Questions you asked
about our Christian Faith:

 

. . . Do you have a Question you would like to ask us?

 

 

061604
 

Is baptism necessary to be saved? What are your views on Mark 16:16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.  and other verses in the Bible that talk about being saved?

Jonny G.

 

Answer:

I believe that it is not necessary to be baptized to be saved.  However I believe that it glorifies God when we get baptize.  Through baptism we shed the old and we allow the new to transform us.  Jesus tells us that if we confess that Jesus Christ is our Lord then he will profess us before His Father. (Mat 10:32 NIV) "Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven." 

Baptism is just that;  a confession that we acknowledge our Lord and Savior. 

Imagine if a person would be in a terrible car wreck and in the last second in his life on earth the person would give his life to Jesus Christ and then die . . . I do not believe that God would say:" Sorry you can't have eternal life since you were not baptized"

 

What is your answer to this question?

062204
 

My husband and I worked in ministry for some years now, we are now ready to open and start our own ministry.  Is getting ordained online a good way to start or how do we go about becoming ordained in the state of California.

Shonda H.

 

Answer:

If you wish to perform weddings, etc. then you have to be licensed/ordained by the State of California.  An ordination process online means nothing! (it is a money making business . . . that is all)   Ordination through a congregation/denomination on the other hand affirms your calling by the congregation and/or denomination.

I highly recommend to contact the Secretary of State in California and ask for the legality of licensing and ordination.  I suggest you check online first and then call the office.

 

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071604
 

Hi Two questions for you: (1)  If we are born of one body in Christ our Lord and his body is the Church ,then why the fractions with denominations?

 

(2) Sin- what is it by definition and not its collective term of " sin is Lawlessness ".

Graham R.

 

Answer:

(1) Even in the early church were many fractions and different understandings of the Gospel and certain meanings.  Throughout time our understanding of the will of God for us has changed.  Some of us read the Word of God without the cultural context, others transpose the Word of God to our understanding of the world today, etc. I truly believe that if we are sincere in studying the Word of God; when we worship our Savior and do NOT find excuses for our own sinful behavior, God will forgive us.  The essence here is that we live a life as close to God as we can and that we do not knowingly (deliberately) sin as described in Hebrews.

If we remain in God's Word we remain one body, even though our understanding maybe different.  I encourage you to see all the denominations as a quilt . . . pieces that make up one body.

 

(2)  The word "sin"

In the Hebrew (OT) are three definitions of sin:

  • Pesha or Mered - An intentional sin; an action committed in deliberate defiance of God;
  • Ovon - This is a sin of lust or uncontrollable emotion. It is a sin done knowingly, but not done to defy God;
  • Cheit - This is an unintentional sin

In a nutshell:  When we sin we are not in relationship with God.  When we sin we commit an action that is against the will of God for us.  Sin may have an immediate negative effect on us (and others, because God build in a cosmic effect and or if we do not repent our spirit will die in a broken relationship with God and we will be unable to regain a relationship with God and live in eternal separation from our Creator

What is your answer to this question?

080104
 

Do you feel you can loose your salvation, and if so, can it be regained?

Jeremy C.

 

Answer:

There is the same old question different groups in our Christian faith have asked themselves for hundreds of years: "Once saved always saved?"

Those who believe say that Christ only died once for us and cannot be crucified again and that one cannot lose his or her salvation. Their argument is also that if one is saved and dies immediately he will go into heaven and there is nothing humankind can do to save themselves.

I think that is a reasonable argument.

Those who believe that one can lose their salvation say that one must constantly ask for forgiveness for the sins one has committed in order to go to heaven and that salvation is not a free pass to go into heaven.

I think that also is a very reasonable argument.  read entire article here

 

What is your answer to this question?
110806

Many years ago I accepted Jesus as my savior or least I think I did . During the first part of my acceptance everything seemed to go well, but things started to happen over and over I prayed and for God's help to no avail. So I turned away, now I want to get myself right with God but I find myself unable to because what I want to do I can't and what I don't want to do I do. So now I doubt everything I had done did I really accept Jesus or was I just lying to myself and why does it seem as though wants nothing to do with me.....
Gary B.

Answer:
The greatest gift that God gave us is that we can make our own choices.  We can follow our own desires, or we can chose to follow the will of God.  Accepting Jesus as our personal Savior means that we are willing to follow God's will to the best of our ability.  That means to study the bible with other believers, to be willing to be held accountable by other believers, to proclaim the Kingdom of God in words and deeds to others.
I urge you to pray and find the answers that you seek.  God has given you the answers already, because God knew you long before you were born!  Therefore the answers are within you.  Seek them earnestly and allow God's voice to speak to you.

Remember God loves you!  Seek God in all of your ways and seek a church - home.  Seek spiritual guidance from those who are available at your local church.

What is your answer to this question?