The BIG Picture (Q&A)

Here is a selection of verses that I find encouraging, often for a greater purpose than just having a temporal view of life. 1. Romans 5:1 "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:" This is encouraging because it declares a settled legal standing rather than a fluctuating feeling. This verse reveals that peace isn’t maintained by our behaviour but was secured at the cross. We are not striving for favour; we possess a finished, eternal tranquillity as a present reality. 2. Ephesians 1:6 "To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved." The encouragement lies in the fact that God has already "made" us acceptable. We often struggle to earn approval, but understanding our Mystery doctrine reveals that our position in Christ is a gift of grace. Regardless of our flaws, we are perfectly accepted because God sees us through His Son. 3. Colossians 2:10 "And...

A question on Quora: Can you explain Titus 2:9-10 or rather justify it? My answer: A common objection raised against Titus 2:9-10 is whether Paul’s instruction to servants is justifiable—especially in light of modern views on justice, equality, and human dignity. The question often takes the form:  “How can Paul tell servants to obey their masters? Isn’t that endorsing slavery?”  But such a question, while understandable, misses the doctrinal context entirely. The following reply answers that concern by rightly dividing the Word and clarifying the true purpose of Paul’s instruction in this passage. "Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again; not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things."  (Titus 2:9-10, KJV) This passage is often criticised or dismissed as outdated, oppressive, or culturally irrelevant. Some even use it to ac...

QUESTION: According to Ephesians 2v8-9, is faith a gift from God or is it self-generated? If I believed and made it to heaven and you didn't did I save myself by my faith? ANSWER: Great question. Ephesians 2:8-9 makes it clear that salvation is by grace through faith , and not of ourselves —it’s the gift of God , not of works , lest anyone should boast. But what does that mean for faith itself? Some believe faith is part of the gift , that God gives it directly and irresistibly. That’s the Reformed view . But from a dispensational perspective , which I hold to, grace is the gift , and faith is the means by which we receive it. Faith isn’t meritorious —it doesn’t earn salvation—but it is the God-ordained condition for receiving it. Romans 4:5 backs this up: “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” So no, you didn’t save yourself by believing. God saved you—through faith . You responded to the gospel,...

Paul's epistles should be understood spiritually. Thus, 'vanity of mind' is not natural futility but rather spiritual futility. So, to provide life examples is not to list useless things men do in their mortality, or man’s inept activities or knowledge in his natural state, but to perceive it in view of his eternal existence. For an example of Paul's spiritual context, notice his attitude towards natural things and their futility, compared to the worth and significance of knowing Christ, here: Php 3:7-11  But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.  (8)  Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,  (9)  And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:  (10)...

STATEMENT (by someone aiming to disprove eternal security): Eternal Security (or once saved always saved) is falsified by the Holy Spirit in 1 Timothy 4:1 as “some will depart from the faith”. “Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons” - 1 Tim 4:1 ESV MY REPLY: You are adding your own presumptions and reasoning to that verse. The verse says there will be a departure from the faith due to deception. Nowhere does it say that these people will lose their salvation. One can easily prove from scripture that eternal security is false outside of the grace dispensation, (Lk 9:62; Matt 16:24-25; Matt 6:15; Rev 3:16, etc), but there is no scripture that directly proves this within Paul’s grace doctrine. On the contrary, there is evidence that undoubtedly supports eternal security. Ex.1: The scripture below refers to a man in Corinth committing gross fornication. Paul writes that...

How does it work for believers in the Kingdom program? The Kingdom gospel in Jesus’ day was a works-based gospel. In other words, the Jews would believe in Jesus as his Messiah, but then he would have to add works to his faith by repentance, water baptism, Spirit baptism, obeying the commandments, forgiving his brother, selling all his possessions, and enduring to the end. These ‘works’ would prove his faith and commitment to his Messiah and he would qualify for the Kingdom. Matthew 6:15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Luke 9:62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. Hebrews 10:26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, 27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. 28 He that despised Moses' law died w...