Posts Tagged ‘salvation’
Are people who rejected the ministry of the Holy Spirit not Christians in actual fact?
Question: The article on the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit as a sin that cannot be forgiven did not really explain why those people accused Jesus of casting the demons by the power of Beelzebub. In reality, there are people who professed to be Christians but reject the ministry of the Holy Spirit (speaking in tongues,…
Read MoreDoubting Your Salvation
by Clem Thurman via Gospel Minutes, Vol. 58, No. 8, Feb. 20, 2009. QUESTION: Would you please explain I John 3:20,21? ANSWER: John wrote: “Because if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemns us not, we have boldness toward God” (I John 3:20,21).…
Read MoreWhat about the American Indians, prior to their contact with Christianity? Could they have been saved?
Question: I was wondering if the American Indians in America prior to 1492 were saved despite their isolation from the rest of the world. Answer: You might as well also ask about the people prior to Christ. The Israelites had God’s law, but most of the world did not have the laws of God written…
Read MoreHow could a just God put a man in a place where he is unable to hear about Jesus and then send him to hell?
Question: From your sermon “The Lost Who Never Heard the Gospel”: “If people could be saved without going through Christ, then why would God have sent him to die?” Then is it safe to say that this God you say is a just God of love would create a human being, place him in a location where…
Read MoreIf a person isn’t baptized, does that mean they’ve never been forgiven of any sin?
Question: If a person isn’t baptized, does that mean that they’ve never been forgiven of any sin they’ve ever committed? Answer: “Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy…
Read MoreHow can you beautifully write about the law being nailed to the cross and insist that salvation comes through obedience?
Question: How can someone write a beautiful article like “What Was Nailed to the Cross?” and then insist that salvation comes through obedience to a new set of commands? Answer: Because it is what God stated. See “Doing Our Duty” and “In Word and Deed.” “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but…
Read MoreWhat is your church like?
Question: How do you have such a great understanding of the Bible? I would love to understand and live whole-heartily according to the Bible. This is what I have been in search of. I believe in Jesus Christ, I’ve accepted him as my personal savior, was baptized as an infant, but would like to be…
Read MoreWhat about people who spend their whole life following the wrong religion in ignorance?
Question: People are born into other religions and live their entire lives thinking that they are following the correct religion. They live life doing good deeds but follow their own religion. How does God view these people? Thank you for the web site and the learning that it provides to people such as myself that…
Read MoreAre there Christians in all churches?
Question: I have a friend that is a member of a denominational church. I am a member of Christ’s church. We had a discussion about Christians. I told her that she is not a Christian because she has not been added to the Lord’s one and only church of Christ. Do you have any Scriptures…
Read MoreAren’t there passages that say we are saved by faith?
Question: You say that “You will never find where the Bible says that baptism is a symbol, or that one is saved at the point of faith.” What about Luke 7:50? Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” Ephesians 2:8 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from…
Read MoreWhy do you believe in God? If God loves us all, why doesn’t He let us all in heaven?
Question: Why do you believe in God? If God loves us all, why doesn’t He let us all in heaven? Answer: Why do you believe there is a Sydney, Australia? Assuming you have never been down under, what makes you believe it exists? There are multiple interlocking reasons why believing in God makes sense. I have…
Read MoreWhat Does the Bible Say About Salvation?
by Frank Richey via The Elgin Hills Examiner, Vol. 4, Nos. 4-6, April — June 2009. Notice we do not ask the question, “What does a particular church teach about salvation?” The reason for this is that no church has the divine right to teach anything about salvation other than what is revealed in the…
Read MoreCould all the bad things happening to me just be bad karma?
Question: I have a question about my relationship. I have three children out of wedlock by two different men. I am currently with my youngest two’s father for the last seven years. My question is: I have always heard of karma. My children’s father and I got together seven years ago while he was in…
Read MoreMy granddaughter has turned to witchcraft. Will she be with us when the Lord returns?
Question: My granddaughter has turned to witchcraft and away from God. When she was little she asked the Lord to come into her life. I know her name is in the Book of Life, but will she be with us when the Lord comes back for us? Answer: Having one’s name in the Book of…
Read MoreIs the use of instrumental music in worship a salvation issue?
Question: Is the use of instrumental music in worship a salvation issue? For example, regarding the division between instrumental and non-instrumental churches of Christ, if in the end when Christ returns both churches are still divided and convinced of their own views on the issue, will all of them that otherwise have remained faithful to…
Read MoreCan we be in danger of losing our salvation if we do not study?
Question: Is it possible to study and understand all of the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments? I was talking to an older man who told me that it was impossible to understand all of the Bible or even most parts of it. I did not agree with him, and I was thinking that…
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 MoreCan the passage about homosexuality in Romans 1 and the one about the Jews and Gentiles in Romans 11 be compared since they both talk about what is natural or contrary to nature?
Question: I have a question about homosexuality. I have been thinking about something, analyzing it, and wondering if you could make an argument out of something I noticed. In Romans 1:26-27: For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and…
Read MoreI got a massage and received a happy ending. How do I get rid of this guilt that I feel?
Question: I just rededicated my life to God last week. One day, I was getting a massage and received a happy ending. I feel extremely guilty about it, but my mind still wanders off on it every once in a while. I am about to go to Afghanistan. What are the steps for me to…
Read MoreHow many times does the Bible mention prayer, salvation, healing, and money?
Question: I was searching for some information when I saw your site. The questions are, how many times in the Bible does it mention the four following items: prayer salvation healing money [tithes]? I wanted to witness on these items and the importance of them but did not know where to look on the information…
Read MoreWill only black people and Israelites be saved?
Question: So what’s this I hear that only Black people and Israelites are going to be saved? Answer: I don’t know your sources, but it is obviously false. “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And…
Read MoreWill all Jewish people be saved, even though many die not accepting Jesus?
Question: My question is: Will all Jewish people be saved, even though many died not accepting Jesus as their Lord and Savior? God’s Word says God is not a respecter of persons, and if Gentiles are going to go to hell if they do not accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior; why would…
Read MoreWhat is Man?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/WhatIsMan.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalm 8:3-9 I. Job faced a severe trials as Satan tried to get him to turn against God A. It wasn’t just the suffering that Job wrestled with. B. Trying to understand what lead to his plight also caused Job to raise other questions as well. C. One that Job asked is…
Read MorePeace with God
by David Thurman via Gospel Minutes, Vol. 57, No. 48, Nov. 28, 2008. Do you ever feel that God is mad at you? You know, those times you have messed up and don’t think God could love someone like you? Do you ever have moments of doubting that you are a real Christian, that you have…
Read MoreCan we bribe God?
Question: Can we bribe God? For example, you have sinned, like you got something that is not yours and without permission, then you want something that only God can give. If you read the Bible after this, is it bribery? Answer: God cannot be bribed for two reasons: First, everything belongs to God. “For every…
Read MoreIsn’t eternal life guaranteed? So how can we talk of hope?
Question: We speak of “hope” a lot. Hope in eternal life is great, but the idea of hoping doesn’t mean a guarantee. If I hope for something, then I am thinking it may happen. With the critical issue of eternal life, one does not want to rest in the idea that belief in Jesus’s sacrifice…
Read MoreIf Jesus was crucified to pay for our sins, who was the payment made to?
Question: I am a Christian visiting my Muslim family in Pakistan. My sister, who is a Muslim has asked me a question that I’m not sure of the best way to answer and I was wondering what you would say. The question is: If Jesus was crucified to pay for our sins, who was the…
Read MoreAre You a Christian?
by Allen Dvorak via Gospel Power, Vol. 15, No. 40, Oct. 5, 2008. The word “Christian” is sometimes used rather freely and without regard to its New Testament usage. Some folks apply the term to practically anyone who has any connection to some religious group or embraces certain moral principles. Others use the word to…
Read MoreI’m beginning to doubt my baptism, whether I really understood that I was to die to sin. Should I be rebaptized?
Question: I have heard of many people who have questioned their salvation because they didn’t know a particular scripture at the time. I have learned through the years that there will always be something you don’t know at the time of your baptism. A person does not need to know every single scripture in order…
Read MoreBy One Spirit (Hamilton)
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/ByOneSpirit.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Corinthians 12:1-13 I. How does one become a Christian? A. You’ll find a wide variety of answers in the world. You could even be left with the impression that there isn’t really a single way at all. B. John 14:6 – There is only one way to God the Father…
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 MoreI’ve sinned a lot and I’m tired of repeating the same mistakes. How can you make a new start?
Question: Hi! I’m 14 years of age and my question is how do you get back to your old self when you have fled away from God? How can you make a new start? I have sinned a lot and repented an awful lot as well. But I’m sick of repenting for the same old…
Read MoreWould the Gentiles have been saved if the Jews had not rejected Jesus?
Question: I have a question from one of my students. I know half the answer, but he did bring up an interesting question: if the Jews weren’t provoked to jealousy and didn’t reject God, would the Gentiles have received salvation? Even though from the prophets writing it was decided a long time ago the Gentiles…
Read MoreWhat is meant by “nations” in Revelation?
Question: What does Revelation 21:26 and Revelation 22:2 mean? What do the references to the nations mean? “And they shall bring the glory and honor of the nations into it.” “In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits,…
Read MoreWorking Out Our Salvation
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/WorkingOutOurSalvation.mp3 by Garry Floyd
Read MoreGarage Sale
by Carrey Scott Every so often, I take the time to go to some garage sales. I am hoping to find something that someone else does not want, and buy it cheaper than I thought I wanted to pay for it originally. Many items you can get for pennies on the dollar. What was it…
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 MoreAre we judged based on justification or based on sanctification?
Question: Are we judged based on justification or based on sanctification? The reason I ask is because of Hebrews 10:26-31. It appears these people have already been justified, but are merely trampling on grace. I wanted an expert’s opinion. Answer: It appears you are making a distinction not found in the Scriptures. Your question makes…
Read MoreWho Is Lost?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/WhoIsLost.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: II Thessalonians 1:3-10 I. Whenever I’ve published material which is read by people who claim to be Christians but are not living by God’s word, I’ve received complaints. A. “Why are you bothering with this issue? You should be seeking the lost instead. All you are doing is causing division…
Read MoreBaptism and the Blood
by T. Doy Moyer The blood of Jesus saves us from our sins: the blood was “shed for many for the remission of sins” (Matthew 26:28). What does baptism have to do with the blood? Peter preached, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of…
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