The BIG Picture (Q&A)

The short answer to this question is that it takes ZERO convincing! It is not our role to convince a person. As a matter of fact, how can you convince an unbeliever of spiritual issues. You can talk until you are blue in the face, but when you try to talk, convince, or argue someone into faith, they may concede to the strength of your argument, but faith was not produced .  No person arrives at the point of genuine "saving faith" by the efforts of another, or of their own mental ascent. It is the result of God's work/grace in our spirit by His Holy Spirit conviction.  Sharing the gospel is like sowing seeds. That's all you can do. Sow the seed and pray that it falls into fertile soil. It is the Holy Spirit that uses the gospel to convict an unbeliever of sin, righteousness, and judgement. The Holy Spirit will produce moments of truth in that person's heart, moments where they will be confronted with a decision to believe. I...

The following is my response to a comment regarding this article: How do you get saved?  This comment provided me the opportunity illustrate the confusion of a works-based salvation that exists today if you do not rightly divide the Word. When you read the comment, notice the emphasis that is put on works; on things you must do to be saved. Granted, these are things that are listed in the Kingdom gospel, but they are of little significance in the Grace gospel, as clarified in the article linked above. Comment: Do not accept anyone’s word on how to obtain salvation without verifying it yourself through study of God’s word given to us through the Apostles. You must believe Christ is the Son of God, confess your sins and be baptized for the remission of sins and give your life to Christ. You can say you believe all you want but if you don’t submit to what the Bible says then you don’t truly believe, at the same time, you can do all these things and still not be saved if you did not ...

Answer Request: Is Christ's Church built on Peter or all living stones of truth? Did God reveal the truth to Peter that Jesus is The Rock? The Greek word translated "church" in the New Testament is ekklesia . A literal translation of ekklesia would be "a called-out assembly" . Thus, when God calls one out, to separate them, it is for a purpose. In other words, there is a specific function that this entity should fulfil. For example, God separated the nation of Israel for a purpose. Israel can be identified as an  ekklesia,  (or church in modern English). Deut.7:6 For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God: the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. Num.23:9 For from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him: lo, the people [Israel] shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations. The function that Israel was to fulfil was t...

Answer Request: Didn't Jesus say that God didn't send Him for Gentiles (Matt 15:24)?  Yes! That is 100% correct. It might come as a surprise to many denominational Christians, but it is true! Jesus clearly tells us that He did not come for the Gentiles. Let's look at the verses and explain this fact, Matt.15:23 But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. 24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 25 Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. 26 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs. 27 And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table. In the above passage a Canaanite woman begs Jesus to heal her child. Jesus ignores her to the point that His disciples are annoyed at her constant cries to get Jesus' attention. W...

Below is a comment made in response to an article about " How can you be saved ".  Comment: There is one thing you HAVE to do. You need to REPENT of your SINS and ask God’s forgiveness. Then you can accept the free gift of God, SALVATION.  Is this true?  It is my conviction that it is not! Salvation is not dependent on a person having to repent and ask for forgiveness. Let me clarify below, Repentance is a sticky topic and one that is very skewed due to the influence of confessionals in a certain sect of Christianity. To repent is not to verbally state, “I am sorry”, which many believe is the case. Rather, to repent is defined as “a change of heart”. This is brought about by hearing the gospel, and through it the power of the Holy Spirit will bring conviction of sin, righteousness, and judgement. Acts 16:14 And a certain woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart ...

Answer Request: Is God's power to save people limited through the crucifixion of Jesus alone? If that is the case, then how can God be believed to have unlimited power?  First: Let us establish and understand that God is ALL POWERFUL and that there is nothing impossible for Him . The Word is quite clear on this fact, Matthew 19:26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, with men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. Psalm 147:5 Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite. Luke 1:37 For with God nothing shall be impossible. Jeremiah 32:17 Ah Lord God! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee: Job 42:2 I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee. Hebrews 1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had ...

Answer Request: — In response to this post:  What does it REALLY mean to be 'In Christ'? I'm pessimistic because I find it's hard for most people to change their mind. Do you think that most people's condition can conform with their position?  Our 'condition' will never reach our 'position'. The body and mind are subject to sin and corruption. The flesh is unsalvageable and can never be 'fixed', or conformed, to the standards that God requires. This is why the Bible says that we had to die, and this happened when Christ died for us. Read the following verse in Romans, Romans 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 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 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall b...