Do Christians Still Sin?: How should I understand 1 John 3 when it talks about those who abide in Christ no longer sinning, even as someone who continues to sin?

Q&A question: Do Christians Still Sin?

Greater Works than Jesus?: In John 14: 12, Jesus said we would do even greater things than Him. That’s a tough pill to swallow since He died for our sins and created everything. How do I process Jesus’ statement?

Q&A question: Greater Works than Jesus?

New Command or Old Command?: Why does 1 John 2:7 say that he is not writing a new command, but in the next verse (1 John 2:8) he says that he is writing a new command? What's going on here?

Q&A question: New Command or Old Command?

Did Jesus Tell a Lie?: Did Jesus actually lie in John 7:6-11?

Q&A question: Did Jesus Tell a Lie?

Mortal & Venial Sins?: 1 John 5: 16-17 seems to support the Roman Catholic understanding of mortal and venial sins. Is that the proper interpretation of this verse, and if not, how should we understand sin and the death it causes?

Q&A question: Mortal & Venial Sins?

Bethlehem & The Messiah: Did people not know that Jesus was born in Bethlehem (John 7: 41-43 NIV)? I feel like that would have cleared up some of their issues with Him being the Messiah!

Q&A question: Bethlehem & The Messiah

How Did John have Materials to Write?: Were papyrus and writing supplies expensive? How did John, banished to the Island of Patmos, have all the necessary items to write down his Revelation?

Q&A question: How Did John have Materials to Write?

Winger affirms the Father has authority over the Son but attributes this to the Incarnation (Phil 2:5-8), not necessarily to the eternal nature of the Trinity. He's open to but not convinced by Eternal Functional Subordination (EFS). Explicitly says he does NOT use EFS to defend complementarianism.

Q: Do many scriptures showing different authority levels between Father and Jesus mean the Father has higher authority? (John 14:28, 1 Cor 11:3, Matt 28:18)

Has Anyone Seen God?: John 1: 18 tells us, “No man has seen God at any time…” but in Genesis 32: 30, Jacob says, “I have seen God face to face and my life is preserved.” Which is it?

Q&A question: Has Anyone Seen God?

Jesus Leaves & Advocate Comes – Modalism?: Why is the Advocate unable to come unless Jesus leaves (John 16:7)? Why does this not imply Modalism?

Q&A question: Jesus Leaves & Advocate Comes – Modalism?

John Rejects but Jesus Affirms?: How should we understand John's rejection of being Elijah and a prophet (John 1: 21), while Jesus affirmed it (Matthew 11: 14)?

Q&A question: John Rejects but Jesus Affirms?

Do Christians Continue to Need Forgiveness?: 1 John 1:9 perplexes me. I am a Christian. In what sense does my daily confession apply "forgiveness" to me? What happens if I die with “unforgiven” sin?

Q&A question: Do Christians Continue to Need Forgiveness?

Did Peter & Other Disciples Quit?: Did Peter and the others "quit the ministry" when they went fishing in John 21:3? It seems that Peter had already seen the risen Christ 2 or 3 times before this event.

Q&A question: Did Peter & Other Disciples Quit?

Did Jesus Baptize?: Considering John 3: 22 and 4:2, did Jesus Himself baptize others, or not? A Mormon brought this up to me, and the only thing I could think of was that John 3: 22 wasn’t actually saying Jesus baptized, perhaps only that He oversaw the baptisms. Any insight?

Q&A question: Did Jesus Baptize?

Does God Veil/Blind Understanding?: Why do we assume that 2 Corinthians 4:4 is not about God, but presumably about Satan? In the context of chapters 3 and 4, and also in other verses, we learn that God veils/blinds eyes (ex: John 12: 40, Romans 11:8).

Q&A question: Does God Veil/Blind Understanding?

What Exactly Is Sin?: What exactly is sin? Is there a difference between sins against the flesh and sins against the heart/spirit? Does 1 John 5: 17 have anything to do with that? Is sin only sin when it causes death?

Q&A question: What Exactly Is Sin?

Slaves or Friends of Christ?: Does Jesus “call” us His slaves? In John 15: 15 He says He does not, but in Revelation 2: 20 He seems to do so.

Q&A question: Slaves or Friends of Christ?

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?

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

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?

Jesus’ Deity in Scripture: Where does the Bible teach that the deity of Jesus is a salvation/damnation issue? For example, in Athens (Acts 17), it seems weird that Paul didn't explicitly teach this. John 8, perhaps?

Q&A question: Jesus’ Deity in Scripture

Does Sin Cause Illness?: Does sinning cause physical illness? Does refraining from sinning stop it? John 9:3 and John 5: 14 seem to say both are true. Is this a contradiction?

Q&A question: Does Sin Cause Illness?

Was Simon Always “Peter”?: Catholics always say Jesus changed Simon’s name to Peter. However, previous verses (Matthew 16: 16, John 21: 15, Matthew 4: 18, and Luke 5:8) refer to him as Simon Peter. Jesus says, “You are Peter…” not “From now on, you are Peter.” Was Simon always known as Peter?

Q&A question: Was Simon Always “Peter”?

Eschatological Connections: Do Dispensational Premillennials see a connection between John 12: 31 and Revelation 20:1-3?

Q&A question: Eschatological Connections

David’s Salvation – Murderer?: If according to John, no murderer has eternal life abiding in him (1 John 3: 15), how do we explain David’s salvation, since he had Uriah killed?

Q&A question: David’s Salvation – Murderer?

Water & Blood: 1 John 4: What is the significance of the water and the blood in 1 John 4:6, 8?

Q&A question: Water & Blood: 1 John 4

Does the Spirit Still Teach & Guide Us?: Jesus tells the apostles that the Holy Spirit will “teach them all things” (John 14: 16) and “guide them into all the truth” (John 16: 13). What exactly does this entail, and was it only for the apostles?

Q&A question: Does the Spirit Still Teach & Guide Us?

Andrew’s vs. Peter’s Calling: Matthew 4: 18-22 and John 1: 35-42 seem to have two very different accounts of how Andrew and Peter were called to follow Christ. Can you please explain this?

Q&A question: Andrew’s vs. Peter’s Calling

Garden of Gethsemane: What is The Cup?: In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prays for the Father to let the cup pass from Him. I've understood the cup to be God's wrath, but Jesus says a few chapters later that James & John will drink it, too.

Q&A question: Garden of Gethsemane: What is The Cup?

Support for Limited Atonement?: How does John 17:9 work alongside John 3: 16? Could John 17:9 be a valid point toward Limited Atonement? I do not want to believe in Limited Atonement, but I see verses like this and wonder.

Q&A question: Support for Limited Atonement?

Agape vs. Phileo Love: Are agape and phileo love synonymous in Greek? John 3: 19 & John 12: 43 use agape for loving darkness and men's praise, respectively, while John 5: 20 uses phileo to describe the Father's love for the Son.

Q&A question: Agape vs. Phileo Love

The Apostle John Still Alive?: Have you ever heard the theory that the Apostle John might still be alive and be the second witness in the Tribulation? I found the arguments interesting, as conjecture.

Q&A question: The Apostle John Still Alive?

How did Martha Know?: In John 11, when Martha says she knows her brother will rise in the resurrection on the last day, did she know that from the Old Testament, or from Jesus’ teachings?

Q&A question: How did Martha Know?

Jesus’ Deity: Why isn’t the NT Clearer?: In Titus 2: 13, Is Paul explicitly saying Jesus is God and Savior? Why do New Testament authors often not address Jesus as God and appear to place Jesus outside of the Godhead (e.g. 2 John 1:3)?

Q&A question: Jesus’ Deity: Why isn’t the NT Clearer?

“Lord” in the OT vs. NT: Is the title of Lord used in the same capacity in the New Testament as it is in the Old Testament (for example, in John13: 13)?

Q&A question: “Lord” in the OT vs. NT

Enoch & Elisha – In Heaven?: Enoch and Elisha are said to be in Heaven in the Old Testament. Why did Jesus say in John 3: 13 that no one has gone to Heaven except Him?

Q&A question: Enoch & Elisha – In Heaven?

Why is David in Heaven?: Can you explain how David would be in Heaven when he knew 1 wife was God’s design but was living in continuous sin (1 John 3:4-9, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, Hebrews 10: 26, Ephesians 5:3-7)?

Q&A question: Why is David in Heaven?

Mary vs John

John versus Matthew and Mark

John 16

John 13 13

John Cedars

About the Church

Other Sermons

John 3 16

In Context

The Bread of Life

The Cosmic Christ

Jesus Awakening

I am the Way