(CLICK on the Q/A: for full question and answer)
Q/A:
I thank God daily for his
grace and understanding and that there is no part of salvation that I can earn.
Hebrews 11:6 says that without faith it is impossible to please God, that
we must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of those who diligently
seek him. Since salvation couldn’t
be a reward if it’s free, is there some other reward beyond salvation for
those of us who believe and are diligent?
Q/A:
I have been seriously
studying Scripture for the last three years.
I have found many scriptures that I cannot explain, and that go against
what I was taught in church and Sunday school.
One that really sticks out is Matthew 5:17-19, “Do not think that I
came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I
did not come to destroy but to fulfill.” Then
verse 19 states, “Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these
commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of
heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the
kingdom of heaven.” Does fulfill
in Matthew 5:17 mean “to end, destroy or do away with” the Law?... In
conclusion, as children of the God of Israel, and believers in Jesus as the Son
of God, who died for our sins, should we be keeping the Law of Moses, not for
salvation, since salvation comes by the shed blood of Jesus, but out of
obedience to God?
Q/A:
I have just recently begun
to learn about grace and the sufficiency of Christ on the cross after years of
legalism. The last thing I want to do as I try to rid myself of these teachings
is to reject any kind of standard in how Christians should live.
Where should one draw the line regarding one’s shortcomings and how it
effects their involvement in church ministry?
Q/A:
Please explain Acts 15:20
and 29.
Q/A:
When I read the red letters
in the Gospels, I don’t get the message of grace expounded by you, in
reference to the words of the apostles. In
Matthew 7, Luke 13 and John 5 it seems to imply exclusion for many and salvation
for few. How did Paul, Martin Luther
and you, among others, come to believe that Jesus’ words mean grace, when they
seem so condemning to me, and lead others to legalism?
Q/A:
Philippians
Q/A:
I come from a legalistic
background and have recently been understanding God’s grace to where I do not
find eternal security in the legalistic behaviors that are preached all over
today. My question is: as I begin to
discover grace, what perspective should I have when I read the Old Testament?
Also, what issues that we face today do you find that the Bible
specifically addresses and wants us to abstain from (i.e., homosexuality)?
Q/A:
I have a question regarding
the book of James and the teaching of Paul.
I recently read that the book of James was not included in the canon for
quite a while because of its apparent disagreement with much of the gospel of
grace ministry preached by Paul. At
face value it would be easy to understand why this would occur.
Can you bring some clarity and unity to the teachings of both Paul and
James in regards to “works” so that I may better apply them to my life?
Q/A: Christians seem to see “law” and “obedience” as being old covenant issues and being at variance with “grace” and “mercy”, which are seen as new covenant issues. My question is: would it not be closer to the truth if we saw law and obedience as being part and parcel of God’s grace and mercy? This certainly seems to be how David saw God’s law (see Psalm 119 where David celebrated, extolled and rejoiced in God’s law). So even though the law does not save us, it is still a part of God’s provision of grace. Some aspects of God’s grace save us, some aspects guide us, other aspects protect us and sustain us, but God’s grace is “all in all”. - David
Q/A:
As I understand it, the Ten
Commandments and festival days are obsolete.
Q/A: The Catholic Church teaches
that we receive grace by participating in the sacraments: baptism, confirmation,
communion, etc. Do non-Catholic
Christians believe that Our Lord dispenses grace in this manner?
Q/A:
I
have read what you say about being saved by grace.
Thank you. I am concerned
about what John 3 says about baptism:
Q/A: ...I grew up in a Catholic home, and have always had some kind of knowledge of God and his Son.... About 3 years ago, I began to learn more about the grace of God and what his Son has done for the world (actually I began to pay more attention to it, than when I was a kid). In January of this year, I was baptized by a pastor ... My question is that I feel a deeper desire to live up to the expectations that God has of me as a Christian and a servant. However, the expectations of others conflict with his and usually overwhelm me. What I want to know is whether or not I should ignore their expectations and focus solely on his. As of right now, I feel great guilt if I were to blow off the others. I’m afraid that it would make them feel that I don’t care about them. I could use all the help you can give me. - Miguel
Q/A: Is baptism important? You said that it was not. You said that the thief on the cross would be in heaven that same day when Jesus Christ died on the cross. That is right, but was Jesus Christ dead yet? Did he give up the ghost yet? Was there still life in Jesus Christ? Was the blood and water shed yet? The answer to these four questions is NO! According to the word of God, there is only one way to be baptized..... To be a Christian is to be Christ-like! To be born again is to be dead to sin, to live as an example of Jesus Christ, a person to reflect Jesus Christ. Jesus does not live in an unclean temple, so if you are smoking, if you are a woman and wear pants and if you are a man and wear shorts that show your (male or female) nakedness, but you say you are a Christian, woe unto you..... After all this – my question is: Does it make a difference if I smoke or wear a bikini at the beach? Is my name in the book of life? - Eugen
Q/A: My question is what do you
mean that the Catholic view of law plus grace is not biblical and leads to
legalism? Is the law you are referring to works? From what you said “Catholics need to understand the
doctrine of justification”. I
don’t see how the Catholic Church believes that we are saved by works (or
church law) plus grace.
Q/A: Someone very close to me told me tonight that God told her to tell me that if I mess up again sexually then I will be struck down dead by God—that this is “my last warning”. I was also told that God is very angry with me right now. She felt a “burden from God” to tell me this.... How can God send me a message like that after I had repented of my sin? Would God strike me down for committing a sin over and over? I know he would probably stop listening to me and make my life a living Hades. Keep in mind that this is a lady who listens and believes in Benny Hinn and all his contemporaries. I myself believe in a loving God. The God I believe in wouldn’t do something like that…or would he? - Sue
Q/A: I am not satisfied with
most explanations of the unpardonable sin.
They never seem to read word for word what those verses say, and other
verses that talk about being unable to renew to repentance.
There is a verse that talks about baptism that says to the effect “it
does not save us”. Isn’t it
true that the Bible says a lot of things, that it does seem to contradict
itself?
Q/A: Deep in my heart, I long to
be a good Christian. I do love my
Savior and God, but know that I’m a great disappointment to him.
I also realize that only he can change me, but know also that we are to
“strive to be Holy.” I find my
self at times being the same ugly old sinner that I have tried with God’s help
to cast off. I become so disgusted
with myself that I wonder how God can keep forgiving and loving me.
My temper is my problem, and I have little patience with most situations
anymore. I used to be a relaxed, fun-loving person who enjoyed life so
much, but since my husband has developed Alzheimer’s I have become so
discouraged with life and everyday living.
Our children, who I was always there for, no longer want anything to do
with us and never call or come around, and they refuse to help with him.
I seriously consider suicide. I
have no happy days anymore. What
words of wisdom would you have for me?
Q/A: I am a recent born again Christian and try to the best of my abilities to follow the law of God and the teachings of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. I am having a problem in a particular area which I will not mention openly here. I am often ashamed to continually approach God and keep asking for his forgiveness for committing the same sin over and over again. I believe that once you ask for forgiveness God is faithful and just to forgive you but I also believe that true repentance means that I should not be walking back down the path I have already covered and know to be rocky. - Dennis
Q/A: I
am having trouble with the concept of eternal rewards in Heaven being given.
What kind are they? Isn’t
the joy of salvation enough of a reward? (2
Corinthians 5; 1 Corinthians 3). Also,
regarding the concept of being judged for our deeds - both good and bad.
Surely this does not mean God will judge Christians who are under the
blood of Christ? In other words,
for things that I KNOW I have done sooooo wrong, and have sincerely asked
forgiveness for and repented of, surely God will not stand and judge me for
those things? I am under the
impression that God already judged sin, on the Cross!
Am I correct? I am also concerned about not everyone being equal in the
kingdom of God. . .because of these eternal rewards. . .
Q/A: I was having a conversation with someone and they were saying that they believe something about "crowns" one will receive for good works and about different levels of Hell. I have never heard of either thing. My understanding was more as found in Ephesians, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is a gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast." Out of our love for the Lord we do good works because we WANT to honor and show our respect to him in that way – but not because we HAVE to.... - Sheila
Q/A: My question is about the Old and New covenants.
A covenant is an agreement. Can
you show me the scriptures that define both of these agreements?
I would like to see what the terms and conditions and the differences are
between the covenants.
Q/A:
Q/A: Could you explain 1 Timothy 6:17-19, especially verse 19? Does this passage not suggest that doing good works, i.e. living a Christian life, is important in terms of whether one is given eternal life? How does this verse compare with the notion that our salvation was all settled at the cross and there is nothing we must do for salvation but say “yes” to Christ. This verse clearly suggests that what we do (works) are relevant in the salvation process. - David
Q/A: The New Testament often refers
to “works” as being the basis for receiving a reward.
What are the “works” spoken about?
Q/A:
...
I’m a legalist in
recovery. Admittedly, it’s hard
for me to accept some of the things I’m learning and I don’t want to be led
astray. But this is where I stand
with regards to the law (old covenant).
Q/A:
I know that we receive
salvation by grace and that we can do nothing to earn it.
God grants it to us by his love and through the blood of Jesus.
So after we are saved why should we “behave ourselves”?
I mean things like not having premarital sex and not going out to parties
(I am a college student--you know, the typical college party).
I have Christian friends who use that argument.
Their idea is that we are sinful by nature, and we are saved by grace, so
we are allowed to screw up.... But why should I work at my
faith if someone else who is saved but does not even bother to pick up a Bible
gets the same as I get? I know I am
sounding like the brother of the prodigal son.
But it does anger me. So why
can’t I do what others do even though it is a sin and I will be forgiven?...
Q/A:
Your work is a breath of
fresh air! Now my question: we are
saved by grace. Can one become
unsaved, be it by continuing in sin or neglect, as the scripture seems to say,
“how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation”?
Q/A: I think I am gaining a clearer understanding of
God’s grace and how it saves us without our help.
Just one more clarification. How
would you answer someone who points to Matthew 15 and tells you that “good
works” (visiting the sick, feeding the hungry and clothing the naked) is given
as a basis on which the sheep were given eternal life and the goats condemned
Q/A:
First, thanks for the
answers, they have truly helped me a lot. Studying
the New Testament, I come to this conclusion--one cannot go to the Father or the
Son. It is God who takes the
initiative. The saved are going to
be few? Jesus answered that
question himself when he responded “strive to enter at the narrow gate, for
many will fail by choosing the wide road.”
Q/A: I am curious about the idea
of storing up “treasures in heaven” (Matthew 6:20) doing good works while
living on earth. 2 Corinthians 5:10
also mentions that each one will receive the things he deserves for the works he
has done. Do these verses (as well
as any others I may have missed) support the idea that not everyone will be
treated the same during eternal life in heaven?
I know that getting into heaven is a free gift from God through Jesus,
but can you earn special privileges in heaven by doing good deeds on earth?
What are the “treasures” and “things” mentioned in the verses I
mentioned above?
Q/A: I’m a faithful reader of
the Plain Truth Magazine and thoroughly enjoy it.
However, I either have missed it, or do you never stress works as part of
salvation? Jesus told people that
he ministered to that they should bring forth fruit meet for repentance. In James we are told that faith without works is dead.
We are told to strive to be holy, and without holiness no one will see
the Lord.
Q/A: ...
I am a practicing Roman Catholic, but I
believe very strongly in the idea of “one body, many parts”.
I would, however, like to clarify the sentiment that most Catholics deny
that faith is the only way to salvation and that salvation is conditional on
works. The real belief is that the
two are intertwined; through your faith in Jesus our Lord comes a love for
humanity as creatures of God and the practice of good works.
In truth, good works are in fact a requirement of the faith.
I do not believe that works alone will save you, but faith without works
cannot exist. Through faith comes
works. Jesus commands that we feed
the hungry, visit the sick, and clothe the naked.
This is an integral part of keeping the Faith. Faith in Jesus is in fact the only way to salvation, but with
this faith comes works; otherwise, that faith is empty.
I would appreciate your comments on this subject.
Q/A: I believe that eternal life is not earned by good works but is a gift from the grace of God through Jesus. Because of this, I have a hard time understanding the meaning of Jesus’ response to the man in Mark 10 when the man asked what he must do to inherit everlasting life. Could you clarify the meaning of verses 17-31 in Mark 10? - Don
Q/A: It seems to me that it is correct to say that eternal life is a gift of God as well as saying we gain eternal life by the way we live our lives here on this earth. What do you think? - David
Q/A: Could you please tell me what James means when he states that "faith without works is dead faith. Show me your faith without your works." What are the "works"? Works of the law or works of faith? What does this mean to our salvation? I hope this doesn’t take too much time. - John
Q/A: I was having a conversation with someone and they were saying that they believe something about "crowns" one will receive for good works and about different levels of Hell. I have never heard of either thing. My understanding was more as found in Ephesians, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is a gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast." Out of our love for the Lord we do good works because we WANT to honor and show our respect to him in that way – but not because we HAVE to.... - Sheila
Q/A: I noticed that you made a statement that was not accurate. You stated that the old covenant was impossible for the people to keep. If you look at what God said to do to keep that covenant you see that he asked nothing that was beyond them to be able to do. It was their attitude about the covenant that was the problem. They were always viewing it as a burden, grumbling, etc. about it. They could not bear it because they refused to, not because it was not possible to. - Paul
Q/A:
What exactly is legalism?
Q/A: I
am greatly pleased to find someone boldly affirming New Testament positions on
the issues regarding law and grace, especially concerning Sabbath keeping and
tithing. I am saddened that many
Christians place themselves under bondage to these Old Covenant rules and miss
the freedom in Christ. I encourage
you to keep proclaiming the “plain truth”.