Table of Contents

1. What do I do to be saved ?
2. Am I too bad to be saved ?
3. Why doesn't God stop all the suffering in the world ?
4. Who is Jesus?
5. Why did God allow man to sin ?
6. For further information visit the library or post your questions in the forum.

What do I do to be saved ?

Act 16:30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
Act 16:31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved, and your house.

This is the simplest answer  provided in the Bible the only way to God is through faith in Jesus. As the verses state all one must do is believe in Jesus and accept the gift of his sacrifice. Of course it is hard to believe in someone you don't know. If you do not know Jesus read the first four sections of the new testament Mathew, Mark, Luke or John they contain Jesus story as told by his closest followers and explain how God came to earth as a man to suffer and die to pay the debt owed for all the wrong things each of us has done so we may be found guiltless and enter heaven into Gods holy presence.

John 3:15 That whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
John 3:18 He that believes on him is not condemned: but he that believes not is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
 

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Am I too Bad to be saved ?

Many people feel they have done too many bad things for God to ever forgive them. They think salvation is only for the "good" people who go to church all the time. The truth is there are no good people. Only forgiven and unforgiven.

Rom 3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith in Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Rom 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
 

Many hear this and reply, "but you have no idea how much I've done and how bad it was." The truth is it doesn't matter. We tend to rank things as little sins like telling little white lies to make someone feel better and big sins like murder or drug addiction but God never makes these distinctions. He can not tolerate any sin at all. So we all deserve the same fate as sinners regardless of how often we have sinned or what our sins were.

Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Thankfully God is willing to forgive us no matter what we have done as long as we are willing to believe in Jesus, ask to be forgiven and turn away from our sins to try to live for him.

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Why doesn't God stop all the suffering in the world ?

For many this is the hardest question related to the Bible but there is an answer. There are several reasons for suffering some suffering is by our choice, some suffering is needed to teach us, some suffering is needed to bring people to salvation, some is allowed to test us.

When we place our hand in a flame we get burned. It is a natural consequence of our actions. In the same way often choices we make like eating lots of sugar snacks when we are young lead to natural health consequences as we age. These consequences are our choice and a matter of our free will to choose how we will live. If you made the choice expect the consequence.

Rom 5:3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation works patience;
Rom 5:4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
Rom 5:5 And hope makes not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who is given unto us.
 

As Paul said above sometimes we need to go through hard times to learn and become better people. As long as we are comfortable and settled in our daily lives we tend to remain the same but if we are stressed like the muscles of a weight lifter we can grow and improve. Some of our troubles are brought for this purpose that we may become stronger in faith and learn through the experiences.

To God nothing is more important than trying to save everyone so they can come home to heaven to be with him. 2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. So his priorities are different from ours. We often see death as a horrid thing to be avoided at all costs and often question how God could allow a good person or child to die. Firstly death is not a bad thing for someone who is going to heaven to be with God. It is simply a transition from one life to another much like the birth of a child. What is important is how may the death have affected others. Did it lead to others finding salvation as they looked for answers? Did it cause changes in location or other changes that set up events leading others to salvation? In the grand scheme whether you went to heaven today or in ten years has little meaning. If a death or other tragedy can lead even one person to turn from their path to hell and find Jesus so that they may spend eternity in heaven that is of the utmost importance to God. We all grieve and miss those who go on before us but never forget to consider the great good we may not be aware of that can follow. I am not claiming this is always the reason but I have witnessed tragedy leading to salvation many times.

1Pe 4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to test you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
1Pe 4:13 But rejoice, since you are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, you may be glad also with exceeding joy.
 

As with any product we are at times tested just as we test cars and other things we make God does from time to time allow us to be tested as Job was to show our worth and point out areas that need improvement. This process always leads to our strengthening just as problems presented to teach us and as hard as it is we should be glad and look forward to the new strength that will come from this exercise.

Lastly remember we do not know everything and can not predict what effect even the smallest comment we make may have on others but God knows. In the end we must simply trust  by faith his word that says..Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

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Who is Jesus?

When Jesus came to the area of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his followers, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" They answered, “Some say you are John the Baptist. Others say you are Elijah, and still others say you are Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” Then Jesus asked them, “And who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus answered, “You are blessed, Simon son of Jonah, because no person taught you that. My Father in heaven showed you who I am.” (Matthew 16:13-17, NCV) ]

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Why did God allow man to sin ?

Gen 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

God created man in his own image with only one shortcoming God knew the difference between Good and Evil and man didn't. Kept in this state man could never freely choose to love God his communion with God would be automatic.

Gen 2:17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you shall not eat of it: for in the day that you eat thereof you shall surely die.
Gen 2:18 And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.

God gave man the choice to continue in perfect fellowship but lacking the knowledge to choose to be a loving companion of God or to choose to gain the knowledge and loose the automatic fellowship with God by disobedience. Through the choice man made we gained free will. Now free to choose to love God or separate ourselves from him our free choice to love him gains greater meaning than simple unknowing obedience. The problem being that through that sin we were cut off and could not enter the presence of a pure and holy God. God solved this problem for us by sending a perfect sacrifice, Jesus, to cleanse us of our sin and create a path back to loving fellowship with God.

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Terry Chesnut
Copyright © 2001 
Revised: 06/28/08.