Re: your article “The Parable of the Ten Virgins.” If oil represents the Holy Spirit then how did the foolish virgins have it in the beginning and run out. How is it possible to run out of the Holy Spirit, and then go get more. Did they run out of the Holy Spirit and lose their salvation?

I have a quick question concerning interpretation of the bible. For example, you read a particular Bible passage and come to one conclusion. Another noted scholar reads the same passage and comes to a completely different conclusion. For amateur Bible students, who are we to believe has the right interpretation of the passage?

Let’s say that I am a new Christian studying the Bible and absorbing it in its entirety. I come to a passage that I am unsure as to the meaning. So, I go to the internet to do some research. I go to one web page where a particular pastor gives me an interpretation he believes to be correct. Just to be safe, I compare his conclusion with another well known pastor only to find out that the two disagree completely. As a new Christian, who am I to believe? Each pastor believes in his own heart that what they interpret is what the author of the Bible passage intended.

But, most importantly, what if I make up my mind and find out after dying that I made the wrong choice? I guess what I am getting at is that there are many ministers, pastors, scholars out there with many different interpretations of the Bible. Why did God write certain passages in the Bible that he knew there would be confusion?

I’m pretty new to the study of God’s Word, but I am trying my best to get up to speed.

James 2:14-26 is giving me fits, referring several times to faith without works being dead. It seems to contradict justification by faith alone as well as having implications to once-saved-always-saved. I believe and will continue to believe that works are a product of thankfulness for salvation due to the completed work of our Savior on the cross. There must be a logical reconciliation but so far it has eluded me. What are your thoughts on this?

Thanks in advance and may the Lord bless.

Thank you for your wonderful site! I have a question. Is the seven year tribulation period all considered to be God’s wrath? I have heard that his wrath isn’t until the last half which some feel lends credit to the mid tribulation theory. They say to prepare for some very horrible times for us until the rapture takes place. But if one considers the rapture as following the same pattern as the Jewish wedding ceremony then you would have to think we would leave before or at the very beginning of the seven year period. Thank you for your thoughts on this.

Recently my brother-in-law has revealed to me that he no longer believes in God. He claims to be Agnostic now. While my sister used to study and go to church, she no longer does, though she is still a believer. Her comments to me concerning what her husband now believes is that “his beliefs now are a mess.” My problem is this, he knows that I study the Word of God every day and he challenges me quite often on the truths of the Scriptures.

This has obviously turned into a debate of sorts and I’m wondering what my position should be? He stated that he was challenging me to be open to other things and to not be so closed minded as to not listen to all the views before I decide what I believe. What should I do?

My sister and I are only one year apart and we spend a lot of time together. Considering all these new developments, should I reconsider spending time with her? My husband and I decided that if something were to happen to us that my sister and her husband would take our baby girl. Should this be reevaluated?

I want to be loving in every way about this situation but I also want to do what is best for myself and my family. What is your advice on all this?

My wife and I have been married for 8 years. We’ve been blessed with 2 beautiful daughters. She was recently contacted by her childhood sweetheart (from about 15 years ago) whom she says she was supposed to marry. He left my wife for her best friend, got married, had children and has now recently divorced. Now he’s telling my wife that he regrets what he’s done and still has feeling for her, he wants her to divorce me and move into his “big beautiful house” in the city, and to bring her kids with her.

My wife now says that she no longer is in love with me, is not sure if she ever loved me, and is now in love with her childhood sweetheart. She says that she deserves to be happy. She says that God brought us together only to have these wonderful children of ours, and that he brought this guy back into her life for a reason. She would like to know why God brought him back into her life all of a sudden.

We spoke with a Pastor who said that God is testing her. She wants scriptural proof that God is testing her. I’ve read that if she passes this test, God will heal her and fill her heart with a stronger love for me then ever. I believe that if she passes this test, that the best for us is yet to come. She wants scriptural proof that God will reward her if she perseveres. I don’t think she believes that divorce is wrong, and that it is against God’s Law. I think she feels that if it is wrong, that God will forgive her no matter what she does.

I am willing to do whatever it takes to save my marriage and preserve our family unit. I am terrified of the devastating effects that a divorce would have on our children. Your advice is greatly appreciated.

I was wondering where the concept of using a pastor or minister as an officiator for a wedding began. I have not seen any reference in the Bible that you must be married by one, so why is it done? What makes a couple truly married? Thanks and God bless.

Is it really possible to be angry at God for his action in ones life? I have a strong feeling that I am. When he took my wife home He left me in this messed up world alone after standing on his healing words and it didn’t happen. I feel so lost and confused. I really don’t want to be here anymore and hate every day that I am. I think about it day and night. Am I saved? His word says I am. I’ve accepted Jesus as my savior 23 years ago. My wife was. And I just want to be with her in heaven not this world. There has been so many times I’ve come close. I find no joy here. Sometimes I feel like It was just foolishness to believe he was going to heal her now that she is gone. I feel as though Ive been tossed in to hell its self and forgotten. Why do I still stay here? Why doesn’t he just take me now?

I was born again a year ago, and have slowly been realizing what God expects of me as a believer as I read more and more what His word says. A while ago I started working toward paying a full tithe and am now doing so. I feel that I have received many blessings already from our Lord. One thing I’ve prayed for is to be readmitted to a college program I flunked out of in 2003. It was a long shot , but I applied anyway and was accepted as if I had never left. Is it OK for me to see this as a blessing I received from seeking His kingdom first? Is it OK for believers to want to excel in a career?

I feel that the rapture is coming very soon, and I am excited about that. This world is getting more corrupt daily. At the same time, I feel selfish for wanting to go home now. My longing for Christ feels selfish to all of the poor souls who will be left here. Certainly I am being convicted of my selfishness right? So I have been praying for God to show me where He wants me to be, mentally speaking, during this time.