Questions - Wednesday

Will there still be sin during the millenial reign?

Revelation 20:7-9 indicates that there will be a multitude who are deceived by Satan at the end of the Millenium. These are likely the offspring of those who enter the Kingdom as believers in natural bodies from the Tribulation, who rebel against the righteous rule of Jesus Christ during that time. Sin will be present in the Kingdom, though righteousness and justice will prevail. 

Do you think our generation will be the one in the rapture? 

Throughout history, each generation has believed it could be the generation alive when Jesus returns for His Church. In fact, Paul seemed to think his generation could be the one in the rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:17).   Certainly, nothing needs to take place prior to the Rapture in order for it to happen in our lifetime. Jesus could return during our generation, or many more generations in the future. The fact that Jesus return is imminent should cause us to live with a sense of urgency and focus as we attempt to bring Him glory during our time on the earth. 

Questions - Tuesday

What book on the End Time Events would you recommend? 

David Jeremiah has a new book out called "What in the World is Going On?" that is an excellent resource. Mark Hitchcock has also written a good, scholarly book on End Time events called "The Complete Book of Bible Prophecy."

Who will we rule if we are going to be with Christ in heaven? Will the Earth vanish?

Those who have trusted Christ at the time of the rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:16) will be with him in Heaven for the Marriage Supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:7-10).  When Jesus returns to the earth to establish His thousand-year kingdom, we will return with Him (Revelation 19:11-21). At that point, those who are identified with Jesus will rule with Him under His authority (2 Timothy 2:12; Revelation 20:4-6) over those who remain on the earth in natural bodies.

Jesus' thousand-year reign will be on this earth, on which the effects of the fall will be minimized (Isaiah 11; Joel 2:19-32; Zechariah 14:6-21; Jeremiah 31). At the end of that reign, the ultimate judgment against evil will be handed down (Revelation 20:11-15) and the earth will be judged as a part of the system which has gone away from God (2 Peter 3:10-11), as God creates a New Heavens and New Earth where we will live with Him in Paradise forever (Revelation 21).

 

  

Questions - Monday

How accurate are the Left Behind books in describing these events?

The Left Behind series by Jerry Jenkins and Tim LaHaye are books of theological fiction which attempt to give an account of what the events of Revelation (and other passages) might look like. The basic timeline of events described in the books are certainly in line with our understanding of how the end times will play out, though the authors have taken some liberties in describing specific places and names that cannot be known with certainty from the information Scripture gives us. The books are good, but no substitute for reading Scripture for yourself.

Are Judaizers (Jesus plus works) disqualified from salvation?

Much of Paul's ministry was dedicated to addressing people who wanted to add good works to the front-end of the Gospel. The entire book of Galatians was written to people who tried to add good works to the message that we can have eternal life and forgiveness of sin by trusting that Jesus Christ paid the penalty for sin through His death on the cross - the Gospel (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). Paul says adding something to the Gospel changes the Gospel into something that is not the gospel at all (Galatians 1:6-7), and that people who teach a different gospel should be "eternally condemned" (Galatians 1:9). Jesus is not cooperating with our good works to save us. If He were, He would only be part Savior. The gospel of Jesus as part-savior is no Gospel at all.

This Sunday

Please do not forget about our special Mission service this Sunday at McKinney Church. For security purposes we are unable to publish the name of our guest preacher, but I can assure you you will not want to miss the opportunity to hear about this man's ministry. Plan to stay afterward for a free lunch to hear more about what God is doing through the ministry of someone who is literally risking his life for the sake of the Gospel every single day. 

Our whole service will revolve around what God is doing in the world, including the music portion of the worship service. Make sure to show up early - we're anticipating some neat things at the very beginning of the service that you will not want to miss. 

Because of the special nature of this service, we will not do text message questions this week. Be thinking ahead about questions you might have about the final message in our Living Hope series: "What Will Jesus Do When He Returns?" This blog will return from hibernation sometime the week of May 4th. 

Also, if you're so inclined,  you can now follow "McKinneyChurch" on Twitter and Facebook.   

See you Sunday.

Questions - Thursday

How do I know what my gift is? 

Spiritual gifts are supernatural enablements for ministry that focus on the "common good" and glorify God (1 Corinthians 12:4-7; 1 Peter 4:10-11). There is a diversity of gifts distributed among believers (Romans 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 12:8-10, 28-30; Ephesians 4:11-12; 1 Peter 4:10-11) by the Spirit at the moment of salvation (1 Corinthians 12:11-13) to build up the Church (1 Corinthians 14:12) and strengthen its unity (1 Corinthians 12:21-26). There are three key aspects which contribute to identification and fruitful enjoyment of your spiritual gift: 

Attitude: Humility (Romans 12:3) and Love (1 Corinthians 13)

Availability: Romans 12:6-8 describes how believers are to use their gifts: with faith, generously, diligently, cheerfully. As God gives a heart of loving humility, we begin to serve others wholeheartedly. 

Assessment: As a believer keeps in step with the Spirit (Galatians 5:16-26), studies the Scriptures related to Spiritual gifts, and cheerfully serves in the body, God will begin to use that person as a blessing to other believers. Personal joy and spiritual blessing to others in specific ministries are key indicators of potential gifts. As we ask for wisdom (James 1:5) and rest in the Spirit's intercession for us (Romans 8:26-27), God will guide us toward our niche of most effective ministry. 

I've heard that Jesus is now reigning on the throne of David. Is he? 

When Jesus ascended to heaven, he was exalted to the right hand of God (Acts 2:33; 1 Peter 3:22) where He is interceding for His followers (Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25), building His Church (Matthew 16:18; Ephesians 4:11-16) through His Spirit-led followers (John 14:25-27; John 16:7-15), preparing a place for them (John 14:1-3) and sovereignly guiding the supernatural and natural realms (1 Peter 3:22; Colossians 1:16-18) toward "times of refreshing" when God fulfills all of His promises to the Church, Israel, and the world at the end of human history (Acts 3:17-26). 

Currently, Jesus is seated at the right hand of His Father's throne (Hebrews 12:2). He is the King of kings and Lord of lords (Revelation 19:16) but He is not yet seated on David's throne which is an earthly throne in Jerusalem from which David's descendant, the Messiah will rule (2 Samuel 7:11-16; Luke 1:31-33). The use of Acts 2:22-46 to link the Davidic throne with Jesus' heavenly rule tends to emphasize theological projection more than a clear connection within the Text. 

Questions - Wednesday

If there is no more prophesy to be fulfilled, why do you think Jesus hasn't returned? 

Peter tells us in 2 Peter 3:9 that at least one reason Jesus has not returned is that He is patient and gracious. Although Jesus' coming for His church will be a time of great rejoicing for those of us who have placed our faith in Him (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17), it will be a time where wickedness on the earth is dramatically increased (Matthew 24:21) and a time of intense judgment on those who have chosen to reject Jesus Christ (Matthew 24:31).  By holding off His return, Jesus is demonstrating grace and patience in order to give all men an abundance of opportunity to turn to Him. 

Questions - Tuesday

My baby slept through your whole sermon, Ken. Where can I get your tape to help my baby sleep through the night?

CDs are available in the main lobby after every service. Also, you can view or listen to sermons online either on our website or by subscribing to the audio or video podcast on iTunes. Previous sermons are available as well so you might want to invest in a docking station for your iPod, download 8 or 9 hours worth of sermons, set that puppy on "repeat," and enjoy a full night's sleep! 

You say nothing else must be fulfilled [before Jesus returns for His Church], But what about every people group hearing the Gospel. I know we are close, but some have yet to be reached.

We received several versions of this question and will flesh out an answer in even greater detail in two weeks.  In short, there are several prophecies that must be fulfilled before the Second Coming of Christ to the earth. Matthew 24 records many of these prophecies including the one you reference (24:14), the revelation of "The Antichrist" (Revelation 13:4-18), and others. However, it is important to distinguish between the rapture of the Church (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18) and the Second Coming of Jesus to the earth (Acts 1:11; Revelation 19:11-21). Many signs will precede His coming to the earth, but nothing needs to be fulfilled in order for the rapture to happen. It could happen at any moment. 

Does God hear us the same when we pray out loud or pray silent? Are both heard by God?

When Jesus taught on prayer He placed the emphasis not on the volume or the mode of prayer, but the heart behind the prayer (Matthew 6:5-13). Jesus Himself modeled both out loud (John 17) and silent (Matthew 14:13) prayers. The indication from Scripture is that God hears both and responds to both. 

Questions - Monday

When you pray, how do you know the answer is from God?

Yesterday, this question came up in the second service and Ken responded that God always answers prayer as a loving Father who knows what is best for His children. He either answers "yes," "no," or "wait." 

But there is a second part to this question he didn't have time to answer yesterday: When you receive a "yes," "no," or "wait," how do you know that answer is from God? To put it more practically, if you have been praying for a job and receive a job offer, how do you know that specific job offer is God's answer? 

Here are a few questions to ask as you wade through whether or not the answer in front of you is God's answer. 

1. Is it in line with Scripture? James 1:17 indicates that God's answers to prayer are consistent with His character. God will not contradict Himself. If a perceived answer to your prayer explicitly contradicts Scripture, you can know with certainty it is not God's answer to your prayer. If the issue in question does not contradict Scripture, you can move on to the next question. 

2. What do wise, godly people say? Proverbs 13:10 indicates that there is wisdom in the counsel of others. If you are wondering whether or not God's answer to your prayer, it is never a bad idea to seek counsel from other godly, wise people who can help you think through whether or not an answer is from God. 

3. Can I honor God in this? Above all, our lives are supposed to be lived in such a way that God can be honored (2 Corinthians 5:20; Matthew 5:14-16), because God delights in revealing Himself to the world. If the answer to your prayer (say, a job offer) does not contradict Scripture or the wise counsel of others, but does not give you the opportunity to shine a light on who God is and what God has done, it is wise to wait until an answer comes along that gives you that opportunity. 

If you have prayed about something and have an answer before you that is in line with Scripture and wise godly counsel, and gives you the chance to honor God, the best option is to move forward thanking God for answering your prayers. Rest in God's sovereignty and know that He will always bless the heart that is seeking ways to honor Him. You may accept a job feeling as though it is the answer to your prayers only to find out two years later that another job is a better fit for you. But throughout that process you have lived obediently to God, sought wise counsel, and moved forward in a way that gave you the ability to honor God. You cannot go wrong with that! 

As a related note: This is one of the reasons it is so important to pray specific prayers. "Lord bless my child" is a prayer worth praying. "Lord, provide a godly spouse for my child" is a specific prayer that gives you the double joy of allowing you to rejoice when God specifically answers your prayer. When your prayers are specific, you have a better chance of knowing when the answers are directly from God.

Questions - Thursday

Why did Jesus observe the Law and festivals? Should we? 

According to Matthew 5:17-18, Jesus came to fulfill the Law and the prophets. His obedience to the Law revealed His perfect holiness and His faithful obedience. His birth (Isaiah 7:14; Micah 5:2), ministry (Isaiah 61:1-2), death (Psalm 22; Isaiah 53) and resurrection (Psalm 16:7-11) demonstrated prophetic accuracy. While we are free to celebrate Jewish festivals in ways that reflect Jesus as God’s fulfillment of Messianic promises, we are not obligated to do so (Acts 15:28-29). The Law points us toward Christ (Galatians 3:21-25) so that we can follow Him through the power of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:1-16) without focusing on the requirements of the Law.

Does God love everyone? Please use references and explain Romans 9 if He does love everyone.

God is love (1 John 4:7-10) and He demonstrated perfect love when Jesus willingly died on the cross in our place (Romans 5:8). God loves the world (John 3:16), and according to John's usage of the word "cosmos" throughout his Gospel, "world" includes everyone. God’s loving goodness to all people is also expressed by every tangible and relational blessing He provides in this earthly existence (James 1:17). Even though we rebelliously go our own way (Isaiah 53:6), God persists in His kindness (Acts 14:15-17). 

While every person experiences God’s love in these earthly ways, John 6:35-44 emphasizes God’s gracious initiative in drawing individuals toward faith in His Son. When a person “looks to the Son and believes in Him” (John 6:40), agreeing with God about their sin and accepting Jesus’ death on the cross as full payment for their sin, they begin a relationship with God that will last forever.   

In Romans 9, Paul grapples with our perspective of God’s sovereignty as He works in different ways in people’s lives. It also wrestles with why God does not show the same degree of mercy to everyone.  Reflecting on God’s dealings with Jacob and Esau as well as Moses and Pharaoh, Paul asserts that God has mercy on whom He wants to have mercy and He hardens whom He wants to harden.” (Romans 9:18) Paul anticipated the logical question, “Why does God still blame us?” His answer is, “Who are you to talk back to God?” (Romans 9:19-20) God is portrayed as a potter who has the right to work in different ways in different people. After two more chapters of affirmation for both God’s sovereignty and our responsibility in our choices, Paul does not resolve this tension. Instead, he urges us to worship the gracious, loving, sovereign God with gratitude and humility. We may not be able to fully grasp how God works in our salvation, but even a child can understand that when we trust Jesus for our forgiveness, He is faithful and just in cleansing us from sin (1 John 1:9). Focus on our opportunity to tell others about Jesus, trust that God is faithful to His promises and purposes and worship God whose ways are beyond our full comprehension.

Questions - Wednesday

Does "No Regrets Confidence" give me freedom in future decisions? 

"No Regrets Confidence" will give you confidence to move into the future, but it is actually God's sovereignty that gives you freedom in future decisions. As you walk with Christ in the confidence of His power and love for you (Romans 8:31-39), you have the freedom to make future decisions knowing that God is in complete control, gives wisdom to those who seek it (James 1:5), and makes a smooth path for those who trust Him (Proverbs 3:5-6). Because of His resurrection we have a living hope (1 Peter 1:3) for the future and can lean into future decisions with confidence and freedom, because we know He cares for us (1 Peter 5:7). 

If we are made in God's image, why do we sin and need salvation? 

Being made in God's image (Genesis 1:26-27) does not mean we are exactly like God in every way. We are not exact replicas of God, but have been set apart from the rest of creation as His special representatives. We know that God has created us to live in community, as a representation that the Triune God co-exists in perfect unity (Isaiah 48:16; Matthew 28:19; John 10:30; John 17:22; Galatians 3:15; 1 John 5:7). We are given dominion over the earth and display God's glory in a unique way to the rest of the creation in order that we might represent God on the earth (Genesis 1:28; Psalm 8:3-6). 

One of the most glaring ways we are we are unlike God is that we chose to abuse our decision-making capacity in such a way that we chose not to represent God as we were created to (Genesis 3:1-7).  That sin brought separation from God, and put us each in dire need of salvation. 

Questions - Tuesday

Why do we stand to read the Bible? 

We don't always stand to read the Bible, but we do from time to time. The primary reason for standing is to change posture in honor and respect of God's Word. When an honored guest enters a room it is polite to stand as you greet them as a demonstration of honor. Similarly, we attempt to demonstrate honor and respect when we stand to read Scripture because we hold God's Word in such high regard. 

Why did God say that without faith (as opposed to "loving others" or some other good quality) it is impossible to please Him? 

The passage you reference is Hebrews 11:6. "Faith," in this instance, means choosing to live as though what God has said is true. If we are doing "good" works, but doing them for some purpose other than to honor God, our good works are an offense to God. If we are doing the right things for the wrong reasons, ultimately we are doing the wrong things since God is primarily concerned with our heart! Scripture is pretty clear that even the best things we do apart from God fall short of His standard (Romans 3:10-18; Romans 8:7-8) because they are done with an inaccurate understanding of the One who is the Source of everything good (James 1:17). God does not want us to earn our way to Him or try to prove our way without Him. God wants us to trust Him to save us (Acts 16:31), empower us (Acts 1:8; Ephesians 5:18) and work within us to do good (Galatians 5:24-25, Philippians 1:6 1 John 4:4). Without coming to Jesus Christ through faith as God has required, God cannot be pleased with any "good" work we do. 

What are some creative ways to share my faith and help my friends grow in their walk with Christ? 

The most creative way to share your faith is to recognize that you are sharing your faith every moment of every day. Every decision you make, large or small, demonstrates something about who you believe God to be. When it comes down to a conversation with someone close to you, most people already know what you really believe about Jesus Christ before you tell them. 

Beyond that, it helps to be able to look for opportunities within normal conversation to turn the topic to spiritual things. A conversation about the weekend allows you to tell a person what you are doing on Sunday, and to ask if they have any kind of spiritual convictions. A conversation about your children allows you to ask what the number one concern your friend has for their children. If they are polite conversationalists, they will turn the question back around to you and give you the opportunity to share your perspective on the importance of having eternally focused children who have a relationship with Christ. 

The best advice I have ever received in sharing my faith is to ask lots of questions. If you politely ask genuine questions about another person's spiritual beliefs, you will (1) prove that you care about the individual, (2) allow them to articulate their beliefs, which often leads to them questioning their own positions, (3) give them the chance to ask you what you believe in polite conversation. You can never go wrong asking polite questions. 

That advice is also helpful in helping friends grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ. As you begin to show an interest in them, modeling Christlike friendship, you will give yourself the context through with you are able to encourage them spiritually. 

Be creative. I know a lot of moms who would leap at the chance to get together with a few close friends to pray for their children. I know many men who would get pretty excited about meeting for breakfast or lunch to discuss how biblical principles could help make them a better businessman, or father, or husband. You don't have to "teach" them, you just have to be an initiator who invites a friend (or group of friends) to grow alongside you. 

Questions - Monday

Can I lose my salvation? 

Some people believe and teach that salvation can be lost if a person sins enough to nullify it. We believe the Bible indicates differently. Throughout the New Testament it is abundantly clear that when a person trusts Christ for salvation they receive "eternal life" (John 3:16; John 5:24; Romans 6:23; 1 John 2:25). Eternal life, by definition, is life that goes on forever. If eternal life could be lost, it would not have been eternal life. Jesus promises that our salvation is based on His faithfulness, not our faithfulness (John 10:27-30)

Questions - Thursday

What is the Significance of the palm branches in the Triumphal Entry? 

The palm branch was an ancient symbol of victory or triumph. It was normal for people to herald the arrival of a king by laying things across the dirt road to keep the king's procession from having to walk through the dust. In this case (Mark 11) the people used their cloaks and branches they had cut from the field. 

How do we know when God is listening? 

We see Him at work. One thing I would encourage a person who is struggling with whether or not God hears them is to have the courage to pray specific prayers. Many of our prayers tend to be limited to requests like, "Lord, bless this food; please guide and protect us throughout our day." Those aren't bad prayers, but they don't exactly instill confidence that God hears us. How do we know if He has "blessed our food," or "guided us throughout our day?"

If you are struggling with whether or not God is listening, begin to pray more specific prayers and watch God work. God loves to give His children what they ask for, provided the thing that they want would actually benefit them in the long run and are not outside His moral will (Matthew 6:9-11). 

This is why we encourage you from time to time to be praying for 5 friends who are far from God. Pray for them by name, that God will give you opportunities to share the Gospel with them. God almost always answers those specific prayers, which is a constant reminder that He is listening. . 

Questions - Wednesday

Why would Jesus welcome public admiration knowing that one week later He would be crucified?

Two key reasons include fulfillment of prophecy and Jesus’ worthiness of worship. Jesus initiated this episode by telling His disciples to retrieve a donkey and its colt for His entrance into Jerusalem (Matthew 21:1-5). This was a specific fulfillment of Zechariah 9:9, allowing Jesus to openly declare that He was the promised Messiah. The public adoration (Matthew 21:9 quoting Psalm 118:26) was clearly linked with their anticipation of a king to restore David’s Kingdom. When that expectation was not immediately realized (though it will one day be fulfilled), the crowd turned against Jesus. Jesus deserves worship. The fickleness of the crowd does not diminish His worthiness.   

I was always taught that salvation's plan was due to the fall of man in the Garden of Eden, not planned before creation. Was the plan of salvation established before man ever sinned?

God is omniscient, knowing all things past, present and future. The Bible teaches that Jesus died by the “predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God” (Acts 2:23a NASB) and that we are redeemed “with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ” and that He was foreknown before the foundation of the world (1 Peter 1:18-20 NASB). Paul declares that the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ “chose us in Him before the foundation of the world” (Ephesians 1:3-4 NASB). These passages point toward an awe-inspiring reality…God’s plan for our salvation was established before creation and our sin.

Questions - Tuesday

Is there any significance to the fact that the donkey the disciples took was one that had never been ridden? 

In Mark 11:2, Jesus specifies that the colt the disciples should take needed to be one that had never been ridden. Luke 19:30 adds that detail as well. The idea implied by the Greek word here is that the colt was one that had not been broken, or tamed. By specifying a colt which had not been tamed, Jesus was taking an opportunity once again to prove who He is. By foreknowing all the details the disciples would need to know as they secured the donkey, Jesus was proving His omniscience. By riding an unbroken colt into Jerusalem, He was demonstrating control over nature. The Triumphal Entry should have been another piece of evidence to everyone who watched that Jesus Christ is the God of the Universe. 

HOW do we start living differently if we have not been revealing God in our lives? 

You have to start slowly, and to show yourself the same kind of grace God shows you. Nobody gets it right all the time, but every one of us can do better than we did yesterday. The first thing I would do is ask God to begin giving you opportunities to reveal Him through your life, and to help you recognize those opportunities when they show up. Then, look for specific instances in the small areas in which you can speak a kind word to a person who needs to hear it, or provide physical need for another person, or make a sacrifice that is in another person's best interest. In short, look for opportunities to do something out of the norm that reflects God's heart. 

If you want a real, practical idea, try something I learned from a book I once read: Buy a watch that beeps at you every hour that can serve as a constant reminder throughout the day that wherever you are, whatever you are doing, you have the chance to reveal God through your worship. You don't have to wear it forever, but an hourly reminder for a few weeks can be a helpful tool in jolting me back into the reality that I can "declare His praise" in every aspect of my life.  

Questions - Monday

Thanks for a great Sunday yesterday. I have to tell you though, it is a lot more comfortable behind my computer screen than it is in the hot seat. Even still, Ken and I really enjoyed discussing all the questions you asked last week and look forward to bringing the whole pastoral staff in the  mix in the coming weeks. 

This morning I thought I would clear up a couple of questions that came up yesterday between the services. 

The first question showed up in the first service, and I didn't feel as though my answer was quite as clear and concise as it could have been. So, I'm going to take a mulligan and hit it again this morning since it is a great question that deserves a clear answer. 

When Peter calls them a "holy nation" (1 Peter 2:9) does that mean the Church has replaced Israel?

There is a school of thought called "replacement theology" that believes because Israel squandered their promises by rejecting her Messiah, Israel's promises have been forfeited and given to the Church instead. I believe Romans 11 makes it clear that God still intends to keep His promises to the nation of Israel, something that will take place when Jesus returns and rules as the King over all creation. However, in the current age the Church (Jews and Gentiles together) is fulfilling the functions of worship that Israel was originally supposed to perform. Peter uses terms with which Israelites would be familiar (remember: Peter preached primarily to the Jews), to point out this truth. The church is fulfilling a similar function to the one Israel was supposed to fulfill (compare Isaiah 49:6 with the second half of 1 Peter 2:9). However, the fact that the two fulfill a similar mission does not mean one has replaced the other. 

You said "The Purpose of True Worship is to Reveal God." How does that fit with the idea that the purpose of life is to "glorify God and enjoy Him forever?" 

This is a great question. In my mind, they are one in the same. God's "glory" is anything that makes God known. We "glorify" God by revealing Him to the watching world. Our purpose as humans (and as worshippers) is to point the world to a loving God who has "called us out of darkness into His wonderful light" (1 Peter 2:9).

We'll have some more questions answered tomorrow. Have a great week revealing God through your continuous worship of Jesus Christ this week; even while you're doing the laundry! We are looking forward to sharing in the culmination of a week's worth of continuous worship together this Easter Sunday. 

Questions - Thursday

How do modern Jews deal with sin? 

Ancient Jews participated in animal sacrifices (see the Old Testament Book of Leviticus), which were a temporary covering for sin until the Ultimate Sacrifice could pay completely for sin (Hebrews 10:1-4, 11-12). When the Temple was destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD, the place where sacrifices were offered disappeared as well. The general consensus among modern Jews is that repentance and remembrance of the sacrifices will be accepted by God because He is merciful, though various groups within Judaism may disagree on the exact nuances of how that works. As Christians, we agree with modern Jews that God is merciful. Our point of disagreement is that we believe God has definitively demonstrated His mercy through His Son, who was a "once for all" (1 Peter 3:18), superior sacrifice (Hebrews 9:13-14).

Did Jesus come to save all men? Or does God elect those who receive salvation? 

Dead Seas of ink have been spilled over this question and godly men disagree, so we are not anticipating that this paragraph will completely answer the question. Here are some things to think about: First, the Bible uses the word "election" several times (Matthew 24:22-31; Romans 9:11; 11:7; 11:28; 1 Timothy 5:21; 2 Timothy 2:10; Titus 1:1; 1 Peter 1:1; 2 Peter 2:1), and refers to the idea in other places (Ephesians 1:4-5; John 6:44). So however we answer this question we must be absolutely clear that God is in control. 

On the same token, the Bible is also clear that God offers salvation to all men (John 3:16; Titus 2:11; 1 Peter 3:18) and that we are without excuse before Him (Romans 1:20). We are responsible, and will be held accountable before God for whether or not we accept His payment for sin (John 3:18). Jesus payment was sufficient for all (1 John 2:2; Hebrews 2:9), but is applied only to those who believe (Ephesians 1:7; Acts 13:38; Acts 10:43).

My daughter thinks God isn't important and has no place in her life. Can you give an answer? She is almost 18. 

Without knowing your daughter's specific situation, the only encouragement we can offer is general. However, we would encourage you to help her find someone with whom she can have a one-on-one conversation about this topic. Our Student Ministry Pastors are all exceedingly gifted, and would love to visit with her if you don't know anyone else who could walk with your daughter through this time. 

Colossians 1:15-25 gives a great synopsis of exactly why having Jesus in your life is so important. He is the Creator, Sustainer, the Ruler, the Brains, the Redeemer, the Reconciler, and the Restorer. Those roles encapsulate most of the things we deal with on a regular basis! You might think of it this way: If the Bible is right about who God is, He has everything to do with our everyday life. It is certainly worth examining the evidence before you walk away from it, beginning with the resurrection. Even 18 year olds are not invincible. So if Jesus has the power over life and death, it would be worth examining what He says before we make any life-changing decisions.

If our sin is forgiven, does God still see it? I thought God could not stand sin.  

God can't stand sin. All sin brings separation from God (Ephesians 2:1-3; Romans 6:23) because God is perfect and holy (Isaiah 6:3; James 1:17).  When God looks at us, He does not see our sin. He sees us clothed in the righteousness of Jesus Christ (Isaiah 61:10; Romans 3:22). When we sin, He disciplines our sin (Hebrews 12:4-11; 1 Thessalonians 2:11-12), but our identity has changed. When he sees our sin, it is now the context for loving discipline as a Father, not relational rejection because of our sin. 

If physical death is the penalty for sin, and the penalty has been paid, why do we still die?

The penalty for Adam's sin and every subsequent sin is separation from God (Genesis 2:15; Genesis 3:9; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:1-3). Physical death is a consequence directly related to the penalty of spiritual death. Christ paid our penalty, but the consequence remains. For the Christian, however, physical death is now a promotion from the land of the dying to the land of the living. We are released from a body that will not last, and are given a body that will be gloriously perfect forever (1 Corinthians 15:42-58; 2 Corinthians 5:1-5). 

If Jesus was separated from God by taking on our sins, was God separated from Himself?

This is a mind-boggling question and there is great mystery around how the God-Man related to His Heavenly Father. Here is what we can say with certainty: There is a sense in which the Divine Unity between Father, Son, and Holy Spirit could never be broken. But in some way, the Father turned away from his incarnate Son on the cross (Matthew 27:46). At that moment there was an anguished awareness that Jesus expresses as the one who had "become sin on our behalf" (2 Corinthians 5:21). The best we can tell, piecing together all we know, is that Jesus' alienation was related directly to His incarnation. The anguish of relational separation between the Father and His Incarnate Son was real and necessary in Jesus' payment for our sin. 

Thanks again for some phenomenal questions this week. We will continue the Living Hope series on Sunday. Meanwhile, don't forget about the opportunity to follow in Jesus' footsteps towards Calvary as a part of our two-week devotional, Journey Toward the Cross, leading up to Easter. 

Rest your text-messaging thumbs this weekend. See you Sunday!  

Questions - Wednesday

As we continue our preparation for Easter, you might also be interested in our online devotional "Journey Toward the Cross." It traces the steps of Jesus during the two weeks leading up to His crucifixion and resurrection, and is a great supplement to your daily Bible reading this Easter season. 

Meanwhile, back to your questions from Sunday:  

What did Jesus experience during the 3 days in the grave? Why is it considered 3 days when [Friday to Sunday] is only 48 hours?

The first time I did the math around Easter, it didn't make sense to me either. No matter how you count the hours from Good Friday to Easter Sunday, it is hard to come up with 3 days. However, the Jewish people thought of "days" differently than we do. For them, a new day began at sundown, and any part of a day was considered a "day." Jesus was hanging on the cross by 9am on Friday morning (John 19:18), and died around 3pm (Mark 15:34-37). It was important that His body be in the grave by sundown because sundown brought a new day (Mark 15:42; Luke 23:54), and it was against Jewish Law to have a body hanging on a cross for more than one day (Deuteronomy 21:23). For the Jews, the second day began at sundown on Friday, and ended with sundown on Saturday when the third day began. Jesus rose from the dead early on Sunday morning (John 20:1), the third day.

As far as what Jesus did while He was in the grave, the Scriptures don't give us a ton of information. Some theologians believe 1 Peter 3:18-20 indicates that Jesus appeared before evil spirits for the purpose of proclaiming His victory over them after His death. Others believe that passage refers to it being the same Spirit who raised Jesus as proclaimed judgment on evil in Noah's day. It is a difficult passage to interpret. But, whichever view you take, it is absolutely clear that Jesus did not suffer for sin at any point after the cross. When He cried out "It is finished," it was finished. He also did not go to hell to offer salvation to the dead (Hebrews 9:27). Jesus told the thief on the cross that He anticipated being in "paradise" when He died (Luke 23:43). 

If Jesus hadn't died, what would have happened? Would God just have destroyed man?

It is hard to say what would have happened if Jesus hadn't died, since Jesus death on behalf of mankind was a part of God's plan "before the foundation of the world" (1 Peter 1:20). We do know that it would have been impossible for mankind to do anything to satisfy God's wrath against sin apart from Jesus and that our sin would not be paid for or forgiven, so God in His holiness would have had to judge us. In fact, this almost happened in Moses' day(Exodus 32:9-10), but God decided to be gracious. Ultimately, the Bible doesn't tell us what would have happened if salvation had not been a part of God's plan from the beginning; but thank God it was! 

Does God need us? If not, why did He create us?

Paul answers this question (at least in part) in his sermon on Mars Hill. He makes it clear that God does not need us for anything (Acts 17:24-25). God is perfect. For him to have a need would make Him, by definition, less than perfect. But Paul goes on to say that God created us so that we would seek Him and find Him (Acts 17:27). Think of it this way: the most loving, gracious thing an infinitely perfect God could do is reveal Himself to someone else. Paul indicates that we were created so that God could demonstrate Himself to us, and also demonstrate Himself to the rest of the world through us. The fact that God does not need us makes it all the more staggering that He chose to create us, loves us, and cares for us to the point He sent His Son as a sacrifice for us. If that doesn't drive you to worship, I don't know what to tell you! 

Will God still count it as victory [over sin] if many of his previously faithful Christians turn away during these trying times? And if those Christians return, will He take them back? 

It is certainly hard to feel as though God has been victorious over evil when we turn on the news at night. Sometimes, as this question implies, it's even difficult to feel as though God has been victorious when we look around at our Christian friends! However, it is important to remember that God sees things in a much bigger picture than we are able to experience. And even though battles still rage, the war has been won. The King has been victorious, even if some of His soldiers defect. 

Peter is a great example of a person who turned away during a trying time (Luke 22:54-62), but who was reinstated by Jesus (John 21:15-19). God is continually and constantly gracious, even when we do not deserve it. When we confess our sin to Him, He promises to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).

Why did Jesus have to die? And was sin the only reason? 

Jesus died that He might bring us to God (1 Peter 3:18). In His instructions to Adam just after Adam was created, God established death (separation from God) as the punishment for sin (Genesis 2:17). In order to remain just and honest, God cannot change the rules. When we sin, we earn death (Romans 6:23), and someone has to pay that penalty in order for God's wrath against sin to be satisfied. Jesus Christ died so that we would not have to. 

Was sin the only reason? Simply put, yes. Apart from sin, no one would owe the death penalty.

How can we follow God's enduring example to suffer righteously in our daily lives? 

The writer of Hebrews gives some help in this area. He wrote to a group of people who were suffering extraordinary persecution and trial, and in Hebrews 12:1-2 gave them three pieces of advice as they attempted to follow Christ's example (and the example of others who have gone before us): (1) Get rid of the things that hold us back from following Christ, (2) Run with perseverance, and (3) Focus our eyes on Jesus Christ. The Christian life is not easy, but there is encouragement available as we run the race together. 

We're hoping to finish up the questions from Sunday tomorrow morning so you can begin turning your focus to this Sunday. Questions on the docket for tomorrow include: 

- Did Jesus come to save all men? Or does God elect those who receive salvation?

- How do modern Jews deal with sin?

- My daughter thinks God isn't important and has no place in her life. Can you give an answer? She is almost 18. 

- If our sin is forgiven, does God still see it? I thought God could not stand sin.

- If physical death is the penalty of sin and the penalty is paid, why do we still die? 

- If Jesus was separated from God by taking on our sins, was God separated from Himself?

- How can we have hope?

See you then! 

Questions - Tuesday

During the first service on Sunday, Ken made a reference to a passage in Isaiah while he was answering the question "Where is Heaven?" That passage is Isaiah 14:13, which the NASB translates more literally than the NIV "I will ascend to heaven... in the recesses of the north." 

If you missed the first service, Ken answered the question by saying that primarily, heaven is the place where God dwells. The Bible doesn't give us GPS coordinates or a location, but generally refers to it as "up." In 2 Corinthian 12, Paul referred to the place where God dwells as the "third heaven" (the "first heaven" refers to the place where birds fly, and the "second heaven" is the place where the stars, moon and sun spend their time).  When Jesus ascended into heaven, He went up (Acts 1:9). 

Isaiah 14:13 might indicate that when you look up into the sky, heaven is in the direction of the north. However, that idea is purely the speculation of some theologians based on one verse. The Bible doesn't emphasize where heaven is so much as it emphasizes how to get there, which is by trusting Christ alone as Savior. 

Here are some other questions from Sunday's service:

If God created everything, why did He create sin? Why did He create imperfect beings that would require Jesus' death to save them? 

The logic of this argument goes like this: God created everything. Sin and evil is something. So, God must have created sin and evil. However, sin is not a "thing," per say, but the absence of good (Think of a hole - a hole is not a "thing." It is the absence of a thing). God is not the Creator of evil (1 John 1:5; 1 Corinthians 14:33), but He is the Creator of a world that included the potential for evil. It is us who make evil a reality. 

So, why did God create a world with the potential for evil? Why does He allow evil to exist? He doesn't tell us explicitly, but He does give us some clues. Throughout the Scriptures, God makes it clear that He is in the Self-revealing business. Truly, the most loving thing a perfect God could do is to reveal His perfections to others who can appreciate them. And yet, we could not understand the depths of God's love if His love was not contrasted with hate. We could not begin to enjoy His grace if rejection was not a possibility. We could not understand forgiveness or the depths of Christ's sacrifice if sin was only hypothetical. 

Ultimately, we are assured that God's plan is completely perfect and that even the awful things of the world will make good sense in the future (Romans 8:28; 1 Corinthians 13:12). Meanwhile, rather than worrying about the evil "out there," the Bible challenges us to deal with the evil "in here" - in our own hearts, by trusting Christ as Savior. 

Ken Boa and Larry Moody have a great discussion of this topic in chapter 7 of their book "I'm Glad You Asked." You might want to check it out if you want more information. 

How do you know you're saved? Is it possible for someone to lose their salvation? 

John answered the first part of this question for us in 1 John 5:11-13. We know we are saved because our salvation depends on God, not on us. God promised eternal life to those who trust Jesus Christ as their Savior, and God cannot lie (Titus 1:2). So, if you are wondering whether or not you are saved, the question to ask is: Have I trusted that Jesus Christ paid the price for my sin on the cross, rose from the dead, and gives me eternal life simply by trusting Him (1 Corinthians 15:3-4; John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8-9)? If you have trusted Jesus Christ as Savior, you can know with absolute certainty that you are saved. 

When you trust Jesus Christ as Savior, He gives you (present tense) "everlasting life" (John 3:16; John 11:25-26). For "everlasting life" to be "everlasting" life, it cannot be lost. Otherwise, it would just be just "life until you lose it." You did not do anything to earn salvation, and cannot do anything to lose it either. Salvation is dependent on God's faithfulness, not ours, and Jesus is clear: no one (not even ourselves) can snatch us out of the Father's hand (John 10:28-29). 

Why do we have to trust Jesus Christ as Savior? Wouldn't His sacrifice be enough to cover our inaction? 

Jesus' sacrifice on the cross is absolutely enough to pay for our inaction, but there is a difference between the payment for sin, and the forgiveness of sin. I could go to the bank this afternoon and make sufficient payment to pay-off your home mortgage, but if you chose to reject my payment on your behalf, the bank would not forgive your debt.  Similarly, all sin of all time has been sufficiently paid for by Jesus Christ (1 John 2:2; 1 Peter 3:18; Hebrews 2:9), though many people do not experience the benefits of that payment because they choose to reject it (John 3:18). No one would be foolish enough to reject the payment-in-full of our home mortgage. How much more foolish would we be to reject Christ's payment-in-full of our sin debt? 

Why did Christ have to be a perfect Lamb (sinless)? 

If Jesus had been imperfect,  He would have owed God separation from Him - the same debt we owe God (Romans 6:23). As a result, He couldn't have paid our penalty. My bank will not allow me to make a payment on your mortgage if I am in default on my mortgage. The payment for sins demanded a substitute who did not owe the penalty Himself. Jesus had to be sinless. 

Why did God wait so long to send Jesus? Why not send Him right after Adam and Eve sinned?

From Adam to Noah to Abraham to Moses to David to Isaiah to Jesus, God was demonstrating to man that man could not earn salvation through good works. The Mosaic Law (See Exodus 20 through Deuteronomy) essentially proved to man that only God's grace could provide salvation. During that time, God was proving His wisdom to angelic creatures (Ephesians 3:10-11) through what Jesus accomplished on the cross.  In fact, this is precisely the point Paul makes in Galatians 4:1-7. Jesus came at just the perfect time.

Can Muslims go to heaven, or is Christianity the only way to heaven?

Actually, according to Him,  Jesus is the only way to heaven (John 14:6). No religious system, Islam or Christianity, grants a person entrance into heaven. Forgiveness is not found in a religious system, but in a Person. Although many Muslims are sweet, loving, God-fearing people (in the truest sense of the phrase), they are sinners just like you and I. Therefore, they owe God the same penalty that anyone else does: death (Romans 3:23; 6:23). Unfortunately, the Islamic faith does not provide a Savior - just a series of works that a faithful person will do in hopes that Allah will accept them into Paradise. The very best Muslim is in the same boat as the very worst Muslim when they stand before a Perfect God: less than perfect. Without accepting the forgiveness that is only found through Jesus Christ, a Muslim will have to pay the penalty (death) himself. 

Why is it that when you are living right in God's eyes, bad things still happen?

We still live in a world that, as a whole, stands against God. In fact, Satan has temporary authority within the world to work in and through people who stand opposed to God (2 Corinthians 4:4; Ephesians 6:12). Because the world is allied with the enemy, the battle we face is real. Sometimes we face the unintended consequences of sin perpetrated by the world. Other times we are the target of those who are allied with the enemy (2 Timothy 3:12). Remember, Jesus promised if they hated Him they will hate you for being identified with Him (Luke 21:17), but that their persecution is not the end of the story (Matthew 5:11-12). 

What do you do if [the five friends you're praying for] are already Christians but don't live the Christian life?

Paul dealt with a similar situation throughout most of his ministry. In 1 Thessalonians 5:14 to "warn those who are idle" (the people who aren't doing anything), "encourage the timid" (the people who are scared to do something), "help the weak" (the people who can't do something), and to "be patient with all." We should work hard to encourage our friends to do better just like Paul did in his letters, but also to be patient with them.  If they are believers, we can be confident that God is at work in their lives (Philippians 1:6; 2:13). 

We would also encourage you to find 5 friends who don't know Jesus, and begin praying for them as well. It is important to pray for each other as believers, but also to ask God to give us opportunities to share the Gospel with our friends who desperately need to hear it. 

We've got more answers queued up for tomorrow, so be sure to check back then for answers to questions like: 

- If Christ hadn't died, what would have happened? Would God just have destroyed man?

- What did Jesus experience during the 3 days in the grave? Why is it considered 3 days when [Friday to Sunday] is only 48 hours?

- How do modern Jews deal with the issue of sin? 

- Does God need us? If not, why did He create us? 

Questions - Monday

We anticipated a great response to the chance to interact with yesterday's sermon, but even still it was exciting to read some of your questions as they began to roll in during both services. We received many more questions than we could answer in each service, or even in one blog entry. So, we will take a few questions at a time and spread them throughout the week. It is our goal to answer all the questions, so keep checking back all week. 

Some of the questions we received were concerning the same topic, but were worded differently. Both Ken and I thoroughly enjoy answering questions, but not so much that we want to answer the same question three different times! So, the question that will appear on the blog is usually the first one we received.  

And away we go...

I know Jesus forgives me, but how do I forgive myself? 

Most of us struggle from time to time with some form of guilt over something in our past, and one of the true struggles of the Christian life is seeing ourselves the way God sees us.  It is clear from Scripture that if we have trusted Christ, God does forgive us fully and completely (Hebrews 8:12; 2 Corinthians 5:19).  I think a lot of Christians wrongly believe that beating ourselves up over our sin demonstrates a stronger connection to God. Actually, holding sin against ourselves longer than God does demonstrates a lack of faith that Jesus' cross is enough to pay our debt. If you're struggling in this area, you might spend some time reading Ephesians 1 and 2, praying that God would allow you to see yourself the way He sees you: "once far away... brought near through the blood of Christ" (Ephesians 2:13).  

Why did Jesus have to be resurrected? How do we know He really was resurrected?

Stay tuned on Easter Sunday for a more complete answer to this question.  But briefly, 1 Corinthians 15:12-19 indicates that if Jesus was not raised from the dead, our faith and preaching is useless (v. 14), the apostles who said they saw Him alive are liars (v. 15), and our sins have not been paid for (v. 17). 1 Corinthians 15:25-26 also adds that if Jesus did not rise from the dead, He is not the Conquering King over mankind's greatest enemy: death. Also, Jesus had to rise from the dead in order to fulfill Old Testament prophecies like Psalm 16:10 which pointed to a resurrected Messiah. 

1 Corinthians 15:5-6 offers the most convincing proof of the resurrection: 511 eyewitness accounts. When Paul wrote, many of those people were still alive (v. 6), and could have been questioned. Yet history never records a single defector among all those people. Additionally, the Romans and the Jewish leaders had a vested interest in squashing Christianity before it got off the ground. If the resurrection did not happen, all they had to do was produce a body, and Christianity would have gone by the wayside as quickly as it began.  

For more information on the proof of the resurrection, check out the appendix to chapter 4 of "I'm Glad You Asked," by Ken Boa and Larry Moody. 

Does God punish believers for their sin even if they ask for forgiveness?

God does not punish believers for their sin, period. Jesus Christ received the satisfactory punishment for our sin (1 John 2:2; 1 Peter 2:24). We often face the consequences of sin (both our sins and the sins of others), and endure godly discipline from time to time (Hebrews 12:7-11), but that discipline is never punishment for sin, or done out of God's wrath. Godly discipline is corrective so that we can be trained to do the right thing, because God loves us and wants us to live in the freedom of the holiness He enjoys (Hebrews 12:10-11).

Since Jesus did not NEED to suffer for anything, do we NEED to suffer for anything? 

Jesus did not need to suffer in the sense that He did not deserve to suffer the consequences or penalty of our sin.  He was perfect, but suffered the consequences of our sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21). We, on the other hand, have all sinned (Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:10). We certainly deserve to suffer for our sin, but we do not need to suffer for our sin, because Christ has suffered for us. 

With that said, Jesus promised that suffering would come to people who are identified with Him, because the fallen world system in which we live hates Jesus (John 15:19-21; Matthew 24:9). When we are identified with Jesus through faith in Him as our Savior we no longer deserve to suffer, but we still do. When that happens, Jesus reminds us we are joining a long line of people who looked to Him before us (Matthew 5:10), and that our suffering will not be in vain (Matthew 5:11-12)

How does the Catholic view of the cross differ? 

The Roman Catholic view of the cross is based on the philosophy and theology of Peter Lombard and Thomas Aquinas (12th and 13th century theologians, respectively). Roman Catholics believe the crucifixion of Jesus Christ as foundational to a system of what they call the "sacraments." These include baptism, confession, eucharist (communion), penance, unction (last rites), orders (clergy), and matrimony. The Roman Catholic view is that a person receives merited grace through those sacraments. 

Evangelicals believe that the term merited grace is an oxymoron. Grace is by definition unmerited. We believe that because of Christ's death on the cross, God gives unmerited favor (grace) to those who trust His Son (Ephesians 2:8-10).  

If we are no longer obligated to sin (after our redemption), could we live a sinless life?

Some great Christians from the past have attempted to make this argument (John Wesley, for example), but we believe sinlessness on this side of eternity is impossible. The book of 1 John was written to believers, and John makes the case very early that although Jesus Christ has purified us from sin in a positional sense (1 John 1:7), we still sin in the practical sense (1 John 1:8-9). 

As a believer we can rest assured that our sins have been paid for (1 Peter 3:18),  we have been freed from the slave market of sin (1 Peter 1:18-19; Romans 6:22), and we have the Holy Spirit living inside us Who can help us in our struggle against sin (Romans 8:9-10; 1 Corinthians 3:16). Prior to trusting Christ, we lived as God's enemies (Romans 5:10; James 4:4). As God's enemies, we couldn't do anything but sin. Now, although we will not reach perfection on this side of eternity, we have the ability to grow in grace and knowledge (2 Peter 3:18), and walk worthy of our calling (Ephesians 4:1). 

So how close can we get to perfection? If you're like me, closer than we were yesterday... 

Questions?

This morning you had the opportunity to interact with the sermon by raising your own questions in real time. Ken was able to answer a couple of the questions at the end of the message in each service, but because of the great response he was not able to answer them all. 

Be sure to check back all week. We received some great questions, and Ken and I (Chris) will be working hard to answer all of them over the next few days. Thanks for participating in a great Sunday. 

Welcome!

As we prepare for the Easter season, our sermon series "Living Hope" will address questions about Jesus' impact on our own spiritual destiny. Of course, as is often true in questions about theology, addressing questions brings up other questions. 

This Sunday (March 29th), you will have the opportunity to interact with the sermon in real-time by using your cell phone to text message questions about the message. We will answer as many questions as we can during the service on Sunday morning, but anticipate not being able to cover them all. 

Beginning Monday (March 30th), we will use this blog to answer the questions we aren't able to get to in the service. If you use an RSS feeder, make sure you add this blog to your list. See you then.