Posts Tagged ‘faith’
John 6:26-59
by Dale Smelser There are several keys to understanding this passage. One is John 6:48 where Jesus said, “I am the bread of life.” Then John 6:50, “This is the bread of life which comes down out of heaven that a man might eat and live.” As we will note, the consideration of actual baked…
Read MoreI’ve fallen back into pornography, how can I be confident that when I repent I’ll still go to heaven?
Question: Hi. I was once a member of the Lord’s church. I say “was” because since getting baptized last year, I was so dedicated and love the Lord, but it was so soon after that I got trapped and went back to my wallowing in sin! i.e. pornography and masturbation. Even after I was married,…
Read MoreTrusting God When Afraid
by Wayne S. Walker “Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You” (Psalm 56:3). Jesus told us, “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28). The fact is that “God has…
Read MoreHow do you answer a teacher who claims religion is not based on evidence?
Question: How would you answer a professor who claims that religion and faith are not based on evidence, but rather they are based on what people “want” in life, contrary to scientific evidence and that what is considered scientific has to be “peer-reviewed”? To me it seems that my professor is operating on the assumption…
Read MoreThe Armor of God
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/ArmorOfGod.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Ephesians 6:10-18 Rome was the mighty governing power in the days the New Testament was written. Its strength was in its military, which constantly was on guard Josephus, a Jewish historian, observed that Roman soldiers always carried their weapons with them, even in times of peace. “Every soldier is…
Read MoreHow do you not doubt that God exists?
Question: I do not mean this in any sort of sacrilegious way, but – here it is – how do you know God exists? Maybe this life is all there is. How do you know otherwise? Now, let me say I am not a stranger to Christianity. When I was in college, I used to hang out…
Read MoreHow can faith be combined with works?
Question: I have been reading articles on this web site, especially the one about how salvation comes both from believing and works. My question is this: Did Paul lie to the prison guard when he said: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved”? I am having difficulty with the combination of…
Read MoreThere’s More to It Than That
by Dee Bowman via Gospel Power, Vol. 15, No. 13, Mar. 30, 2008. It’s interesting to me how an illustration can sometimes become so powerful that it supplants the thing it is illustrating. For instance, the illustration for salvation is many times cited by the use of a man’s five fingers. Here, believe, repent, confess,…
Read MoreHow to Avoid Having Your Faith Shipwrecked
by Steven Braman Let me tell you about my evening. I was eating dinner in Shanghai. I picked a little restaurant near the hotel called Johnny Moo. It is a knockoff of Johnny Rockets. Basically a ’50s-style burger joint. I had a cheeseburger, fries, and a banana milkshake. I had just settled in with my…
Read MoreWhere do you start to gain faith?
Question: Good day, I was really impressed by your web site. I am not quite a believer. I tried a few times to read the Bible but seem to have lots of difficulties in reading in “between lines”. The purpose of my email is only to see where I could get good information. You might…
Read MoreCan a person with schizoaffective disorder truly have faith?
Question: I suffer from mental illness of bipolar and schizoaffective disorder. I believe in the notion that doctors’ advice of medicine helps us keep sane. But there are mental blocks. One is the ability to see God as Maker and Creator of heaven and earth. I have to really mentally think about it before it is natural before I…
Read MoreThe First “Ancient Mariner”
by Dillard Thurman in Gospel Minutes, May 8, 1964 The original story of “The Ancient Mariner” was written several centuries before “The Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner” was added to our literature. The story of Noah and the Ark is loved and appreciated by multitudes who have never gone to sea, or taken an ocean…
Read MoreWhat Saves Us from Sin?
by Clem Thurman via Gospel Minutes, Vol. 57, No. 28, July 11, 2008 We are not saved by one thing to the exclusion of all others, for there are many factors that work out our salvation. Rather than focus on just one passage that speaks of our being saved, we must learn the truth of…
Read MoreHow can I increase my faith?
Question: Just a warning this may get a little long, but it will be honest. I fear what comes after death. I call myself a Christian, I am sincere when I claim that and have no problem saying that to anybody. As a matter of fact when I am confronted by atheists is when my…
Read MoreI’m scared that God has made me believe a lie. How can I know His way?
Question: A sister in Christ shared this note with me and decided to try and address this young man’s concerns. You showed us that Scripture in II Thessalonians 2:11, “And for this cause, God shall send them strong delusion that they should believe a lie.” That’s made me scared of God ever since. How, if…
Read MoreI keep questioning my beliefs. Does that mean I’m no longer saved?
Question: I need help in reconciling what I have always been taught and what I am being taught now. I was baptized a few years ago in the church and at the time I did truly believe that it was necessary, since then I begin to question whether it was necessary and I question many…
Read MoreDid the thief on the cross work when he rebuked the other thief?
Question: I noticed your ‘Is water baptism is a work?’ and I found it very insightful. I was curious about the thief on the cross. Did this thief do a ‘work’ before he died by rebuking his neighbor? Answer: Obviously the thief demonstrates faith in Jesus. “Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying,…
Read MoreGet Your Faith Out Of The Church Building
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/2008Spring5GetYourFaithOutOfTheChurchBuilding.mp3 by Whit Sasser Lessons in Christianity
Read MoreDoes losing your faith means losing your salvation?
Question: Hello, I was reading I Timothy and came across mention of Hymenaeus and Alexander. Not knowing anything about them, I did a google search and found your site with your explanation of them. In it, you say that it is possible to lose one’s faith as seen in Hymenaeus, Alexander, and Philetus. Does that also…
Read MoreA Perversion of Biblical Faith
by Wayne Jackson One of the great tragedies of ecclesiastical history is the fact that so many have failed to find a balanced view of human redemption as this concept is set forth in the biblical record. On the one hand, there is Roman Catholicism, arrogantly contending that salvation is conferred upon the basis of…
Read MoreThe “Name” of Jesus
by David Smitherman via Plain Talk, July 1983 Jesus has a “name” that is above every other name (Ephesians 1:21; Philippians 2:9) but that “name” is not just an arrangement of letters to spell that word: J-E-S-U-S is not this name. It is much more than a title or designation. In Scripture, “name” is often equivalent…
Read MoreFaith and Works (Scott)
by Carey Scott Many people reject the idea that these two words should be found in the same context. The reason is that while we need faith to receive God’s blessings and approval, we also realize that God’s grace is what saves us instead of works. The Bible tells us in Ephesians 2 that we…
Read MoreThe Courage to Start
“Nothing will ever be attempted, if all possible objections must first be overcome.” Lord Philip Dormer Stanhope Chesterfield “Now the LORD had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, From your family And from your father’s house, To a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will…
Read MorePerfect Love Casts Out Fear
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/PerfectLoveCastsOutFear.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I John 4:17-21 I. Fear is an instinctive emotion A. It arises from a need to preserve ourselves, to keep us protected. 1. Fears of job loss, serious illness, difficult problems may each cause us to fear. 2. We don’t fear when we don’t perceive a danger II. Fear of the Unknown A. It…
Read MoreIf you’re praying for something and believe you have received it, what if it’s not what God wants?
Question: I’m curious to know about some Bible verses I’ve heard. Well, I heard a Bible verse that said something like: “Therefore, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe you have received it, and it will be yours” The thing I don’t understand is, is that people say God wants what is best for you.…
Read MoreDid Peter always believe that Jesus was the Christ?
Question: Did Peter always believe that Jesus was the Christ? Answer: Peter first met Jesus because his brother told him that they had found the Messiah (John 1:41-42). We are not told if Peter was immediately convinced or not, but we do know that Peter became a staunch follower of Jesus. It was Peter who…
Read MoreThe Harmony of the Scriptures
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Proverbs 30:2-9 I. The denominational world has long debated the relationship of faith, works, and grace in man’s salvation. A. Some argue that salvation is by faith alone while others argue the necessity of works. Some turn their attention to grace and argue that grace alone saves men. B. The problem has…
Read MoreQuestions about James 2
Question: Alright, I read the two links you had for me, and they cleared a lot up. I read the second chapter and by what I can understand, the first part talks about following the law completely, and not just following one and leaving the other, because even if you follow all but one, you are…
Read MoreDid the woman at the well change her life?
Question: Did the woman at the well make a change in her life, and if so what kind of change did she make? Answer: After the incidence at the well, we are told, “From that city many of the Samaritans believed in him because of the word of the woman, who testified, “He told me…
Read MoreWhere Is Your Faith?
by J. F. Dancer Have you ever asked yourself this question? We all assume that our faith is in God, but it may not be so! Paul said that when he came to Corinth he was careful to preach God’s word in a plain and simple manner so the faith of the Corinthians would stand…
Read MoreDid Hophni and Phinehas believe in God?
Question: Did Hophni and Phinehas believe in God? Answer: Hophni and Phinehas were two sons of Eli, the high priest of God (I Samuel 1:3). They served as priests at the tabernacle. But despite their position, they were wicked. “Now Eli was very old; and he heard everything his sons did to all Israel, and…
Read MoreWhere does the Bible say that some believed, but would not follow?
Question: I have been trying to find, without luck, the verse that talks about people believing but still not following God. I think it was the Pharisees in Acts. I just remember reading a passage and I was wondering if you knew of it. I am using word searches but no luck yet. Answer: I…
Read MoreWhy won’t God heal amputees?
Question: Why won’t God heal amputees? After all, Jesus said, “If you ask anything in my name, I will do it” (John 14:14). Why doesn’t Jesus appear to us? Answer: The questions remind me of an event in the Gospels that we just studied last night. “Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing Him…
Read MoreHow can I be assured God will forgive me?
Question: I am so tormented with the fear of the sin against the Holy Spirit. When I read the Scripture, it says “blaspheme” which is to “speak.” How can one change that to “reject?” How can I be assured that God will forgive me of any and every sin? I am a Christian in the…
Read MoreInterpretation Versus Belief
by Phillip Owens via The Elgin Hills Examiner, Vol. 1, No. 5, May, 2006. “Interpreters” explain or give the meaning of words from one language to another language. No one would knowingly say of a competent interpreter, “Well, that’s just his interpretation,” meaning that his translation is only an opinion, has no solid basis to…
Read MoreWhose idea what it to send spies into Canaan?
Question: One of our members came to me following our class last evening disagreeing with the answer I gave to the question, “Whose idea was it to send spies into the land of Canaan?” She believes it was the people’s idea not God’s. I have studied it more and come up with the following. If you…
Read MoreWhat saved Joshua and Caleb?
Question: While teaching then the book of Numbers last evening all went pretty well until we arrived at chapter 14. The question was asked: “Apparently, what saved Joshua and Caleb?” I said that it was Moses because he was their mediator and interceded for the people. Several in the class disagreed and said it was…
Read MoreLetting Go of Sin
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: II Peter 3:1-14 I. “Will God forgive me?” A. It is a question that I have been getting over and over again. B. People of all ages from teens to adults caught up in sin and now that they realize the error of their past and turn from it, they wonder if…
Read MoreIs it too simple to say we are to believe and we will be saved by God’s grace?
Question: I’m concerned that purgatory does not exist in the Bible. I believe that imaginary doctrine can be changed, as has the belief of Limbo, with innocent newborn babies, who have died prior to baptism, no longer going to Limbo. I always thought that God has told us to believe in Him and we will…
Read MoreThe Valley of the Shadow of Death
by Earl Kimbrough Via Guardian of Truth XXXII: 17, pp. 534-535, September 1, 1988 The beautiful twenty-third Psalm is a song of faith. It abounds with an assurance of God’s guidance and protection. There is mention of the danger of enemies, both past and present, but it is muted by David’s trust in the perpetual presence…
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