Bible Questions and Answers

God created the earth to be inhabited.

Isaiah 45:18 For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.

God intends to fill the earth with his glory,

Numbers 14:21 But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD.

This glory will be in the form of men and women raised to the divine nature, in whom and with whom God will live for eternity.

2 Peter 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

God doesn’t want robots.

He designed us with free will so that we can choose.

We can obey God and live, or disobey God and die.

Disobedience to God is sin.

The penalty for all sin is death.

Ezekiel 18:20 The soul that sinneth, it shall die…

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death…

Because of Adam’s disobedience we sin and all die.

Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

God has provided a way of escape for those who do not desire to live in sin but want to be part of God’s purpose.

God has provided Jesus Christ as a redeemer for us.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Because of Christ’s sinless life and sacrifice we can have our sins forgiven, be raised from the dead, and have eternal life.

John 6:40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

How this is possible is described in the gospel preached by Jesus Christ.

When we hear the gospel, God requires a response from us.

1. We must understand and believe the gospel

2. We must repent of our sinful way of life (change the way we live).

3. We must be baptised into Christ by immersion in water for the remission (forgiveness) of past sins.

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins…

4. We must live a new life by the commandments of Christ.

Romans 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

5. We must hold fast to the end of our lives.

Matthew 10:22… he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

We cannot live a sinless life.

We will still sin after baptism but our sins can be forgiven by confession in prayer.

1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

When we are baptised into Christ we are baptised into a body of believers. In this body we all have our part to play for the good of the whole.

One ordinance is enjoined upon the body – That is to meet often and share bread and wine in remembrance of Jesus’ sacrifice.

1 Corinthians 11:23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: 24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. 25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. 26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.

We must take this as an opportunity to examine ourselves.

1 Corinthians 11:27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. 29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.

When we die we ‘sleep’ in the grave awaiting the return of Christ.

1 Thessalonians 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

When Christ returns he will raise the dead and judge the earth in righteousness.

Acts 17:31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

Those who are found faithful will be given eternal life.

Christ will restore the kingdom of David as the kingdom of God and reign from Jerusalem over the mortal population of the earth for 1000 years.

At the end of this time there will be a second resurrection and final judgment. Those rejected will die again and perish forever, those who are found faithful will be given eternal life upon earth and God will be ‘all in all’.

Paul describes what is to happen:

1 Corinthians 15:20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. 24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 27 For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. 28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

We are to live lives guided by love for others, helping them in practical ways.

Matthew 25:34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

If we are living by Christ’s precepts, we will be found ready.

I hope you find this helpful.

God bless,

Glenn