Eternal Word

1. How can I know for certain that I'm saved?

Answer: God wants you to have assurance of your salvation, and He has given us clear promises in His Word.

Biblical Assurance Comes From:

• God's Promise: "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Romans 10:13)
• The Witness of the Spirit: "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God" (Romans 8:16)
• Changed Life: "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17)
• Love for God's Word: "We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren" (1 John 3:14)

If you have genuinely trusted Jesus Christ as your Savior, believing that He died for your sins and rose again, you can be certain of your salvation based on God's unchanging Word.

2. What happens when we die?

Answer: The Bible clearly teaches that death is not the end of existence, but a transition into eternity.

For the Believer:

• Immediate presence with Christ: "To be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord" (2 Corinthians 5:8)
• No more pain or sorrow: "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain" (Revelation 21:4)
• Resurrection at Christ's return: "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout... and the dead in Christ shall rise first" (1 Thessalonians 4:16)

For the Unbeliever:

• Conscious punishment: Jesus described the rich man in hell as being in torment (Luke 16:23)
• Eternal separation from God: "These shall go away into everlasting punishment" (Matthew 25:46)
• Final judgment: "And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire" (Revelation 20:15)

3. Why do bad things happen to good people?

Answer: This question touches on one of life's deepest mysteries, but Scripture provides important insights.

Biblical Perspective:

• We live in a fallen world: "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned" (Romans 5:12)
• God is not the author of evil: "Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man" (James 1:13)
• God uses suffering for good: "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God" (Romans 8:28)
• Suffering can strengthen faith: "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience" (James 1:2-3)

Remember also that none of us are truly "good" in God's sight—"There is none righteous, no, not one" (Romans 3:10). God's grace and mercy are what we truly need.

4. How do we know the Bible is true?

Answer: The Bible's truth is established through multiple lines of compelling evidence.

Evidence for Biblical Truth:

• Fulfilled Prophecy: Hundreds of specific prophecies fulfilled with perfect accuracy (see Daniel 9:24-26 for Messiah's timing)
• Archaeological Confirmation: Discoveries consistently support biblical accounts
• Manuscript Evidence: Over 5,800 Greek New Testament manuscripts demonstrate accurate transmission
• Unity Despite Diversity: 40+ authors over 1,500 years with consistent message
• Transformed Lives: Billions of people have experienced life change through its message
• Scientific Accuracy: No proven scientific errors despite being written long before modern discoveries

Ultimately, the Holy Spirit bears witness to the truth of God's Word in the hearts of believers (John 16:13).

5. Why are there so many different churches and denominations?

Answer: While the Bible teaches unity among believers, denominational differences have arisen for various reasons.

Biblical Unity:

Reasons for Differences:

• Non-essential matters: Methods of worship, church government, baptism modes
• Cultural and historical factors: Different backgrounds and traditions
• Emphasis on different aspects of truth: Some focus on evangelism, others on social action
• Human pride and politics: Unfortunately, some divisions stem from sinful motives

Essential Unity: True believers are united in the fundamental truths of salvation by grace through faith in Christ, regardless of denominational labels. The key is to fellowship with Bible-believing churches that hold to essential doctrines.

6. Can someone lose their salvation?

Answer: This question touches on the security of the believer, and Scripture provides clear assurance for those who are truly saved.

Biblical Security:

• Jesus' Promise: "And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand" (John 10:28)
• The Father's Keeping: "My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand" (John 10:29)
• Sealed by the Holy Spirit: "In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise" (Ephesians 1:13)
• God's Faithfulness: "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:6)

Those who truly trust Christ as Savior are eternally secure. However, genuine faith produces a changed life—those who continue in persistent, unrepentant sin may never have been truly saved (1 John 2:19).

7. What about people who have never heard the Gospel?

Answer: This is a compassionate question that shows concern for others, and God has revealed important truths about this matter.

Biblical Principles:

• God is just and fair: "Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?" (Genesis 18:25)
• All have some knowledge of God: "Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse" (Romans 1:19-20)
• Conscience bears witness: "For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness" (Romans 2:14-15)
• God desires all to be saved: "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9)

While we can trust God's perfect justice and mercy, this question should motivate us to share the Gospel with those around us and support missions to reach the unreached.

8. Why does God allow Satan to exist?

Answer: This question deals with God's sovereignty and the problem of evil.

Biblical Insights:

• Satan is not equal to God: He is a created being under God's ultimate control (Job 1:12, 2:6)
• God uses Satan for His purposes: Testing faith (Job), exposing sin (1 Corinthians 5:5), preventing pride (2 Corinthians 12:7)
• Satan's time is limited: "And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone" (Revelation 20:10)
• God's wisdom is beyond our understanding: "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD" (Isaiah 55:8)

God allows Satan's temporary existence to accomplish His perfect will, but Satan's ultimate defeat is certain.

9. How should I interpret difficult Bible passages?

Answer: God wants us to understand His Word, and He has given us principles for proper interpretation.

Biblical Hermeneutics (Interpretation Principles):

• Pray for wisdom: "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God" (James 1:5)
• Let Scripture interpret Scripture: Use clear passages to understand unclear ones
• Consider context: Read surrounding verses, chapters, and books
• Understand the audience: Who was the original audience and what was their situation?
• Study the original meaning: What did this mean to the original readers?
• Look for the main point: Don't get lost in details and miss the primary message
• Compare with other believers: "In the multitude of counsellors there is safety" (Proverbs 11:14)

Remember that the Holy Spirit is our ultimate teacher, and the essential truths of Scripture are clear to any sincere seeker.

10. What is the purpose of my life?

Answer: This is perhaps the most important question anyone can ask, and God has given us a clear answer.

Our Primary Purpose:

• To glorify God: "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31)
• To know God: "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent" (John 17:3)
• To serve others: "For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another" (Galatians 5:13)
• To make disciples: "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations" (Matthew 28:19)

Finding Your Specific Calling:

• Seek God through prayer and Bible study
• Use the gifts and talents He has given you
• Look for opportunities to serve Him where you are
• Ask godly mentors for counsel

Life has meaning and purpose when we align ourselves with God's will and live for His glory rather than our own.

11. How can I overcome sin in my life?

Answer: Every Christian struggles with sin, but God has provided everything we need for victory.

Biblical Steps to Victory:

• Recognize your position in Christ: "Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6:11)
• Don't yield to sin: "Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God" (Romans 6:13)
• Walk in the Spirit: "This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh" (Galatians 5:16)
• Renew your mind: "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Romans 12:2)
• Study God's Word: "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee" (Psalm 119:11)
• Confess and forsake sin: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9)

12. What does it mean to be "born again"?

Answer: Jesus used this term when speaking to Nicodemus, and it describes the spiritual transformation that occurs when someone becomes a Christian.

What Being Born Again Means:

• A spiritual birth: "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit" (John 3:6)
• A new nature: "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17)
• Receiving eternal life: "And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son" (1 John 5:11)
• Becoming God's child: "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name" (John 1:12)

How to Be Born Again:

• Acknowledge your sin and need for salvation (Romans 3:23)
• Believe that Jesus died for your sins and rose again (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)
• Trust Christ as your personal Savior (Romans 10:13)

The new birth is not something you do, but something God does in you when you believe.

These are just a few of the many questions people ask about God, the Bible, and spiritual life. The wonderful truth is that God wants to reveal Himself to you through His Word.

We encourage you to:

• Continue studying God's Word daily
• Pray for wisdom and understanding
• Fellowship with other believers
• Seek counsel from godly pastors and teachers
• Contact us with specific questions

Remember, God delights to reveal His truth to those who seek Him with an honest heart.