, Collapse All
When is a person said to be chosen? Are only the saved ones chosen? Is it correct that God’s sovereign work of salvation begins among the chosen ones only? Is it possible that the chosen ones could die without being saved? Philippians 1:6 says “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. Does it refer to the process of salvation or to those who are already saved?
It is interesting that usually when we read of the “elect” or “chosen ones” in the doctrine of the New Testament it is in the context of those who are already saved, and said to be “justified” (Rom. 8:33), “before him in love” (Eph. 1:4), “holy and beloved” (Col. 3:12), having personal “faith” (Tit. 1:1), sanctified by blood (1 Pet. 1:2). One exception to this would be 2 Tim. 2:10 which speaks of those who are elect, but have not yet obtained “the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory”. And yet the occasion of God’s decision to choose the elect is said to be “before the world’s foundation” (Eph. 1:4), and “according to the foreknowledge of God the Father” (1 Pet. 1:2). This means that God chose us before we ever existed! It also shows that God’s sovereign work in the soul, culminating with salvation, begins among the elect; “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me” (John 6:37). I believe these passages shows us that generally those who are called “the elect” are those who by grace eventually come to Christ, believe the gospel, and are sealed with the Holy Spirit. But that begs the question, ‘Are any brought into eternal blessing without believing the gospel?’ We know that children who die go into the Father’s presence (Matt. 18:10). We know also that many saints in the Old Testament that lived and died long before Jesus Christ ever came into the world are in heaven now, eternally blessed. No doubt they were all chosen by God for blessing. The principle of Philippians 1:6 would show that it is God’s normal method to complete or perfect the work He begins. In the context of Philippians 1, it would be those who were already saved, and the completion of the work would be seen in their full conformance to the image of Christ, manifest in the day of display, “unto Jesus Christ’s day”. Nonetheless, the principle applies generally to all that God does. I believe salvation is preceded by the action of new birth. John 1:12-13 shows that those who received Christ “were born… of God”. No doubt those who are “born again” are the elect of God, the sheep who do respond when they hear the Shepherd’s voice (John 10:27). Can one of the elect die before the work of salvation is complete? Yes, for example, the death of an infant or unborn child. Can a quickened soul die before they believe the gospel? I don’t know that we can say absolutely, because scripture is silent on that question. However, I think we can see that God’s normal method is to complete a work once He begins.
I know that we must obey the authorities that God has set up to rule over us... but do we have to obey them if they are trying to make us do something that is against Scripture?
Yes.
As a young person, I find it hard to transfer a conversation that is not pleasing to the Lord into something positive. For me personally, conversations like this happen with those that are older than I, and I’m unsure also how I should end that conversation. Is it my place to tell someone who should be respected that the topic brought up doesn’t honor the Lord? Do I just change the subject? … And if I go this route, is this not speaking out for the Lord? 1 Tim 5:1; Phil. 4:8.
Do it in a right spirit.
Is it bad to love our life? Because we have it better than so many people in the world, so shouldn’t we love how good we have it? John 12:25 says, “He who loves his life shall lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.” So are we supposed to hate our life?
We should be thankful for what the Lord has provided, but not love it in the sense of clinging to it selfishly. We should be willing to lay our lives down in service to Christ. John 12.
The Lord Jesus says in John 2:19 “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up,” Speaking of the temple of His body. Did the Lord Jesus somehow take part with God the Father in raising Himself? How can we understand this alongside the many verses that say that God raised Jesus? 1 Cor. 6:14 says, “and God hath both raised up the Lord …”
Is doctrinal evil worse than moral evil, and if so why don’t more Christians realize the seriousness of doctrinal evil?
If I have been praying for someone for a while now and there is nothing going on, what should I do?
When sickness or tiredness makes it impossible the whole family to make it to night meeting, is it better: A) To split up the family and one parent to take those who can go, or B) To stay home together as a family and maybe have a time of reading and prayer together instead?
When the Lord comes to take us home, will the people we know work/work for (who aren’t believers) know that we went to heaven?
How did God ‘speak’ to people in the Old Testament, and how does He speak to us today?
What are Biblically correct steps to take when there is emotional or physical abuse in a Christian marriage?
I know it’s always good to give the gospel, but there is this person I’ve given the gospel to and prayed for almost three years, and I’ve heard some brothers say that God has chosen us Christians ahead of time. Does this mean he may never get saved? What’s the point of hurting myself emotionally over and over?
Can we ever understand the entirety of God’s love? Ephesians 3:19; 1 Corinthians 2:16.
Why did Jesus need to pray to God when He was in constant fellowship with Him?
I'm into politics. Is that bad? Should I stop?
In the Lord's supper, should there be only one cup and one plate passed around, on the basis of only one cup being spoken of in the gospels. Also, is the unity of the body seen in the cup and in the broken bread, or is it only seen in the unbroken loaf.
How can we reconcile predestination with free will?
Why does the person praying say amen if it is meant for agreement?
Will anybody be sent alive into hell before the Great White Throne judgment.
Two that we know of for sure are the Beast and the False Prophet (Rev. 19). Likely the King of the North will also be sent directly to the Lake of Fire, called Tophet (Isa. 30:33). It is possible also that the “goats” in Matthew 25 will be sent to hell, although we cannot be sure.
Is there a time when we should stop praying someone? What is the difference between 1 Sam. 12:23 and Jeremiah 7:16?
In Christianity we have the instruction in 1 Tim. 2:1-2 to pray for all men. Jeremiah received a definite word from the Lord to cease praying for Israel, because they had turned away from Jehovah and served the Queen of Heaven (an idol). Israel had crossed the line, and therefore Jeremiah was no longer to pray for them. But only the Lord knows when that line has been crossed. 1 John 5 speaks of “a sin unto death”, which, if a soul commits, we are not required to pray for the person.
What is the significance of the Lord's blood being shed after He died?
In John 19:33-34 we find that the soldier pierced the side of Christ after He had died. The shed blood of Christ contained all the value of His sufferings and of His life laid down in sacrifice. The blood was also the evidence that He had died; “For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul” (Lev. 17:11).
Are people going to hell going to experience different levels of punishment, according to their deeds on earth?
In Hebrews 10:28-29 we find that those who experience the blessedness of Christianity and then reject it will be punished more severely than others. In Luke 12:47-48 we have the difference between “things worthy of few stripes” and “many stripes”. In Rev. 20:12 we find that, at the Great White Throne, the dead are “judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works”. Then they are cast into the lake of fire. These scriptures clearly show that there are various levels of punishment in hell. The blessed truth for the Christian, is that the “stripes” we deserved were meted out on Christ (Isa. 53:5), who suffered the punishment we deserved!
Does 'unequally yoked' refer to more than just a believer and an unbeliever? Can it also mean a new believer with someone who has been studying the word for a long time?
The verse refers specifically to yokes between believers and unbelievers, but we can apply it to other yokes as well. Two people may be Christians, but their lives are heading in two different directions. This could make a partnership very difficult.
Is the conscience the best guide for the believer?
The conscience was given to fallen man so he could discern good and evil. However, conscience needs to be calibrated by the Word of God. This is especially true because of the corrupt cultures that men find themselves in. When people are raised in a corrupt culture, their consciences do not function properly (Isa. 8:19-20; Rom. 1:21). We find in Titus 1:15 that our conscience can become defiled, and thereby become less effective. Notwithstanding, conscience will always function to a certain extent, even if distorted; “Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another” (Rom. 2:15).
What qualities should I see in a young man who is interested in me before I become interested in him?
1 Cor. 7:1
Many Christians wear the cross on a necklace or a ring as a symbol. Is it right for a Christian to do this?
Are the sinners in Mark 2:15-17 different from 'wicked people' put away from the fellowship of the assembly?
If we are not suffering in our Christian lives, are we living as we should according to Christ (2 Tim. 3:12)?
What is the meaning of Matt. 7:6… Not throwing our pearls to swine? What are pearls? Who are the swine? What is an example of this forbidden behavior? Does this conflict with the exhortations to preach the gospel to the lost?
Please explain the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost (Matt. 12:30-31) as it relates to sins not being forgiven? How does this co-exist with the thought of the blood of Christ forever dealing with all sin?
If someone rejects the gospel now, will they have a second chance after the rapture? How do we know?
What is the meaning of 'taking away the words of the prophecy of this book' in Rev. 22:19? Is it possible for a believer to commit this sin and lose their salvation?
What should our position toward the Jews be in lieu of Matt. 27:25; 'His blood be on us and on our children'?
Since Israel is guilty of crucifying their Messiah, what practical effect did the Lord’s statement in Luke 23:34 'Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do' have upon the Jews?
Which do you think is more accurate? The Baptism of the Spirit of God was a corporate act on the day of Pentecost that… (1) was later extended to take in the Gentiles (Acts 10), or (2) would never be repeated. Gentiles were added to the Church later as any other Christians down through the centuries.
2 Peter 1:21 says that 'holy men of God' were moved to write the scriptures. What about a case like Balaam where he uttered the words of God yet he was far from holy?
Why was it necessary for Jesus to be glorified before the Holy Spirit could be sent?
Explain the difference between the names Jesus Christ and Christ Jesus.