A member of our church says that Matthew 5:48 says that we are perfect once we are saved. I understand that that verse says that we should strive to be perfect; our goal is to be perfect like Jesus. Which is it?

1 John 1:5-10 seems to contradict itself. At one point it talks about walking in the light and if we say we have fellowship with Him but walk in the darkness we are liars then it says if we have no sin we are deceiving ourselves, what do these verses mean?

In referring to the security of our salvation, you have said, “There’s not a single verse anywhere in Scripture that even hints of Him removing His mark, unsealing the Holy Spirit, or rescinding His guarantee.” Could you please explain Rev 3:5 “He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.” How can the Lord blot out someone’s name from the book of life if the name was never written in the book of life or if the person will not be removed by the Lord?

And in Rev 2:5 “Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.” From where did these people fall and what do you understand that the Lord will remove their candlestick means?

As the Savior of the world, the Word became flesh. He chose to become human enough that He was capable of bleeding to death for us. He is the first fruits of the resurrection and received a new body similar to what I think we will receive. Capable of walking through walls, go to places by thought, but having physical texture that the disciples were able to touch and He even ate with them. My question is, do you think that part of His sacrifice in stepping down into creation was to limit Himself to having a ‘resurrected body’ as an eternal reminder of what He did for us?

I was wondering if the act of baptism was originally a Jewish practice? If not, then how did they know what to do when they were told that after accepting Christ, they needed to be baptized? Did they understand why they needed to be baptized? Also, if baptism was originally a Jewish practice, what were they being baptized for – or into?

Thank you for writing such excellent articles! They’re very informative and I always enjoy them. Your last article was of special interest to me because I have often wondered where evil came from? God surely wouldn’t create such a thing? does this mean that if Satan chose to do wrong that evil was created by God? and if the angels are given a choice then why are they not included in salvation?

In your post, Man’s Choice or God’s? you ask, “How could He say these things if He had created some who couldn’t choose to be saved?” But, He DOES know when He creates some that they will choose to not be saved. If He foreknows this, then it is as if they can’t choose to be saved, because He creates them and yet knows they’re not going to end up with Him. It seems like a conundrum. On the one hand, He lets many be born who will not accept His offer of salvation, and on the other hand, we’re told that it is not His will that they be this way. But, then, why bother to go through all of this with humanity?

First Praises go to the Lord Jesus Christ. I know the Bible is the word of God. My question is one verse says, For many are called, but few are chosen. Mat 22:14. and another will say, For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Joh 3:16

I believe that we (The Elect) are Chosen to Believe and most people are not Chosen, so no matter what, they choose to not be saved and will be doomed. How can anybody believe if they are not chosen, and only a few are chosen. Or is that the nonbeliever knows and just rejects Jesus. Is it that they can’t accept Jesus by their own because they weren’t Chosen?? May the Lord continue to Bless you.

A the end of the Millennium, who will be resurrected? Will they all be judged at the Great White Throne? Will we witness this? that is, will we see the resurrected before the Throne? Will they all be sent to Hell? Some have said we will be aware of their punishment; that we will be taken to see the damned and witness their condition. In Eternity, will we, can we, be aware of the damned?

What about the person who wants to be saved, who asks to be saved, who prays to be saved, but whose life and circumstances do not allow him to do the totally irrational thing of truly believing. What about that person who, no matter how much he wants salvation, and prays for it, finds himself simply unable to believe?