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Is once saved, always saved biblical? |
Answer
Once a person is saved are they always saved? Yes, when people come to know Christ as their Savior, they are brought into a relationship with God that guarantees their salvation as eternally secure. To be clear, salvation is more than saying a prayer or “making a decision” for Christ; salvation is a sover... |
What does the Bible say about tattoos? |
Answer
Tattoos are more popular than ever in many parts of the world. The number of people with tattoos has increased dramatically in recent years. Tattoos are not just for delinquents or rebels anymore. The edginess of rebellion historically associated with tattoos is starting to wear off.
The New Tes... |
What does the Bible say about homosexuality? |
Answer
In some people’s minds, being homosexual is as much outside one’s control as the color of your skin and your height. On the other hand, the Bible clearly and consistently declares that homosexual activity is a sin (Genesis 19:1–13; Leviticus 18:22; 20:13; Romans 1:26–27; 1 Corinthians 6:9; 1 Timothy 1:10\... |
What does the Bible say about women pastors? |
Answer
There is perhaps no more hotly debated issue in the church today than that of women serving as pastors. As a result, it is important to not see this issue as men versus women. There are women who believe women should not serve as pastors and that the Bible places restrictions on the ministry of women, and... |
What does the Bible say about interracial marriage? |
Answer
The Old Testament Law commanded the Israelites not to engage in interracial marriage (Deuteronomy 7:3–4\). However, the reason for this command was not skin color or ethnicity. Rather, it was religious. The reason God commanded against interracial marriage for the Jews was that foreign people were worship... |
Who was Cain’s wife? |
Answer
The Bible does not specifically say who Cain’s wife was. The only possible answer is that Cain’s wife was his sister or niece or great\-niece, etc. The Bible does not say how old Cain was when he killed Abel (Genesis 4:8\), but they both were likely full\-grown adults. Adam and Eve surely had given birth ... |
Eternal security - is it biblical? |
Answer
When people come to know Christ as their Savior, they are brought into a relationship with God that guarantees their eternal security. Jude 24 declares, "To Him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy." God’s power is able to ke... |
What happens after death? |
Answer
Within the Christian faith, there is a significant amount of confusion regarding what happens after death. Some hold that after death everyone “sleeps” until the final judgment, after which everyone will be sent to heaven or hell. Others believe that at the moment of death people are instantly judged and ... |
Masturbation—is it a sin according to the Bible? |
Answer
The Bible does not mention masturbation or self\-gratification or “solo sex,” as it’s sometimes called. In its silence on the subject, the Bible does not state whether or not masturbation is a sin. Some people take the view that masturbation is a lustful act and is always wrong; others believe it involves... |
What does the Bible say about Christian tithing? |
Answer
Many Christians struggle with the issue of tithing. In some churches giving is over\-emphasized. At the same time, many Christians refuse to submit to the biblical exhortations about making offerings to the Lord. Tithing/giving is intended to be a joy and a blessing. Sadly, that is sometimes not the case ... |
What does the Bible say about suicide? |
Answer
Suicide is a tragic reality in our fallen world. That people experience desperation to the point that they believe the best option is to end their own lives is heartbreaking. To lose a loved one to suicide prompts a range of questions and a special kind of grief. But the Bible offers hope—both to those wh... |
Do pets go to heaven? |
Answer
The Bible does not give any explicit teaching on whether pets/animals have souls, or whether pets/animals will be in heaven. However, we can use general biblical principles to develop some clarity on the subject. The Bible states that both man (Genesis 2:7\) and animals (Genesis 1:30; 6:17; 7:15, 22\) hav... |
What does the Bible say about dinosaurs? |
Answer
The topic of dinosaurs in the Bible is part of a larger ongoing debate within the Christian community over the age of the earth, the proper interpretation of Genesis, and how to interpret the physical evidence we find all around us. Those who believe in an older age for the earth tend to agree that the Bi... |
What is the gift of speaking in tongues? |
Answer
The first occurrence of speaking in tongues occurred on the [day of Pentecost](day-Pentecost.html) in Acts 2:1–4\. The apostles shared the gospel with the crowds, speaking to them in their own languages. The crowds were amazed: “We hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” (Acts 2:11\).... |
What does the Bible say about drinking alcohol? |
Answer
Scripture has much to say regarding the drinking of alcohol (Leviticus 10:9; Numbers 6:3; Deuteronomy 29:6; Judges 13:4, 7, 14; Proverbs 20:1; 31:4; Isaiah 5:11, 22; 24:9; 28:7; 29:9; 56:12\). However, Scripture does not necessarily forbid a Christian from drinking beer, wine, or any other drink containin... |
Is gambling a sin? |
Answer
The Bible does not specifically condemn gambling, betting, or the [lottery](Bible-lottery.html). The Bible does warn us, however, against the love of money (1 Timothy 6:10; Hebrews 13:5\). Scripture also encourages us to avoid attempts to “get rich quick” (Proverbs 13:11; 23:5; Ecclesiastes 5:10\); we are... |
What does the Bible say about sex before marriage? |
Answer
The Bible clearly condemns sexual sins: adultery (consensual sex between a married person and someone other than his or her spouse) (Proverbs 6:32; cf. 1 Corinthians 6:18 and Hebrews 13:4\) and fornication (sexual immorality in general) are specified (Matthew 15:19; Romans 1:29; 1 Corinthians 5:1\). Sex b... |
What is the importance of Christian baptism? |
Answer
Christian baptism is one of two ordinances that Jesus instituted for the church. Just before His [ascension](ascension-Jesus-Christ.html), Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything... |
Do angels sing? |
Answer
It may seem strange to ask if angels sing, because conventional wisdom says, “Of course they do.” It’s common to see pictures of angels holding songbooks or harps or otherwise engaged in music\-making. And people often allude to the Christmas story: “The angels sang to the shepherds when Jesus was born, d... |
What does the Bible teach about the Trinity? |
Answer
The most difficult thing about the Christian concept of the Trinity is that there is no way to perfectly and completely understand it. The Trinity is a concept that is impossible for any human being to fully understand, let alone explain. God is infinitely greater than we are; therefore, we should not exp... |
What does the Bible say about divorce and remarriage? |
Answer
First of all, no matter what view one takes on the issue of divorce, it is important to remember Malachi 2:16: “I hate divorce, says the Lord God of Israel.” According to the Bible, marriage is a lifetime commitment. “So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not ... |
Where was Jesus for the three days between His death and resurrection? |
Answer
After Jesus said, “[It is finished](it-is-finished.html),” on the cross, “he bowed his head and gave up his spirit” (John 19:30\). His dead body remained on the cross until it was taken down and placed in a nearby tomb (John 19:40–42\). His spirit, however, was elsewhere. Three days later, His body and sp... |
What are the cosmological arguments for the existence of God? |
Answer
Cosmological arguments attempt to prove God’s existence by observing the world around us (the cosmos). They begin with what is most obvious in reality: things exist. It is then argued that the cause of those things’ existence had to be a “God\-type” thing. These types of arguments go all the way back to P... |
What is the Ontological argument for the existence of God? |
Answer
The ontological argument for the existence of God is one of the few arguments originating in logic rather than observation. [Teleological](teleological-argument.html) and [cosmological](cosmological-argument.html) arguments, for instance, demonstrate how the existence of God best explains apparent design ... |
What is the teleological argument for the existence of God? |
Answer
The term *teleology* refers to explanations that appeal to design and purpose. The teleological argument claims that the appearance of design and purpose in nature implies a designer. Strictly speaking, this is only evidence of “a” designer, not necessarily any specific being. In practice, teleological ar... |
Do angels have wings? |
Answer
The most common image of an angel is essentially a human being with wings. This is not biblical. The Bible often presents angels as appearing as human beings. However, this does not indicate that angels in their essence resemble human beings. Further, the Bible very rarely describes angels as having wings... |
What are the new heavens and the new earth? |
Answer
In Revelation 21:1, John sees something spectacular: “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away...” This new earth and new heavens are sometimes referred to as the “eternal state.” As seen in Revelation chapters 21\-22, the new earth will be the eter... |
What is the Moral argument for the existence of God? |
Answer
The moral argument begins with the fact that all people recognize some moral code (that some things are right, and some things are wrong). Every time we argue over right and wrong, we appeal to a higher law that we assume everyone is aware of, holds to, and is not free to arbitrarily change. Right and wro... |
What is Satanism? |
Answer
Satanism is not easily defined. There are several "divisions" of Satanism. In contrast to Christians, Satanists themselves disagree on their very fundamental principles. Christians may differ in opinion or conviction about interpretation of certain Bible passages, but they believe the same foundational pr... |
Is a home church a true biblical church? |
Answer
Churches in the New Testament era were indeed small assemblies that met in homes (Acts 2:46; 20:20\). So, the practice of attending a home church, or house church, is biblically allowable. There also seem to be some good reasons to have house churches as opposed to large gatherings: greater intimacy, stro... |
Who/what is Satan? |
Answer
People’s beliefs concerning Satan range from the silly to the abstract—from a little red guy with horns who sits on your shoulder urging you to sin, to an expression used to describe the personification of evil. The Bible, however, gives us a clear portrait of who Satan is and how he affects our lives. Pu... |
Have any aspects of end times prophecy been fulfilled? |
Answer
Revelation 4:1 introduces a section of Scripture that details “things which must be hereafter.” What follows are prophecies of the “end times.” We have not yet reached the tribulation, the revelation of the Antichrist, or other “end\-time” events. What we do see is a “preparation” for those events.
... |
Should a Christian woman wear a bikini? |
Answer
Whether or not to wear a bikini is a question many women struggle with, but for a Christian woman, the issue takes on additional implications. God calls women to [modesty](dress-modestly.html), which means to not draw attention to themselves: “I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriet... |
Making marriage last - what is the key? |
Answer
What can a married couple do to ensure that their [marriage](marriage-constitutes.html) will last? The first and most important issue is one of obedience to God and His Word. This is a principle that should be in force before the marriage begins. God says, “Do two walk together unless they have agreed to ... |
Who was King Hoshea in the Bible? |
Answer
Hoshea son of Elah became king of the northern kingdom of Israel in 732 BC after assassinating [King Pekah](King-Pekah.html), son of Remaliah. Hoshea reigned 9 years. He was a wicked king, but not as wicked as previous kings of Israel (2 Kings 17:2\). Hoshea was the last king of Israel before the nation’s... |
Who were the kings of Israel and Judah? |
Answer
In the period that preceded the monarchy, Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit (Judges 21:25\). God raised up Samuel to lead the people (1 Samuel 3:4\). All of Israel knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the Lord (1 Samuel 3:20\). Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life, and... |
Silent prayer - is it biblical? |
Answer
The Bible gives an example of silent prayer in [Hannah’s](Hannah-and-Samuel.html) inaudible petition (1 Samuel 1:10, 13\), but it does not give specific instructions on praying silently. That does not mean that silent prayer is any less valid than praying out loud—Hannah’s prayer was answered, after all. ... |
Why did God put the tree of knowledge of good and evil in the Garden of Eden? |
Answer
God put the tree of knowledge of good and evil in the Garden of Eden to give Adam and Eve a choice to obey Him or disobey Him. Adam and Eve were free to do anything they wanted, except eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Genesis 2:16\-17, “And the LORD God commanded the man, ‘You are free to ... |
What should be the Christian view of romance? |
Answer
The term *romance* is used to describe styles of literature, situations, and certain languages, such as French and Italian. But, for the purposes of this article, the word *romance* will be limited to the emotional excitement or attraction that a specific person or situation elicits in another. That kind ... |
What is the difference between God’s sovereign will and God’s revealed will? |
Answer
Human will is fairly straightforward: when we want something to happen, we “will” for it to take place; when we do something, we have shown our “will” in the matter. God’s will is a little more complex. In fact, theologians see three different aspects of God’s will in the Bible: His sovereign (decretive) ... |
Do human beings truly have a free will? |
Answer
If “free will” means that God gives humans the opportunity to make choices that genuinely affect their destiny, then yes, human beings do have a free will. The world’s current sinful state is directly linked to choices made by Adam and Eve. God created mankind in His own image, and that included the abili... |
What does the Bible say about gossip? |
Answer
The Hebrew word translated “gossip” in the Old Testament is defined as “one who reveals secrets, one who goes about as a talebearer or scandal\-monger.” A gossiper is a person who has privileged information about people and proceeds to reveal that information to those who have no business knowing it. Goss... |
How can I prepare myself for marriage? |
Answer
Preparing oneself for marriage biblically is the same as preparing for any life endeavor. There is a principle that should govern all aspects of our lives as born\-again believers: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37\). This is not a fl... |
What is the location of the real Mount Sinai? |
Answer
Where is the real Mount Sinai? No one really knows for sure. For centuries, scholars, explorers, and pilgrims have sought the location of the real Mount Sinai—the mountain where God gave the law to Moses and the people of Israel. To this day, several sites have been proposed, but no one site has been conf... |
What is Christian ethics? |
Answer
Christian ethics is well summarized by Colossians 3:1\-6: “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. W... |
What was the practice of casting lots? |
Answer
The practice of casting lots is mentioned seventy times in the Old Testament and seven times in the New Testament. In spite of the many references to casting lots in the Old Testament, nothing is known about the actual lots themselves. They could have been sticks of various lengths, flat stones like coins... |
What are the various theories on the atonement? |
Answer
Throughout church history, several different views of the atonement, some true and some false, have been put forth by different individuals or denominations. One of the reasons for the various views is that both the Old and New Testaments reveal many truths about Christ’s atonement, making it hard, if not... |
What is dogmatic theology? |
Answer
Dogmatic theology gets its name from the Greek and Latin word [dogma](what-is-dogma.html) which, when referring to theology, simply means “a doctrine or body of doctrines formally and authoritatively affirmed.” Basically, dogmatic theology refers to the official or “dogmatic” theology as recognized by an ... |
What is Montanism? |
Answer
Montanism is named after a self\-styled prophet named Montanus who lived in Asia Minor in the second century AD. Montanism, also called the Cataphrygian heresy or New Prophecy, taught that the Holy Spirit was continuing to give new revelation through Montanus and his followers and that Jesus would soon br... |
How can I know for sure that I will go to heaven when I die? |
Answer
Do you know for certain that you have eternal life and that you will go to heaven when you die? God wants you to be sure! The Bible says: “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13\). Suppose you were standing before... |
What is the right religion for me? |
Answer
Fast food restaurants entice us by allowing us to order our food exactly the way we want it. Some coffee shops boast over a hundred different flavors and varieties of coffee. Even when buying houses and cars, we can look for one with all the options and features we desire. We no longer live in just a choc... |
What is moral theology? |
Answer
Moral theology is a term used by the Roman Catholic Church to describe the study of God from a perspective of how man must live in order to attain the presence or favor of God. While dogmatic theology deals with the teaching or official doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church, moral theology deals with the ... |
Should I use a paraphrase of the Bible? |
Answer
A paraphrase is a retelling of something in your own words. A paraphrase of the Bible is different from a translation in that a translation attempts (to varying degrees) to communicate as “word\-for\-word” or as “thought\-for\-thought” as possible. A paraphrase takes the meaning of a verse or passage of S... |
What are the seven seals, seven trumpets, and seven bowls in the Book of Revelation? |
Answer
The [seven seals](seven-seals-Revelation.html) (Revelation 6:1–17; 8:1–5\), [seven trumpets](seven-trumpets-Revelation.html) (Revelation 8:6–9:21; 11:15–19\), and [seven bowls/vials](seven-bowls-Revelation.html) (Revelation 16:1–21\) are three series of end\-times judgments from God. The judgments get inc... |
What is the whore of Babylon / mystery Babylon? |
Answer
Revelation 17:1\-2 tells us, “Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and talked with me, saying to me, ‘Come, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters, with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drun... |
What is the end times tribulation? |
Answer
The tribulation is a future seven\-year period when God will finish His discipline of Israel and finalize His judgment of the unbelieving world. The church, comprised of all who have trusted in the person and work of the Lord Jesus, will not be present during the tribulation (Got Questions Ministries take... |
Christian Theology |
The word “theology” comes from two Greek words meaning “God” and “word.” Combined, the word “theology” means “study of God.” Christian theology is the study of what the Bible teaches and what Christians believe. Many believers treat Christian theology as something that is dividing, something that should be avoided. In... |
Bible Summary / Survey |
A good summary / survey of the Bible is difficult to achieve. The Bible is comprised of 2 testaments, 66 different books, 1,189 chapters, 31,173 verses, and 773,692 words. The different books of the Bible cover different topics and were addressed to different audiences. The books of the Bible were written by approxima... |
Does God exist? |
Answer
Whether God exists is one of the most basic and important questions any person can consider. Opinions about God abound, but answering the question *does God exist?* demands more than a few seconds of attention and involves a wide range of ideas and evidence. Ultimately, what we see in human experience, sc... |
What is theology proper / Paterology? |
Answer
Theology proper is the study of God and His attributes. Theology proper focuses on God the Father. Paterology comes from two Greek words which mean "father" and "word" \- which combine to mean "the study of the Father." Theology proper answers several important questions about God:
[Does God exist?](... |
Why does God allow bad things to happen to good people? |
Answer
We live in a world of pain and [suffering](Bible-suffering.html). There is no one who is not affected by the harsh realities of life, and the question “why do bad things happen to good people?” is one of the most difficult questions in all of theology. God is sovereign, so all that happens must have at le... |
Did God create evil? |
Answer
At first it might seem that if God created all things, then evil must have been created by God. However, evil is not a “thing” like a rock or electricity. You cannot have a jar of evil. Evil has no existence of its own; it is really the absence of good. For example, holes are real but they only exist in s... |
Does God love everyone or just Christians? |
Answer
There is a sense in which God loves everyone in the whole world (John 3:16; 1 John 2:2; Romans 5:8\). This love is not conditional—it is rooted in God’s character and based on the fact that He is a [God of love](God-is-love.html) (1 John 4:8, 16\). God’s love for everyone could be thought of as His “merci... |
What are the attributes of God? |
Answer
The Bible, God’s Word, tells us what God is like and what He is not like. Without the authority of the Bible, any attempt to explain God’s attributes (inherent qualities) would be no better than an opinion, which by itself is often incorrect, especially in understanding God (Job 42:7\). To say that it is ... |
Is God sovereign or do we have a free will? |
Answer
When we talk about free will, we are usually concerned with the matter of salvation. Few are interested in whether we have the free will to choose salad or steak for our dinner tonight. Rather, we are troubled over who exactly is in control of our eternal destiny.
Any discussion of man’s free will m... |
Does God still perform miracles? |
Answer
Many people desire miracles from God. They want God to perform miracles to “prove” Himself to them. “If only God would perform a miracle, sign, or wonder, then I would believe!” This idea, though, is contradicted by Scripture. When God performed amazing and powerful miracles for the Israelites, did that c... |
What are the different names of God, and what do they mean? |
Answer
Each of the many names of God describes a different aspect of His many\-faceted character. Here are some of the better\-known names of God in the Bible:
**EL, ELOAH \[el, el\-*oh*\-ah]:** God "mighty, strong, prominent" (Nehemiah 9:17; Psalm 139:19\) – etymologically, *El* appears to mean “power... |
Why does God allow the innocent to suffer? |
Answer
There is so much [suffering](Bible-suffering.html) in the world, and it is felt by everyone to one degree or another. Sometimes, people suffer as the direct result of their own poor choices, sinful actions, or willful irresponsibility; in those cases, we see the truth of Proverbs 13:15, “The way of the tr... |
Does God punish us when we sin? |
Answer
For believers in Jesus, all our sin—past, present, and future—has already been judged on the cross. As Christians, we will never be condemned for our sin. That was done once for all: “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1\). Because of the sacrifice of Christ, God see... |
Where was God on September 11? |
Answer
On September 11, 2001, God was exactly where He always is – in Heaven in total control of everything that happens in the universe. Why, then, would a good and loving God allow such a tragedy to happen? This is a more difficult question to answer. First, we must remember, “For as the heavens are higher tha... |
Who created God? |
Answer
A common argument from atheists and skeptics is that if all things need a cause, then God must also need a cause. The conclusion is that if God needed a cause, then God is not God (and if God is not God, then of course there is no God). This is a slightly more sophisticated form of the basic question “Who... |
Does God hear / answer the prayers of a sinner / unbeliever? |
Answer
John 9:31 declares, “We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly man who does his will.” It has also been said that “the only prayer that God hears from a sinner is the prayer for salvation.” As a result, some believe that God does not hear and/or will never answer the prayers of ... |
Why does God love us? |
Answer
This short question is among the most profound questions ever asked. And no human would ever be able to answer it sufficiently. One thing is certain, however. God does not love us because we are lovable or because we deserve His love. If anything, the opposite is true. The state of mankind since the fall ... |
Why was God so evident in the Bible, and seems so hidden today? |
Answer
The Bible records God’s appearing to people, performing amazing and undeniable miracles, speaking audibly, and many other things that we do not often witness today. Why is this? Why was God so willing to reveal and prove Himself in Bible times but seems "hidden" and silent today?
One reason God may... |
Does God change His mind? |
Answer
Malachi 3:6 declares, “I the LORD do not change. So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed.” Similarly, James 1:17 tells us, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” Numbers 23:19 is clear: “God is n... |
Has anyone ever seen God? |
Answer
“No one has ever seen God” (John 1:18a). This statement refers to the spiritual nature of God. God is spirit (John 4:24a), and so we are naturally limited in perceiving Him. Physical eyes cannot behold spiritual beings.
The Lord Jesus Christ is a unique case: “No one has ever gone into heaven except... |
What does it mean to have the fear of God? |
Answer
For the unbeliever, the fear of God is the fear of the judgment of God and eternal death, which is eternal separation from God (Luke 12:5; Hebrews 10:31\). For the believer, the fear of God is something much different. The believer’s fear is reverence of God. Hebrews 12:28\-29 is a good description of thi... |
Why is God a jealous God? |
Answer
It is important to understand how the word “jealous” is used. Its use in Exodus 20:5 to describe God is different from how it is used to describe the sin of jealousy (Galatians 5:20\). When we use the word “jealous,” we use it in the sense of being envious of someone who has something we do not have. A pe... |
How do I get the image of God as imposing and angry out of my mind? |
Answer
Perhaps it will help to consider one of the most profound statements in the Bible: “God is love” (1 John 4:8\). Never was a more important declaration made than this—God is love. This is a profound statement. God doesn’t just love; He is love. His nature and essence are love. Love permeates His very being... |
Why is God so different in the Old Testament than He is in the New Testament? |
Answer
At the very heart of this question lies a fundamental misunderstanding of what both the Old and New Testaments reveal about the nature of God. Another way of expressing this same basic thought is when people say, “The God of the Old Testament is a God of wrath while the God of the New Testament is a God o... |
Is God / the Bible sexist? |
Answer
Sexism is one gender, usually male, having dominance over the other gender, usually female. The Bible contains many references to women that, to our modern mindset, sound discriminatory towards women. But we have to remember that when the Bible describes an action, it does not necessarily mean that the Bi... |
Is it wrong to question God? |
Answer
At issue is not whether we should question God, but in what manner—and for what reason—we question Him. To question God is not in itself wrong. The [prophet Habakkuk](Habakkuk-in-the-Bible.html) queried God concerning the timing and agency of His plan. Rather than rebuke Habakkuk for his questions, God pa... |
Is there anything God cannot do? |
Answer
On a clear night, look up at the stars in the sky. Genesis 1 records that God made all of them! Imagine the power in just one star! But it is not just about raw power. There is intelligence and design packed in our universe down to the smallest DNA strand, down to the smallest subatomic particle. God’s po... |
Does God have a sense of humor? |
Answer
Perhaps the best indication that God does have a sense of humor is that He created man in His image (Genesis 1:27\), and certainly people are able to perceive and express humor. The American Heritage Dictionary defines a “sense of humor” as “...The ability to perceive, enjoy, or express what is comical o... |
Why did God command the genocide of the Canaanites? |
Answer
In Deuteronomy 20:16–17, God commanded the Israelites, “In the cities of the nations the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance, do not leave alive anything that breathes. Completely destroy them—the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites—as the Lord your God has commande... |
What is YHWH? |
Answer
The ancient Hebrew language that the Old Testament was written in did not have vowels in its alphabet. In written form, ancient Hebrew was a consonant\-only language. In the original Hebrew, God’s name transliterates to *YHWH* (sometimes written in the older style as *YHVH*). This is known as the tetragra... |
Is God male or female? |
Answer
In examining Scripture, two facts become clear. First, God is a Spirit and does not possess human characteristics or limitations. Second, all the evidence contained in Scripture agrees that God revealed Himself to mankind in a male form. To begin, God’s true nature needs to be understood. God is a Person,... |
Why does God demand, seek, or request that we worship Him? |
Answer
As the Lord Jesus conversed with a [Samaritan woman](woman-at-the-well.html) whom He encountered at Jacob’s well, He tells her something about God the Father: “A time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers... |
Is God fair? |
Answer
In many people’s minds, fairness is everyone receiving exactly what he or she deserves. If God were completely “fair,” by this definition, we would all spend [eternity in hell](hell-real-eternal.html) paying for our sin, which is exactly what we deserve. We have all sinned against God (Romans 3:23\) and a... |
What does it mean that God is love? |
Answer
Let’s look at how the Bible describes love, and then we will see a few ways in which God is the essence of love. “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self\-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does ... |
Why does God create people when He knows they are going to go to hell? |
Answer
Please understand that God does not cause anybody to go to hell. Rather, man chooses to go there on his own. You can see the progression of those who reject Christ in the first three chapters of the book of Romans. The wrath of God is revealed against the unrighteous because man rejects the Creator and wo... |
What does God look like? |
Answer
God is a spirit (John 4:24\), and so His appearance is not like anything we can describe. Exodus 33:20 tells us, “You cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.” As sinful human beings, we are incapable of seeing God in all His glory. His appearance is utterly unimaginable and too glorious to be ... |
Why does God allow sickness? |
Answer
The issue of sickness is always a difficult one to deal with. The key is remembering that God’s ways are higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:9\). When we are suffering with a sickness, disease, or injury, we usually focus solely on our own suffering. In the midst of a trial of sickness, it is very difficult t... |
Does God make mistakes? |
Answer
God makes no mistakes. His perfection and greatness disallow mistakes: “Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom.” (Psalm 145:3\). In the original language, the word translated “fathom” incorporates the thought of “possible to find out or enumerate.” In other words, God... |
Why does God allow evil men like Hitler and Saddam to come into power? |
Answer
The Bible says that God is sovereign. This means that He is ultimately in control of everything, not just some things. He is in control of the weather (Psalm 148:8\), life and death (Psalm 104:29\-30\), and even seemingly inconsequential happenings (Proverbs 16:33\). God’s sovereignty extends to the ruler... |
Why does God allow natural disasters? |
Answer
Why does God allow earthquakes, tornados, hurricanes, tsunamis, typhoons, cyclones, mudslides, wildfires, and other natural disasters? Tragedies like the 2023 earthquake in Turkey and Syria cause many people to question God’s goodness. It is distressing that natural disasters are often termed “acts of God... |
What is deism? |
Answer
Deism is essentially the view that God exists, but that He is not directly involved in the world. Deism pictures God as the great “clockmaker” who created the clock, wound it up, and let it go. A deist believes that God exists and created the world, but does not interfere with His creation. Deists deny th... |
Does God still speak to us today? |
Answer
The Bible records God speaking audibly to people many times (Exodus 3:14; Joshua 1:1; Judges 6:18; 1 Samuel 3:11; 2 Samuel 2:1; Job 40:1; Isaiah 7:3; Jeremiah 1:7; Acts 8:26; 9:15—this is just a small sampling). There is no biblical reason why God could not speak to a person audibly today. With the hundre... |
Does God tempt us to sin? |
Answer
In Genesis 22:1, the Hebrew word translated “tempted” is the word *nacah*, and it means “to test, try, prove, tempt, assay, put to the proof or test.” Because it has so many possible synonyms, we must look to the context and compare it to other passages. As we read the account of the event, we note that G... |
What was God doing before He created the universe? |
Answer
Our finite minds find it hard to comprehend that before the universe was created, God existed alone. We know from John 1:1 that Jesus also existed: “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” The preincarnate Christ was intimately united with the Father, so as to parta... |
Subsets and Splits
Top Long Responses
Returns the prompts and responses where the response length falls within a specified range, ordered by decreasing length, which provides basic insight into the distribution of response lengths.