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!