I have seen people pray for other people and “anoint them with oil” by putting a dab of oil on their forehead. Could you tell me the purpose of anointing someone with oil, and are there rules for this? Can anyone anoint another person, or do they have to be a preacher to do this? Also, does the oil need to be blessed, and if so, who do you get to bless it? I see anointing oil being sold all over the internet. Does it have to be a special oil?

My sister-in-law (who is Jewish) directed me to a Jewish website that explains why Jewish people don’t believe in the Messiah. They claim that Christians have twisted the scriptures to make Jesus the Messiah. I have heard this before, and I guess it just takes a leap of faith but is there any website to direct her to, or is it just not going to happen for her to believe until the Rapture and then I am hoping that people that I know will finally come to believe.

My question is from Genesis 13-14 with Abram and Lot. After he rescued Lot, Melchizedek, priest and king of Salem and the king of Sodom meet Abram. For what purpose are Melchizedek and the king of Sodom together? Sodom was wicked and full of great sinners and Melchizedek was the priest of God and also the king of Salem. Why were a king of such a sinful and wicked city and a king and priest of God together like that when God could easily have made their meetings separate with the same outcome?

Something you said in one of your answers was that God can’t forgive us if we don’t confess. I was taught that all our sins are forgiven already at the cross, but that we should confess them which is to admit our wrong to God so that we can be closer to God. But our sins are forgiven at the cross, everyone of them, so I feel it was wrong to say God can’t forgive us if we don’t confess because he already has.

I have read the following on a web site and am wondering if the translations are correct. “There are two different Greek words that are translated as “temple” in English. One word “hieron” is used by Paul when referring to an actual building made with wood and stones. The other word “naos” is used when referring to the spiritual temple of God which refers to His people. The word “naos” is the one used in this 2 Thessalonians 2:4 verse, and therefore is NOT talking about a physical temple.”

Luke 7: 36-50 tells of a Pharisee who invited Jesus to dinner.  A woman known as a sinner came and washed his feet with her tears and hair.  Jesus saw how sincere and humble she was before Him. This was before the cross but Jesus said that all of her sins were forgiven and that she was now saved.  Wasn’t she still under the law until the cross?

I am been doing a lot of thinking in regards to Grace, the Mosaic Law, the feasts and other things the Messianic movement thinks should apply to the Christians and wanted your opinion on my thoughts.

The central passages I am looking at are found in Acts 15. Paul has returned from his trip to the Gentiles and an issue had arisen specifically in regards to circumcision. Peter, Paul, James and those apostles still alive and in Jerusalem held a council and from that came four requirements for Gentile believers: They were to not engage in sexual immorality, not eat meat given to idols or from an animal that was strangled nor were they to eat or drink blood. Nothing was said about Gentile believers being required to observe any of the Jewish festivals, which fall under the Mosaic covenant nor any of the other Mosaic laws. Further; the act of circumcision was not required of Gentile believers as this was part of the Abrahamic covenant.

My thoughts are this: Peter was given authority by Jesus to bind or loose on earth and in heaven. God did not change but gave Peter the authority to make changes, not to the covenant it self but to how it would be implemented. Notice the changes in Acts 15 apply only to the Gentile believers, not the Jewish believers. I believe Gentile believers were given an exemption from the feasts and ceremonial laws by Peter.

Where does this leave Jewish believers in Christ then? They are covered by Christ of course and some of the feasts and ritual celebrations have to change a bit but I believe God still requires them to be held to them. This is a higher standard situation: God chose the Hebrew people for himself and he has always held them to a higher level of behavior before all men. Like the Gentile believers they are no longer bound to the Mosaic law, but a life truly lived in Christ will cause us to voluntarily obey them as more of a side effect rather than requirement. That is where my thinking is going anyway. Could you comment on it please?

I worry about my friend. She believes that God forgives her sin but does not accept His forgiveness because she tells herself she is unworthy. I know in regards to our salvation, when we believe we are sinners and realize we need a savior, we also need to accept Jesus as our Savior or we would remain in our sins. Is the same true of forgiveness? How can I help her?

Re the picture of the hooded (“shepherd”?) on your homepage: is that supposed to be Jesus Christ? I’m sure we don’t need to have an IMAGE of our Savior. Perhaps the Ten Commandments even forbids it …? I tend to associate images with the worship in the Roman church. I look forward to your response as I count the issue as important.

I’ve written to you before expressing my frustration at being married to an unbeliever and being unable to be as fully involved in service as I would like to be. Recently, I’ve sensed the Lord telling me I’ve been trying to walk someone else’s walk instead of my own walk with Him. Instead of embracing my situation and what the Lord would have me do, I’ve been envious of other Christians who are free to serve in the church. I really want to walk in the works God has laid out before me.

I am a wife and mother, and am completely surrounded by family members who do not know the Lord. I’m sensing the Lord telling me my service to Him involves praying for and ministering to my family who don’t know Him. I’m not sure of the best way to do that aside from prayer and would love to have your wisdom in this situation. I know time is very short, and I don’t want to spend what’s left of my earthly life envying someone else’s walk, thereby missing out on what God intends for me. What do you think?