In Mark 3:14-15, we are told why Jesus chose the 12 apostles: And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach and have authority to cast out demons. However, they didn’t do all these things immediately. Some training was necessary […]
What did Jesus mean in John 3:8 when talking to Nicodemus?
“The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” (John 3:8) I think the point being made here is that you can’t see the wind, you can only see […]
Where will the Kingdom of God be — in heaven or on earth?
The Kingdom of God will be on earth. Jesus will return to earth (e.g., Acts 1:11) and become King on David’s throne in Jerusalem (Luke 1:32-33). Jeremiah prophesied about Jesus as king (calling him a “righteous Branch”): 5 “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous […]
Are Old Testament curses still in force?
There are a few curses under the Law of Moses. For example, Deuteronomy 27:15-22 15 “‘Cursed be the man who makes a carved or cast metal image, an abomination to the Lord, a thing made by the hands of a craftsman, and sets it up in secret.’ And all the people shall answer and say, […]
Is it adultery to have multiple wives?
No. Adultery occurs when a married person has sex with someone other than their spouse. Adultery is a sin, but polygamy is not (although it was never part of God’s original design for marriage).
Were people really 800 years old by our calendar?
Before the flood people lived longer. Adam died at age 930 years (Gen 5:5), Noah at 950 years (Gen 9:29) and Methuselah (Noah’s grandfather) was the oldest of them all, dying when he was 969 years old (Gen 5:27). There is no reason to think that these “years” were any different from our years. After the […]
Can you be saved through another person in the household?
Salvation is a personal matter. Each person is to repent and be baptised (Acts 2:38), and we are told to “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12). Also, judgement will be on an individual basis: “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess […]
Is the Holy Spirit a person? (Acts 8:29; Acts 10:19; Acts 13:2)
No, the Holy Spirit is not a person. These three verses refer to the Holy Spirit speaking. To understand what this means, it is important to see what is involved in the Holy Spirit speaking. In Ezekiel 11:5, Ezekiel records how ‘the Spirit of the LORD came upon me, and he told me to say: […]
Why was polygamy tolerated in the OT when God’s original design was obviously monogamy?
Polygamy was obviously not part of God’s original design for marriage (Gen 2:24; also see 1 Tim 3:2, Tit 1:6), yet it does seem that polygamy was permitted under the Law of Moses and practiced by several famous OT character (e.g. Jacob, David, etc.). To help us understand why, it is useful to look at […]
What is the will of God?
The “will of God” is whatever God wants, just like our will is whatever we want. God’s will depends on the circumstances. For example: 1 Thessalonians 4:3. “For this is the will of God, your sanctification”. 1 Thessalonians 5:18. “…give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for […]