My wife is a non-believer. She claims to be an atheist, but that is hardly possible because she is angry with God because of the hatred and injustice espoused by many who call themselves Christians. I pray that God will enlighten her and draw her to Christ but, to avoid conflict in the home, I fail in my duty to witness to her as much as I should. You and I have concurred that she is in God’s hands, and that all I can do, realistically, is to pray for her salvation.

Yet, I love her, and I fear for her eternal destiny. I keep thinking, what can I do? What can I say (as if there were some magical words I could say at just the “right time” that would suddenly awaken her)? I feel that God will hold me accountable if she is lost. I have grown weary and fail to pray as consistently as I should for her. What will Jesus say to me if she is lost because of my weak faith and my failure to pray as I should? How much am I to blame if that happens?

I would like to know what a mason is. I was told that when my father-in-law was a member of the VFW and the Knights of Columbus that he was a member of a secret society. All his friends belong to the same clubs and all were Christians. I do not understand. People tell me he was a mason and that this was not Christian. Please explain. Thank you for your time and your web site. I have learned much from you.

I believe that have found several references in the new testament that indicate we as Christians are chosen by God to be born again Christians-not the other way around. Do you agree with this or am I way off base? Also, if I am correct I have read nothing in articles about this subject matter. Care to speculate why?

I think it’s interesting that in the Parable of the Ten Virgins Jesus said to the five foolish ones, “I never knew you”. In the Sheep and Goat judgment He says to the goats “depart from me” while in the Sermon on the Mount He says both: “I never knew you–depart from me”. Have you noticed that?

In your reply on “saved through evangelism” dated June 29th, 2010, you referred His will “My Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life.” John 6:40. OK, but here the point is DOING HIS WILL. If we are not doing His will we would not be in His kingdom . Matt. 7:21 says “Not everyone who says Lord, Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. “NOT EVERY ONE” this phrase is very important in this verse, some would make it and some would not. Those who say Lord, Lord and do His will as well would enter the heavenly kingdom and those who say only Lord, Lord would not.

I was reading Luke 10:1-24 and was wondering who were the seventy. Who were these seventy disciples? Do we know anything about them as to their names or anything for that matter?

In Mark 16:7 it says, “But go, tell His disciples–and Peter–that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you.”

When the Angel of the Lord told the ladies this in Mark 16:7, I wonder sometimes why the Angel said it this way? It would almost seem as though at that point Peter wasn’t a disciple. Even though I know that is not the case. I wonder why Peter’s name was separate. Was it because Jesus said upon this rock I will build my church? Thanks for the insight, I love your website and the wisdom of your teaching.

You may have answered these questions somewhere that I haven’t been able to find on your site. But I would appreciate an explanation concerning verses Matt. 7:21 – 23. Jesus is saying that not everyone who calls him “Lord” will enter the kingdom of heaven – if they call him Lord – doesn’t that indicate that they believe?

Also James 2:19 which states that “…Even the demons believe and tremble”.

And Matt. 8:28 when the demons in the two men cried out saying “What have we to do with You, Jesus, You Son of God?”……’ Doesn’t that indicate that they believed?

I was brought up on the OSAS belief but these verses have always troubled me. I would appreciate any help you may give so that I could understand the belief only context. I know that no one can earn their way to heaven by good works. I also know it’s all a product of God’s grace that provides salvation. But my understanding is that true believers – those who believe in Jesus as Messiah, who died and rose again and is our only path to heaven must also strive to live their lives in an ongoing process of becoming more like Jesus and without that second part just belief only seems to put one in the shallow ‘demon’ category. Please clarify.

Thank you for your website I have learned so much from it. I understand what James was teaching, that saving faith in Christ would produce good works, not that works saves a person. James I believe was talking to believers. My question is this, why did James have to tell them this at all? If faith in Christ produces good works (and I believe it does) and James was speaking to believers, this is something that just comes naturally, to me it is like telling a fish to swim, or a bird to fly. In my opinion, it seems to have caused a lot of confusion to those who believe a Christian can lose their salvation. Why do you think God inspired James to write it like this? Do you think maybe it was to cause us to dig deeper into His word? This is a prime example I believe of why it is so important to rightly divide the Word of God. I know God in His foreknowledge saw the confusion it would cause, and I know He had a reason for wording it this way. Do you have an opinion of what it was?

Also in a casual reading of James 2:24 in my little finite mind it just seems like a lost man could be confused into thinking if he has good works he is saved. If James would have stopped at verse 23 when he referenced Romans 4:3 it just seems to me it could have avoided so much confusion, but then he dropped the bomb in verse 24. In your opinion why do you think verse 24 was necessary. I would like to know your thoughts on this. I am in no way saying James got it wrong, I believe every word of scripture is God breathed. I just wonder why with God knowing it would cause confusion, why didn’t he word it where there would be no confusion?

I have had failing health for over a year now. I have developed high blood pressure and, I have bones spurs in my spine and destroyed facets in the lower part of my back. If I’m sitting and go to stand you can hear and feel my back crack all the way down to the vertebra. And the pain is so bad. (But according to the doctors my back isn’t bad enough for surgery yet) I’ve gotten addicted to pain medication because the pain is so severe. I’ve begged God to heal my back and as of yet it has not happened. I know that in the book of Revelation it talks about people would not repent of there pharmaceuticals. I do not want to take these drugs. I just don’t want to hurt anymore. How can I get victory?