Search — Theology Explorer

Why do Christians Ask for Forgiveness?: My question from a skeptic is, if you are already saved, why do you still ask for forgiveness for your sins?

Q&A question: Why do Christians Ask for Forgiveness?

forgiveness

Hypostatic Union – Contradictory?: Is Jesus being God and Man a contradiction? The Bible says that the Son doesn’t know the day or the hour of His coming. Can Jesus know (as God) and not know (as Man) at the same time?

Q&A question: Hypostatic Union – Contradictory?

Jesus

Bible = Pure Fiction?: As a Christian, what is an appropriate answer to an atheist claiming that the Bible is pure fiction?

Q&A question: Bible = Pure Fiction?

atheism

James James 2 John 5 James salvation James 2

Mixed Messages in Scripture?: I lost my faith due to all the mixed messages in the Bible. For example, is salvation by faith alone like John 5: 24, or faith plus works like James 2? Why doesn’t this cause you to doubt?

Q&A question: Mixed Messages in Scripture?

Does the Concept of Sin Apply to God?: Is God holy and sinless? Can God do things which, if we did them, would be considered sin? One example is killing the firstborn of Egypt. Does the concept of sin (or being sinless) even APPLY to God?

Q&A question: Does the Concept of Sin Apply to God?

How to Trust in Christ: I’m a Bible believing non-Christian that hurt himself by absorbing bad Charismatic teachings. I have always had trouble trusting and accepting Christ. How would one begin to as a skeptic?

Q&A question: How to Trust in Christ

charismatic movement

The Bible Doesn’t Exist?: Can you please respond to Abraham Piper’s claim that the Bible doesn’t even exist?

Q&A question: The Bible Doesn’t Exist?

Abraham

Luke 4:9-12 Jesus Satan Luke 4:9-12

Jesus’ Deity in Scripture: In Luke 4:9-12, Satan uses the term "Son of God" yet Jesus responds with Deuteronomy 6: 16. Is this a possible claim that Christ is God, similarly to how He takes God's names for Himself?

Q&A question: Jesus’ Deity in Scripture

Lack of Works = No Heaven?: Why do we only talk about what will get you into Heaven (faith or works or both)? The Bible seems to teach that only faith can get you in, but lack of works can keep you out. Any thoughts?

Q&A question: Lack of Works = No Heaven?

heaven

James James 1 James James 1

Are Sinful Desires Sinful?: James 1: 15 speaks about your desire giving birth to sin, but if you have an evil desire, isn’t that already sin?

Q&A question: Are Sinful Desires Sinful?

Are Natural Disasters from God?: We recently had a tornado touch down here in upstate New York. How does one explain to a non-believer that the tornado was not from God? Was it man-made?

Q&A question: Are Natural Disasters from God?

Hebrews 1 Jesus Christ Jesus cessationism

Does Hebrews 1 Prove Cessationism?: Is Hebrews 1:1 supportive of the idea that there are no prophets since the 1st century as God only speaks from Jesus Christ?

Q&A question: Does Hebrews 1 Prove Cessationism?

Does Blas. of the Spirit Debunk Calvinism?: Is the fact that we can commit Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit proof that Calvinism is false?

Q&A question: Does Blas. of the Spirit Debunk Calvinism?

Calvinism

Jesus & the Samaritan Woman: Was Jesus pointing out the sin of the Samaritan woman, or was He letting her know He understood her circumstances, considering women had little control over their marital status?

Q&A question: Jesus & the Samaritan Woman

Jesus Samaritan woman

Modalism & Oneness – Truly Saved?: Are people who believe in Modalism or Oneness doctrines truly saved? Should I allow my kids to participate in events at churches that believe in Modalism?

Q&A question: Modalism & Oneness – Truly Saved?

Acts 2 Acts 8 John 20 Acts 2 Acts 8 Apostles

Receiving the Holy Spirit: When does a Christian receive the Holy Spirit? The apostles, it seems, received the Holy Spirit twice (John 20: 22, Acts 2:1-4). Others had different experiences (Acts 8: 14-17, 11: 15, 19:1-6).

Q&A question: Receiving the Holy Spirit

BONUS Q!.What language do you think we will speak in Heaven?

Q&A question

heaven

Delivering Someone Over to Satan?: What does the Bible mean when it says to "deliver such a one over to Satan for the destruction of his flesh"?

Q&A question: Delivering Someone Over to Satan?

Satan

Prophecy = Preaching the Word?: I hear many Bible teachers say that the New Testament gift of prophecy is merely proclaiming/preaching the Word; it is never predictive or revelatory. That doesn’t seem right to me. Could you give us your take?

Q&A question: Prophecy = Preaching the Word?

prophecy

Are Insulting Names Sometimes Appropriate?: Does Jesus calling the Pharisees fools, vipers, and whitewashed tombs give Christians a license to call our enemies insulting names?

Q&A question: Are Insulting Names Sometimes Appropriate?

Jesus Pharisees

Can a Vow to God be Cancelled?: At age 19, I made a lifetime vow to God (not marital) that 31 years later seems counterproductive in light of new insight & circumstances. Is there a biblical case to cancel a vow despite Ecclesiastes 5:4-6?

Q&A question: Can a Vow to God be Cancelled?

Dangerous Recreational Activities: What does the Bible say about participating in dangerous activities, particularly those that are recreational, such as riding motorcycles, mountain climbing, big wave surfing, etc.?

Q&A question: Dangerous Recreational Activities

creation

creation pastoral ministry

Chuck Missler & the Hologram Theory: Have you heard of Pastor Chuck Missler and his endorsement of the Hologram Theory (the idea that there is no gravity beyond our solar system, a holographic representation of God’s Creation)?

Q&A question: Chuck Missler & the Hologram Theory

Temptations from the Flesh vs. the Enemy: Is it possible to discern between temptations that come from Satan and those that come from within due to the sinful desires of flesh?

Q&A question: Temptations from the Flesh vs. the Enemy

Satan

Meaning of “To Live Is Christ”: What does it mean when Paul says "For me to live is Christ”? I've never heard someone use a phrase where an action or state of being IS a person.

Q&A question: Meaning of “To Live Is Christ”

The Sonship of Jesus: A local church believes Jesus was literally the Son of God before the incarnation who "proceeded out of the Father" just like Eve from Adam. Can you help me understand the Sonship of Jesus?

Q&A question: The Sonship of Jesus

Jesus

Idolatry Today: What does idol worship look like in a more modern sense?

Q&A question: Idolatry Today

worship

Prayer Request: Bonus.Will you pray for my mom, Kelly? She was diagnosed with breast cancer and has started chemo, but they found a mass on her liver. Not sure if it's cancer but it has grown in the last month. Through this she has been saved! We pray God's will is for her to be healed, but most importantly, for her testimony to live!

Q&A question: Prayer Request

prayer

Trump’s Christianity: Is Trump's Christianity real Christianity? Here are some of my concerns about the rise of cultural Christianity.

Q&A question: Trump’s Christianity

1 Corinthians 5 elder qualifications 1 Corinthians 5 communion

Open vs. Closed Communion: What is your opinion on open vs. closed communion? Should the pastors or elders check who is taking the communion? 1 Corinthians 5:9-13 may support closed communion.

Q&A question: Open vs. Closed Communion

Are Guardian Angels Biblical?: What is the biblical case for or against guardian angels? Are they a myth, or do we really all have individual angels following us around and helping us?

Q&A question: Are Guardian Angels Biblical?

angels

Do False gods Exist?: When the Old Testament talks of false gods such as Moloch, what does that mean? Is it that they don't exist, or is the word "false" referring to them being untrustworthy/deceitful?

Q&A question: Do False gods Exist?

Courage & Self-Control on Social Media: Do you think God expects us to post about controversial issues on our social media accounts? I don’t want to start needless arguments online, but I also sometimes worry that I’m being cowardly.

Q&A question: Courage & Self-Control on Social Media

revelation Revelation 20 Satan revelation free will

Does Satan Have Free Will?: Given what Revelation 20:7-10 says, what is the probability that Satan will NOT deceive the nations when he's released from the abyss? Is it 0 or greater? If it is 0, does Satan have free will?

Q&A question: Does Satan Have Free Will?

Can we be Too Wayward to be Forgiven?: Romans 1: 24 says “God will give them up to the lust in their hearts to defile their bodies.” Can one be forgiven and come back to Christ if one thinks this has happened to them?

Q&A question: Can we be Too Wayward to be Forgiven?

Romans 1 Romans 1

Explaining a Confusing Passage: Can you please explain how you understand Revelation 22: 11? I was super confused the first time I read this verse.

Q&A question: Explaining a Confusing Passage

revelation revelation

Is Love God’s Chief Trait?: Is love God’s chief trait, or just one of them? Is it right to call all He does (i.e., punishing sin) an act of love, or are some things done in keeping with His holiness, justice, etc.?

Q&A question: Is Love God’s Chief Trait?

Recorded Sermons & Prayers – Biblical?: What are your thoughts on listening to recorded sermons, specifically “praying along” with recorded prayers? How exactly does that work? I listen to you mostly after the fact, so it feels odd.

Q&A question: Recorded Sermons & Prayers – Biblical?

prayer

Genesis Genesis 4 Genesis Genesis 4

Bonus Joke – Just for fun! In Genesis 4:8, Cain killed his brother. I feel like it was because he was Abel. Your thoughts?

Q&A question

The Changing Morality of the Bible?: Why does God seem more wrathful in the Old Testament and more forgiving and loving in the New Testament? Does the Bible have changing morals?

Q&A question: The Changing Morality of the Bible?

generosity

Balancing our Time Wisely: How can we find a healthy balance between time with God and entertainment, like reading non-Christian books?

Q&A question: Balancing our Time Wisely

1 Corinthians 3 1 Corinthians 3

Burned Works = Unsaved Soul?: Regarding 1 Corinthians 3: 15, how can someone be saved if their work is burned up? Wouldn’t the frailty of their work suggest that their faith wasn’t true in the first place?

Q&A question: Burned Works = Unsaved Soul?

The Point of the New Covenant: What’s the point of the New Covenant when salvation has always been through faith?

Q&A question: The Point of the New Covenant

salvation

Who is Asherah?: Who is Asherah? I saw a video that claims she’s God’s forbidden wife. Who is she, from a biblical perspective?

Q&A question: Who is Asherah?

marriage

How Much Detail do we Confess?: When we, as Christians, confess our sins to God, how detailed should we be? Two verses that come to my mind are Psalm 139: 23-24.

Q&A question: How Much Detail do we Confess?

Psalm 139 Psalm 139

When & How Much to Give to Others?: My wife’s nephew is transgender, is here illegally (USA), and recently got married to a man. He asked my wife if she could help pay for his immigration paperwork. Am I wrong for saying no?

Q&A question: When & How Much to Give to Others?

marriage

1 Thessalonians 4 1 Thessalonians 4

Be Quiet & MYOB?: In 1 Thessalonians 4: 11 we are told to be quiet and mind our own business. How does that play out in a time where there is so much wrong in the world and in the Church? How are you doing it? You are the best!

Q&A question: Be Quiet & MYOB?

Strengthening our “Study Muscles”: What are some ways to make reading the Bible easier? I’m not saying I want the Scriptures deluded or anything, but I’m not a very good reader and I just end up getting frustrated and quitting.

Q&A question: Strengthening our “Study Muscles”

Matthew Jesus Matthew Pilate

Was Jesus Silent?: In Mark and Matthew, Jesus remains silent which amazes Pilate, but in John, He delivers explanations. What are your thoughts on this subject, and how would you handle it when presented?

Q&A question: Was Jesus Silent?