Results 361 - 380 of 532
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Author: Robert Nicholson Ordered by Date |
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Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
361 | Are gays/lesbians bound for hell? | Rom 5:8 | Robert Nicholson | 41254 | ||
Dear Marquita: I cannot judge you. However, if God sees same-sex relationships as an abomination than we can not look for his blessing if we continue in sin. If we look at sin as sin, we would not expect a thief to keep on stealing after he is saved. If he tryed to live a double life of crime and for God it would not work. I pray that you put the matter before God and allow him to speak to you through his word. Robert |
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362 | Are gays/lesbians bound for hell? | Rom 5:8 | Robert Nicholson | 41200 | ||
Marquita: I will try to answer your important question from the Bible. First, you have indicated that you have excepted Christ as your savior. For this we praise his precious name. Paul wrote "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief." (1 Tim. 1:15) What kind of sinners did Jesus come to save? Jesus said "For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." (Luke 19:10) In other words if we are lost sinners we are the ones whom he seeks by his Holy Spirit. When he shows us our sinfulness and need of forgiveness, it is at this point that we find our need and forgiveness are resultant from the work of Christ on the cross. This results in eternal life. In Romans 3 Paul in great detail shows that there is no difference between humans, that there is none righteous, there is none that are good; in fact "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God" (Rom. 3:23) However, the scripture makes it clear that if we profess to be forgiven, to be saved and continue to live a sinful lifestyle, that we do not have eternal life. This truth is given in 1 Cor.6: 9-11 "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." The important thing to notice in this passage is that Paul emphasizes "such were some of you, but you are washed,etc" It is people whom God loves and it is people he wants to cleanse and make new creators in him. A person cannot help who there are by genetics, but they do make choices to their lifestyle. I will try to explain: A hetersexual person before they were saved may have committed immorality in the sight of God by sleeping around. When they get saved, it is God's desire that that sinful lifestyle would stop. Nevertheless, they are still hetersexual with all the feelings and drives which they had before they were saved. The difference is that by the Spirit of God they are shown that their former sex practices are sin and by the grace of God they practise self-control in their life. The same is true for a person who is gay/lesbian, before we are saved we have certain desires which may have resulted in an immoral lifestyle in the sight of God. After we are saved, the Holy Spirit through God's word will make it clear that God does not condone same-sex relationships. However, if they are in Christ, the Holy Spirit can and will give strength to practise self control in avoiding sinful practices. I think based on the verses above that a person whether hetersexual or Gay cannot get saved if they wish to continue on in a sinful lifestyle. With this type of attitude there is no repentance which is totally necessary before we accept Christ. It is a creational truth, that God wishes man and women to come together in loving marriage and become one in Christ. This is the only type of relationship which the Bible allows. May God bless you in your life for him. If I can be of further help please ask. Your brother by his grace Robert Nicholson |
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363 | Crusifiction of Christ | Bible general Archive 1 | Robert Nicholson | 41120 | ||
I believe it is the one who suffered on the cross that we should focus on. Read Psalm 22 which provides graphic detail of death by crucifixtion. It helps us in a measure to understand what our saviour indured at the hands of sinful man and at the hands of a holy God as Christ was made sin for us. In Psalm 22:14 "I am poured out like water and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is melted like wax in the midst of my bowels. My strength is dried up like a postsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; thou hast brought me into the dust of death" Psalm 22:14-15 In v. 16 we read "...they pierced my hands and my feet" Yet when man had done his worst, the scene was clothed in darkness from the sixth to the nineth hour. It was during this time as the Lord Jesus bore our sins in his own body on the tree, that he cried that desolate cry as described in V1 "My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?" He was forsaken that we might not be forsaken for all eternity. God bless Robert |
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364 | Jesus as the way to Heaven | John 14:1 | Robert Nicholson | 41117 | ||
Dear Shana: In John 1:1 Jesus said"Let not your hearts be troubled, you believe in God, believe also in me. In this chapter Jesus is explaining to his disciples that he is going away to prepare a place for them. In John 1:5 Thomas asked the all important question "How can we know the way?" In verse 6 "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth and the life, no man/woman cometh unto the father, but by me." In Acts 4:12 Peter made it clear again "Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" I think the important message to try and get to your friends is: Jesus is the only way to heaven. He gave his life that we might have such a way. Believing in God and about Jesus will never give a person eternal life or forgiveness of sins. The devils believe and tremble. Thousands of people believe about Jesus and yet they are not born again. We must be willing to accept that we are helpless and sinful in our natural state and cannot please God in this condition. (Romans 3:23) That Jesus paid the price upon the cross that we might be forgiven through faith in his finished work. (Eph. 2:8) Being saved or born again is not based on a religion, but is based on our relationship with a person and that person is Christ. May God bless you as you speak to your friends. I hope I was able to help in a small measure. The important thing is to present the truth of the gospel to them and let God work within their hearts. He is able. Praise his name. Robert |
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365 | The Only Begotten God | John 1:18 | Robert Nicholson | 41114 | ||
Amen brother Moran: I love the words of Hebrews 10:7 "Then said I (Christ) Lo, I come in the (volume of the book that is written of me) to do thy will O God" Amazing grace that the eternal son of the eternal God was willing to come down to where we were and to pay such a price that we might be forgiven and have a personal relationship with him forever. God bless you brother Robert |
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366 | please explain this verse for me | Luke 23:43 | Robert Nicholson | 40537 | ||
Roberhart: Please consider the following The psalmist writes concerning the Lord Jesus: "For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption." When Jesus died his body was buried in the new tomb of Joseph of Arimitha and his soul went to hell or better rendered "hades" Hades was the place of departed spirits and consisted of a compartment of comfort and a compartment in which was torment. Up until the time of Christ those who died in faith went to paradise located in hades which is sometimes referred to as Abraham's bosum. Read Luke 16: 19-31 However, we find the triumph of the resurrection of Christ "Wherefore he saith, When he ascended on high, he led captivity captive (or lead a multitude of captives) and gave gifts to men. Now that he ascended, what ist but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended far above all heavens, that he might fill all things" ( Eph. 4:8-10) It is suggested that when the Lord Jesus ascended he trimphantly emptied the comfort side of paridise transferring those who had died in faith into the third heaven the abode of God which you have point out. In other words Jesus was the last man to descend into paradise and after his resurrection he ascended to the right hand of his father above. Those believers who have died since the cross "are absent from the body and present with the Lord" Praise his name. |
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367 | please explain this verse for me | Luke 23:43 | Robert Nicholson | 40533 | ||
When the Lord Jesus died upon the cross, his body was buried in Joseph of Armithia's new tomb. His soul went to paradise a section in hell or hades. Hades in the bible at the time of Christ was the place of departed spirits. According to Luke 16: 19-31 hades had a section in which souls were comforted and a section where souls were in torment. Between the two their was a great gulf fixed which prevented any from moving from one section to the other. The psalmist penned these prophetic words regarding the Lord Jesus "For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption." ( Pslam 16:10) Jesus did not suffer in hell, because his suffering was on the cross. However, he did descend into paridise after his death. Thus he promised the dying thief that "today wilt thou be with me in paradise meaning the comfort side of hades or hell. However, we find that when the Lord Jesus arose from the dead the comfort section of hades was emptied and move to the very presence of God. We read in Ephesians "Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men" (Eph. 4:8) We find that Paul in 2 Cor. 12: 1-4 speaks of being caught up into the third heaven V2, being caught up to paradise v.4 When Jesus ascended to his father in heaven he lead a multitude of souls from paradise with him. Thus, paradise refers to the third heaven the abode of God. I hope this helps Robert |
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368 | Sacred things to dogs, pearls to pigs? | 1 Timothy | Robert Nicholson | 40528 | ||
Dear Dave R. I believe Paul had the same thing in mind when writing to Timothy in 1 Timothy 6:3-5 "If any man teach otherwise and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing gain is godliness; from such withdraw thyself." I believe there is a point in which discussion of things precious to us in God's word becomes futitle and counterproductive with some people. These people have made up their minds that they are not looking for truth, but instead they debate with the intent to undermine God and his word. It is not throwing things to dogs or pearls to swine to reach out to others with the gospel. Robert |
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369 | Still wondering where sin came from | Gen 1:30 | Robert Nicholson | 39803 | ||
tbriggs: In Romans 5:12 we read "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; so death passed upon all men (humankind) for that all have sinned." We see that by Adam's disobedience sin entered into our world and all from that time onward are born in sin. Where did evil come from. We know that it did not come from God. "let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man." (James 1:13) God cannot be tempted by evil, he is pure in every way. It has been suggested that prior to the creation of man, that Lucifer (satan) rebelled against God and was judged. Resulting in the subtle serpent in the garden. This is referred to in Isaiah 14:12-15 I think the important thing the scripture teaches us that by the first man Adam came sin and death upon all and that by the second man Christ comes blessing, forgiveness and life. Robert |
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370 | Salvation by Grace or Works? | Luke 9:32 | Robert Nicholson | 39801 | ||
Mommapbs: In Ephesians we read "you hath he quickened (made alive) who were dead in tresspasses and in sin" Eph. 2:1 We find that this came about by the grace of God in v. 8 "For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves it is the gift of God; not of works lest any man should boast" Eph. 2:8 How can a holy God do this. God cannot overlook sin! I think the answer is here "For he that made him (Jesus Christ) to be sin for us, who knew no sin (Christ); that we might be made the righteousness of God through him" 2 Cor.5:21 We see here the substitutionary work of Christ upon the Cross. It was on calvary that he "was stricken and smitten of God and afflicted" Isaiah 53:4. It was there in the darkness of the cross that he as the sin bearer new what it was to be forsaken and to bear awful judgment against sin. He took my sin and was judged for it, that I a lost sinner might be clothed upon by his righeousness. Our total acceptance to God is in Christ "wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved" Eph. 1:6 To insist that we in our natural condition as lost, helpless and spiritually dead sinners can do anything to add to the work of Christ which is finished, is an insult to the grace of God. Brother Moran has rightly differentiated between the first and second resurrection. In addition, it is interesting to note that in scripture those who have been saved and die naturally are referred to as those who sleep in Christ (1Thess.4) In Rev. 20 we must underline that it is the DEAD, THE DEAD, small and great who are judged. Why are they judged? God must judge sin! If we will not accept the judgement of Christ for our sins, then we will suffer for that rejection forever. Christ stands alone for salvation, for he is worthy. Praise his precious name. Robert |
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371 | What about those who have never heard? | Rom 1:16 | Robert Nicholson | 39521 | ||
Dear brother John I was not suggesting that the great multitude was Israel or the Church. But rather a great mulitude from every nation which God by his grace has saved. I believe the gospel of the kingdom will be as relevant as today and their will be those who will trust Christ for salvation. I agree that no one will have eternal life except through Christ. I think that those people in Rev. 7 are people who have trusted Christ for salvation. Our verse summarizes it well. In his care Robert |
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372 | What about those who have never heard? | Rom 1:16 | Robert Nicholson | 39414 | ||
Dear brother John: Your question "What about those who have never heard?" As you have indicated this question is often posed. I have used the words of Abraham as he anticipated the impending doom upon Sodom, he could say "Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?" ( Gen. 18:25) This of course would cause us to leave some things which we do not fully understand in his righteous care. Nevertheless, we know that Jesus is the only way to heaven regardless of our background. We also know that the Lord Jesus Christ himself is coming "in flaming fire taking vengance on them that know not God and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ" ( 2 Thess. 1:8) In short, there is only one way to heaven and that is to obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. This obedience begins the moment we are placed in him by faith in his finished work. Conversely, those who have rejected the gospel are accountable and will be judged. What about those who have never disobedyed the gospel? Viewing this from a dispensational view, I have a few suggestions: Today, according to Eph. 3:2 live in the good of the dispensation of grace and all humans on earth regardless of nationality and as individuals can have their sins forgiven through Christ and have a personal relationship with him forever. When Christ comes 1 Thess 4:16 those who have been redeemed will be caught up to meet him in the air. It is then that the time of the great tribulation begins. It is also a time when God turns to Israel nationally and by his grace saves a remant to his glory. For those who have rejected the gospel during the day of grace there will be not second chance, they will believe the lie of the wicked one who will be revealled. What has this got to do with those who have not heard? In Rev. 7 we read of the remnant out of Israel saved or sealed v. 4-8. Remarkedly, in v. 9 we read of "a great multitude which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people and tongues stood before the throne..." Who are these people who are given white robes? "these are they which came out of the great tribulation and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the lamb" V14 This multitude of people do not appear to be Israel or the church who is with Christ. Is it possible that these are those who have never heard during the day of grace, but in the time of tribulation God has reached them by his grace and saved many? I would be interested in your thougts Robert |
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373 | is gambling a sin?? | Luke 12:15 | Robert Nicholson | 39211 | ||
Dear Sister: I think that gambling could fall into the area of covetousness. Jesus said "Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth" Covetousness has the idea of wanting something which is not ours to have. Where do we draw the line? Is a raffle for a good cause wrong? Or as you have asked, are scratch tickets wrong? What about speculative investments? We are brought into liberty under grace, "but take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours becomes a stumbling block to them that are weak." 1Cor.8:9 In other words, I may be able to buy the odd scratch ticket or even play a slot machine without it interferring with my life. However, if another brother or sister were to follow my example and become addicted to gambling, then I would be their cause of stumbling. There are some things in life which are very personal and we cannot be another person's conscience. Legalism is often a worse sin than that which we are being legal about. Just a few things to think about Robert |
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374 | Fairest daughters in the land | Job 42:15 | Robert Nicholson | 39204 | ||
Job 42:15 "And in all the land there were no women found as fair as the daughters of Job..." Peace Robert |
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375 | Having a Relationship with God | Deut 11:1 | Robert Nicholson | 39202 | ||
Dear brother Thank you for your response: The Lord Jesus said, "Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Matt. 11: 29-30 I am not sure of where you are coming from. However, I disagree with the idea that in order to be a good Christian I must obey the law of Moses. What I was trying to say in my last post regarding "his commandments exceeding the ten Commandments was that as those who belong to him, he wants our life, our all. My relationship to Christ should not be evaluated by my obedience to the law, but rather my obedience to him. Peace in his name Robert |
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376 | Is Time a Dressing Room for Eternity? | Heb 9:27 | Robert Nicholson | 39012 | ||
Heistthe1 Thank you for the references. We were born dead in sin and yet God by his grace has offered us eternal life as a free gift through our Lord Jesus Christ. The tragedy, is that there are many who are dead in sin and will die physically without Christ. "Behold now is the accepted time, behold now is the day of salvation"(2 Cor. 6:2) God bless his word Robert |
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377 | Is Time a Dressing Room for Eternity? | Heb 9:27 | Robert Nicholson | 38946 | ||
Would we not understand from this verse that we die only once and that after that death the judgment? We know that this is an appointment which we will keep. After death there is no room for appeal. Robert |
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378 | Having a Relationship with God | Deut 11:1 | Robert Nicholson | 38919 | ||
Dear brother: I agree that we are freed from the curse of the Law through Christ. Our relationship to God is now motivated out of love rather than out of duty. Do you not think that his commandments exceed what we know as "The Ten Commandments"? However, if we were to teach legalistically that a Christian must obey the commandments are we not bringing them under law again? According to Galations we connected with the covenant of promise Gal. 4:28 In fact, was this not the problem with the Galations in that in reverting back to the law they were losing the freedom which they had in Christ. What is this freedom? Does it mean we can simply live as we like? Never! In Gal. 5:1 we are exhorted to "stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made you free, and be not entangled with the yoke of bondage" Paul makes it clear that we cannot abuse our liberty in Christ "For brethren you have been called into liberty; only use not liberty for an occassion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word even this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself" Gal.5:13-14 What is the key to fulfilling this desire? "this I say then, Walk in the Spirit and you shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh" Gal.5:16 He continues in verse 18 "But if ye be led of the Spirit ye are not under the law" As those who have been indwelt by the Holy Spirit of God, is not our relationship with God intimate, in that he speaks to us through his word by his spirit and we as those redeemed by his blood have personal access to God through Christ. In other words this relationship is two way. Brother, do you not think that there were things under the ceromonial law which do not apply to those who are under grace? Just a few thoughts Robert |
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379 | Does Bible support capital punishment? | Bible general Archive 1 | Robert Nicholson | 38912 | ||
Hi Pup Part Two Capital Punishment I have observed 2 parodoxes: a) The Christians who fight against the killing of an unborn child and rightly so, and yet on the other hand champion the execution of a person convicted of murder. b) Christians who profess to love all souls and desire to see them saved are quick to push for Capital punishment on those who are unsaved and convicted of murder. OTHER OBSERVATIONS Why do some Christians appear so bloodthirsty in this regard, would this be the attitude of Christ if he were on the earth today? Would those Christians who feel so strongly about Capital punishment have a clear conscience in pulling the switch and sending an unsaved human into eternity? If we support Capital Punishment politically, are we not guilty by approval? Other Considerations: a) Many convicted murderers in the past few years, since DNA has been used in such crimes in both the USA and Canada have been found innocent of 1st degree murder. If we had executed them, we would have been guilty of sending an innocent person into eternity. In the case of murders who are guilty and are in prison, God in his grace has dealt with some, they have repented of their sin and are saved. Not saved from their sentence, but from hell. However, if we execute them before they have an opportunity to be saved, they are doomed forever. I will stop for now. I know my view my cause ripples, however, I think Christians should always think of the big picture before lining up as sheep behind the status quo. I have been labelled as a liberal by some brethren, however, my personal feeling is I would rather err on the side of Grace and Love. Some would say, "how would you feel if it were your loved one who has been brutely murdered? I don't know, however, I would hope that by his grace I could follow the example of my Saviour. We cannot be neutral on a moral issue such as this. In Christ Robert |
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380 | Does Bible support capital punishment? | Bible general Archive 1 | Robert Nicholson | 38910 | ||
Hi Pup: I have struggled with the same question for many years. The references I am going to cite, I know that you are aware of them. I also think that we who profess to know the value of a single soul should think very carefully before we would suggest sending that soul into eternity unsaved. Genesis 4: 9-15 We have the first murder. Cain kills Abel. Cain was not put to death, but rather he was cursed from the earth and became a fugitive and a vagabond. In Genesis 9 :6 after the flood the lord says "Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed...". This verse seems very clear and on the side of Capital punishment. In Exodus 20:13 Thou shalt not kill. We must remember that under the law Capital punishment was the judgement for many sins. However, in Numbers 35:6 the Lord appoints 6 cities of refuge for the manslayer. and in verse 11. provides the rules for the person who kills someone unawares. Which today we would refer to as second degree murder and manslaughter. In 2 Samuel 11 we read of King Davids great sin. he lusted after another man's wife and committed adultry with her. She became pregnant by King David. David in trying to cover his sin conspired with Joab to send Uriah into the forefront of the battle and to not protect him and Davids instructions in V15 "retire ye from him, that he may be smitten and die." As we know Uriah was killed. Today in some states David would get the death penalty. Instead, David stole Uriah's wife and displeased the Lord. Nevertheless, he did not receive capital punishment as stated in Genesis 9. The examples I have looked at in the old testament show God,s law regarding murder in Gen.9 However, in each example there is punishment with grace. WHAT SHOULD THE ATTITUDE OF THE CHRISTIAN BE REGARDING CAPITAL PUNISHMENT? In Romans 12:19 which refers back to Deut. 32:35 "Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written Vengence is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. The Lord Jesus in Luke 23:34 could say "Father forgive them for they know not what they do." Stephen in Acts 7:60 as he is being stoned to death could pray in a loud voice" Lord, lay not his sin to their charge." Others as referred to in Hebrews 11:38 "of whom the world was not worthy" were tortured and killed for the testimony of the Gospel. When we read these accounts, many of these early Christians prayed for their killers salvation and forgiveness. In Matthew 5:38 The Lord Jesus said "Ye have heard it said an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth; BUT I SAY UNTO YOU, that ye resist not evil; but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also." I realize the Lord is not talking about murder here, however the first part of this verse is misused many times to support the idea of Capital punishment. The scriptures appear to differentiate between 2nd degree murder and manslaughter and 1st degree murder. Part Two to follow Peace Robert |
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