Made New: Q&A

1. I believe in age of accountability and once saved always saved. So if a child confesses Jesus is Lord and is baptized and then a few years down the road he or she realizes that they really did not know what Trinity or what baptism really represented. Should that child confess to Jesus again and be saved and be baptized again?

I don’t believe in an age of accountability. There is a difference to not understanding the Trinity and rejecting it, the same is true of baptism. I would say that a child who has come to a greater understanding of the Trinity and baptism doesn not need to understand baptism, so long as they had trusted in Jesus when they first were baptized.

2. What is your definition of rededicating your life to Jesus?

Rededication, in my opinion, is repentance. It is turning from a back slidden state to a renewed effort of faithfulness.

3. When I accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior I know he forgave me of all my sins. Is it a sin to think about those past sins that he forgave?

No.

4. Absent from the body present with the Lord. When does judgement come? Right then or in his second coming?

Temporal Judgement

Intermediate Judgement

Final Judgement

5. If someone has a friend/family member that has been distant for a long period of time because of problems between them and that person knows there is no need to confront them with apologies because there will be a scene of name calling etc. Should that person take if the Lords Supper?

It depends. Has a sin occured? If so, then the guilty party should confess that sin to the person and ask for their forgiveness. If you are the one sinned against, then you should confront that person in love and extend forgiveness. If they don’t apologize, then you must resolve in your heart to leave them to God’s judgment/vengeance and to love them regardless with prayer, preaching the truth, and kindness.

6. The new Jerusalem/ Heaven in Revelation. This confuses me. I really don’t know how to ask a question about it. Maybe a learning segment on made new?

We’ll do an episode on this sometime.

7. talks about no more death, mourning, crying nor pain. I don’t believe our loved ones can look down on us from Heaven because if they could they would be crying,etc seeing what we are going thru here on earth. I know in Heaven it’s going to be all about Jesus. What do you think?

8. Rapture is when Jesus gathers his people even the dead and meet him in the air. Second coming is when He defeats the evil. Tribulation is bad thing that happen before his coming. Is this correct? I always thought the second coming was when we the saved meet Jesus in the air and will happen in a twinkling if an eye.

This will likely be covered under the episode of question 6, but we can give a brief answer now.

The second coming is when Jesus returns, resurrects His people, rescuses them from final judgement, establishes them on the New Earth where they will reign with Him forever, and when He will entirely defeat satan, death, and cast His enemies into final judgment in the lake fire for all eternity. People on earth will experience tribulation between Jesus’ first and second coming. While a great tribulation, accompanying the revelation of the Anti-Christ. This will be followed by Christ return.

9. Laying hands on someone that is sick, etc. is this something you agree with and if so should it be done privately or with church family gathered around?

I am fine with doing it either way. However, it shouldn’t be a part of the worship service.

10. In believe ch 5 it talks about anointing with oil to heal the sick and be forgiven of sins. What’s your view?

: don’t have a strong position on this. However, in the text it is a private gathering between the individual and elders/pastors. I have no problem doing this. Faith is necessary for any of these things to have the effects, so described.

11. What is the proper interpretation of

12. In human relationships, is repentance required for forgiveness?

; ; : No, it isn’t required. In order for the full effects of forgiveness that is reconciliation repentance would be required. If we forgive a person who is unrepentant then we are simply not harboring that offense against them and not seeking vengeance. Instead we intrust the issue to God who judges justly.

We forgive as forgiven people:

Forgiveness is an act of faith:

13. Does a Calvinist perspective on salvation give you comfort when thinking about infants that die as opposed to an Arminian view?

Don’t have a position

14. In the Apostles Creed, what does it mean that Jesus "descended into hell"?

He descended into the realm of the dead, He died and was buried.

15. Is God's grace so great that even Satan can be saved?

Satan won’t be saved because God has not decreed it to be so.

16. If God created all things, does that mean He created evil?

We did an episode on this already, but in summary it depends on what you mean by create. God decreed in His infinitely wise purposes that evil would come into existence and be defeated. However, He is not the immediate cause of any evil act, nor are any of His motives evil.

17. While we do not need an intercessor between us and God (that role is filled by Jesus), is it wrong to use a person in this role, like a priest, even though we don't need to?

We may ask other Christians to pray for us, but the office of priest isn’t a New Testament office. Therefore, to have them in a “church” is unbiblical. Furthermore, if they claim to con-fir or secure God’s grace, then they have crossed into heterodoxy and heresy.

18. If God is sovereign, why should I pray?

He commands it and has ordained in His perfect wisdom to use it in the accomplishment of His purposes.

19. What does it mean to pray "in the Spirit"? (see and )

To pray depending on the Holy Spirit