Is Drinking Coffee Or Soda Sinful?
Published: February 22, 2022I’ve heard countless arguments from various Christians about not consuming alcohol. And, while I totally understand Christians choosing not to drink alcohol at all, the only verses in the Bible I can find regarding alcohol, is the sin of drunkenness. This, personally, isn’t an issue for me because I don’t drink alcohol at all. But, then there are those certain religious groups who say that even the consumption of caffeine (soda and coffee) is sinful.
Their argument is that we shouldn’t be putting anything into our bodies that alters our state of mind/being. Because our body is a temple, it should be left as pure as possible by avoiding caffeine and alcohol altogether. I don’t really agree with this, because I’m thinking this is more of a man made rule and not anything they’ve pulled from the Scriptures. When I try to tell these Christians that the only sin is drunkenness (as mentioned in the Bible), they’re adamant about the consumption of any of these drinks is sinful and we should stay away. Should I consider donating my coffee maker, or are these Christians placing their own meaning on certain scriptures?
Saved But Not Born Again?
Published: February 22, 2022I was reading one of your articles and you indicated that Christians who believe they will be saved have to be Born Again. I was under the impression that all Christians who call upon the name of Jesus will be saved. But it seems the article indicated that Christians can be Christian in name only. Does this mean that they will not have eternal life.? My understanding, in the article, they will be left behind at the Rapture. I am a Catholic, from a child on and believe the Lord Jesus died for our sins. I have since been Born Again, but would I have been saved without coming to the Born Again status?
Did It Take Noah 120 Years To Build The Ark?
Published: February 22, 2022In Gen chapter 6 it appears that before God commissioned Noah to construct an ark he had three sons. However, in Gen 11 it is stated that two years after the flood subsided, Shem was then only 100 years old. That being the case, how can so many preachers state that Noah took 120 years to build the ark? It seems to me that this 120 years claim is based on verse 3 of chapter six. Please give your mind on this matter.
Sharing In His Suffering
Published: February 21, 2022I have a question about Romans 8:17. If we do not suffer for Christ or share in his sufferings, does that mean we will not have eternal life at all? I kept struggling with the thought that if I do not suffer for Christ or share in his sufferings, I felt that I do not belong to him at all. If we suffer for Christ, does that result more in eternal rewards or both salvation and eternal rewards?
Was Their Free Will Violated?
Published: February 21, 2022In Genesis 20:1-7 God himself states that it was He who did not let Abimelech sin and touch Sarah. Now I know it says Abimelech had some very strong integrity which I assume to mean that he had some “fear of God” but even so, some of the “greats of faith” had a fear of God and still sinned. I also find throughout Scripture other instances where God “acts and/or intervenes” in certain circumstances. So how does this line up with mankind having complete free will/agency?
The Morning Star And The Angel Of Light
Published: February 18, 2022The Bible refers to Satan as being an angel of light in 2 Corinthians 11:14-15. And in my Nelson’s Student Bible Dictionary it refers to Lucifer as Morning Star and I believe Jesus has been referred to as the Day Star. This is all a bit confusing. First are there Angels of Light that are Angels of God and are good and still exist? and second, is Satan also the Morning Star and is Jesus the Day Star?
Fantasizing About God
Published: February 18, 2022Sometimes before I go to sleep at night, I imagine a God who is absolutely fair and loving to all his creation equally,with no hint of hatred, or jealousy, condemnation, etc. The kind of God who truly loves his creation, and sees to it that we have the best of what life has to offer, and that it happens every day, forever. I imagine a God who created everyone equally with one language and one tone of skin, where every man and woman is beautiful with no flaws, whether physical, mental, or emotional. I dream that God would appear to me in person and honestly show himself to me (in real life,not by faith) and offer to take me to be in His awesome world with Him. Believe me, I would gladly depart from this world to start a new life of inexpressible joy in His world. Is it a sin to fantasize like this?
Ruling Over What?
Published: February 18, 2022Our reward when we get to heaven is to rule and reign. My question is, to rule and reign what? Satan is vanquished. The only people there are ones that “passed the test”and received the reward of heaven. Its not like they need someone to keep them from robbing banks or stealing the asphalt. I myself would not be comfortable ruling over Christians or setting myself above them in any way. What am I missing here?
OSAS And Phil. 2:12
Published: February 17, 2022Re: Phil. 2:12-13 “Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.” I read an article where the author uses these verses to deny OSAS. He agrees we are saved by grace and cannot earn or deserve our salvation. But we must do our part to receive and keep it, or else we’ll lose it.
Is Believing There’s A God Good Enough?
Published: February 17, 2022In many of your answers to questions you’ve said that no man has an excuse for not believing because God has made Himself known obviously in many ways, including putting that knowledge in the hearts of men from birth. The way you said this makes it sound like people that have never heard the Gospel can still get to Heaven if they believe that there is a God. Is this correct and, if so, why would it matter if they believe in Allah, Buddha, or whomever?