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In Matthew 18:22 when Jesus said to forgive 70 X 7 times do you think he might have had a reason for using this particular number?

I just got around to reading “The Way It Was Meant To Be” and just wanted to say you’ve got to be careful making it sound like we are never to confront sin in others. Some like to call it “judging”, which is a favored term for those who shy away from possibly offending a brother or sister over doing the right thing and in a loving manner helping/correcting them. It’s not “judging”. The Bible tells us to confront sin. Jesus did it often. One example was the woman at the well. He didn’t just chat with her and then say “have a nice day”. He confronted her with her sin and told her to sin no more. There are times when believers are to do the same. When they don’t, they can easily be construed as approving of the sins being committed around them.

I want to obey my parents and show them respect, but sometimes it feels like their expectations are unreasonably high. When I was a child I could understand. But now that I’m 25, it feels like a huge burden as they are refusing to let me go. What does the Bible say about obedience to our parents? Does it mean we must follow every command they issue? What is considered “respect and honor?” How far can they go in terms of demanding respect and honor? How far must I go to make them feel respected and honored? I would greatly appreciate some insight as I really don’t want to disobey the 5th commandment.

I have a question about our faith. I am asking where our faith in the Bible as the Word of God comes from. I have only found this statement in the New Testament in one of the epistles, basically reading that all scripture is the Word of God. So I have two questions. One is that I am hesitant to believe that the author of the epistle considered his letters to others, as well as the letters of his contemporaries, or even the Gospels themselves, which were still being written, as scripture. Wouldn’t he only be referring to the Old Testament

Which leads to my second question. If we then have to take the rest of the Bible as the Word of God on faith, then, from an objective point of view, how is this faith different from faith put into anything else?

Maybe you’re familiar with this goldsmith “idea”. The Lord is our Goldsmith and troubles, sufferings in a believer’s life meant to be His melting pot so we can be purified and formed to His likeness (as the goldsmith recognizes himself in the pure silver). It’s a very popular validation in christian circles for sufferings and hardships in a believer’s life. What do you think about it? Is this just a man made “christian urban legend” or biblical?

My question is about fasting. I know that there are examples in the New Testament of people fasting, but I’ve never had a pastor ever teach about it. How should we fast? When? For how long? How often? How does it work? What is it’s purpose? Please teach me about this subject and how I should incorporate it into my own life and walk with God. Thank you, as always, for all of your hard work.

If I pay my taxes cheerfully and the government gives the money to the poor does that count for part of my tithe?

Your website has been such a blessing to me. I just read a question from a brother who said that he wasn’t experiencing the joy that we as Christians are supposed to have. I can so relate. It is so difficult to feel joy with all that is going on in this world, with so many perishing, especially when they are family. Also, I am saddened by the fact that it seems to me that most of the Church is asleep. I lost a son two years ago and am not sure where he is. He knew the Lord, but at the time of his death he wasn’t walking with the Lord.

My Dad passed away in May. He had heard the truth and I do know that because of many, many prayers on his behalf, he could have called on the Lord with his dying breath, like the thief on the cross.

Sorry for taking so much of your time before getting to my questions. First: if we are to live by faith and not by our feelings, then what is joy? Second: in 1 Cor. 6:9 lists those who will not inherit the kingdom. What if those people are born again Christians?

Then said Jesus unto his disciples, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24, KJV)

My question is, in the context of this verse, exactly what does taking up one’s cross refer to? Does it mean bearing infirmities or illness, and if so, how does this square with your articles regarding healing?

I spend hours on the articles you present on your website and thank God for the many things about the Bible that I learn from these. I also am grateful for you allowing for copies to be made of these articles, which I also find very helpful because I distribute these to my friends and also prepare sermons on them for my local church.

I have a question that I need some guidance from the Bible on, which I now ask you to kindly help give some answers to. What are the principles of God that govern the management or use of money by a Christian? I note that you refer to these as ‘Biblical admonitions for fiscal responsibility’ in your answer to a question under ‘Financial Debt & the Rapture‘.