Questions & Answers


Queries relating to what the Bible teaches

"The Lord will give thee understanding in all things" (2 Tim. 2: 7).

Home Page

Question 1: What is to "grieve" and to "quench" the Spirit of God?

Question 2: I am worried because I cannot fix the exact day of my conversion.

Question 3: Does 1 John 1: 7 “the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin”, mean that the blood must be applied again and again each time we sin so that we are kept clean?

Question 4: Shouldn't the authors of all articles be given in the light of 2 Tim.3:14 “..knowing of whom thou hast learnt [them]”? Otherwise one could be reading writers who are in error as to the truth.

Question 5: What is meant by “justification”? Is it just another way of saying that my sins are forgiven? Does it place me in a state “just–as–if–I–had–never–sinned”?

Question 6: I have recently believed on the Lord Jesus. How long should I wait before I get baptised?

Question 7: How may I know the Lord's will for myself?

Question 8: Who has to accept Christ's sacrifice - God or us?

Question 9: Should a Christian be silent in the presence of this earth's great wrongs? Ought he not to strive to put the world right?

Question 10: Many Christians say that after conversion every believer needs the "baptism of the Holy Spirit". Is this true and what is it?

Question 11: On what basis is instrumental music in worship, praise and testimony to be refused?

Question 12: Are there apostles and prophets in the Church today?

Question 13: What is the reason for women having their heads covered when praying?

Question 14: What is meant by eating and drinking "unworthily", of the bread and the cup, in 1 Cor. 11: 27?

Question 15: What is the purpose of letters of commendation? Some Christians dismiss them as outdated and irrelevant.

Question 16: It has been taught recently that John 16: 23 proves that it is unintelligent to address the Lord Jesus Christ in prayer and worship. is this right?

Question 17: You appear to be very insistent that the words of Scripture are accurately conveyed. Surely it is the concept of a passage rather than the words that is important?

Question 18: I don't always feel saved - how may I be sure that I am not deceiving myself?

Question 19: Should a person be allowed to take the Lord's Supper without being formally admitted into fellowship?

Question 20: How do I overcome sin and temptation in my life?

Question 21: Some Scriptures have been given many different interpretations. How do I judge which is right?

Question 22: Many Christians address God using the term “heavenly Father” which the Lord often used in the Gospels. If such an address is correct, why is this term absent from the Epistles?

Question 23: How could Paul say in Col. 1: 25 that it was given to him "to complete the word of God" when he was not the last NT writer?

Question 24: Is baptism meant to be an act of public testimony?

Question 25: Is it possible to believe in the evolution of man without compromising one's Christianity?

Question 26: What is the difference between the Kingdom and the Church?

Question 27: How can the decision of one assembly be binding on another when Revelation 2 and 3 show that the assemblies are independent units?

Question 28: What happens to those who die without ever hearing the Gospel? Surely they are not eternally damned?

Question 29: What is the meaning of 1 Tim. 5: 22: "Lay hands quickly on no man, nor partake in others' sins. Keep thyself pure."?

Question 30: What is the "unity of the Spirit" (Eph. 4: 3)?

Question 31: If Satan does not cast out demons (Matt. 12: 25–27), why do we read in Matt. 7: 21–23 of those who, though lost, appear to have done this very thing?

Question 32: What is saving faith?

Question 33: What does it mean to gather unto the Lord's name? (Matt. 18: 19, 20)

Question 34: Does 1 Cor. 9: 27 indicate that Paul thought that there was a possibility that even he could be ultimately lost?

Question 35: John 8: 44 speaks of the Devil as "a murderer from the beginning". Whom did he murder?

Question 36: At the rapture will we have new bodies?

Question 37: Some churches have pastors and some do not. Which are right?

Question 38: If the Lord's prayer was given by Christ Himself, why don't all Christians pray it?

Question 39: Some commentators allege that the popular concept of being washed in the blood of Christ is pagan in origin, since nothing was ever washed in blood in the OT sacrifices. Surely this is wrong?

Question 40: Who were the Nicolaitanes? (Rev. 2: 6, 15)

Question 41: Why does the Lord Jesus allow an exception to His prohibition on divorce in Matthew, but not in Mark or Luke?

Question 42: Why is the order of the Lord's temptations different in Luke to that in Matthew?

Question 43: I am just converted. Which church should I join?

Question 44: What is a prophet - are there any prophets today?

Question 45: Does Rom. 15: 7 teach that we ought to receive all Christians into fellowship?

Question 46: Isn’t Evolution more believable than Creation?

Question 47: Why was Mary Magdalene initially forbidden to touch the Lord (John 20: 17) but later allowed to do so (Matt. 28: 1, 9)?

Question 48: In the last issue it was said that the Assembly of God was identical to the body of Christ. If so, then surely this means that the man of 1 Cor. 5:13 was put out of Christ’s body even though he was a real believer (2 Cor. 2: 6–8)?

Question 49: Should a Christian have a part in political or social affairs?

Question 50: What is the sin unto death of 1 John 5: 16?

Question 51: In the article on Worship in Issue 50 it was said that the name of relationship that God took with the Patriarchs was not Jehovah but “Almighty God” quoting Ex. 6: 3: “…but by my name Jehovah I was not made known to them.” How can this be when Scripture clearly records them as addressing God as Jehovah?

Question 52: Question: Isn’t 1 Tim. 5: 23 clear proof that there is nothing wrong with Christians drinking alcohol?

Question 53: Question: Isn’t the idea that man has an “immortal soul” (a phrase which is not found in Scripture) refuted by the clear teaching of Ez. 18: 4, Matt. 10: 28 and 1 Tim. 6: 16?

Question 54: How do you reconcile the apparent contradiction between Isaiah 45: 18 and Genesis 1: 1–2?

Question 55: Is the deity of Christ relative or absolute? Some teach that Christ being “firstborn of all creation” (Col. 1: 15) means that He was just the first created and is only God to those He created. In their eyes His deity is thus only relative.

Question 56: Doesn’t 1 Cor. 7: 15 prove that a spouse who is abandoned by their partner is free to remarry?

Question 57: Comparing Matt. 27: 3–10 and Acts 1: 16–20, how could Judas hang himself in a field that the chief priests would not be able to purchase until the Sabbath was over? Isn’t this proof of the historical unreliability of the Bible?

Question 58: In the last Question and Answer I noticed that the Scripture that was said to be fulfilled in Matt. 27: 9 actually comes from Zechariah and not Jeremiah as Matthew states. Is not this a discrepancy?

Question 59: Many get round the teaching of 1 Cor. 11: 2–16 on head–coverings for women by alleging that it refers solely to the Corinthian situation, and has no modern application. How do you respond?

Question 60: In Issue 57 reference was made to those who spoke much of ‘the ruin of the Church’, and yet who later had to learn the truth of ‘the ruin’ amongst themselves. Can you please explain this, as some have expressed concerns?

Question 61: If every word of Scripture is held to be inspired, how do you account for the foolish reasoning of Eccl. 2: 24?

Question 62: How can I be “always confident” (2 Cor. 5: 6), when my state of soul is so changeable?

Question 63: Does not the parable of the wheat and darnel (Matt. 13: 24–30, 36–43) teach that we go against the words of the Lord Himself if we remove what is bad and false from the Assembly?

Question 64: How does breaking down “the middle wall of enclosure” which made Jew and Gentile one, reconciling “both in one body to God by the cross” (Eph. 2: 14, 16) harmonise with the distinctions maintained between Jew and Gentile in Acts 15?

Question 65: How does Baptism save (Mark 16: 16; 1 Pet. 3: 21)?

Question 66: Does the Gospel give the believer title to good health on account of healing being part of the vicarious work of Christ?

Question 67: If “Christ’s day” (Phil. 1: 10) is actually a thousand years long (see Rev. 20: 4), why must the seven days of creation be literal days (see Gen. 1: 3–2: 3)?

Question 68: Does 2 Tim. 1: 16–18 teach that Paul doubted the salvation of Onesiphorus, and by implication, that he prayed for the salvation of one who had died?

Question 69: Is it possible to reject Scripture without rejecting Christ?

Question 70: Has the sign of taking up serpents (see Mark 16: 18) ever been fulfilled?

Question 71: Can Hebrews 10: 25 "not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together" be applied to those who leave a Christian gathering and go nowhere?

Question 72: Should a Christian be baptised before breaking bread and being accepted into fellowship?

Question 73: Is it right to speak of the Lord as having a human body?

Question 74: Does 1 Cor. 11: 2-16, requiring women to wear hats in church, apply today?

Question 75: Who are "the elect" in 2 Tim. 2: 10: "For this cause I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which [is] in Christ Jesus with eternal glory"?

Question 76: Does Acts 17: 28, 29 prove that all men are children of God?

Question 77: How is it that on clearly identical occasions the Lord Jesus is reported as using the expression "kingdom of the heavens" by Matthew but the "kingdom of God" by Luke?

Question 78: A recent book argues that where there is no free will, there can be no responsibility. Is this true?

Question 79: What is imputed righteousness (see Rom. 4: 3)?

Question 80: Is there any Scripture that says that women should not pray audibly in public?

Question 81: What is the difference between the expressions "the last Adam" and "the second man" in 1 Cor. 15: 45 - 48?

Question 82: After His resurrection, why did the Lord speak of the Kingdom rather than the Assembly (see Acts 1: 3), despite having previously said "I will build my assembly" (Matt. 16: 18)?

Question 83: How is the apostle Paul a proof in Rom. 11: 1 that Israel has not been cast away forever?

Question 84: If God loves the sinner, why does he need to be propitiated?

Question 85: What are the Scriptural arguments against churches organised on racial grounds?

Question 86: How do you reconcile Paul's statement "For Christ has not sent me to baptise, but to preach glad tidings" (1 Cor. 1: 17) with the Lord's commission to the eleven in Matt. 28: 19: "Go [therefore] and make disciples of all the nations, baptising them to the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit"?

Question 87: Is 1 John 4: 18 proof that Christians ought not to fear God?

Question 88:  As the Greek word aionios is derived from aion (age), why cannot aionios be translated as age-lasting in Matt. 25: 41 ("Go from me, cursed, into eternal fire")?

Question 89: As observance of the Sabbath has never been rescinded, surely Christians should embrace its concept of rest on the first day of the week, the Lord's day - the Christian Sabbath?

Question 90: If the Assembly is the body of Christ, doesn’t that mean most of the members are now dead?

Question 91: In Mark 16: 17 the Lord stated that certain signs would follow those that believe. When these signs do not follow, does it mean that these persons have not believed and are not saved?

Question 92: Why do some Christians use the word Hallelujah continually while others hardly ever use it?

Question 93: A previous article entitled Headship, made no mention of 1 Cor. 11: 16: “But if any one think to be contentious, we have no such custom, nor the assemblies of God”. What does this verse mean?

Question 94: In a recent article it was said that the words of John 3: 16 were not those of the Lord. What are the grounds for such a statement?

Question 95: I heard it taught recently from 2 Thess 2: 1-12 that Christians will pass through the great tribulation and witness the appearance of the antichrist, because there is no secret rapture to precede the coming of the Lord. Is this true?

Question 96: In the last Question and Answer it was contended that the Church’s  gathering to the Lord and His subsequent revelation from heaven were distinct events. Why then doesn’t Scripture speak of them as the second and third coming of Christ? Again, no proof was offered that the rapture would be secret and not public.

Question 97: In what sense did Adam, by his fall, become as God, “knowing good and evil” (Gen. 3: 5; see also v22)?

Question 98: Does 1 Cor. 16: 15 prove that the house of Stephanas baptised by Paul (as recorded in chapter one) consisted only of adults?

Question 99: Is there a simple proof that the words “and so all Israel shall be saved” (Rom. 11:26) refer to the nation of Israel and not to a spiritual Israel consisting of all believers?

Question 100: Do the words “the dead in Christ” (1 Thess. 4: 16) include the OT saints or do they refer only to the Church?

Home Page