Someone in my small group said that when Jesus read from the OT in the synagogue that he was reading from the Septuagint. I disagreed because Jesus was within the Holy Land where Hebrew was still spoken. I understand that the main reason the Septuagint was made – so the Jews outside of the Holy Land could still read scripture since they were losing the Hebrew language. So, do you think the Septuagint was read by Jesus in the synagogues?

Our Christian group has been discussing sin. Some say we are born with a sin nature and become sinners when we sin. Others say we are born sinners because we have a sin nature. What say you?

Thank you for your website. It is truly a blessing. A question on something I have always wondered. Since God is all knowing, past, present, future, the alpha and omega – this means he already knew Satan would fall from heaven, challenge his deity, bring evil upon mankind, etc. Why would God allow this to happen to all of his creation including us humans?

In your book, “Seven Things You Have To Know …” You said, “History shows us that after the cross, major signs began to appear in the Temple indicating the obsolescence of its ritual. First, the veil was torn, opening the way to the Holy of Holies. Then, one of the seven lamps of the Menorah refused to stay lit. The main entrance door kept opening by itself. The ribbon attached to the scapegoat’s horn no longer turned from red to white at the moment of its death as it always had before. And there were others.” Where can I read about these signs that happened after the cross? Do Jews acknowledge these signs? If so, how do they still deny Jesus? Also, how did the Jews transition away from animal sacrifices?

I believe Jesus was/is God because of a statement I think you made, can’t recall if it’s actually written Scripture or not but when you said, and I may be paraphrasing it, “In order for God to be a just God, He had to experience everything we experienced.” And to me, in order for God to experience everything we experience, He had to become like us.

Do you think the rapture happens as the dragon is cast out of heaven? I wouldn’t want to be around when he is cast down and confined and angry. It’s interesting that Jesus comes with the archangel but it doesn’t say with a great host of angels. Perhaps the angels are kicking butt and clearing the rebel angles out and getting things ready for us. When Jesus said He saw Satan fall like a lightening bolt, how does that fit in to the war in heaven when He is confined to earth?

I have a question about something that was thrown into the middle of the conversation between Jesus and the centurion in Matthew chapter 8. In 8:11 and 12, Jesus goes from marveling at the faith of the centurion to telling His followers about people eating with Abraham Isaac and Jacob (the Jewish people) in the Kingdom of Heaven but those that already live there (the children of the Kingdom) will be tossed out. Is this referring to the angelic realm? I’m really confused.

The Bible says, “In my Fathers house are many mansions.” Who lives or will live in those mansions?

I was wondering your thoughts on God testing us. I’ve only heard this taught one time, Deuteronomy 8:2 says that God tests us in order to know what is in our heart, whether or not we will keep his commands. If taken literally, or at least the way I take it, the LORD brings things across my path to see how I will respond… Will I chose to act in faith on his word, or be in fear. Will I choose to obey or not and so on and so forth. Is this correct? If so it would give a different outlook on “problems” we encounter on a day to day basis.

It seems to me that Jesus gave up his divinity when He became a man. He was still God and man but in order to pay the price to redeem us he had to do it as a sinless man. I don’t believe he ever used His divine power to do any of the works that He had done, but that He operated only in faith. Otherwise Satan could have said he (God) was operating illegally in the Earth.