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I just read ‘Best Of Both Worlds?‘ and came across this:

‘And when they stand before the Bema Seat judgment (1 Cor 3:10-15) with their salvation intact but absent any rewards, this will become most obvious to them as they experience eternal consequences for a few years of rebellious behavior.’

What do you mean by eternal consequences? As in restrictions placed on us in eternity? The more rebellious we were on Earth, the more consequences (like what?) we have in eternity?

I held the view that all the Church would be equal in eternity, with no class structure. How do you see it?

A Bible Study by Jack Kelley

In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you (John 14:2).

Recently I had someone object to my belief that Jesus was referring to our eternal home in the New Jerusalem when He said this.

Thank you for taking time to answer my question. I am gentile searching my Jewish roots. Recently I have attended a Messianic congregation with mainly gentiles.

At one of the Shabbats the subject of life after death came up. I was shocked to find that the majority believed the spirit stays in the grave. Any scripture I quoted they had an answer for it. The answer that shocked me most was that of Yeshua’s reply to the thief on the cross. Here are some of their replies as follows:” 1. There is no punctuation in Greek of the NT. The comma was placed by translators according to a source book and changed the meaning of “today you will be with me in paradise”. 2. Yeshua went to the grave and stayed three days and nights and that paradise didn’t mean heaven, but garden.3. The word for paradise was in the future.

Needless to say I was left reeling for it seems there was a response for all of the theology I was taught about life after death as related to the spirit. I honestly don’t know if this is a Messianic belief. I still believe the spirit goes somewhere to heaven or hell. Please help me get some understanding. I will greatly appreciate your response.

I have been following this “Once Saved Always Saved” discussion on the website the past few months. I think this issue causes most of the confusion in our lives, because we all know somebody that claims to be saved once, but does not live up to it…

I’ve seen that you quoted Eph. 1:13-14 to confirm the statement “once saved always saved”. Well, I think it is wonderful for scripture to state such a graceful thing, but what about the following:

1) My sister was born again when she was 10 years old, but now when she is 25 years old she believes in reincarnation, there is no hell, the Bible is not all true, and that homosexuality is perfectly normal, but still believes in a God and a Jesus. She believes what she finds acceptable to believe.

2) My bother who was born again when he was about 12 years old, just turned 21 and his way of living doesn’t confirm his beliefs… he is partying, drinking, smoking and swearing, but still goes to church every Sunday.

According to your point of view, my brother and sister will still go to heaven despite their lifestyles and beliefs… So they are having the BEST OF BOTH WORLDS…some people will say. Can you please add some clarity to this confusion please? I would like to hear your opinion on this.

As a new reader to your site, you may have already answered this question and I just have not discovered it. If not, could you please explain your understanding on this.

I have had serious questions about reincarnation ( God allowing man’s spirit to return to a different physical body) – none of the animal theories. Elijah’s spirit seems to have returned as John the Baptist. I understand that in scripture it speaks of ‘it’s appointed once for man to die and then the judgment’ but when taken in the context of the verses where this was written – wasn’t this speaking in terms that man could understand yet referring to the one and only sacrifice of Jesus Christ – there is no other sacrifice for our sins other than that of Jesus. It was a one time thing – as we know.

The ultimate judgment of mankind, if I understand it correctly, won’t be until the Bema seat of Christ for believers and at the Great White Throne for non-believers. Does this negate the possibility of God allowing spirits to reincarnate on earth to continue learning the lessons they may have failed to learn and for His glory the way Elijah’s spirit did?

I don’t believe that reincarnation is a second chance opportunity to accept Jesus – if it is, then fine but I’m not waiting for that. I accepted Jesus as a ten year old and am still seeking to live my life for Him and to learn what God would have me do each day. I also would not advise anyone to wait – no matter what proof of reincarnation there was.

It seems there is a lot of indication when people, even children, have knowledge of another life with no possibility of learning that by the normal senses, that reincarnation could be possible. I also discount anyone who claims to be someone in recent recognition or some historical figure.

I do believe that God can do anything and that our understanding of time and His plans are rarely clear and if it serves His purpose, then reincarnation is definitely possible.

I have also been led to believe that in the past there have been efforts to take any hint of reincarnation from the scriptures.

I am not attempting to make a case for or against reincarnation. I would just appreciate any clarification that you might share with me.

A Bible Study by Jack Kelley

Some time ago I received several questions concerning a book recently published by a well known Christian author. The questions so concerned me that I bought the book to have a look for myself. (I’m not going to mention the name of the book or the author to avoid giving either any unintended publicity.)

A Bible Study by Jack Kelley

I’ve received a number of questions about a recent series of online articles disputing the idea that Jesus died for all our sins, past, present, and future on the cross. The articles make the claim that the Bible teaches no such thing.

A Bible Study by Jack Kelley

So, forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us who are mature should take such a view of things.

I read your article “What Is Sin.” You did a good job in explaining what sin is in the life of a believer in the fact that it means “to miss the mark.” You also did very well in showing that all of us sin and miss the mark, pointing out that one sin, no matter how small, is just as bad as what others call larger sins such as murder and adultery. You spoke of repentance being a change of mind. True, we change our mind regarding living a perverse lifestyle, acknowledge that we need a Savior, and accept that Savior (Jesus Christ) as our Savior.

All in all you did a marvelous job in showing people we should not be pointing the finger in judgment toward others who “fall into” sin just like we do when we “miss the mark.” Very good!

Unfortunately, you did NOT address the real issue. What you avoided speaking of was the believer who doesn’t strive. You avoided speaking of the person who declares they are saved and always will be saved because they have had a change of mind, have accepted Christ, but are NOT striving to be holy. Falling short (as we all do) or “missing the mark” in our attempt to achieve living a sinless life is far different from those who, at some point in their “walk” have decided that it’s “okay” to willfully live in perversion.

Biblical warnings against apostasy are real and believers maintain the freedom to potentially reject the salvation they once accepted. They weren’t forced to accept and are not forced to stay.

A Bible Study by Jack Kelley

After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.”