Fourth Year Ministries

Question - "Hello Pastors, today in Biology class we were talking about Malaria. We discussed that the only way a person can become infected with Malaria is if they get bitten by a mosquito that has the disease, and the only way a mosquito is carrying the disease is if they bit an infected person; and I was wondering what came first and who created diseases? Thanks." Answer - No, thank you! It has been over 35 years since I took High School Biology so it was about time I brushed up a little. I'm not sure about everything your Teacher taught but the dilemma you present is an accurate one. Where did the Malaria come from in the first place? How did the first person infected with it get infected? I checked out the science stuff. Here is what I was able to find. Malaria is a living organism. A parasite. The Malaria that infects humans is called p. falciparum  or p. vivax depending on the strain. I believe the "p ." classifies it as a parasite but remember...

Q: Did Jesus Bear the Full Punishment of My (Our) Sin? Now, as a Christian, I know the answer to that question is inexplicably YES! But in 2 Corinthians 5:21 we are told Jesus, who knew no sin, became sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God. Now sin requires a price to be paid; the wages of our sin is death (Romans 6:23a) as well as being cast into the eternal lake of fire (Revelation 20:15) with no opportunity for redemption (Hebrews 9:27). Now Jesus, bore our sins, died a physical death, descended into hell. He was then resurrected from the dead and has ascended into Heaven and is seated at the right hand of God. Now the heart of the question, is the 'price' that Jesus paid for my sins the same as the price I would have had to pay? My sin deserves eternal separation from God. But Jesus has not been eternally separated. Now I can rationalize that because of His eternal fellowship with God (i.e., I AM), that even one day not in His prese...

In this final part of the series on the question, "What is salvation and can you lose it?", we will turn our attention to the difficult subject of "apostasy." If you missed the first four parts, you can read them here: Part 1 , Part 2 , Part 3 , and Part 4 . As we've surveyed issues relating to salvation, it seems clear that the gift of God in eternal life is not something that can be lost or stolen from the individual who repents and places their faith in Christ. Thank God, for this is good news indeed! However, this does not appear to be the end of the story -- and there is a danger of "giving up" or "forfeiting" this salvation based on our own stewardship of the gift we have received (1 Timothy 4:1-3). Paul apparently recognized this danger in his own life when he states plainly regarding his "freedom in Christ": I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it. 24 Do you not k...

Q: What is salvation and can you lose it? There's the saying "once saved always saved". Using the scripture that no one is able to snatch them out of the Fathers hand. (John 10:29) but it says in verse 27 My sheep hear my voice, I know them and they follow me. So the no snatching is referring to those who hear and follow, in other words who are obedient to His Word. So, the ones that do not heed the call of the Lord and follow can be snatched? What about sin hardening the heart? (Hebrew 3:13) Shipwrecked faith? (1Tim 1:19) I have heard the saying - "It's not how you start the race but how you finish it." In Hebrew 3:14 For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, If you aren't a true follower of Christ then how can you have the strength on your own to even run the race. It is because of Christ and who He transforms you to be that you would even want to ...

After taking a look at the past ( Part 1 ) and present ( Part 2 ) elements of salvation, it's time to turn to the future element of salvation. To briefly recap, salvation is being rescued from the penalty of sin (the past element) and the power (the present element) of sin, death and the devil by the grace of God. In the future , we will be saved from the presence of sin. God is Holy and Righteous, so no sin can dwell in His manifest presence (Habakkuk 1:13; Psalm 5:5; 76:7; 130:3) and in the final state (what some theologians refer to as "The Eschaton") God will be manifestly present among His people in the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:1-4). Since this is the case, sin will necessarily be dealt with fully and finally prior to ushering in the final state of Heaven at a time yet future (see these posts for more about the current state of Heaven and Hell ) by God. As part of the coming judgment , God will bring every thought, word and deed into light and wil...

Q: What is salvation and can you lose it? There's the saying "once saved always saved". Using the scripture that no one is able to snatch them out of the Fathers hand. (John 10:29) but it says in verse 27  My sheep hear my voice, I know them and they follow me.   So the no snatching is referring to those who hear and follow, in other words who are obedient to His Word.  So, the ones that do not heed the call of the Lord and follow can be snatched? What about sin hardening the heart? (Hebrew 3:13) Shipwrecked faith? (1Tim 1:19) I have heard the saying - "It's not how you start the race but how you finish it." In Hebrew 3:14 For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, If you aren't a true follower of Christ then how can you have the strength on your own to even run the race.  It is because of Christ and who He transforms you to be that you would even want to run the race ...