I was reading a devotional and something this author wrote has disturbed me. Speaking of Romans 8:28 he said, “God promises that he will work out everything to our good, and the good of others, as long as we obey Him”.

As far as I know this Scripture reads this way: “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”

I do realize that if someone loves God they are going to make every attempt to obey Him except that I know there are so many many times I do not obey God even though I always want to. So am I to believe that God is not going to work everything to my good because I’m sometimes disobedient?

If you believe that the parable of the 10 virgins speaks about a time on Earth just after the 2nd Coming, then why in, verse 13 did Jesus say, “Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son Of Man Cometh.” It sounds to me like a warning about the 2nd coming.

Also If the oil here were a symbol of the spirit of God how or why would they think another Christian could give them part of their spirit? And what would make the wise think the foolish could go and buy their salvation (spirit of God) from those who sell it? But here they went to those who sell to buy oil and did buy it and came back to be with the Bridegroom (Jesus). Do you know where you can go and buy the spirit of God for your salvation? If so why did Jesus die?

Oil is a source of both food and fuel. If the oil here is symbolic for food and fuel then the story works. If you notice, the foolish did go and buy oil. But Jesus said he didn’t know them. So if the oil were the spirit of God, Jesus would have to know them.

Like everyone else who have responded to this site, I give you a big “Thank You” for your faithfulness!

I was reading the question having to do with Church and the Church. My thought process went to church authority held by the elders and pastor of the local church. I reason that they don’t have final authority, fore that leads to cultism – blindly following the leader of your group. However, the Scripture does speak to submission. How far does that go in the local church? And, how does the discernment of the individual Believer come into play when that discernment is contrary to church leadership?

A teacher used Romans 11:22 defending the statement that to remain saved we must follow the commandments or be cut off. He also cites James 2:14and 24-26 to back this up. And if we commit “Deadly Sins” our souls are dead and a person is not saved anymore. I understand John 3:16 but there seems to be (in my mind) a contradiction. This topic really bothered me when I read it, and I almost feel like it is going to come down my individual interpretation.

I don’t know if someone else asked you this question before: When did God create the angels according to Genesis?

And in Job 38:7: “When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy, who are “the sons of God”? How do I explain to an unbeliever that Jesus was God’s only son – when in Job he talks about the sons of God?

Can you please explain it to me?

Does Hebrews 6 deny the Once Saved Always Saved principle? In Hebrews 6:4-6 it says “For concerning those who were once enlightened and tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the age to come, and then fell away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance; seeing they crucify the Son of God for themselves again, and put him to open shame.” Does this mean people can lose their salvation? If not, what does it mean?

Is the Eucharist really the body and blood of Christ or does it merely represent the body and blood?

Question: Regarding the Man of Lawlessness (Anti-Christ) and the confirmation of a covenant (Dan 9:27), almost exclusively I have been taught that this reference is to a 7-year treaty that is “confirmed” by the Antichrist which kicks off the 70th week of Daniel.

However, Dan 9:27 mentions he “confirms” a covenant . It doesn’t mention its duration. In the middle of the 70th week, he stops sacrifice and offerings. So, we all presume it’s a 7-year treaty.

But, might not Dan 9:27 be stating exactly what it says – namely, that the Antichrist will “Confirm” (which to confirm, something must already be in place) not just a covenant, but THE Covenant. We often call the Torah the “Old Testament”, but it is also called the “Old Covenant”. And the word used in Dan 9:27 for covenant is the same one used by God in describing His promises to His people, the Jews.

In light of what you have taught about the battle of Ezekiel causing the world-wide Jews to see their relationship with God being renewed, might not the Antichrist’s confirmation of a covenant be the official re-reinstatement of the Old Testament (Covenant) practices and relationship by authorizing the rebuilding of the temple and the sacrificial system being put back in place?

My grandmother recently died and I’ve been searching for the truth about life after death. Usually a church says,”She went to heaven with the Lord” but then why would the dead in Christ rise first if they’re already in heaven with Jesus. I need some sort of Scriptural evidence of what really happens after death. Please help.

I just wanted to clear something up. You’ve stated that it was the Jews themselves who caused their own blindness. If that is so, then how come Paul writes in Romans 11:9-10, “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes so that they could not see and ears that they could not hear”?

Paul again writes in Romans 11:25-27. “I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob. And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins.”

Then explain to me what Paul meant in Romans 11:28-32, “As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies on your account; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable.”