In the Bible study of the last chapter in Daniel, you commented that God does not work with both the church and Israel at the same time.

I kinda disagree with you, and you are invited to disagree with me too. There is two occasions that God did in fact work with Israel and the Church. The first time was between the first day of the creation of the Church at Pentecost to the destruction of the Temple 70 AD, and between the re-establishment of the nation of Israel (1948 or 1967 when Jerusalem became under Israel control) to the Rapture of the Church. These in my view is when Israel and the Church co-exist. In both case the duration was and will be short lived.

I know I sin, but how much will God forgive me from the same sin? Is it OK to ask for forgiveness from a sin I commit that I know I will again commit but I enjoy it and having the idea that I will not just stop commit the sin but just not do it as much? I have a feeling of guilt about it that I wonder and sometimes I wonder if what it is I’m doing is really a sin.

I think it is pretty easy to get the feeling reading the Bible that God really loves people and likes us to spend time with him in a personal relationship. I’m not sure but I think there is a verse about humans being created for His pleasure. Do you think that this world and time the Bible speaks of is Gods’ first or only creation? If creation was for His pleasure, what do you suppose God did for the eons before the last six thousand years?

How do you answer the statement that Satan would have to have fallen after the creation since “everything He had made was good”?

My husband wants to start tithing, and I believe that I am supposed to as well, as an act of obedience and gratitude and faith. However, there is a huge gap for me in this area between my faith and my desire to be obedient. We are going through a tough time financially and I have a hard time letting go of money that I don’t feel like we can spare. I want to WANT TO tithe, but I’m not there yet. I believe my husband when he says that he has seen blessings as a result of tithing, but I don’t want to tithe just to receive blessings. I know that God does not want my money if I’m not giving with the right heart. My husband believes that if I begin to tithe and see the blessings and provision of God, that my heart will then change. What do I do?

When we give to God we’re supposed to give without expecting anything but out of gratitude. But when I read 2 Cor. 9: 6 where it says “Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously” it appears as if it encourages giving with expectations of returns from God because a sower expects harvest when sowing. What is your thought on this?

What does Jesus mean in Revelation 2:5 when he warns the church in Ephesus he might remove their lamp stand from its place among the churches?

In regards to generosity and giving, in Luke 6 30-35, does Jesus really teach we should give to every panhandler that comes our way; in regards to lending does it mean that Christians cannot be in the banking business? This seems to be the literal interpretation, but what other way is there to look at this?

I was studying II Timothy 2 for encouragement, and got a little hung up on verses 20-21. I think Paul is saying that we can expect to find non-believers dwelling in our churches and attending our congregational meetings. Verse 21 says, “If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.”  Is Paul advising us to have absolutely nothing to do (purge himself) with non-believers? Or is this more of a warning to avoid their influence? Can you clarify the intended meaning?

My question is on two verses about Forgiveness. Luke 6:37 “Judge not and you shall not be judged. Condemn not and you shall not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven.” And Mathew 6:12 says “And Forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors”. Does this mean God is dependent on our forgiveness to forgive us? Or when you don’t forgive and ask Jesus Christ to forgive you and wash your sins away you will not be forgiven? Or which sin(s) that I commit will not be forgiven by God when I don’t forgive others. Please help me here.