the most horrible farm animals’ suffering by support meat/dairy/egg consumption in our society of factory farms and meatpacking plants where terrified, trembling animals are on one side and cut up meat comes out from another side! Your messages are the reason why so many people want…
Read MoreWhen was the spousal rape law passed?
Question: When was the spousal rape law passed? Answer: According to the National Center for Victims of Crime, in an article titled “Spousal Rape Laws: 20 Years Later”: “Until the late 1970’s, most states did not consider spousal rape a crime. Typically, spouses were exempted from the sexual assault laws. For example, until 1993 North…
Read MoreIs it rape when a husband is influenced by alcohol, drugs, or pornography?
Question: I strongly disagree with you about a husband raping a wife. If the husband is not a Christian and is under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or pornography, what he is doing is not respectful to his wife and not considered in agreement with Scripture that refers to the marriage bed being undefiled. If…
Read MoreCan we love and care for animals?
Question: My husband tells my daughter and I it is wrong for us to love and take care of our animals. He claims the Bible says to take care of persons, not animals. Is this right? I know we are to take care of people for they are our brothers and sisters in Christ, but…
Read MoreMay a Christian serve in government?
Question: May Christians serve as punitive agents, such as soldiers or policemen, for the civil government? Answer: There are several denominations which hold pacifist views. Some, such as Quakers, refuse to serve in any capacity where killing might be involved. Others, such as the Amish, reject all ties to civil authority. To answer your question…
Read MoreIs it okay for boys and girls to swim together?
Question: My friend wants to know if it is ok to go swimming where there are boys. I asked Daddy and he says he did not think that was right, and I do not do that. I told my friend, but she still does. Answer: To answer your question, we need to define exactly what…
Read MoreShould a preacher be paid to hold a gospel meeting?
Question: One brother raised an objection that he believed that a preacher shouldn’t be paid anything for holding a gospel meeting! The reason being that it would be paying to hear the gospel preached. What do you think? Answers: “My defense to those who examine me is this: Do we have no right to eat…
Read MoreWhat to do when parents disagree about spanking?
Question: Whenever I switch one of the kids my wife has a fit. She begs me to use a different punishment. Her crying and shouting make it very difficult to administer a proper whipping to the youngster. Afterward, she is furious with me and may even give me the silent treatment for a few days.…
Read MoreDoes the Spirit physically indwell a person?
Question: If the Holy Spirit never physically indwelled anyone in the Scripture; how is one to explain the concept of “the Spirit came upon them?” Answer: I don’t believe I ever said that the Holy Spirit never physically came upon anyone, though the Spirit is, well, spiritual and not physical. When Jesus was baptized we…
Read MoreShould we call on Jesus or Jehovah to be saved?
Question: Should we call on Jesus or Jehovah to be saved? Answer: The question assumes that God the Father and God the Son have different desires for our salvation. Yet Jesus stated, “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may…
Read MoreIs spousal rape grounds for divorce?
Question: Does spousal rape constitute fornication, or sexual immorality, thus giving grounds for divorce and remarriage? Answer: Some questions are difficult – not because we cannot clearly state the truth, but because the way the questions are worded cause you to make assumptions that may not be true. A classic example is “Are you still…
Read MoreWhat is God’s name?
Question: What is God’s name? The Jehovah’s Witnesses tell me it is “Jehovah,” but that appears less than ten times in my Bible. Answer: The name “Jehovah” appears eight times in the King James Version of the Bible. It is not used in the New American Standard Bible or the New King James Version. However,…
Read MoreWhat are the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ beliefs about the Godhead?
Question: What are the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ beliefs concerning the Godhead Answer: According to The Truth that Leads to Eternal Life published by the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society in 1968: “God’s personal name is made known to us through his Word, the Bible, and that name is JEHOVAH” (page 17). “As for the ‘Holy Spirit,’…
Read MoreIs it wrong to have a job that encourages others to sin?
Question: Is it wrong to have a job where you are not sinning yourself but may be causing someone else to sin? Answer: “Who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them” (Romans 1:32).…
Read MoreWhy didn’t the Jews believe Jesus?
Question: Why didn’t the Jews believe Jesus? Answer: It is a curious thing, is it not, that the Son of God came to live among men (John 1:14), and yet he is rejected by the very people who had been expecting his arrival for thousands of years. “He was in the world, and the world…
Read MoreDoes Abel’s sacrifice prove meat was eaten before the flood?
Question: I read your article on Jesus eating meat. You make the point that God gave plants to be eaten in the beginning. Then you state that was changed at the Ark. However, Abel was a keeper of sheep (Genesis 4:2) and he sacrificed the sheep with the fat (Genesis 4:4). Though it is not…
Read MoreObjections to Satan being referred to as male
Question: You recently posted an answer to a young lady who said that her boyfriend joined the House of Yahweh and is advocating that Satan is a female. What I got from your answer was that Satan is referred to as male in the Scriptures! There recently was a gathering of biblical scholars to answer that…
Read MoreWere the covenants for the Israelites only?
Question: The New Covenant is made with the House of Judah and the House of Israel only (Hebrews 8:8). Indeed, the New Covenant could not be made with any people who did not first have an Old Covenant. Answer: The reference to Hebrews 8:8 is a part of a quote from Jeremiah 31:31-32 which reads, “Behold, the days are…
Read MoreWhat is the background of each book in the Bible?
Question: Tell me about the background of each book of the Bible. What was the reason for writing each book? Answer: The Old Testament The Books of the Law of Moses Genesis: The history of beginnings. The book describes how the world came to be, where man came from, and how the world ended up…
Read MoreHow does adultery start?
Question: How does adultery start? In what way then is it looked upon as adultery Answer: James describes the steps leading to death from sin as thus: “Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each…
Read MoreIs the end of time drawing near?
Question: From the signs in the Bible, is the end of time drawing near Answer: Bible is quite clear that there will be no advance warning as to when the end of the world will come. Jesus, Himself, stated, “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but…
Read MoreCould Cornelius have been an Israelite of foreign birth?
Question: This man is used by many as an example of a so-called “Gentile” non-Israelite being saved. The place of birth, or citizenship tells us nothing about race. But this man’s race can be determined by Scripture, even if he is not described as a “Jew” [or “Judean”]. In the AV of Acts 10:28, Cornelius is…
Read MoreWhat did Paul mean by “chiefest of the apostles”?
Question: What did Paul mean by “chiefest of the apostles” in II Corinthians 11:5? Answer: The context of this verse reads: “Oh, that you would bear with me in a little folly–and indeed you do bear with me. For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that…
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