I am been doing a lot of thinking in regards to Grace, the Mosaic Law, the feasts and other things the Messianic movement thinks should apply to the Christians and wanted your opinion on my thoughts.

The central passages I am looking at are found in Acts 15. Paul has returned from his trip to the Gentiles and an issue had arisen specifically in regards to circumcision. Peter, Paul, James and those apostles still alive and in Jerusalem held a council and from that came four requirements for Gentile believers: They were to not engage in sexual immorality, not eat meat given to idols or from an animal that was strangled nor were they to eat or drink blood. Nothing was said about Gentile believers being required to observe any of the Jewish festivals, which fall under the Mosaic covenant nor any of the other Mosaic laws. Further; the act of circumcision was not required of Gentile believers as this was part of the Abrahamic covenant.

My thoughts are this: Peter was given authority by Jesus to bind or loose on earth and in heaven. God did not change but gave Peter the authority to make changes, not to the covenant it self but to how it would be implemented. Notice the changes in Acts 15 apply only to the Gentile believers, not the Jewish believers. I believe Gentile believers were given an exemption from the feasts and ceremonial laws by Peter.

Where does this leave Jewish believers in Christ then? They are covered by Christ of course and some of the feasts and ritual celebrations have to change a bit but I believe God still requires them to be held to them. This is a higher standard situation: God chose the Hebrew people for himself and he has always held them to a higher level of behavior before all men. Like the Gentile believers they are no longer bound to the Mosaic law, but a life truly lived in Christ will cause us to voluntarily obey them as more of a side effect rather than requirement. That is where my thinking is going anyway. Could you comment on it please?

I worry about my friend. She believes that God forgives her sin but does not accept His forgiveness because she tells herself she is unworthy. I know in regards to our salvation, when we believe we are sinners and realize we need a savior, we also need to accept Jesus as our Savior or we would remain in our sins. Is the same true of forgiveness? How can I help her?

Re: 2 Corinthians 13:1-10. I hope all is well and could you please explain what Paul meant by “I will not spare them– since you seek proof that Christ is speaking in me.”…. and…. “that when I come I may not have to be severe in my use of the authority that the Lord has given me for building up and not for tearing down.”

What exactly was Paul able to do in his authority? And do we also have this authority in Christ as Paul did? And how severe could he be with this authority? I realize that in part it has to do with the people sinning, but it appears that Paul has reached the boiling point of “no more grace for you, now it’s the power of God time”. This passage for some odd reason reminds me of Clark Kent turning into Superman!

Does unequally yoked in the bible pertain to only marriage? Could or does unequally yoked also pertain to a business partnership of a believer and an unbeliever?

I was wondering whether you could shed some light on something for me. Although I know that we all sin many times and it is the grace of God that is our only hope, I have become concerned lately by the lives of Christians in my church. There is a tremendous amount of gossip and backbiting. People have parties where the wine flows freely, and although the Lord has no objection to people drinking, I feel that being drunk and telling ‘suggestive’ and rude jokes is dishonoring his name. I was under the impression that our changed lives should be our greatest witness. These people work hard for the Lord, doing many good works throughout the church, so why do I feel so uneasy about their behavior? Am I becoming judgmental and legalistic?

In Luke 10: 17-20, the seventy return with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your Name.”

Jesus replies, “Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather, rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”

Why are they not to rejoice in their authority over demons in Jesus’ name?

When we die my understanding is that our spirit, free from our earthly body, goes straight to heaven. Why is it necessary later on , at the rapture , to receive resurrection bodies. (dead in Christ will rise first) There are deceased people that have been in heaven now for many years without resurrection bodies and when the rapture happens they will all of a sudden receive a resurrection body. Do you have any idea why God is waiting until the rapture to give us a resurrection body and not straight away when we die .

From my human thinking it doesn’t make much sense but I do know that God sees the bigger picture and he must have a good reason for it.

My question about the meaning of “losing one’s faith,” as opposed to having doubts, has come to the forefront again. It relates to the reader’s question, and your response, to how a minister of the Gospel can be “left behind.”

I believe our Lord’s death fully satisfies God’s requirement for perfect justice. I believe His resurrection proves the Father’s acceptance of His sacrifice in that respect. I believe it is the only thing that does meet that requirement. There is no other way to live in the eternal presence of God.

I know God will not deceive me. But, I know, also, that scripture is full of examples where He has allowed men to deceive themselves. So, what is the difference between believing and trembling, as the devils do, and believing and being saved, as the Church does? Are the “left behind” preachers/teachers “certain” they are saved? Will they be truly surprised when they don’t go up in the Rapture?

Will Jesus tell me that He never knew me? How can I be certain, despite my acknowledgment of my sins and my prayers for forgiveness in Jesus’ name, that, somehow, what I have done, am doing, is genuine enough? God does not tell me. He has never given me the Blessed Assurance despite my prayers for more than 60 years.

I am unable, so far, to overcome my doubts, not in His promises, but in my self. How can I “let go and let God”?

I read about healing and the other gifts, but I’m wondering about authority. Do we have the authority to use Jesus’ name to do such things, including but not limited to: Healing the sick, casting out demons, blessing things, etc. I’m not talking about the gifts, but rather the authority. Do all Christians today have the authority to do so?

There are so many versions of the bible out, NKJ, NIV, etc to name just a few, and then there is the Catholic Bible with the Apocrypha. How do we know that we have the right books in the bible? Maybe that’s why there are cults out there that state that the bible has been changed and by man. Could you explain why certain books are in our bible and why there are certain books that were not accepted and why is it that the Catholics have additional books that the Protestant world doesn’t? Are those “missing books” not the word of God?