Bible Questions and Answers

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God has provided a way in which all our sins can be forgiven through his son Jesus Christ. In fulfilment of Old Testament prophecies, Christ was born with our nature and yet lived a sinless life; he sacrificed his life to redeem from death those that believe in him.

 

In Old Testament times they believed (had faith) that God would provide a redeemer and it was imputed to them for righteousness. In our days if we believe (have faith) that God has provided a redeemer in Jesus Christ, it will be imputed to us for righteousness.

 

To have our sins forgiven God requires us to:

 

1. Understand and believe the gospel (good news) of the kingdom of God.

Mark 1:14... Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,

 

2. Repent of (rethink and change) our old way of life.

 

Mark 1:15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

 

3. Be baptised by immersion in water for the remission of all our past sins.

 

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.

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

 

4. Live the rest of our lives by 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.

 

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.

 

5. Confess in prayer the sins that we commit after baptism to be forgiven.

 

1 John 1:8 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.

 

1 John 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

 

All this information is freely available in the Bible.

 

The problem with ‘help me make it to church’ is that the churches do not teach the doctrine or preach the gospel that is found in the Bible. This is evident from the large number of denominations. For this reason it is important that we read and understand the Bible for ourselves and not be misled by what others think it says. For baptism to be efficacious it does matter what we believe when we are baptised.

 

There is one doctrine.

 

1 Timothy 4:16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

 

Titus 1:9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.

 

2 John 1:10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:

 

In the days that we live people no longer believe sound doctrine.

 

2 Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

 

There is one gospel.

 

Galatians 1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

 

God has to be worshipped in truth and there is only one truth.

 

We all die because we all sin.

 

Ezekiel 18:4... the soul that sinneth, it shall die.

 

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

 

At death we have no further conscious existence – we do not possess an ‘immortal’ soul or spirit that goes to heaven when we die.

 

Ecclesiastes 9:5 For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.

 

For this reason the dead are said to be asleep.

 

1 Thessalonians 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

 

The hope of the gospel of the kingdom of God is that of resurrection from the dead. When Christ returns, they that have been baptised into him and lived by his commandments will be raised from the dead and given eternal life in the kingdom of God on earth.

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.

 

Paul tells us what is going 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.

This will be the fulfilment of God’s purpose with the earth.

 

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

 

By understanding, believing and obeying the gospel we can be part of God’s glory as individuals with the divine nature.

On the basis of believing on and being baptised into Christ all sins can be forgiven. (The exception is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit which, in the absence of miracles worked by the power of God today, we cannot commit).

 

Mark 3:28 Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme:

 

If we are in Christ our sins will not be mentioned to us again.

 

Hebrews 9:28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

 

God explains his principles through Ezekiel. We see that while we have life it is never too late to turn to him.

 

Ezekiel 18:21 But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die. 22 All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live. 23 Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?

 

Ezekiel 18:27 Again, when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive. 28 Because he considereth, and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die.

 

Ezekiel 33:14 Again, when I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if he turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right; 15 If the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die. 16 None of his sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him: he hath done that which is lawful and right; he shall surely live.

 

Psalms 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

 

Righteous men and women are not born righteous. We all must believe God and make a change to the way we live. The believers at Corinth had been alienated from God until they believed and obeyed the Gospel preached by Paul.

 

1 Corinthians 6:9 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.

Christ died to save sinners.

 

1 Timothy 1:15 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.

 

Luke 5:32 I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

 

In Christ we can find the hope and comfort that we need.

 

Matthew 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 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.

 

I am so sorry about your illness and commend you to the word of God which can sustain us in the afflictions of this life with the hope of the Glory of the life which God has promised.

 

Romans 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

 

God bless, 
Glenn Smith