Questions and Answers

Does First Breath Make One a Human Person?

Has Satan ever taken the form of a man to entice people to sin? This question reminds me of an old country music song by Terri Gibbs titled “Somebody’s Knockin’.” The lyrics go, “Somebody’s knocking. Should I let him in? Lord, it’s the Devil. Would You look at him? I’ve heard about him, but I […]

So, one’s salvation does not have anything to do with whether one is buried or cremated. Our salvation, as Christians, is assured because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

There were giants on the earth after the flood because of conditions like gigantism. There was also the possibility that among Noah, his wife, and his daughters-in-law, there was the genetic possibility for individuals to grow very tall.

In Mark 16:16, Jesus said that it is those who believe and are baptized that are saved. So, baptism is connected with salvation. Does baptism happen before a person is saved or after? Mark 16:16 says baptism happens before salvation.

Many will preach the parts of the Bible that they like, but they will not preach all of it. Paul said, “I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house” (Acts 20:20), and “For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27). Not only must we preach God’s word, we must preach all of it.

In Luke 12:47, 48 at the conclusion of the parable of the faithful steward, Jesus said, “And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.  But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.”

I do not know what the specific reason was that the Holy Spirit forbade and did not permit Paul, Silas, and Timothy to preach in these locations. The Bible does not say other than that God wanted them to go into Macedonia and preach there. It may have been as simple as that. However, God sometimes says “No,” even to good things that we desire to do, and we can learn some lessons from this. Let’s look at a few examples in the Bible where God said “no.”

God wants us to fulfill His purposes for us by living for Him every day. In this way, we can grow to be the kind of people that God wants us to be. Ultimately, God wants every single person to grow into the image of His Son, Jesus Christ. Romans 8:29 says, “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.”