The BIG Picture (Q&A)

QUESTION: I struggle with the fact that God forgives.  How can I have faith to know I’m forgiven? ANSWER: EVERYTHING ABOUT GOD IS BY FAITH . Why? Simply because we cannot see God, or touch Him, or feel Him. The only thing we have that makes God real is the Bible. If we believe that the words in the Bible are real, then God becomes real. It’s as simple as that! The key is to believe that the Bible is REALLY the words of God spoken to you. When you believe this, then God becomes real, and what He said becomes real. So then, why do I say everything about God is by faith . It is because you have to believe what He says in His Word . Faith is easy if you truly trust the words in the Bible. You will personally experience your faith grow stronger when you get deeper and deeper into the Word. This is because the Word generates faith. In Romans 10:17 it says, “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God”. Notice, faith comes (automatically), or is generated within you (au...

This is undoubtedly the MOST important question we can EVER be asked, but sadly, the answer is also the MOST misunderstood. The problem with this question, no matter how it is asked, is threefold. We are ignorant about it or don't think it's a big deal We tend to complicate the answer We think we have to do something to be saved Lets look at point #1 and clarify it. Why must I be saved? We are created beings. This means that whether you believe it or not, there is a Creator (Jn.1:1-5). The problem is that we have been separated from our Creator because of sin (Isa.59:2; Mic.3:4). You see, God is holy, and because we have sin in our nature (Rom.3:23; Rom.3:10-12), we are not. Because of sin, we cannot survive in God's holiness (Ex.33:20; Ps.5:4; 1Jn.4:12; 1Tim.6:16) where God wants us to be (Ps.145:18; Jn.14:23.  Many who are ignorant of this do not realize that when we die, without the salvation that God freely offers through the sacrifice of His Son , we will remain separa...

As a child I recited a simple bedtime prayer that included asking for daily forgiveness. In the innocence of child's prayer, this was beautiful, but as we are exposed to, and grow in the truths of God's Word, we would learn that there are two primary periods where forgiveness is dealt with differently. It is imperative to learn the difference and apply the right mindset and faith to our current relationship with God regarding forgiveness.  During the Law dispensation, forgiveness of God was conditional. One had to merit forgiveness from God by obeying specific instructions (works) to receive forgiveness from Him. At the time that the temple was built, around 1000 BC, God said the following to Israel in the book of Chronicles,  2 Chronicles 7:14, "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." So we see t...