Did early Christians/Jews use the cross before Jesus died?

I wonder if you have ever run across any teaching on eternal security that takes what’s called a “3rd view”, as distinct from both loss of salvation and OSAS.

One teacher, in particular, uses Hebrews 6 to point to the fact that IF we can be categorized as having tasted of the good things of the Lord, and then become, by choice, apostate, God is not going to take us to live forever with him because He honors our right to choose – not because we need to be punished.

Do you see any circumstances under which having once been saved, we can go to a lost eternity? How do you feel about God taking us to Himself “against our will”? Any enlightened person would not choose to go to hell!!

I saw your answer concerning various Bible translations and I have a question to add to it.

Romans 8:1 in the KJV says “there is no condemnation…for those who walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit”.

The NIV leaves out, although there is a footnote, “that walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit”. There are other places where the NIV leaves out portions of scripture but has a similar footnote. some claim this is a good reason to avoid the NIV.

I like the NIV and read it frequently, and will continue to do so. But why did the translators publish the NIV this way? is it unethical, or intellectually dishonest?

Re Luke 22:36: “But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one

Would you please explain this verse about buying a sword? Is Jesus condoning self-defense?

There is a movie circulating around the charismatic community that primarily highlights the workings of charismatic faith healers throughout the world.

I have read about the risks of the signs and wonders movement bringing the church toward a dangerous new age philosophy. However, thousands are being brought to Christ in Asia and Africa through transforming miracles.

The film states the purpose of the signs and wonders are to bring intellectually stagnant, skeptics, and doubters to more of a child-like belief and faith of which Christ teaches. These people appear to be tapping into the power of the Holy Spirit with the end goal to live a life like Christ’s. If so many are being brought to Christ then how can this be a bad thing?

When reading your article “The End times According to Isaiah, Part 12” I was struck by the message for today-that we are to pray for peace in Israel. How do we do this? We know that there will be no peace in Israel until the Lord comes. God has told us that the times for Israel are going to get quite bad. I would like to pray for Israel but I don’t know how to go about it. How do I pray for peace when God has already said there will be no peace? Could you share with me how you pray for Israel?

On 02/14/09 you wrote: “The Psalmist said that the Lord is a shield for us, (Psalm 3:3) our refuge and our fortress. (Psalm 91:2) The Lord’s protective power will keep the ruthless at bay during His 1000 year reign, and at the end of it He will destroy them like He destroyed Babylon.”

Who are the “ruthless” that will be kept at bay during the Millennium? Where are they; what are they if all the world is to be Edenic?

If a man and woman are married by civil law and get divorced, and neither ever remarry, and they start dating and decide to live together, are they married in God’s eyes? And if a man and woman who have never been married by civil law, but they live together till one of them dies, are they living and dying in sin?

I have a few questions about Daniel 12. The one prophecy that seems to create more confusion than clarity among our group is the 75 day period between the end of the great tribulation to the 1335th day. As you know 1260 days equals 42 months or 3-1/2 years, the last time period on the great tribulation. From Daniel 12:11-12 there seem to be 30 days missing. 1290-1260 = 30 days. Then there’s a 45 day period between the end of the 1290 days to the 1335 days. Can you help us understand this?

Our church is in the country and we have 10 acres of land. We have decided to have a vegetable garden to help feed those in our church that have lost jobs or anyone else in need. We hope to be able to home-can some of the bounty. Now my question. Several elderly women have cautioned us that if a woman is having her period, she must not help with the canning because it would cause spoilage. This sounds like an old wife’s tale to me but they insist it is true. Someone suggested that since this part a female’s life is caused by the original curse on Eve for touching and eating the forbidden fruit, that the curse continues today. Does that have any biblical foundation? I have not been able to find and scientific reason for it to be true.