(CLICK on the Q/A: for full question and answer)
Q/A: Why isn't Easter named Resurrection Day? Acts 12:4 in the King James Version improperly translates the Greek word for Passover as "Easter." "And when he had apprehended him, he put [him] in prison, and delivered [him] to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people" (Acts 12:4, KJV). This is clearly a deliberate attempt by translators to instill the pagan word "Easter" into Christian minds -- and to focus on a pagan holiday rather than the resurrection of our Savior.
Q/A: In the New Testament there are many instances where Christ and/or the disciples are being questioned by the religious authorities. Then, in the absence of the disciples or Jesus, a dialogue takes place among religious leaders. How do we receive the account of those conversations when the authors of the books of the New Testament were not even present during the conversation?
Q/A: What's the difference between fundamentalism and legalism? Could you please differentiate between legalism and fundamentalism in an easy to understand definition? I think I understand for the most part. Is there an overlap in their definitions or are they two totally different entities? Thank you very much and I also thank Plain Truth Ministries for all it offers.
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:
In the Gospels, John says
that Christ will baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
Some (mainly the Pentecostal churches) believe that they can baptize with
the Holy Spirit with evidence of speaking in tongues.
I heard a minister on TV say that they do this before their service.
What is your view on this?
Q/A:
I was wondering why the
Roman Catholic Bible has more books in it than the Protestant Bible?
Are these extra books important enough that they should be read too?
Q/A:
Is it wrong to give more
than 10% to God? Would that mean I
was under the law and under a curse? I
like giving more to God because he has done so much for me.
I just think it is a proper response.
Do you think that people will judge me as being under the law if I give
more than 10% to God?
Q/A:
My niece believes that if
you are not baptized in “Jesus’ name” you will not go to heaven.
My pastor baptized us in “the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit”
and I believe I will go to heaven. My
niece was recently re-baptized so she could be baptized in “Jesus’ name”.
Is she right?
Q/A:
Concerning baptism, I truly
appreciate and agree with the concept that it is God’s power that saves, and
that our actions alone are unable to save us.
Q/A:
What is the difference
between tithing time versus money? A
friend of mine says if you tithe time, you will receive time.
Only if you tithe money will you receive monetary abundance.
Q/A:
A friend of mind who has
studied Jewish history told me that the history books he studied said that
Jesus’ disciples were born after Jesus died.
Do you know of any historical books or published accounts that disprove
this and list their birth dates as being at the time of Jesus’ birth date?
Also, he states the last verse of the Old Testament states that the Old
Testament is the word of God and should not be changed or added to.
This seems to disqualify the entire New Testament.
How do I refute this?
Q/A:
Is it wrong for a woman to
wear makeup? The church I started
going to does not believe in it. They
say it is a sin. According to them,
so is wearing pants, cutting or styling your hair (anything other than dressing
or wearing it like they do—in a bun). If
you do any of these things they say you are not saved.
I know I’m saved because I believe in Christ, but are these things sins
in God’s eyes?
Q/A:
I have recently lost a
family member who asked to be cremated before she died.
Another family member later told me that it states in the Bible not to do
that. Is this a sin?
Q/A:
Is it enough to pray, read
the Bible, do your best to follow in Jesus’ footsteps and not attend any
church? I was brought up Catholic
and have begun to question many issues, the main one being the second
commandment, which tells us not to worship idols or make any graven images from
heaven, the earth or anything below the sea.
The Catholic Church does exactly this.
I started attending a Pentecostal church, but in reading your site, I may
be getting involved in some legalism. I
feel confused! Please help me.
Q/A:
I have been reading the
Bible and have come across something I do not understand and was wondering
whether you can help me.
Q/A:
Does the Bible speak of
anything of a specific point in time, a split second moment when one is saved?
I heard a preacher ask someone, “When did you get saved?”
It took me a while to believe…being convinced of the Truth by his Word
OVER TIME. Believing is more than
accepting—it’s more like trusting. It
took a while for me to trust Jesus as my righteousness, not a split second that
I can recall. I know I’m saved
because of Jesus and not because of anything I can accomplish on my own.
What do you think? Doesn’t
pinpointing a time and place (relying on an “experience”) take the focus off
of Christ for salvation?
Q/A:
I am a Christian, but I
have not been baptized with water. I
don’t believe you have to be to see the Kingdom of Heaven, but in my heart I
feel it is the right thing to do. Here’s
the thing, though. I am not a member
of any certain denomination. It
seems that I keep running into the problem where I feel like once the preacher
or priest finds that I am not wanting to join their faith/church, they don’t
seem as interested in baptizing me. What
do you suggest? One option I have
thought about is someone I think the world of as a Christian.
Is it kosher for just a fellow Christian to baptize me?
- Jon
Q/A:
How do I explain to my 6
year-old son that God isn’t dead? He
thinks that he is since he is in heaven.
Q/A:
How can I be sure I am
saved? When our preacher offers an
invitation at the end of the service, he always reminds us that whenever Christ
returns one day there will be those to whom he says, “I never knew you”.
Thus, our pastor says, “be sure you are saved”.
Who are these people? I
accepted Christ and was baptized when I was 14 years old.
I’ve always believed that you are saved by grace through faith.
However, his comments always make me question my salvation and wonder
what I must do to not be one of those people Christ “never knew”.
Q/A:
I have been reading some of
your questions and answers and I cannot tell by the answers what you believe.
It seems to me that you believe whatever suits your purpose at the time.
As close as I can tell you think that all one has to do is believe in
Christ and the rest doesn’t matter—not even the 10 Commandments.
You can go to whatever church you want, do anything you want as long as
you have the love of the Lord in your heart.
Is that what you believe?