Search Results

Like you, I believe that not everyone has the same Spiritual Gifts, and that God gives them according to His perfect will for the common good. I also believe that our gifts don’t change, but that God sometimes gives us a gift we don’t have to fulfill a specific purpose. But I was reading I Corinthians 12 and found something that confused me. Verse 31 says,” But earnestly desire the greater gifts.” Also, I Cor. 14:1 says, “Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.”

When he said “desire the greater gifts” and “especially that you may prophesy” was he speaking to those who didn’t know what their gifts are? Or am I missing something? Thanks in advance for your help!

Can you explain what Paul meant in 1 Corinthians 5:11? It seems to be suggesting that if a christian brother is having sex outside of marriage (ie living with their partner) then no other christian should eat with them. (ie socialize with them by dining with them in their home) Can you let me know how you interpret this verse? Your website is a breath of fresh air and very welcome – thank you and praise the Lord for your work. God bless.

I have a question about our spiritual gifts, and our purpose. How do we understand what is our particular gift, and to what purpose God has given it to us? Do we have purpose beyond an intimate relationship with Him, becoming more Christ-like and serving those immediately around us? Is being faithful in every day life our purpose? And if so, why do we have specific gifts? I don’t know what mine is. I have certain bents and talents, but maybe that’s just my personality! Insight please?

I’m wondering what you have to say about Catholics “praying” to Mary or other saints. I understand that the first commandment tells us to have no other gods, but Catholics seem to believe they’re not praying to Mary or the other saints, but somehow praying to God through them.

This also brings another question to mind of praying for someone after they’ve died. Is there anyplace in the bible that speaks to this?

Thanks so much for your thoughtful answer.

I know that the declaration of some animals as unclean by God was to prevent disease. Is it also possible that certain animals were listed an abomination because Satan broke laws, unknown to us, when forming these creatures? Or maybe after the Flood, he continued his genetics program and the unclean animals lost their perfect assimilation of genes and therefore were declared unclean. Why do you feel certain animals were listed as unclean, or even worse, an abomination?

Our son-in-law who attends a Baptist Church said his Sunday School teacher is going to talk about the “gifts.” He believes that they were given to the early church but are not for use today.

What is a good way to respond to this teaching?

Thanks for your help and consistently excellent articles.

For the record, I do believe in the Rapture. I have read your article on “7 things you should know” and in there you said that the Rapture was a “secret” teaching.

My question is how do you explain that to a person that doesn’t believe in the rapture? This “secret teaching” sounds a bit like an influence from Gnosticism…. I mean, why would Jesus NOT teach something so GREAT and WONDERFUL himself and in open for everyone to know….? It doesn’t make sense if you think about it.

The verses in Matthew that are mostly used in argument for the rapture can be turned into an argument for post-trib or the second coming of Jesus, because if you read it, you can choose which way you want to interpret it…either for the rapture or for the second coming… There is not enough proof of the pre-trib rapture in it for most people… and you can’t assume things that you want to believe are true about the Bible.. it is either right or wrong.. no grey area.

Please help me answer this question on “why didn’t Jesus Himself teach about the rapture, OPENLY.”

I’ve got a question. Recently I have talked to people who say the trinity doesn’t exist. I believe in the trinity, however I’m trying to find scripture which explains it and backs it up. Can you help?

I’ve read several of your responses and it seems that you are implying that it’s like a search to find your spiritual gift. Yet it seems that in the Bible people demonstrated their gift immediately by prophesying, speaking in tongues, etc. I find it odd that so many born again Christians after years have never “discovered” their gift. A “gift” is given by one and received by another. You don’t usually have to spend time searching for a gift that you have supposedly received already.

First I just want to say that I really enjoy your website and what you guys are doing. I especially like your articles on the fulfillment of prophecy in present day.

My question pertains to eternal security. I understand that as a Christ follower that God continually forgives us of our sins because if not then no one could be saved (because as sinful humans we fall time and time again) and Christ would have died in vain. However my question is… Can someone who believes in God, repented of his/her sins, and has been born again, actively choose to lose their salvation? Why anyone would want to do that I don’t know. I believe that you can because God has given us free choice. If we can’t then God gave us free choice to choose to love him but once that is done not free choice to choose not love him. I believe that this is the unforgivable sin that is spoken about in Matthew 12:32. I also think that this is the meaning of Hebrews 6:4-6.

I read your article on Hebrews 6:4-6, “You’ll be Safe Here … A Commentary on Hebrews 6” but I don’t understand where you got “falling away” to mean going back to the rituals of the law. Where do you get this information from?