Some churches teach once saved always saved, while others say you can lose your salvation, and if you do you can never get it back. Some teach that even if you are saved you have to earn your way to heaven by righteous deeds, others say belief alone is sufficient. There are churches that teach you are not saved until you have been baptized in the Holy Spirit, or that if you have unforgiveness in your heart you won’t go to heaven, or that if you commit a mortal sin your soul is forever damned. And some churches teach that we are either predestined for salvation or we’re not, so it’s useless to strive for salvation if you are not one of the elect. It seems like everyone has a different interpretation of the Bible. How do I know which is the way to be saved?

My question is, the Bible shows 2 instances of tithing prior to the giving of the law, Abraham, and Jacob. In both cases we find they tithed of their own accord, not as a directive from God. Abraham did not tithe of his own increase but from his spoils of war which he refused to accept any of for himself.

Under the law, God gave tithing to the tribe of Levi as their inheritance instead of land like the other tribes received. This was because the Levites were the priest and needed to be with all the tribes wherever they resided.

Jesus was the fulfillment of the law and became our High Priest and his blood torn down the veil that separated the average person from the Holy of Hollies. Through His blood, all believers have direct access to God.

There is no scripture that relinquished the obligation of the Jews to pay tithes other than those pertaining to Jesus and the new High Priest and the only mediator between God and man.

The only people that were obligated to the law were the Jews and gentile converts. So how do believers who were never under the law and do not have Levitical Priest acting in the priestly duties for them, but have Jesus as our High Priest who tells us we are all priest under him, which means our priesthood is not based on the Levitical priesthood, but rather that of Melchizedek, whose priesthood was appointed by God not through ancestry linage, how are we now obligated to follow the law that when were never given or required to follow it. And if we are supposed to tithe as the law states to the Jews, why don’t we have to follow the other 412 laws that were given to them?

Can you please give me scripture that tells me that tithing is for the Christian today. I keep getting confused some say no, others say yes. I would like a clear answer in the subject. thank you.

An issue which bothers me is this, I know Jesus was conceived by a virgin. How then is he being linked in genealogy to Abraham and David if Joseph is not his father. Joseph, husband to Mary is also listed in this genealogy as giving legitimacy to the fact that Jesus as a man is a descendant of Abraham. It does not challenge my faith but it keeps on popping up as a question in my mind. Probably the devil trying to twist me around to doubt my faith. What can you say about it.

Exodus chapter 33, verse 11, sentence 1, is an example of the kind of communication with God I would like. I feel like not only would this type of encounter clear up any and all questions that one would have, it would also allow one to get to know GOD in a way that only a face to face, friend to friend encounter could. Is this possible in these days and times? I appreciate and look forward to your insights on this matter. Thanks again.

There is something I want to ask my own church Minister, but never remember to when I see him.

In Mathew chapter 1 verses 1-17 it gives: The book of the generations of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham, showing that Jesus is a descendant of David. Mathew must have known that Joseph was the step-father of Jesus and therefore Jesus could not be a descendant of David through Joseph.

I think that I heard or read somewhere, many years ago, that Mary was also a descendant of David, but do not know if this is true. Is it mentioned anywhere in the Bible? I have not been able to find it.

Do you think it’s possible that people can be saved because we regularly and persistently pray for their salvation? Do you have some personal observation on this issue?

In all of scripture I have found but one verse that appears to back up the traditionally Catholic doctrine of transubstantiation (i.e. Presence of Christ dwells literally in the bread and wine). That being 1 Corinthians 10:16 “Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ?”

I just wanted to get your take on this verse, which has confounded this ex-Catholic.

In your response to the question of how to prepare for the Rapture you said to remove as much debt as possible, or words to that effect. I was a member of a church where the pastor said that debt was not a problem. If the Church was in a lot of debt at the Rapture let Satan and his followers settle with the debt after the Church is gone. What do you think about that?

I spend hours on the articles you present on your website and thank God for the many things about the Bible that I learn from these. I also am grateful for you allowing for copies to be made of these articles, which I also find very helpful because I distribute these to my friends and also prepare sermons on them for my local church.

I have a question that I need some guidance from the Bible on, which I now ask you to kindly help give some answers to. What are the principles of God that govern the management or use of money by a Christian? I note that you refer to these as ‘Biblical admonitions for fiscal responsibility’ in your answer to a question under ‘Financial Debt & the Rapture‘.