FAQ’s
During our training sessions and workshops people ask a number of questions. We encourage questions because they stimulate discussions and debates on a number of topics. God’s Word is always clear and precise, and provides answers to any question any person will ever have. We have assembled some of the most frequently asked questions (FAQ’s) listed below, and have provided Biblical answers to those questions with scripture references.
These are the first series of questions; more will follow.
You may enter any questions or comments in the “Comments” box below.
A Personal Comment: I wish to take this opportunity to thank my friend, Kinny Phelps, who helped me with the editing, supplying of additional and relative scripture verses, and was a great encouragement to me, personally. Rich & Karen Molinar also helped me with the editing. But it was my husband Tom, whose patience and guidance, logical thought and organisational skills, which truly helped me with this specific FAQ project and the “Safari” sections of this website.
(Tom designed and implemented this entire website; quite a feat!)
I am deeply grateful; and have much appreciation! Cheryl
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Q1. What must I do to be saved?
Q2. What else must I do to be saved?
Q3. Can I lose my salvation or eternal life?
Q4. What happens when I do things against God’s Will?
Q5. What should I do now as a believer and child of God?
Q6. Why does there seem to be so much “wrong” in the world today?
Q7. Why do “bad” things happen to good people?
Q8. What does the Bible say about handling problems?
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Q1: What must I do to be saved?
A: “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved” – Acts 16:33. Jesus Christ is the unique Son of God who came to this world, to take on the sins of this world, to take on our own condemnation and pay the penalty of death for us on the Cross. He then rose again, so that we may live with Him in eternity and have everlasting life.
I Peter 2:24: He (Jesus Christ) personally bore our sins in His body on the tree (Cross), so that we might be dead to sin and live for righteousness. For by His wounds you have been healed.
John 14:6: Jesus answered: I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 3:16: For God so loved the world so much that He gave His one and only, uniquely born Son, that everyone who believes in His Son, will not perish but have eternal life.
Ephesians 2:8-9: FOR BY GRACE ARE YOU SAVED THROUGH FAITH, and NOT of yourselves. It is the GIFT of God, not of works lest any man should boast!
John 3:18: Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
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Q2: What else must I do to be saved?
A: Absolutely Nothing! Jesus Christ has done it all! This is grace – His Grace!
God expects nothing from you except to believe in His Son! Through His Immeasurable Grace, God has given us His all. We cannot be saved through any good works or rituals or anything else that man has set up as futile attempts to get us to heaven.
Ephesians 2:4-5: But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.
Titus 3:5: He saved us, not on the basis of the righteous deeds which we have done, but according to His mercy and grace. He saved us through the washing of regeneration (His blood, poured out on the Cross, washed away our sins) and by the renewing by the Holy Spirit.
And repeated again in: Ephesians 2:8-9 – FOR BY GRACE ARE YOU SAVED THROUGH FAITH, and NOT of yourselves. It is the GIFT of God, not of works lest any man should boast!
However, if we do NOT believe in Him, we are judged and condemned for all eternity, into the Lake of Fire.
John 3:36: Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath (judgement) remains on him.”
Rev.20:14,15: Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
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Q3: Can I lose my salvation or lose eternal life?
A: No. You will never lose your salvation or eternal life. Once you are in the palm of His Hand, there is nothing that can snatch you away. Just as we do nothing for salvation, we do nothing for eternal security. As a son will always be the son of his earthly father, then more so, you will always be a son of the Heavenly Father. No one can change that bond.
Jesus Himself gave us His word in John 10:28 – And I give eternal life to them and they shall never perish; and no one shall pluck them out of My Hand!
Romans 8:35 says: Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
Romans 8:38 & 39 confirms eternal security: For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
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Q4: What happens when I do things against God’s Will?
A: We are commanded by God that every believer is to remain filled with the Holy Spirit and not grieve Him through any act of mental, verbal or overt sin, which precludes the believer from having fellowship with God.
Ephesians 4:30-32: And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
In addition, we are commanded in Ephesians 5:18: Don’t be drunk with wine (self-indulgent lifestyle), because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit.
But God in His incredible Grace has given us a solution whenever we do sin: Through the simple acknowledgement of that sin (just NAME your sin to God), you as a believer will once again be filled with the Holy Spirit; regain His power to live the spiritual life; and have your mind set on what the Holy Spirit desires.
He promised us in I John 1:9: “If we acknowledge (name) our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
King David of the Old Testament committed many sins, and he stated in Psalms 32:5, “I acknowledge my sin to You (O Lord), and did not cover up my wickedness. I will name my wrongdoing to the Lord, and He WILL forgive me.”
It is simple as that: Acknowledge it; Name it; And He will not only forgive, but He will also forget it! Likewise, we must do the same: Pick yourself up; dust yourself off; and move on.
Isaiah 43:25: I, even I, am the One who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake; And I will remember your sins no more.
Hebrews 8:12: For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.
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Q5: What should I do now that I am a believer and child of God?
A: Once you become a child of God, just as you would in your physical life, you must grow spiritually, to maturity. Therefore, you need food to nourish and grow, which is all contained in The Word of God.
Matthew 4:4: Jesus answered, It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’
Deuteronomy 8:3(b): To teach you that man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.
For as a child you can only accomplish childish things; but as a mature adult you can carry out responsibilities, make intelligent decisions, identify your destiny in life and thus, you will glorify God, which is our purpose here on earth.
II Peter 3:18: But grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
I Peter 2:2: As newborn infants, desire the sincere milk of the Word that you may grow spiritually.
And above all: Romans 12:2: Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to prove and KNOW what the Will of God is for your life, which is good and acceptable and perfect.
The best way to grow up spiritually and have total knowledge of who Christ is, is finding a good local church with a Pastor-Teacher who is fully prepared, qualified and dedicated to teaching God’s Truth. Just as you would wish to study under the finest Professor in school, so you must rely on a qualified Pastor-Teacher to teach you God’s Word.
Ephesians 4:11-13: It was he (the Holy Spirit) who gave some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
And God’s Word explains further…
Ephesians 4:14-16: Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
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Q6: Why is there so much “wrong” in the world today?
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A: Three Basic Reasons:
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1. Sin entered the world when Adam sinned
2. Man’s Free Will & his Bad decisions
3. Satan’s influence and evil policies
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1. Sin entered the world when Adam sinned: When God created the world, He created a perfect world and perfect environment! God is perfect and could create nothing less. Man was created in God’s own image – perfect!
But Man was also given a free will; something with which God would never interfere. Thus, Adam chose to disobey God and subsequently, sin entered the world. Adam’s disobedience to God made him a sinner and through his genes, mankind inherited a sin nature. Hence, sin entered the worldWe now have wars, poverty, sickness, etc. But these will only be until Christ returns to earth again, at the 2nd Advent.
Genesis 1:26 & 27: Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
Romans 5: 19: For just as through the disobedience of the one man (Adam) the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one Man (Jesus Christ) the many will be made righteous.
Mark 13:7: When you hear of wars and rumours of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.
Matthew 26:11(a) & Mark 14:7: The poor you will have always.
2. Man has free will, given to him at Creation, to choose for or against God; to obey or disobey God. If man chooses to reject God, then he is responsible for the repercussions of his own wrong decisions. Wrong decisions produce wrong actions, and the results of such actions are most evident in the world today.
Isaiah 24:5-6(a): The earth is defiled by its people; they have disobeyed the laws, violated the statutes and broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore, a curse consumes the earth; its people must bear their guilt.
And Ephesians 2:1-3, explains further…
As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, Satan, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature, objects of God’s wrath.
Galatians 6:7-8: Don’t be misled, you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Holy Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit.
Bad Decisions: Because of Man’s free will, even good people make bad decisions at times. And bad decisions will produce bad consequences. Believers have the free will to make their own choices, and God in His Grace will never interfere with them. However, just as an earthly father disciplines his children when they go against his will, so also God will discipline His children.
James 1:13-15: When tempted, one should not say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and commits sin. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
Proverbs 3: 12: For the Lord corrects those He loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights.
Hebrews 12: 9-11: Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live forever! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in His holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
3. Satan is the Ruler of this world: In his evil mind Satan tries to confuse and deceive mankind into thinking what is wrong is right and right is wrong. He is insidious in his ways. The result is chaos, anarchy and evil within this world. But his evil rule will last only until the Lord Jesus Christ returns to the earth for the second time. In the meantime, because of our faith, this gives us the victory in Jesus Christ. For through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can and will overcome Satan and be Victors and witnesses for our Lord.
Revelation 12:9: The great dragon was hurled down – that ancient serpent called the devil or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth and his angels (demons) with him.
And in vs.12 (b): But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, for he knows his time is short.
1 John 5: 1: Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ, is born of God.
Verse 4 further states: For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our Faith!
And verse 5, goes on to state: Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God!
John 16:33: These things (His Word) I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage and have confidence, for I have overcome the world.
Acts 1: 8: And you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses….to the ends of the earth.
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Q7: Why do “bad” things happen to good people?
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A: Three Basic Reasons:
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1. Testing of the believer’s faith
2. Becoming a Witness for Him
3. Suffering by association
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1. The Testing of the Believer’s Faith: God always knows how much a believer is able to endure under pressure. Believers can be winners by overcoming adversity. By trusting in God’s perfect character and by learning and applying God’s promises to any given situation, the believer’s faith will be strengthened and his spiritual growth accelerated.
Romans 8:28 – For we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God.
James 1:2-4 – Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything
I Corinthians 10:13 – No testing has overtaken you that is not common to man. And God is faithful. He will not allow the testing to be more than you can stand. When you are tested, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.
I Peter 1:6&7 – In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed.
Example of Job: The historical case of Job is an excellent example of why “bad” things happen to “good” people. Job was a very righteous man, “blameless and upright; who feared God and shunned evil.” (Job 1:1 & 8). So Satan asked God if he could “test” Job to see how Job’s faith would stand up under pressure when everything he held dear in life was taken away. God gave Satan permission to test Job, but with certain limitations – he could not take Job’s life.
Job’s faith and confidence in God were tested to the extreme. Job lost everything – his wealth, his health, his home, his wife and family. Yet through it all, Job remained faithful to God’s Word and God blessed him abundantly, restoring his health, family, happiness and prosperity beyond his earlier state. In this way Job was a great witness to all those around him.
Job 42:10 – And the Lord restored the fortunes of Job, when he had prayed for his friends. And the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.
2. Witnesses for Him: A believer who is strong in God’s Word is able to handle any situation in life. He doesn’t panic or become depressed when faced with “bad” circumstances. Through his life, others are able to see the peace and joy and strength of the Lord that carry believers through difficult times.
Unbelievers may become more open to the gospel of Jesus Christ and believe in the Lord. Immature or wavering believers may be encouraged and strengthened in their faith. God is then glorified in the believer’s life. Job, of the Old Testament was a strong witness to all who knew him of the Love and Grace of God, in spite of all his pain and misfortune.
II Corinthians 1:3-4 – Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort. Who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in trouble, with the same comfort that we ourselves have received from the Lord.
II Corinthians 12:9 – But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
Psalm 119:71-76 – It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees. The word from your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold. Your hands made me and formed me. Give me understanding to learn your commands. May those who fear you rejoice when they see me, for I have put my hope and trust in your Word. I know, O LORD that your words are righteous, and in faithfulness you have afflicted me. May your unfailing love be my comfort, according to your promise to your servant.
3. Suffering by Association: Others may share in the blessings by association with a strong and mature believer; or they may see the benefits of a strong and prosperous nation. Similarly, “good” person may also suffer “bad” things because of his associations. For example: Many “good” German people and Jews suffered under the evil policies of Nazi-Germany; or people in a land of famine and plague, or victims of natural disasters may suffer along with all other citizens.
However, believers are always given the strength, courage and protection from God’s Word, and through His Grace can live and survive in all circumstances.
II Thessalonians 3:3 – But the Lord is faithful and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.
Romans 8:28 – For we know that God causes ALL things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His Plan.
Romans 8:38-39 – For I am confident that neither death not life, nor angels, nor principalities nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing or being, shall be able to separate us from the LOVE OF GOD, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
NB: Believers should not focus on why other people are going through adversity. Rather, look into one’s own life, first. Evaluate and analyse the situation (Psalm 139:23-24). If discipline, then simply acknowledge the action or thought and move on (I John 1:9). If testing, then we claim His Promises and move on. If it is to be a Witness for Him, then glorify God in your life. When the believer understands why things happen, then he can apply the correct Promise and application of God’s Word to the situation. The believer can then focus on the Lord Jesus Christ; claim His Promises, knowing He will give us the ability to go through it all. (These points are discussed in greater detail in Q8, below).
Psalm 139:23-24 – Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way of everlasting life.
I John 1:9 – If we confess (acknowledge) our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
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Q8: What does the Bible say about handling problems?
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A: There are Four Basic Ways:
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1. Understand the problem
2. Acknowledge the problem
3. Claim His Promises
4. Grow spiritually
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1. Firstly – Understand the problem. Look at the situation objectively. Understand God’s Purpose and the reason(s) why the problem is present. Evaluate the situation and attempt to understand the reasoning behind the happening (discussed in detail in the previous Question, Q7). Not one thing in Life happens by accident.
Psalms 57:2 – I cry out to God Most High; to God who will fulfil His purpose for me.
Proverbs 20:24 (a) – A believer’s steps are directed by the Lord.
I Corinthians 2:10 – But God has revealed it to us by His Holy Spirit.
2. Secondly – Acknowledge the problem. Take responsibility for your decisions. If the problem is related to a sin or failure, you must first acknowledge that sin to God. Then you are restored into fellowship with God through the Filling of the Holy Spirit, and He will continue to teach and guide you.
I John 1:6 – If we claim to have fellowship with God yet walk in the darkness we lie and do not live the truth.
I John 1:9 – (But) If we name our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteous.
3. Thirdly – Claim a Promise. Learn His Promises, so you can claim them when faced with problems. We must come to understand God’s character; that He will always do what He promises, for He cannot and does not lie.
Titus 1:2 – A faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time
Have faith in His promises, and you will have peace and contentment in your soul, and a relaxed mental attitude, even through the most trying and difficult times.
II Corinthians 5:7 – We live by FAITH, not by sight.
II Peter 1:4(a) – He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, in order that by them you might become partakers of the divine nature.
Hebrews 11:6 – And without faith it is impossible to please Him (God), for he who comes to God MUST BELIEVE that He is God, and that He will reward all those who seek Him.
There are no “hopeless” situations with God! He will either deliver you out from that circumstance or problem, or He will sustain you through it, so you will be able to endure it all; assured in His Promises, which you have learned, which are now embedded in your soul; secure in the fact that He knows all things and is in control of all things. But above all, confident in the knowledge that He loves and cares for you!
I Peter 5:7 – Casting all your care (anxiety) on Him, because He cares for you!
Philippians 4:7 – And the peace of God which surpasses all understanding, shall guard (garrison) your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4: 8-9 – Whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy, meditate on these things. . .and the God of peace will be with you.
Isaiah 26:3 – Thou will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee, because he trusts in Thee.
Isaiah 40:31 – Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired; they will walk and not become weary.
Isaiah 30:18 – Therefore the Lord longs to be gracious to you, and therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you. For the Lord is a God of justice; how blessed are all those who long for Him.
Romans 8:31 – What then shall we say of these things (problems)? If God is for us, who can be against us?
4. Fourthly – Continue to grow up spiritually. Study to know God’s Word and all that He has set out for you in His Plan and Purpose for your life on this earth. God provides Pastor-Teachers in local churches to teach believers on a regular basis, in order that they may grow to spiritual maturity.
Philippians 3:13-14 – Brethren, I do not regard myself as having achieved it (spiritual maturity) yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead. I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.
II Timothy 2:15 – Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth.
Hebrews 4:12 – The Word of God is alive and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of the soul and the spirit, and of the joints and the marrow, and is a critic of thoughts and intents of the heart!
II Timothy 3:16-17 – All scripture is God-breathed, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God might be mature, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
Ephesians 4:11-15 – Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do His work and build up the Church, the Body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the Head of His Body, the Church.
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