Re: II Peter 3:10. Will that be a literal fire burning heaven and earth? I believe we will have a new heaven and earth, but I thought the earth would just be repaired. I know that I have read that verse many times, but had it hit me in the face so to speak the other night.

My mother belongs to a church where they give lip service to salvation by Grace, but their deeds and doctrines suggest otherwise. During a discussion she mentioned that most people quote John 3:16 incorrectly, pointing out that “…whosoever believeth on Him should not perish.” is usually quoted “…shall not perish.” The KJV uses ‘should’, while the NIV uses ‘shall.’ She is implying the word ‘should’ leaves the possibility that we might still perish even if we believe on the Lord Jesus. Thus, the need to obey the commandments to prove/show we love the Lord.

After Jesus was resurrected, he met with many, his disciples in particular. In Mark 16 verse 15, he instructs them to “Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature.” The term “creature” just doesn’t seem to fit, why not “all mankind” as creature implies other than man. Was that passage not translated correctly?

I don’t understand why in the Noah’s Ark story God destroyed every living thing on earth except for eight people and a bunch of animals just because people did not pray and remember Him? Could a Creator have the right to destroy creatures? Similarly, can parents take their child’s life when the child is not listening to them or showing proper respect to the parents?

Earlier this week you answered a question about whether or not Jesus may have suffered in Hell during his visit there. Scripture tells us, and as you said, “When He went to the side for the unsaved, it was to preach to them, not suffer with them.”

Why do you think Jesus was preaching to the unsaved? Was there a chance for them to experience some form of redemption, or do you think Jesus was explaining to them why they deserved to be on the wrong side of the chasm?

Thank you for a wonderful website. I especially like how your explanations are simple and direct, using scripture in its plain meaning. God indeed “means what he says and says what he means”.

My question is about the creation of the universe. Since you seem to believe in a “Gap theory” from your writings, such as the article “Honest to God”, I wonder if you have heard of the “decay of light speed theory” and its relationship to the age of the universe and creation? If correct, it seems to fit much better with the plain text reading of the creation account. No need to insert a “gap” between verse 2 and 3. Also the theory seems to answer many of the anomalies that we are seeing in the field of astronomy even today. What are your thoughts on this? Thanks again for your wonderful work!

First of all I thank you for your ministry. I appreciate all the biblically sound articles and answers.

My question may sound off the path of the questions you normally answer. The other night in a Wednesday night church service a man brought his girlfriend to the service. She had never been there before. The woman was so drunk that she could barely walk and she was stumbling and tripping all over the sanctuary. During worship shortly after the service began she left the church and went and sat in her car honking the horn. She would honk the horn for a few minutes, then stop, then start again.

My first thoughts were to pray for her which I did during the service. I also thought that it was good for her to have least come for a few minutes. Then a few days later I just thought this was not right, that she should not of been in church so drunk she never would of remembered a thing. I don’t want to seem un-compassionate or hard hearted but I am not sure if this is respectful to our Lord to have someone carrying on like she did. I would greatly respect your opinion.

What if we’ve let the anger toward the one that has hurt us go, but we can’t let go of the shame we feel because of what the person had done? I have forgiven the one that hurt me as a child, but I have a difficult time forgiving myself and I feel shameful for “allowing” it to happen and for allowing it to carry on into a time in my life where I knew it was wrong. I’ve prayed about this often, but I can’t seem to overcome this shame and I struggle with it often. It really irritates me and I believe the answer is that I’m just letting Satan take joy out of my life through the shame. How do we let go of the shame? It’s easier said than done.

I think it is fair to say that all of us have buried memories and thoughts we would like to keep buried. Now, what if you’ve already taken them and given it to God? If those memories suddenly flood back because of an argument or event, is that God “doing something” with those memories for say, discipline to bring us closer to Him? I read in your post “The Lord’s Discipline” that discipline does not increase our fear but increases our love. But does the process include making us angry and hurtful?

In Hebrews 12:6 it reads, “For those whom the Lord loves He disciplines”. My question is how does God discipline believers? Can we know when He is disciplining us?