How can I confront a person who is lying to me?

How do I deal with a Christian when I believe he has been untruthful with me?

The New Testament statement, "lie not one to another" Ephesians 4:25)," TARGET="_blank">Ephesians 4:25), clearly indicates believers could be untruthful with one another. Examples from Scripture underline God's displeasure with untruthfulness: Cain lied about his brother (Genesis 4:9);" TARGET="_blank">Genesis 4:9); Ananias lied to the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:4)." TARGET="_blank">Acts 5:4). To be helpful, it would be prudent, after much prayer, to show the apparently untruthful believer the serious view that Divine Persons have of their action. The suspecting believer is thus attempting to convince him to be transparent and honest. Remember, there is more convincing power in the Word of God than in our own attempts to correct our brother.

H. S. Wells

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Is the Devil a real being or just an evil force?

Is Satan real?

Satan is real, and he is your enemy. However, a believer does not need to fear him. He is a defeated foe. His doom has already been spoken by God. However, he is still alive and well.

A misconception of Satan

Much of our conceptions about who the devil is, what he does and what he looks like come from sources other than the Bible, making them mere superstition or tradition. During the in the medieval ages, Satan was illustrated and painted as a hideous creature in hell with horns, goat's legs, and with a forked tail. The necessary accessory, the pitchfork also appears in his portraits. Apparently the devil uses the pitchfork in Hell to torment the lost. None of these images is biblical. His appearance is actually “an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14-15)" TARGET="_blank">2 Corinthians 11:14-15) and “the son of the morning” (Isaiah 14:12-15)" TARGET="_blank">Isaiah 14:12-15) while in reality is the deceiver. The names “serpent” and the “dragon” (Revelation 12:9)" TARGET="_blank">Revelation 12:9) tell us that his beauty is not delicate beauty like a flower, but a dramatic, harsh character.

2 Corinthians 11:14-15" TARGET="_blank">2 Corinthians 11:14-15 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. (15) So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.

The verses of Isaiah 14" TARGET="_blank">Isaiah 14 are applied to both the king of Babylon and Satan who was inspiring his actions.

Isaiah 14:12-15" TARGET="_blank">Isaiah 14:12-15 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! (13) For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: (14) I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. (15) Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.

The names of Satan

The Bible uses several different names to describe the mission of the devil:

1. Satan

Satan means an enemy or adversary. In Job 1:6," TARGET="_blank">Job 1:6, Satan appears before God in order to gain permission to attack Job. The Lord permitted Satan to touch Job’s home, health and fortune, but not to take Job’s life. Satan wanted to destroy Job and his faith in God.

2. Devil

The devil means an accuser (Revelation 12:10)." TARGET="_blank">Revelation 12:10). Although Christians are justified in Christ, the devil continues to accuse them of sin. The remedy for our defense is a good lawyer, or advocate, which is Christ. Christ has never lost a case involving one of his own. (1 John 2:1)" TARGET="_blank">1 John 2:1)

Revelation 12:10" TARGET="_blank">Revelation 12:10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

1 John 2:1" TARGET="_blank">1 John 2:1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

3. Lucifer

Lucifer is the name meaning “son of the morning” (Isaiah 14:12)." TARGET="_blank">Isaiah 14:12). Satan was originally created as a glorious, majestic angel. Satan’s original position as an angel, created by God, was one of the “cherubs who covered” the throne of God (Ezekiel 28:14)." TARGET="_blank">Ezekiel 28:14). The sanctuary that Moses constructed in the tabernacle was modeled after the heavenly sanctuary. The two golden figures that guarded the Ark of the Covenant are figures of the cherub beings that were constantly in the presence of God. Both Isaiah 14" TARGET="_blank">Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28" TARGET="_blank">Ezekiel 28 were written against kings – one of Babylon and the other of Tyre – but are applied equally to Satan in his fall from power because of his sin of pride. The Lord used the same kind of language when talking to his disciple Peter. "Get behind Me, Satan!" (Matthew 16:23)." TARGET="_blank">Matthew 16:23).

Ezekiel 28:12-19" TARGET="_blank">Ezekiel 28:12-19 "Son of man, raise a lamentation over the king of Tyre, and say to him, Thus says the Lord GOD: "You were the signet of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. (13) You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering, sardius, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, emerald, and carbuncle; and crafted in gold were your settings and your engravings. On the day that you were created they were prepared. (14) You were an anointed guardian cherub. I placed you; you were on the holy mountain of God; in the midst of the stones of fire you walked. (15) You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created, till unrighteousness was found in you. (16) In the abundance of your trade you were filled with violence in your midst, and you sinned; so I cast you as a profane thing from the mountain of God, and I destroyed you, O guardian cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. (17) Your heart was proud because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor. I cast you to the ground; I exposed you before kings, to feast their eyes on you. (18) By the multitude of your iniquities, in the unrighteousness of your trade you profaned your sanctuaries; so I brought fire out from your midst; it consumed you, and I turned you to ashes on the earth in the sight of all who saw you. (19) All who know you among the peoples are appalled at you; you have come to a dreadful end and shall be no more forever."

4. The Serpent

The serpent, or the dragon, is an image that takes us from Genesis 3" TARGET="_blank">Genesis 3 to Revelation 12." TARGET="_blank">Revelation 12. He is the deceiver who led Eve and the whole world astray.

Revelation 12:9" TARGET="_blank">Revelation 12:9 And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world--he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.

5. The Prince of this World

Christ called the devil the “prince of this world” or “ruler of this world” (John 12:31;" TARGET="_blank">John 12:31; John 14:30;" TARGET="_blank">John 14:30; John 16:11)." TARGET="_blank">John 16:11). In the epistles he is spoken of as the “god of this world” (2 Corinthians 4:4)" TARGET="_blank">2 Corinthians 4:4) and the “prince of the power of the air” (Ephesians 2:2)." TARGET="_blank">Ephesians 2:2).

6. The Father of Lies

The Lord Jesus gave the devil the name that best describes the character and heart of the devil including the terms “murderer”, “liar” and “father of lies”. This is not mere slander as we humans would tend to characterize our enemies. This is the terminology that Christ uses to warn us about the tactics and motives behind our enemy.

John 8:44" TARGET="_blank">John 8:44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

Real Person or Force?

The Bible references mentioned above speak about the devil as a real being and not just and evil tendency or chaotic mess.

The Lord Jesus talked about the devil as a real person – Matthew 4:1-12;" TARGET="_blank">Matthew 4:1-12; Matthew 13:39;" TARGET="_blank">Matthew 13:39; Matthew 25:41;" TARGET="_blank">Matthew 25:41; Luke 8:12;" TARGET="_blank">Luke 8:12; John 8:44;" TARGET="_blank">John 8:44; John 12:31;" TARGET="_blank">John 12:31; John 14:30;" TARGET="_blank">John 14:30; John 16:11." TARGET="_blank">John 16:11.

Shad Sluiter

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What is the full name of Jesus? Is it Lord Jesus Christ or just Jesus?

Is the name Jesus enough to refer to Christ or does he have a fuller title like "Lord Jesus Christ, Emmanuel, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Father of Eternity"? These, and many more titles, are not sufficient to capture the fullness of him who is "the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation." Colossians 1:15." TARGET="_blank">Colossians 1:15.

Last names, or surnames, were not used in Jesus' time. It wasn't common in Europe for people to use them until the middle ages.

Surnames were initially based on who the father was (Mike Thomson), the occupation that one had (Mike Miller), or what town a person lived in (Mike Berlin).

Jesus might have been named Jesus bar Joseph, Jesus Carpenter, Jesus Nazareth if they used surnames. Yeshua bar Yosef (Aramaic name form) of Nazareth (Jesus son of Joseph of Nazareth).

A common way to refer to Christ is to use the three, short, but descriptive titles "Lord Jesus Christ" or "Jesus Christ". There is no one single formula used in the Bible. The appropriate name is used in all situations to emphasize something about Him. Sometimes, the name Jesus is used to emphasize his humble birth and earthly life (Acts 9:27;" TARGET="_blank">Acts 9:27; Acts 19:15;" TARGET="_blank">Acts 19:15; Acts 21:13;" TARGET="_blank">Acts 21:13; Acts 26:9)." TARGET="_blank">Acts 26:9).

Jesus is his earthly name, used to emphasize that he is the Savior (Matthew 1:21)." TARGET="_blank">Matthew 1:21). The Bible refers to him as simply Jesus in many of the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Certainly they show no respect to him for using his earthly name. He is referred to more fully in the epistles as Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23" TARGET="_blank">Romans 6:23

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The name of Christ is "one who is anointed" by God which has the idea of being chosen or the Promised One. John 4:25-29" TARGET="_blank">John 4:25-29

John 4:25-29" TARGET="_blank">John 4:25-29
(25) The woman said to him, "I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things." (26) Jesus said to her, "I who speak to you am he." (27) Just then his disciples came back. They marveled that he was talking with a woman, but no one said, "What do you seek?" or, "Why are you talking with her?" (28) So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, (29) "Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?"

He is Lord, in the full sense in that he is God. Acts 2:36" TARGET="_blank">Acts 2:36

Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.

Shad David Sluiter

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When should a church collect money?

Why does the assembly collection customarily follow the Lords Supper?

"Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him" (1 Corinthians 16:2)." TARGET="_blank">1 Corinthians 16:2). This is a personal responsibility enjoined on each believer (not couple) in the assembly. Paul has in view, though, "the collection for the saints" (verse 1) and wants to avoid a "gathering" when he comes to Corinth (verse 2). He teaches, therefore, that on the first day of the week the believers should contribute to a collective fund. These communications (Hebrews 13:16)" TARGET="_blank">Hebrews 13:16) are sacrifices, a part of our worship. Offering up spiritual sacrifices is the first priority of our gathering, but we should not conclude our gathering without these material offerings - whether by passing a basket or contributing to a box conveniently located in the place we meet.

D. Oliver
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Should our children be taught sex education in public schools?

Should our children be taught sex education in public schools?

In Old Testament days, God entrusted moral training to the family: "Thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up" (Deuteronomy 6:7)." TARGET="_blank">Deuteronomy 6:7). God intended parents to discharge this responsibility diligently, deliberately (even when sitting to relax), decidedly (as inseparable from normal living as walking - or driving?), and daily (last thing at night, first thing in the morning). Since Paul (Ephesians 6:2)" TARGET="_blank">Ephesians 6:2) bases New Testament teaching about family relations on Old Testament principles, Christian parents still have the primary responsibility to teach their children morality. Scripture elevates such matters, although private and sensitive, to a place of honor (Hebrews 13:4)" TARGET="_blank">Hebrews 13:4) and consummate beauty (Ephesians 5:31, 32)." TARGET="_blank">Ephesians 5:31, 32). This moral training is a privilege and a responsibility.

Christian parents are dutybound to be aware of what is happening in their child's education. Since God's moral standards are "for our good always" (Deuteronomy 6:24)," TARGET="_blank">Deuteronomy 6:24), aren't parents responsible to protect their child if they discover that his classroom experience is (or will be) contrary to his home training?

D. Oliver

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Has prophesy been fulfilled in our lifetime?

Has prophesy been fulfilled in our lifetime?

This is an important and necessary question regarding the mystery view. Old Testament prophecy and New Testament prophecy centers around Israel. Both refer to specific events, times, seasons, persons, and places. New Testament statements fulfilled in this age or in our lifetime are of a different kind. For example, Second Timothy three describes "last time conditions." These are moral features that will characterize evil throughout this present period, up to the Rapture. That is likewise the character of what the Lord unfolds in Revelation 2" TARGET="_blank">Revelation 2 and 3. It may therefore be preferable to refer to this as the mystery view rather than the "prophetic view."

Distinguishing these two types of forecasts is crucial. We have no authority to state that present events fulfil the specific prophecies that center around Israel. After the Rapture, God will raise up prophets (Joel 2:28)" TARGET="_blank">Joel 2:28) whose ministry will be to identify, for example, events or persons saying, "this is that" (fulfilling specific Scriptures), as Peter did at Pentecost (Acts 2:16)." TARGET="_blank">Acts 2:16). The gift of prophecy is not functioning today. Those who attempt to exercise it have brought the subject of Bible prophecy into public shame.

D. Oliver
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Should Christian

Should Christian’s take a fatalistic view of political elections?

Godly living includes subjection to governmental authority (Romans 13:1;" TARGET="_blank">Romans 13:1; Titus 3:1)" TARGET="_blank">Titus 3:1) and prayer for the salvation of rulers and all men (1 Timothy 2:1-4)." TARGET="_blank">1 Timothy 2:1-4). The Lord Himself was interested in the affairs of the political world (Luke 13:1-3, 32; 19:12-14)," TARGET="_blank">Luke 13:1-3, 32; 19:12-14), but the only specific involvement is His teaching that His disciples pray, "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth" (Matthew 6:10)." TARGET="_blank">Matthew 6:10). We are therefore concerned about God’s will being carried out in governments, including in elections. To this end we pray.

To be fair, though, the argument that Christians shouldn’t vote because they might be opposing God’s will in an election is weak. By the same logic, a Christian could hardly dress himself for fear of violating God’s will on a given day that he wear black shoes instead of brown shoes. We seek to know God’s will, pray for it, and do it. If it were right for Christians to vote, they should seek to ascertain God’s will for an election, pray for it, and vote accordingly. The weak link in that statement is not the difficulty in ascertaining God’s will, but the premise. Christians shouldn’t voluntarily vote.

D. Oliver
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Does the Lord Jesus possess omniscience only as far as the Father allows?

Does the Lord Jesus possess omniscience only as far as the Father allows? (John 13:3)" TARGET="_blank">John 13:3)

The passage from which this question arises is, "Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands . . ." (John 13:3)." TARGET="_blank">John 13:3). Another passage that raises this question is "But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father" (Mar 13:32)." TARGET="_blank">Mar 13:32). The Lord’s statement, "It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in His own power" (Acts 1:7)," TARGET="_blank">Acts 1:7), may shed some helpful light on this issue. The Father has placed information in His authority. It is His right to disclose it in keeping with His purpose. The Son knew all things (John 16:30)." TARGET="_blank">John 16:30). For instance, He knew all that the Father was going to do, but He only acted on what the Father was doing at that moment (5:19). He knew all that was involved as He brought God into full revelation (1:18), yet He only spoke what the Father told Him to speak (12:49). In the passage under question in John 13," TARGET="_blank">John 13, He always knew what the Father had committed into His hands, but He now acted in keeping with that awareness. He always acted, thought, and spoke consistent with His distinct role in the Godhead.

D. Oliver
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How large did Jacob's family grow in Egypt?

If Jacob's family "increased abundantly" (Exodus 1:7)" TARGET="_blank">Exodus 1:7) in Egypt for 430 years (Exodus 12:40)," TARGET="_blank">Exodus 12:40), wouldn't their population have been much more than 2 million?

When they arrived in Egypt, the descendants of Jacob numbered 70 (Exodus 1:5)," TARGET="_blank">Exodus 1:5), not counting Joseph and his two sons, or the family's marriage partners. The "population growth rate" from the time Jacob received his wives was at least 7%. With only a 5% rate of growth, the population after 430 years would be almost 200 million.

This is one reason to take another look at the 430 year figure in Exodus 12:40." TARGET="_blank">Exodus 12:40. This figure and the 400 years of sojourning and persecution in Genesis 15:13" TARGET="_blank">Genesis 15:13 must be understood with Paul's figure of 430 years from the promise of blessing through Abram's Seed until the giving of the law (Galatians 3:17)." TARGET="_blank">Galatians 3:17).

If we identify the beginning point of this period with Genesis 12:1-7," TARGET="_blank">Genesis 12:1-7, Abram was 75. 25 years takes us to the birth of Isaac (21:5), 60 more years to the birth of Jacob (25:26), and an additional 130 years to Jacob's arrival in Egypt (47:9). That's 215 years (25 + 60 + 130).

A 5% growth rate for the remaining 215 years of the total 430 years comes to around 2.5 million, a more reasonable figure. The following figures lend support to this.

According to Exodus 6:16-20," TARGET="_blank">Exodus 6:16-20, 4 generations (see Genesis 15:16)" TARGET="_blank">Genesis 15:16) span the time from Jacob's entering Egypt until the Exodus: Levi, Kohath, Amram, Moses. Since Moses was 80 at the time of the Exodus (Exodus 7:7)," TARGET="_blank">Exodus 7:7), that brings the total years to 295.

When Jacob entered Egypt at 130, Joseph was 39. He had become governor at 30 (Genesis 41:46)," TARGET="_blank">Genesis 41:46), and after 7 years of plenty, his brothers came for corn in the second year of famine (45:6). Joseph was born, therefore, when Jacob was 91 (130 minus 39), at the end of Jacob's 14 years of service for Rachel and Leah (30:25; 31:38). At the time of Joseph's birth, Jacob had been married to Leah 7 years (29:21-22,25); he was 84 when married. Levi was Leah's third son, so Jacob would have been about 87 at Levi's birth. Levi, then, was 43 years old (130 minus 87) when he moved down to Egypt. Kohath had been born already (46:11), but would not likely have been 23 - likely closer to 3. His son Amrarn was born sometime in the next 110 years, since Kohath died at 133 (Exodus 6:18)." TARGET="_blank">Exodus 6:18). Amram died at 137 (6:20), so the time between entering Egypt and the birth of Moses must have been less than 243 years (110 plus 133).

If, instead, we make the reasonable assumption that Levi, Kohath, and Amram were, on average, 46 when their sons were born, then the total from Genesis 12" TARGET="_blank">Genesis 12 to Exodus 12" TARGET="_blank">Exodus 12 is 430" TARGET="_blank">is 430 years. The sojourning in Exodus 12" TARGET="_blank">Exodus 12: 40 began when Abraham entered Canaan as a sojourner. The 400 years of being strangers and being persecuted by the Egyptians (Genesis 15:13)" TARGET="_blank">Genesis 15:13) began with Ishmael's mocking Isaac (Gen 21:9)." TARGET="_blank">Gen 21:9).

D. Oliver
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Will the resurrection bodies of the saints be the same as those in which they lived and died?

THE RESURRECTION BODY
Will the resurrection bodies of the saints be the same as those in which they lived and died?

In our Lord’s resurrection we have the pattern of our own. Was the Lord’s resurrection body the same as that in which He lived and died? Yes, it was the same body; there was nothing left in the tomb but the grave-clothes, and our Lord took pains to show that His body was truly the very one that had died, by calling attention to His hands and feet which bore the marks of His cruel death on Calvary.

But though the same, it was not under the same conditions.* It was a spiritual body, not subject to the same laws as before. It could disappear at will; it could pass through closed doors; it could be seen and not be recognised, and then suddenly become recognisable; but also it could be touched and felt; it could eat, it had flesh and bones, it was a real body. When the Lord ascended “God gave Him glory,” and His body was also glorified, as Paul saw Him on the way to Damascus. It was the same body, but under new conditions (see Luke 24:36-43;" TARGET="_blank">Luke 24:36-43; John 20:5, 7, 13, 19, 25, 27;" TARGET="_blank">John 20:5, 7, 13, 19, 25, 27; Philippians 3:20-21)." TARGET="_blank">Philippians 3:20-21). Really the buried body is the sown grain, and the glorified body the flower, the same, yet not the same. God gives to the grain a body as He pleases. But what goes to form the flower, was once in the grain. A gardener can recognise the flower from the seed, and vice-versa. And so every saint will have a glorified body that will be recognisable, as coming from its particular seed sown in the graveyard. There will be no confusion: “to every seed his own body,” and all “like Him” (1 Corinthians 15:37, 38, 44, 49)." TARGET="_blank">1 Corinthians 15:37, 38, 44, 49).
W.H.

* certain elementary substances such as sulphur, phosphorus, oxygen, carbon have the quality of existing in distinct forms, known as allotropic modifications. Thus carbon exists as diamond, graphite or soot. There may be a distant analogy between this and the existence of the body under different conditions.

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