Bible Questions and Answers

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The Bible advises

Psalms 146:3 Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.

Isaiah 2:22 Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of?

We are not to expect too much of other people.

We are to replace trust in man with trust in God and develop a relationship with him.

Psalms 118:8 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.

Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

If you are speaking of losing faith in your heavenly father, I assume again that you feel that you cannot trust God or he is failing to meet your expectations.

Whether you are referring to your earthly or heavenly Father the solution is really the same.  Examine whether your expectations are based on a proper understanding.  Make yourself fully acquainted with the Gospel.  The hope of the Gospel is not centred on this life but on the joy of the life to come. A proper understanding of it changes the way that we see this life and enables us to endure life’s difficulties in the same way that Christ did.

Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Below is a run-through of the principles of the gospel, the things God has promised and how we might attain to them by establishing a right relationship with God. I apologise if it seems a bit much, but I am trying to give you a different perspective on this life if you will just persevere.  In order to have faith in God we have to know him and what he requires of us.  The only place where God has made himself known is in the Bible.

2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

We need to have a working knowledge of what God says in the Bible. In the Bible God explains that man was made in his own image.

Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

God’s purpose is to fill this earth with his Glory in a population glorified with the divine nature.

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

God created man not as a robot but with freewill so that he might choose whether to obey God or not. Adam and Eve chose not to obey and brought sin and death upon us all by their disobedience. Because of this God provided a second Adam in Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.

Jesus Christ made a way of escape from sin and death by his obedience.

Romans 5:19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. 

Christ is now in heaven awaiting the day when the number of God’s elect are made up.  In due time he will return to raise from the dead those that have been baptised into him and establish the kingdom of God upon the earth.

God requires of us the following:

1.    That we believe what he says about himself.

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

2.    That we believe he is the creator.

Hebrews 11:3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

3.    That we believe him when he tells us that we are all sinners.

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:

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

Mark 7:21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,

Mark 7:22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:

4.    That we believe the source of sin and death is the lust within each of us.

James 1:14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

5.    That a relationship with God can only be through his son.

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

6.    That to come to God through Christ we have to understand, believe and obey the gospel that his apostles preached, which is recorded in the Bible.

Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved...

7.    That when we understand and believe that Jesus is both Lord and Christ we have to repent (change the way we live) and be baptised by immersion in water.

Acts 2:36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

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...

8.    That after baptism we are to continue in the apostles’ doctrine, fellowship, breaking of bread and prayer.

Acts 2:42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

9.    That we are to break bread and drink wine regularly together in remembrance of Christ’s sacrifice.

1 Corinthians 11:24 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.

10.That prayer is to have an important part in our lives.

Philippians 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

11.That we are to live by love and self-sacrifice.

Matthew 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

12.At baptism our previous sins are washed away.

Acts 22:16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

13.After baptism by immersion we rise from a symbolic death of our old life to a new life to be lived in a way which is holy and acceptable to God

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.

Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Romans 13:13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.

14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

14.We will still sin after baptism but as John points out, we have forgiveness for our sins if we confess them 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.

10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

15.Once baptised, maintaining the right relationship with God consists of keeping the commandments of Christ.

John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

16.We will be judged on how we have shown the love of God to our fellow man.

Matthew 25:40 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.

Matthew 25:45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.

17.The reward promised to us is resurrection from the dead to eternal life in the kingdom of God upon earth.

1 Corinthians 15:22 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.

1 Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

18.We shall become equal to the angels

Luke 20:35 But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage:

36 Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.

19.Partakers of the divine nature

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.

20.Those who are baptised into Christ become adopted as sons and daughters of God

1 John 3:1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God:

21.All things in this life, both good and bad, will work for our eternal wellbeing.

Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

22.We are no longer alone in this life.

Matthew 28:20... lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

 I hope this helps.

Glenn Smith