The BIG Picture (Q&A)

QUESTION: The Holy Bible says to love your neighbour, what if your neighbor is evil or a very nasty person? RESPONSE: When we study the Bible in the rightly divided context, we see that God doesn't expect us to have warm, feelings for someone who is mean or acting wickedly. In the Bible, the kind of love we are told to show is a choice, not a feeling. It’s about choosing to treat someone with a standard of grace because that is how God treated us. It basically means you decide that their bad behaviour won't turn you into a bad person. You seek their "highest good"—which is really just a fancy way of saying you hope they get saved and change their ways—but you don't have to like what they are doing. The Apostle Paul gives us a very practical rule: live at peace with everyone if possible. This is a huge relief because it shows that God knows some people make peace impossible. If a neighbour is dangerous or truly nasty, you don't have to let them walk all over yo...

Emotions are part of our humanity. God created us with the capacity to feel joy, sorrow, fear, compassion, and even disappointment. These are not sinful in themselves, for they belong to the soul—the realm of mind, will, and emotions. Yet Scripture warns us that the motions of sins, which are by the law, work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death (Romans 7:5). This shows that emotions, though natural, can be stirred by the flesh and lead to sinful outcomes when not governed by the Spirit. Faith, however, is of another order. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17). It is not emotion, nor is it feeling—it is trust in what God has spoken. Faith rests on the certainty of His Word, while emotions fluctuate with circumstance. Without faith it is impossible to please Him (Hebrews 11:6), which means that God is not pleased with our emotions in themselves, but with our trust in His truth. Yet emotions, when submitted to the Spirit, can reflect His own hea...

As we navigate the complexities of Christian living, we often find ourselves at crossroads, unsure of how to navigate the nuances of faith and practice. In Romans 14, the Apostle Paul addresses a crucial aspect of Christian relationships, urging believers to walk in love and unity amidst differing convictions. As we explore this chapter, we're reminded that our faith is not only a personal matter but also one that requires consideration for others. In this lesson, we'll dive into the heart of Paul's teaching, culminating in the profound statements in verses 22-23, which serve as a guiding principle for navigating disputable matters. The context of Romans 14 is centered around the issue of "weaker brethren" (Romans 14:1), those whose faith is not as mature or robust as others. Paul exhorts believers not to "despise" or "judge" these weaker brethren (Romans 14:3, 10), but rather to receive them with open arms, just as Christ has received us (Roma...

QUESTION: The Bible says that "love is patient, love is kind, love does not envy," yet it also describes God as a "jealous God." How can this be reconciled, since love does not envy but God is described as being jealous? MY ANSWER: First, let's consider 1 Corinthians 13:4 in the KJV, where it says, "Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up." Here, "charity" (agape love) does not "envy," indicating it is not resentful or covetous of others' possessions, achievements, or status. Envy, in this sense, is a selfish and sinful attitude. In contrast, the term "jealous" as applied to God in passages like Exodus 34:14 (KJV) has a very different connotation. It says, "For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God." God's jealousy is not rooted in insecurity or covetousness, as human jealousy often is. Inste...

SOCIAL MEDIA QUESTION: What do I do if I’m far from God? MY ANSWER: Assuming you have received and trust in the gospel of Christ: that Jesus died for your sins and was raised again for your justification, then the following scriptures will increase your relationship with God. Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God MUST BELIEVE that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. In order to come to God, to grow in Him, to trust Him, and to fall in love with Him, you have to come in FAITH. You do not form a relationship with God in your flesh. God is not a human and a relationship with Him does not work on a human level with touch and feelings and emotions. You cannot see God and be swept off your feet by His charming looks. The only way you can connect with God is through FAITH; believing that He is, and diligently seeking Him. Colossians tells us that as we initially received Christ, in like manner we must walk in Him, C...

Jesus' sacrifice was an act of love and redemption, offering Himself as a ransom for humanity, 1Tim 2:6, and establishing peace between God and those who choose to believe in Jesus Christ. This selfless act is seen as the ultimate expression of love, as stated in John 15:13: "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends." There is no more motivation needed than to provide the following scriptures that confirm the fact that Jesus willingly gave his life as a ransom for the redemption of those who believe in Him. Matthew 20:28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. Titus 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. Ephesians 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. 1 John 3...

POINT TO PONDER When we look at the horrific death of Christ, and the fact that the Bible says His death is essential for our salvation, then we can only conclude that our condition is one of extreme and inescapable despair, disability and destitution – to the extent that we ourselves could do nothing to rectify our existing situation. The extreme measure that God took to save us is an indication of our extreme need to be saved.

COMMENT Good judgement requires us to see others as Jesus saw the wicked Samaritan. Jesus didn’t say the Samaritan had to become a Jew nor had to believe in him. Instead, he called the Samaritan GOOD, right where he was because of the loving act he performed for his enemy. Theology is on the back burner to the two great commandments, loving God with all your heart by loving others as yourself. Forget your theology and let love be the primary function of your ministry. No need to tell others what they must believe or not believe, it will be evident what you believe when nothing but love flows from your lips. May you find the peace that passes all understanding—including theology—by loving others. MY RESPONSE I’m 100% in agreement with your statements; love of course is the fulfillment of all other commands. Nevertheless, besides giving one’s life for another, the greatest act of love is to share the grace gospel with others. The gospel provides the hearer with the opportunity to find Ch...

Answer Request: Do you think the God you believe in would send perfectly good people to Hell just because they don’t believe in Him? God is a God of LOVE, and that is proven in no small means by Him choosing to sacrifice His only beloved Son on the cross to save us. John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. The point is that God DID EVERYTHING He needed to do to provide us salvation (The scripture above confirms that!) . So, the choice about heaven or hell therefore lies with us . The ball is in our court!! In addition to this, the truth is clear that salvation is not in what we DO (Eph.2:8–...