The BIG Picture (Q&A)

There are two things to understand concerning this question, ~1~ A man can NEVER be free from guile, falsehood, and wickedness, since the state of man in the flesh is unsalvageable! "The flesh", even as it  remains in the believer after salvation , is that which is "begotten [ birthed ] of the flesh" (John 3:6)  from parent to child tracing all the way back to Adam by whom  "Sin entered the world" (Romans 5:12). It is called ,  "the flesh," "the old man," "the natural man," "the carnal mind" and "the old Adamic nature". With respect to "the flesh" in the believer, the Apostle Paul declares that in it "dwells no good thing" (Romans 7:18), that it is "carnal, sold under sin" (Romans 7:14), that it is "corrupt according to the deceitful lusts" (Ephesians 4:22), that it is at "enmity against God," and it is "not subject to the law of God, neither inde...

QUESTION: Salvation is about grace, but to say that, "once saved is always saved" denies Scripture and Christ's own words along with the words of St. Paul. Is this correct? ANSWER: I agree with you 100% that the verses you reference speak of the ability to lose salvation. But the key is that  this is salvation that was offered to Israel.  Their salvation is based on faith in their Messiah as well as in  their  works. This is why it is mentioned over and over that they had to endure to the end, they had to pick up their cross and follow the example of their Messiah, they had to  "not love their lives unto death",  (Rev.12:11). The doctrine pertaining to our salvation is different from that of Israel. Our salvation (as members of the Body of Christ) does not depend on our performance. It is the perfect work of Christ that is imputed to us, so we are not judged by our works but by Christ's works. The following is an extract author...

Let me start by saying right off the bat that God is all wise and all powerful and in His power and wisdom He will respond to a believers prayers in the way He chooses is best. So, we cannot discount or discredit miraculous answers to prayer today, HOWEVER, it is not the 'norm' for this to happen! Why not? Well as with everything in the Bible, one must recognize which dispensation we are in because this determines the modus operandi (the system of operation, the program, or the administration) in which God chooses to work today. In the Kingdom program (for Israel), God dispensed out a very difference doctrine (set of conditions) than what He is dispensing out today in the Grace program (for the Gentiles). In short, where the Kingdom ways were focused on the external, the way of Grace puts focus on the internal. For Israel, God showed Himself in the physical (incarnate) and with might miracles and wonders (1Cor.1:22), but for us, God works not by sight but by faith (2Cor.5:7). N...

My response to this question is specifically in context to judging others (especially believers) by your own standards. Many of us know the concept that when you point your finger at someone, there are three fingers pointing back at you. The moral is that we are never in the position to judge a person based on their moral actions because if it were not for the grace of God and personal circumstances or choices, we would be in the same boat as they. We all belong to the human race and we all are ravaged by sins imperfections. Paul says it well, Rom.14:4 Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand. The problem with judging others is that we can never know the true circumstances that drove that person to do what you judge them for! What motives did that person have to do that deed? What desperate situation was that person facing? Are your moral standards truly of higher value than theirs ...

The word 'repentance' , in the biblical context, translates simply to, 'a change of mind' . We cannot read any more than that into the word. The change of mind is motivated by God's good news that a person can be reconciled to God. So, if a person believes the good news of God, they ultimately have changed their mind from unbelief, and repented . Originally, it was Israel that was called to repent. Throughout the Old Testament and the Gospels, the prophets would bring the message of God to the Jews and provide the conditions of repentance. In the Gospels it was John the Baptist, Jesus and later, the 12 apostles, which called Israel to repent, for the King had arrived and the kingdom of heaven was at hand. Today, repentance is used widely in Christian circles. The problem however is that it is not understood correctly! The word has lost much of its original meaning and most people think it means penance. What is penance? Penance is defined as any act or a set of acti...

Answer Request: How would it be possible to understand the Bible if a person hasn't been born again of the spirit? You are correct. A person who is not regenerated (made alive) in the spirit, who does not have the Spirit of Life within them, received when they respond in faith the tot Gospel of Grace, can never understand the true meaning and intention of the scriptures. The following scripture confirms this, 1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. Here is a simple analogy to try to put it into human terms, You can watch a person on the television drinking a cappuccino. You can see the beverage, you can describe the cup and the foam, you can see them enjoying each sip. You can take in ALL the details and visual pleasures of this cappuccino, but you will never be able to smell it or taste it or experience the fullness of that e...

Contradictions in Christianity stem from a failure to divide the Word between the two primary programs in the Bible; the prophetic Kingdom program and the mystery Grace program. The moment a person mixes these two programs, ignoring the division of these two programs and blindly assuming that everything in the Bible is about them, or in reference to them, this is where contradiction and confusion is born. The two programs are fundamentally different from each other. One can simple look at the primary differences to notice that you cannot mix or merge them. Let us consider the following; one is about law, and the other is about grace. One is addressed to the Jews alone, the other addresses the all nations. One is about the inheritance of the earth while the other is the inheritance of the heavens. One was proclaimed in prophecy since the world began and the other was kept secret since the world began, only revealed after the Lord saved Paul. I can go on and on listing more contrasting p...

Answer Request: I wanted to hear what your take is on 1 Cor 11 - (head covering when praying). This was a letter written to the church of Corinth by Paul in particular to those Christians - but the way Paul speaks about how the woman came after man, for man, and about dishonour for not covering your head - What is your view on this? Although there are churches today that are practicing this 'rule', it is sad to say that they are not doing it because scripture commands it, but because they are stuck in a man-made system of tradition and/or denominational entrapment. However, for the majority of churches today, this practice is not adhered to and not enforced, and rightfully so. This is not a blatant rejection of scripture today, because when one digs deeper into the truth, one finds that this is more of a cultural issue in Paul's day than a direct command from the Lord that required women to cover their heads ...

Answer Request: I have something I am wrestling with and have wondered if anyone has done any further studies on it: HELL and The lake of Fire: According to Revelation 20:13-15...Hell and the lake of fire is not the same: Rev.20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. As far as my understanding on the topic; hell and the lake of fire are two very different locations. Please note that there is much more detail to this topic, but I'll keep my answer short and plain. The word "hell" is translated as "grave" in both the Hebrew ("Sheol") and Greek ("Hades") languages. Hell therefore is a reference to the grave, which represents temporary d...

Eph.4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Apostles Apostles along with prophets were foundational positions or offices (Eph 2:20). A qualification to be an apostle was to have seen Jesus in the flesh (Ac 1:22; which also included Paul, 1 Co 15:8-9; Ga 1:1; 2:6-9). Not only must a person with the apostolic office have seen the resurrected Lord Jesus personally, but he must have been personally commissioned by Jesus as an apostle (Acts 1:22; cf. Ga 1:1, 12). The office of the apostle disappeared when those personally commissioned by Jesus died. Jesus personally chose apostles with the office. These men had the authority to perform "signs and wonders" (2 Co 12:12). Some apostles had the apostolic gift but not the office. The idea of an apostle is a sent one. By application this would refer to missionaries...

Back in the day, I can recall praying and asking God to reveal His will to me; to reveal His will in my job, to show me the way to go in my Christian walk and in my ministry. I don't doubt that God led me and guided me in His own way, and I certainly do not doubt where I am today in my relationship with Him and my family, but I have also learned over time that the options in life and the decisions you face is ultimately your will and in your control. God is not going to tell you what job to choose, or if you must marry or not. He is not going to tell you to buy a house or in what stocks to invest. He is not going to reply to those fleeces you put out or use booming billboards to answer your prayers. This is  YOUR  life and the decisions you make are your own, and the direction you choose is yours to make.  God entrusts you with the power to choose your path, but where your path ends up will be by how much of that powe...

See  part #4  in this series for the next point of credibility regarding Paul's bold and assertive claims in his writings. Credibility Point #3: The ascended Lord chose Paul for this ministry Paul wrote many times in his epistles that he was an apostle, appointed by the Lord, and that he had authority to speak in His name. We read often how Paul had to defend his credibility when we read statements or personal testimony as follows, Acts 22:21 And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles. —— ( testimony before a Jewish crowd) Acts 26:15-17 And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. 16 But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; 17 Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, ...

What are the differences between the Law and the Mystery programs?   This important question, neglected by many believers is answered by Paul’s epistles. Knowing the mystery program (as opposed to the Law) will help us to live according to the plan and will that God administers in the world today, as well as prevent confusion and malpractice of His Word. (Qualifying scriptures: Rom.11:13; 1 Cor.14:37-38; Rom.16:25-26) Prayer The risen Christ revealed to Paul that prayer would no longer be based on the Law covenant agreements made with Israel. Prayer would change as we moved from Israel's dispensation to the Body of Christ. Let's have a look at what the Word reveals.   Matt 21:22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.  How many of us have prayed this prayer and it hasn't happened? There's a reason why it hasn't happened.  It belongs to the Kingdom ...