My dear friend has a daughter who is now deciding that she will observe the Old Testament feasts and dietary laws and teach her children to do the same. This is causing some concern for my friend over her daughter’s and grandchildren’s salvation. I do not know if her daughter has ever accepted Christ as Savior. As I understand, her daughter was raised a Protestant, but now seems to be doing some Spiritual exploration. What advice do you have for my dear Evangelical friend?

I had an abusive father. When he was on his death bed in the hospital he requested that I come see him by having a nurse call me. I did not go to see him. I thought now you will know some of the pain I endured when I was growing up and could not protect myself. I’ve come to regret very much that feeling of anger and have asked God to forgive me for it, but I don’t know if I’ve ever really come to a place of truly forgiving my father. Whenever I believe I have forgiven him another thought appears at some point and I’m angry all over again. Is forgiveness more of a process?

I just read your answer about cremation which confirmed what I always thought about cremation being okay, but wanted to know what your beliefs were on organ donation. I would be an organ donor if I could get over the feeling that when the Lord resurrects our bodies, I will have given away part of mine. I know this must sound ridiculous, but was wondering what your studies have led you to believe. I would greatly appreciate your thoughts.

I look forward to your daily messages. Your explanations really add depth to my knowledge of the Bible. Could you explain how one might reconcile Matthew 7:13-14 (the narrow gate & the wide gate) with Acts 16:31 (Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved)? Isn’t belief in Jesus Christ the only criterion necessary for salvation?

I recently read a devotional written by a well known evangelical Christian speaker who stated that at His death, Jesus “legally entered the regions of the damned and stripped Satan of everything. He took away all his armor. He took the keys to death and hell. He bound that strong man, looted his kingdom, and Colossians says He spoiled principalities and powers and made a show of them openly triumphing over them.” That Jesus then gave that victory to us. I know that Jesus descended into Hell, but I’ve never been able to find anything in the Bible to support the actions cited above. Could you possibly help me with this. I’m not sure that this speaker is correct?

I once heard through a well known Pastor that we are not to cremate our bodies when we die and I have never found anything in the Bible to confirm that. Could you please share any scriptures to support that or not.

I heard a man speak about the parable of the sower in Mark 4:14 and am wondering since my relationship with God has not always been faithful how can I have reassurance of my salvation and where I stand with God? Thank you and thanks for your work in the Lord.

I’ve been reading your Q&As on what happens to the body and spirit at time of death. Can you also tell me what happens to the soul?

How do you interpret the parable of the sower in view of your stance on OSAS. Would you suggest that the seed that fell on rocky ground equates to those who do not receive the word and therefore are not saved? But what then of those who fall away in the heat of testing, and the ones whose growth is choked by the cares and worries of this life? Are they “Saved” in the first place? Or would you say that they never really received the word in the first place?

Help me understand how in 2 Kings 2:11 Elijah was taken up to Heaven when Heaven wasn’t opened until after the cross? Does the word for Heaven in this verse actually mean the bosom of Abraham or Paradise rather than the throne of God?