I’m writing because I’ve been rather perplexed for quite some time over the issue of those who profess Christ as Savior yet their behavior does not reflect having the Holy Spirit inside them. I’m certainly not standing in judgment because I too am a wretched sinner, but I see over and over in the church those who have “called on the name of the Lord” but show little evidence of the power and influence of the Spirit. Is it possible to claim Jesus as Savior but not be saved? I see in 2 Peter 2:1 that there are false prophets/teachers who deny the Lord Who bought them. Were they ever saved or not?

The blessing at meal-time has become a source of derision in our family. The repetitive nature of it makes my skin crawl each time it is said. Also, it is my belief that the head of the household should say the evening meal prayer. But my husband disagrees. He feels everyone should take turns saying it. Now nobody wants to. I wish it was lovely and different each time and that we could include things that are happening in our family and ask for specific blessings, etc. But is that more like a regular prayer and not a meal-time blessing?

Hi, I have a friend who watches a lot of TV “preachers”. He told me that when we pray, if we say, “let Your will be done” after we have made a request of God, that will ultimately cancel our prayer. He learned this from one of those televangelists. Where does this teaching come from?? Aren’t we supposed to pray in God’s will? If it isn’t within God’s will for us, why would we want it anyway?

I was surfing the net, when I came upon a site where someone wrote with concerns about our sins not really being forgiven. The respondent quoted II Cor. 5:10, saying we’ll have to give an accounting of what we’ve done on earth, whether good or bad. I thought God has forgiven all our sins. What gives?

I realize that we all – by definition – struggle with sin. But what if you’re someone who habitually commits X sin without any intention of stopping? I know all a believer has to do is ask in order for the Lord to forgive them, but I can’t help but feel I have no “right” to ask for forgiveness if my heart isn’t set on gradually erasing that sin out of my life; in other words, I’m asking the Lord to forgive me my sins, but not asking Him to help me with the strength to overcome them. Is that in itself another sin to confess?

In 2 Peter 1:5-10, Peter says to make your calling and election sure by growing in your faith so one does not “fall away”. Does this mean I could lose my salvation?

Re: James 5:16. I am wondering how one prays an “effectual fervent” prayer? Does God require a certain level of emotion (fervency) to see prayer answered? How does one motivate oneself to such a level of intensity? Does it apply to certain kinds of prayer or all types?

I was listening to a program in which the host was listing things that can hinder our prayers. He said that if a wife prays for her husband to be saved just because it would make life easier for her, her prayers would be hindered. He also said that if we pray for the salvation of others for any other reason than that they would stop rebelling against the Lord and that the purpose of their salvation was solely for His glory, our prayers will be hindered. When I pray for others to be saved it is because I don’t want them to go to hell. Does praying with that as my motive hinder my prayers for their salvation? Thanks for taking the time to read and answer my question.

Re: How Important Is Asking? Reading this made me ponder on my own circumstances when I got saved. Someone told me about Jesus one night years ago and I immediately became full of joy and excitement at the thought of asking the Lord to be my savior and to forgive my sins. I believed at that moment that Jesus was the only one who could save me. However, being a shy person I waited until I was alone (that same night) before I asked Jesus to save me and forgive my sins. So, my question is “was I saved in between the time I was first told and believed it until I officially asked for it less than an hour later?”

How important is the asking for salvation, really? I mean, if you know you’re a sinner in need of a savior and believe that Jesus died for your sins, that would be enough, right? Do you still need to ask for salvation to be saved? In John 3:16 it says that whosoever believes in Him would not perish, but have everlasting life, which would indicate that belief is all that’s needed and not necessarily the asking, is this a correct interpretation? What is your view on this?