Question: Do Genesis 1 and Genesis 2 contradict each other? Why is man mentioned being created in Genesis 1:27 and then again in Genesis 2:7?
Answer:
No, the two chapters do not contradict. Genesis 1:1-2:3 gives the
chronological account of what God created on each day. Man was created on
the sixth day.
Genesis 2:4-25 gives a descriptive account, with man being the central theme, and is not meant to be chronological. Often in descriptive writing, facts are presented without being in sequential order. Since the chronology was already explained in Genesis 1:1-2:3, the focus then shifts specifically to the creation of man, giving the details about how he was created. Genesis 2:7 is simply an elaboration of Genesis 1:27.
Question: What does "God repented" mean in Jonah 3:10? How can God repent?
Answer:
Jonah 3:10 (KJV) says, "And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not." Jonah preached to the people of Ninevah, saying that God would bring judgment upon them in 40 days. When the Ninevites repented, God halted the judgment.
Does that mean that God changed His mind? No, because 1 Samuel 15:29 says, "Also the Glory of Israel will not lie or change His mind; for He is not a man that He should change His mind." Why then, does the verse say "God repented"?
When man repents, he changes his will. When God repents, He wills a change. The New American Standard Version gives a better translation of Jonah 3:10: "When God saw their deeds, that they turned from their wicked way, then God relented concerning the calamity which He had declared He would bring upon them and He did not do it."
The Lord had told Jonah, "Arise, go to Nineveh the great city and proclaim to it the proclamation which I am going to tell you" (Jonah 3:2). We know what Jonah preached: "Yet forty days and Nineveh will be overthrown" (Jonah 3:4). However, the Bible doesn’t disclose the entire message that God told Jonah to proclaim. Normally when God told His prophets that judgment was coming, He told them if the people receiving judgment would repent, He would stop the judgment.
For example, God told the prophet Jeremiah, "At one moment I might speak concerning a nation or concerning a kingdom to uproot, to pull down, or to destroy it; if that nation against which I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent concerning the calamity I planned to bring on it. (Jeremiah 18:7-8)
It’s likely that God gave this same message to Jonah. However, Jonah probably only preached that God would soon judge Ninevah—and didn’t tell them that God would relent if they would repent. Jonah went through the streets of Niveveh crying out, "Yet forty days and Nineveh will be overthrown" (Jonah 3:4). When they repented of their evil deeds, Jonah became extremely upset (Jonah 4:1). He wanted God to judge them, but the Lord had other plans. He relented of the judgment that He was going to bring upon Ninevah because they repented of their sins.
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Will only a few get into heaven?
Question: I’m confused about what Jesus meant in Matthew 7:14: "For the gate is small, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find it." Will only a few make it into heaven?
Answer: The word "few" is a relative term. Jesus said in Matthew 7:13, "Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide, and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter by it." Compared to all the people who live on earth, the ones who go to heaven will be few. The way to heaven is open to everyone through Jesus Christ, but sadly, most people reject Him to follow their own ways.
However, as far as numbers go, many people will go to heaven. When the apostle John saw his revelation of heaven, he said, "After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude, which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands" (Rev. 7:9). Many, many people will go to heaven, but it will few when compared to those who could have gone there.
You can go to heaven by accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. The blood that He shed on the cross is the only way you can be cleansed from your sins. To find out more, click here
Question: Who were the Nephilim?
Answer: The Nephilim were giants who lived on the earth at one time. They are mentioned in a couple of passages:
Genesis 6:4 "The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men, and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown."
Numbers 13:33 "There also we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak are part of the Nephilim); and we became like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight." The descendents of Anak were part of the Nephilim. The ten men who spied out the promised land became fearful of them, because they were so much bigger.
Some people believe the Nephilim were offspring of fallen angels ("sons of God"), who married the "daughters of men." Genesis 6:4 says, "The sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves, whomever they chose." The intermarriage of fallen angels and women produced giants, according to this theory. Some thing Goliath could've been a Nephilim descendant.
More information can be found in these sites: Were the Nephilim sons of God? Fallen Angels? Giants of Genesis 6:4?
Question: Does God want all His children to be materially rich?
Answer: God wants to meet His children’s needs. "And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 4:19). Some people can handle riches, while others can’t. God is primarily interested in our faithfulness in handling our money, regardless of the amount that we have.
Some things are better than material riches. Consider these verses:
Mathew 19-23,24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
Psalm 37:16 Better is the little of the righteous than the abundance of many wicked.
Proverbs 15:16 Better is a little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and turmoil with it.
Proverbs 15:17 Better is a dish of vegetables where love is than a fattened ox served with hatred.
Proverbs 16:8 Better is a little with righteousness than great income with injustice.
Proverbs 17:1 Better is a dry morsel and quietness with it than a house full of feasting with strife.
Proverbs 19:1 Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than he who is perverse in speech and is a fool.
Proverbs 28:6 Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than he who is crooked though he be rich.
Question: While doing some research for an essay, I came across a site that says "God Hates Fags—Romans 9:13." Does God hate homosexuals?
Answer: We are familiar with the site that you are referring to, and we believe the opinions on that site do not represent the character of God. Romans 9:13 isn’t referring to homosexuality and there's nothing in the Bible about Esau being gay.
While God does hate every kind of sin, He does love every individual person more than we can ever image. That's why Jesus came to earth—to show His love and to die for our sins on the cross (1 Peter 2:24). "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."(Romans 5:8) He wants to change our lives so that we will be like Him.
If you are gay, you need to know that God does love you! At the same time, He doesn't love the sin you are participating in. The act of homosexuality is sin, just like there are many other sins listed in the Bible. Everyone has sinned against God (Romans 3:23). Jesus was called "the friend of sinners" because He ate with prostitutes, but He never participated in their deeds (Luke 7:34). His love is what changed their lives. Romans 2:6 says that the kindness of God leads us to repentance. His love is so powerful that it can change our hearts so that we will quit doing what displeases Him. Jesus Christ is our only hope for a changed life.
Question: Was Peter the "rock" on which Jesus will build His church?
Answer: Here is the passage that you are referring to:
Matthew 16:13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He began asking His disciples, saying, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?"
Matthew 16:14 And they said, "Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets."
Matthew 16:15 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"
Matthew 16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God."
Matthew 16:17 And Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 16:18 "And I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades shall not overpower it."
The Greek word for Peter is petros, meaning "a pebble." The Greek word for rock is petra, meaning "a massive rock" such as bedrock. Jesus is the Rock, petra. Everyone who receives this revelation from the Father like Peter received it—that Jesus is the Son of God (Lord and Savior)—becomes a part of His Church.
Christ used the word petra when He told the parable of the man building a house upon a rock to illustrate its size.
Matthew 7:24-25 "Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine, and acts upon them, may be compared to a wise man, who built his house upon the rock (petra). And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and burst against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded upon the rock (petra)."
Jesus was talking about building upon bedrock, not a pebble.
The apostle Paul tells us that Jesus is the foundation upon which we build our lives:
1 Cor. 3:11 For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
The apostle Peter also informed us that every believer is a "stone" and that Jesus Christ is the "cornerstone" or foundation.
1 Peter 2:4-6 And coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected by men, but choice and precious in the sight of God, you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For this is contained in Scripture: "Behold I lay in Zion a choice stone, a precious cornerstone, and he who believes in Him shall not be disappointed."
Every believer is a stone in Christ’s Church. Peter was not the rock, but just one of many who are a part of this spiritual house of worship.
Name Erased from Book of Life?
Question: Please explain Revelation 3:5, "He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life…" Does this mean that my name can be blotted out of the book of life and that I can lose my salvation?
Answer: Some people believe that this verse teaches that your name can be erased from the book of life. It doesn’t say that a person’s name can be blotted out of the book. It says, "I will not erase his name from the book of life." Rather than being fearful of being blotted out, this verse gives assurance that a believer’s name cannot be erased.
Every city had a register which recorded each resident. If a person moved or died, his name was blotted out of the book. Jesus says, "You might get erased from that book, but you will never be erased from My book." This verse doesn’t teach you can lose your salvation, but that you can’t.
Have you ever wondered when the names are written in the book of life? Jesus told His disciples to "rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven." (Luke 10:20). Christ told them to REJOICE because their names were already recorded in heaven. They couldn’t rejoice if they could be blotted out the next day. Revelation 17:8 says, "And those who dwell on the earth, whose name has not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, will wonder when they see the beast…" Why would God write in a person’s name if He knew that He would have to blot it out? It doesn’t say that their names were blotted out, but that their names were never written in. From when? From the foundation of the world. Saved people’s names were recorded at that time. "Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world…" (Eph. 1:4)
How can He choose us before we are even born? We are chosen "according to the foreknowledge of God the Father…" (1 Peter 1:1-2). God knew ahead of time who will call upon Him to be saved, and He recorded their names before the foundation of the world.
Some people believe a person can be saved, then lost, then saved, then lost, etc. That would mean that God would have to keep writing it in, erasing it, writing it in, erasing it. The book of life would be pretty messy. God doesn’t make mistakes. He doesn’t have an eraser on His pencil.
But doesn’t the verse promise this only to those who "overcome"? The apostle John, who wrote the book of Revelation, also wrote First John. He explained what it means to be an "overcomer" in 1 John 5:4: "For whatever is born of God overcomes the world." Everyone who is born of God is an overcomer.
What about those who appear to be Christians, but then leave the faith? John explained that as well. "They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us" (1 John 2:19). They never were believers in the first place.
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Does everything happen for a reason?
Question: Does everything happen for a reason?
Answer:
I think this is the wrong question to ask. It assumes that God has a divine purpose behind everything, even causing sin and tragedy. God isn’t responsible if a criminal murders someone, so He doesn’t have a "reason" for this sin. Of course, God doesn’t cause things out of His will to happen, although He certainly is in control of all things. That means He has the ability to bring something good out of bad things that happen.
A better question is, "Can God use anything that happens for His purposes?" The answer for that is Yes! Romans 8:28 says, "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." This verse doesn’t say that He causes all things to happen, but that He can cause all things to work together for good. God is sovereign and can take our mistakes, failures, and calamities, and adopt them into His plan. If He couldn’t, no one would have any hope because we all have sinned and failed.
Before you ask Him to take control of the events in your life, have you asked Him to take control of your life? The promise of Romans 8:28 is for those who are "called according to His purpose." First submit yourself to His purpose, and then you can rest assured that He will work all things together for good.
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Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit
Question: I’m worried that I may have committed blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. How can I know if I committed this sin?
Answer:
Jesus said, "Truly I say to you, all sins shall be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they utter; but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin"—because they were saying, "He has an unclean spirit." (Mark 3:28-30)
The scribes committed blasphemy when they attributed the miracles of Jesus to the devil instead of the Holy Spirit. They said that Jesus was possessed by the devil and cast out demons by the power of Satan (Mark 3:22).
Some Bible scholars believe that this particular sin could only be committed while Christ was on earth because the scribes said that Jesus was possessed by Satan. They witnessed, with their own eyes, the perfect Son of God performing miracles by the Spirit of God. In other words, this sin can’t be duplicated today simply because Jesus is no longer on earth in His physical body. The reason Jesus gave this warning was "because they were saying, ‘He (Jesus) has an unclean spirit.’"
Many people are afraid that they may have committed the unpardonable sin. The scribes were so embittered and hardened of heart that they weren’t the least bit concerned about their own spiritual condition. The fact that you are concerned that you may have blasphemed the Holy Spirit is proof that you have NOT committed this sin. A person who could commit the unpardonable sin wouldn’t care.
If you are unsure of your salvation, please see our study "How can I know I’m going to heaven?"
Answer:
A sexual addiction is a desire that has gotten out of control. Temptation is trying to fulfill a legitimate, God-given drive (sex drive) in an illegitimate way. Sex is to be fulfilled by your spouse, not by a picture. Your sex drive is like a fire that’s burning within you. The more logs you throw on the fire, the bigger the flame gets. "The eye is not satisfied with seeing" (Eccl. 1:8), so the change must take place inside your heart.
The addiction to pornography is directly opposite to desires of the Holy Spirit. "For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another…" (Gal. 5:17). You must become more desperate to please God than to satisfy your own desires. This is called "repentance"—a decision to WANT to be set free. Otherwise, you will keep going back to the same addictions. You have to get totally sick and tired of your destructive habits and want a new life.
First, the only way to overcome the flesh (pornography) is through a genuine work of the Holy Spirit in your heart. "Walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh" (Gal. 5:16). Most people try to fight the flesh with the flesh, which doesn't work. Trying to stop a habit doesn’t work. Only the Holy Spirit can overcome our selfish desires. Ask Jesus to come live in your heart and ask to be filled with the Holy Spirit. He will literally give you bondage-breaking power when you completely surrender to Him.
Second, you must cut off ALL opportunities to look at pornography AHEAD of time. Where do you stumble into pornography? TV? The internet? Convenience stores? Stay away from those places. Jesus said "watch and pray that you may not enter INTO temptation." Temptation is an area that's entered into. If you stay out of the boxing ring, temptation can't fight you. But once you step into the ring, you will be defeated unless you flee out of it. I have a detailed chapter in my book, The 911 Handbook, about how to avoid temptation. I highly recommend that you get the book and follow the principles outlined in the chapter. You can buy it at your local Christian bookstore or order it through amazon.com.
Third, start fasting and praying. Fasting means to go without food while you pray. Your desires have been out of whack and need to be put in the proper place. As your hunger drive increases, your sex drive will decrease. God does something supernatural when we fast and pray.
Fourth, find a support group and accountability partner. Tell a trusted Christian friend (of your gender) who will hold you accountable for your actions. Give him or her an honest report of how your day went. Reading the Scriptures and Christian fellowship is essential to maintaining your freedom.
Fifth, live one day at a time. Life is a cinch by the inch, but hard by the yard. Make it a goal to make it through the one day without looking at pornography. Victory is won—one day at a time.
As you stop throwing logs on the fire, you will discover that your flame for sex will decrease. Your mind will begin to clear up. Eventually, you will be surprised to discover that you can go days without ever thinking about looking at porn. Yes, it IS possible for God to set you free from pornography!
What does the Bible say about Cremation?
Question: What does the Bible say about Cremation?
Answer: Cremation is burning a corpse as opposed to burying it. The men of Jabesh-Gilead burned the bodies of Saul and his sons to prevent desecration by the Philistines (1 Sam. 31:12). The bodies of criminals and certain immoral people were to be burned (Gen. 38:24, Lev. 20:14, 21:9, Joshua 7:15, 25). In Amos 2:1, the Lord rebukes Moab for burning the bones of the King of Edom.
The New Testament doesn't mention cremation. First Corinthians 13:3, which says, "…and though I give my body to be burned…" refers to martyrdom, not cremation. The Jewish custom was to honor the deceased by applying ointments and spices to the body. The body of Jesus was honored in this way (Luke 23:56). The early Church fathers preferred burial to cremation, which was practiced in the Roman world.
Our motives are the primary consideration in everything we do. Why are we doing it? Some people are against cremation because they think it will prevent the resurrection, which it won't. If a person can’t afford burial, then cremation might be considered. Generally speaking, what is not forbidden in Scripture is permitted. Although cremation is not specifically forbidden, burial should be the preferred method.
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Question: Jesus said, "If you are willing to receive it, he (John the Baptist) is Elijah who is to come." (Matt. 11:14). Doesn’t this mean that Elijah was reincarnated as John the Baptist?
Answer: It’s important to remember not to form a doctrine on one isolated verse. The answer is no, John the Baptist was not Elijah reincarnated. Here are several proofs:
- Reincarnation assumes the death of one body before the soul can reincarnate into another body. Since Elijah never died but was caught up to heaven (2 Kings 2:11), his soul was "not available."
- At the Transfiguration (Matt. 17:1-6), Elijah himself showed up. Three chapters earlier (Matt. 14:1-12), John the Baptist had been beheaded. So when Elijah appeared to Jesus on the mountain, John the Baptist had already died.
- In Luke 1:17, we read that John the Baptist will go before Christ "in the spirit and power of Elijah." This is a clear reference to the power of the prophetic ministry of John the Baptist, not a reference to the reincarnation of Elijah.
John the Baptist himself renounced the idea that he might be Elijah. When asked if he was Elijah, John the Baptist replied, "I am not" (John 1:21).
God's Purpose for You: Peace and Abundant Life.
Since God planned for us to have peace and the abundant life right now, why are most people not having this experience?
The Bible Says:
"...we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Romans 5:1
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16
"...I have come that they my have life and that they may have it more abundantly." John 10:10b
Our Problem is: Separation from God.
The Bible Says:
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus or Lord." Romans 6:23
God created us in His own image to have an abundant life, but He did not make us a robots to automatically love and obey Him. He gave us a will and a freedom of choice.
We choose to disobey God and go our own way. We make this choice daily, the results are separation from God !
Our attempts to close this separation don't work.
The Bible Says:
"There is a way that seems right to man, but in the end it leads to death." Proverbs 14:12
"But your iniquities have separated you from God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear." Isaiah 59:2
Through the ages, individuals have tried to bridge the gap without success by doing many things like: church membership, baptism, good morals, and doing good deeds. It is clear there is only one solution.
God's Remedy: The Cross.
The Bible Says:
"....God is on one side and all the people are on the other side, and Christ Jesus, Himself man, is between them to bring them together . . . " 1 Timothy 2:5
"For Christ also has suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God"....Peter 3:18a
"But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners Christ dies for us." Romans 5:8
Jesus is the only answer to our problem. He died on the cross and rose from the grave, paying the penalty for our sins and closing that gap that is between God and us.
Your Response Must be:Trust Christ to Save Your Life.
The Bible Says:
"Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he will with Me." Revelation 3:20
"....if you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9
Is there any reason why you cannot ask Jesus into your life right now?
How to receive Jesus Now
1. Admit you have a need (I am a sinner).
2. Be willing to turn away from your sin. (repent)
3. Believe that Jesus Christ died for you on the cross and rose from the grave.
4. Through prayer, invite Jesus to come into your life so you will no longer be separated from Him, but have eternal life with Him as your Savior and Lord.
What to Pray
Dear Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner and need your forgiveness. I believe that You died for my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I now invite you to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow you as Lord and Savior. In Jesus' name I pray this, Amen