Q&A

Questions and Answers

I run into questions all the time. Some of them are pretty run-of-the-mill questions that come around on a weekly basis. Others are a little deeper. Some are even pretty challenging. This page is designed to answer some of the questions that I get in a way that allows everyone to engage in the conversation.

So you understand what goes into the responses to these questions, I will let you in on my process. Firstly, I pray. If a slave of Christ wants wisdom, knowledge, and insight, they need only ask their Father for it. We have not, many times, because we ask not. So, prayer is first and foremost. Secondly, is a nice collection of trusted teachers and preachers of God's Word. I'm VERY critical of the men I allow into this category. I have eliminated many in the past, and although it saddens me greatly to do it, and I miss their teachings... I stick to my guns, and I'll do it again if I must. Then, I'll pray some more and just let it all settle in my mind. I'll ask God to guide me and give me the words to use in my response. One might say that I sort of 'freestyle.' This way, you get my genuine response and not something that was 'prepared' for your scrutiny. From the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. I do my best to pack my heart with doctrinally solid teaching, so that's what should come out of my mouth.

That being said, I make mistakes like anyone else. If you find a mistake that I've made, please bring it to my attention. Please know that just because you found one doesn't automatically mean that you are right. You make mistakes the same as I do. On a case-by-case basis, I will pray for humility and discernment. If, indeed, you ARE right, those close to me will tell you that I will apologize and fix my error if I can. If it's on my website, you'll find the error fixed. I will then also thank that person for helping me. I don't mind being wrong if it means that I learn and I will be right next time. You would think that would mean making fewer mistakes down the road, but so far in my life, it hasn't worked out that way. I'm actually very good at making new mistakes. LOL

I may even think of keeping track of my retractions, just to be extra-transparent. I really like transparency. I like people who are super-honest, even if it hurts my feelings. I will do my very best not to hurt your feelings, but I feel like being super honest is refreshing to most people, especially when most of the people in this world (leaders and officials chief among them) are not honest and the OPPOSITE of transparent.

Quesions

Can you explain 1 Timothy 2:15? "the woman will be saved through child-bearing?"

Nancy Hale - Reno, NV

Response

I'm going to let Pastor Tom Luitwieler answer this one. He is more wise and knowledgeable than me and I could NOT have answered it like he did if you paid me to. What a great question! We both were the student on this one! ---

"Nevertheless, verse 15, she, meaning the woman, will be saved (the New American Standard says 'preserved...' it's a better word) in the child-bearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness with self-control. You say, "What in the world does that mean?" Well, we know what it doesn't mean. It doesn't mean that a woman is saved by bearing children. That's just not true. Both men and women are saved by their faith alone in Jesus Christ. We know that that's true, so what's he talking about? Well, there's two possibilities. Through the woman, Eve... all women will be saved through THE child-birth. It's a reference to the incarnation of Jesus Christ, who would come through a woman. That's one interpretation. Through the seed of the woman, the Messiah, salvation is possible for all mankind. That's one possibility. The second one, is the woman is rescued or saved from a second-class role in the marriage relationship and the stigma of having led the human race into sin, because through child-birth she has the greater influence of raising the children. That's certainly true. That balances out the roles between the men and the women. They're kept from... uh... in the accusation of inferiority through the godly influence that they have on their children. In other words, a woman finds her greatest satisfaction; fulfillment, not in seeking the role of her husband, but in fulfilling God's design for her. It was Charles Mciver who said, "When you educate a man, you educate an individual. When you educate a woman, you educate an entire family." And praise God for mothers. I gotta tell you, I've watched my wife raise our children and it's an incredible thing. It's a gifting and a calling and it's a wonderful thing. And now I've been blessed to watch my daughter-in-law raise our grandson. It's unbelievable. The attention that's there. It's a godly thing.

Pastor Tom was my first pastor when I was saved. I highly recommend his teaching. Find Pastor Tom's full sermon in its entirety at https://www.dropbox.com/sh/lfp3f93pjoi4nyo/AABNHZ7mukURZfqt7p9BZ0m5a/54%20-%201%20Timothy?dl=0&preview=1tim-02_08to15-10_10_10.mp3&subfolder_nav_tracking=1
You can find ALL his sermons at https://www.dropbox.com/sh/lfp3f93pjoi4nyo/AAAhCGLk7Fn2zyDCHPN-L08Oa?dl=0

Can you unpack atonement and imputed righteousness?

There's a part in Exodus where Moses was with his wife. I think they were going to Egypt. Then all of a sudden it said that God was going to kill Moses. I never said why?

In Revelations, Jesus is referred to as the firstborn of the Dead. How can that be if he himself raised people from the dead.

Can you unpack how Friday night to Sunday morning was three days in the grave for Jesus? And what do you think of the theory that He was crucified on Wednesday? - M

Can you provide a textual criticism for the verses regarding women teaching men in the church? Do you agree that they should not be allowed? - M

What is your response to the theory that the book of Jonah is simply allegory and not to be considered literal and an actual event that happened? - M

Questions in Genesis:
1. God told the serpent he was going to go on his belly. Did he have legs?

2. He, the serpent, was called craftier than all the beasts of the field. So, he was a beast?

3. In Gen 3:22, it says "the man has become like us." Is that the trinity? Or just the Father and the Son?