Bible Questions and Answers

 

Thank you for your question.

Answer:

God created this earth and man and woman for a purpose.

Numbers 14:21 But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD.

God’s purpose is to fill this earth with a people given the divine nature that he is able to dwell among forever in a way that we currently are unable to comprehend.

God is selecting out of each generation those who hear and respond to the gospel of the kingdom of God through belief his son, Jesus Christ.

For those that respond everything that happens to them whether good or evil works ultimately for their eternal salvation.

Romans 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.

Those who respond undergo trials of their faith to see whether it is genuine and to correct their ways.

Hebrews 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

Trials come in many forms but the end in view is the same.

1 Peter 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

The hope of the Christian is the promised return of Christ who will bring the purpose of God to fruition.

Ephesians 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

He is to return to raise from the dead those that are his and to establish the kingdom of God on earth.

After a reign of 1000 years over the mortal population, there will be a final judgment and death will cease.

All that are accepted will receive the divine nature and be made ‘equal to the angels’(Luke 20:36).

From this point on God will dwell with men and the earth will be filled with his Glory for eternity.

1 Corinthians 15:23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.

24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.

25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.

26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

27 For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.

28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

Of the evil that happens in this world there are four kinds.

·         One is brought about by the direct results of sin – man’s inhumanity to man.

Example: Genesis 4:8 And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.

·         The second comes as an indirect result of sin – the natural disasters which God cannot save us from because Adam’s disobedience condemned us all to sin and death.

Example: Luke 13:4 Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?

·         The third is evil (not sin) which comes directly from God in the form of national collective retribution.

Example: Deuteronomy 28:64 And the LORD shall scatter thee among all people, from the one end of the earth even unto the other; and there thou shalt serve other gods, which neither thou nor thy fathers have known, even wood and stone.

65 And among these nations shalt thou find no ease, neither shall the sole of thy foot have rest: but the LORD shall give thee there a trembling heart, and failing of eyes, and sorrow of mind:

66 And thy life shall hang in doubt before thee; and thou shalt fear day and night, and shalt have none assurance of thy life:

·         The fourth is the evil which comes upon a man to try his faith.

Example: Job 2:10 But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.

The punishment for all and every sin is death. God does not impose the sentence immediately but all will die whether by natural causes, accidents, natural disasters or by the hand of their fellow man.

Deuteronomy 32:39 See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand.

We are not caught in the middle between a force for good and a force for evil.

We are in a situation brought upon us by Adam’s disobedience.

Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

God has provided a way of escape through his son for those who will accept him.

1 Corinthians 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

To this end the gospel is preached.

Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

As far as National Governments are concerned, God is in control.

Daniel 4:17 This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.

This is confirmed by Paul.

Romans 13:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.

2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.

3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:

4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.

5 Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.

6 For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.

7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.

Once we understand that there is no Power other than God and that the opposition to God comes from within ourselves because we have free choice, we begin to see what the real problem is.

Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

This is confirmed by Christ:

Mark 7:20 And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.

21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,

22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:

23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

Whether we do good or evil in the sight of God we will not receive retribution in this life.

Ecclesiastes 9:2 All things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous, and to the wicked; to the good and to the clean, and to the unclean; to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not: as is the good, so is the sinner; and he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath.

The difference is that when we die (when or how matters not) those that are in Christ die with the certain hope of resurrection from the dead.

Those who reject Christ die without hope and will remain in the grave forever.

1 Thessalonians 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

I hope this helps

Glenn Smith

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