Q. About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “ELI, ELI, LAMA SABACHTHANI?” that is, “MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?” Matthew 27:46
In the ninth hour on the cross why did Jesus cry out? I know why I would cry out but it seems so unlike Jesus. It could be interpreted as a lack of faith and I’m puzzled. Thank you for your answer.
A Bible Study by Jack Kelley
Recently I completely re-vamped a study I had originally written in 2003, entitled “The Seven Miracles In John” . In it I showed how John selected these seven miracles specifically for their ability to help us believe that Jesus is who He claimed to be, and that by believing we might have eternal life.
In addition to these seven miracles John’s gospel contains seven “I am” statements. Their focus is on what happens after we become believers. You can call them part 2 of John’s underlying message to the Church. In this study, we’ll look at these seven “I am” statements to see what they’ll tell us. Here’s the first one.
A Bible Study by Jack Kelley
In the past I’ve explained the need for 4 Gospels and the tremendous increase in understanding we can gain by comparing events from the different perspectives of each (read The Four Faces of Jesus). In this study we’ll focus on the unique character of John’s Gospel.
Q. I was recently directed to a web site and I was a little upset after realizing that this website seems to say that salvation is based on faith and grace, but that those that will be raptured is a reward for works. Those not considered worthy Christians would have to endure the tribulation. The site uses the 10 virgins parable to say that the 5 that didn’t make the rapture were not worthy enough. Is this true? I thought that true believers were raptured, and this was based on grace and faith, not works. If the messages from this web site is true, than this is very disturbing indeed.
A Bible Study by Jack Kelley
Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. (Matt 24:12-13)
In the debate over the timing of the Rapture, one point is often overlooked. And that is that the terms and conditions of salvation during the Great Tribulation are vastly different from those during the Church Age, and therefore couldn’t be meant for the same group. In both cases salvation is by faith, but that’s where the similarity ends. This presents another argument for Church Age believers being taken before the Great Tribulation begins.
Q. When you say it’s impossible for us to not sin because of our sin nature, I’m assuming you are referring to bad motives, thoughts, anger etc., and the list goes on. Do besetting sins fall into the category of not being able to stop? Is there no victory for those who struggle with things like addictions? Are we doomed to continue to fail till Jesus comes? I just heard the testimony of a famous sportscaster who got saved and stopped drinking. He was bound to the point of being told his liver was failing. The man got saved and never touched alcohol again.
Q. I understand that once saved it is eternal. What if the people(s) who are saved and cannot be taken out of the hand of God take the mark? Also, I know that in Revelation Yeshua said that He will keep us from the hour of temptation. Can you explain these things, please?
Q. When Paul was speaking of the natural man cannot understand the “things of God” for they are spiritually discerned, I have two questions: is the natural man just the flesh in every man or actual unbelievers and second, what exactly are the “things of God” in view here? I know many unbelievers with quite pronounced academic backgrounds who “understand” the Bible. Would love some further clarification. Is Paul saying that a non-Christian is completely incapable of understanding the Word of God?
Q. I recently got into a conversation with a friend who believes that her children have both had previous lives. She claims to have even had a vision of how her son had died in his previous life. I told her that in all likelihood she was dealing with a familiar spirit. However she seemed less than sold on the whole theory. Can you offer any other theory on what it is that would cause a person to have these experiences? Thanks for your insight.
Q. According to many of your comments about Eternal Security, nothing can cause us to become ‘unsaved’. What then, is the point of a Christian offering himself as a living sacrifice to God (Romans 12) and living a life worthy of the Gospel of Christ (Phil.1)? We all might as well accept Jesus as Lord and Savior then carry on living exactly as we were before.
Please don’t get me wrong, I believe totally in the gift of salvation and know there is nothing I could ever do that would be worthy enough to earn it. The gratitude I feel to the Lord for dying for me cannot be put into words. But what about those who don’t put their faith into action and continually live as the world would live, refusing to take responsibility for their actions and avoiding repentance. On a personal level I have sacrificed what my flesh has wanted in favor of what God would have me do. Are you saying I needn’t have bothered?
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