I have a question about the Garden of Eden. I heard a well known bible teacher say that Jerusalem could be the same place where God established Eden. He made some interesting parallels like In Genesis 2:8 where it states that God planted a garden toward the east of Eden. Directly east of the Temple mount is the Garden of Gethsemane and the Mount of olives. What are your thoughts on if Jerusalem is Eden?

I have a question on Romans. What does Paul really mean in Romans 7:25 where he said that “with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin”. Does this mean that even though he can’t outwardly keep the law that pleases God as long as he has the will of wanting to do what is right, it is already a mode of serving the law of God?

I have been an avid reader of your blog and books for many years – Thank you for the great amount of learning that you have provided to all of us. Today at my weekly church service I was listening to my pastor talk about the wonderful story of grace that the bible explains, and then he asked a question that made me really think. He asked the congregation, “Where are we currently in the wonderful story of the bible?” He then opened the bible to the page that was just between Jude and Revelation. Do you think is this correct? Are we just in the before or just into the beginning of Revelation?

I have learned from reading Gracethrufaith that Matt. 24 is about the surviving Jews at the end of the tribulation. However I am wondering about your opinion concerning Matt. 24:49. These people were judged by what they had done. My wife and I are invited to an Octoberfest party and it does give me pause to know we will be eating and drinking with drunkards. I feel if we don’t go it will send a message that we are too good to spend time with old friends. I know this has nothing to do with my salvation however I want to do what is pleasing to the Lord. Any thoughts how God views these things is greatly appreciated.

We have a new pastor and he has been very persistent about how the congregation praises the Lord. He wants everyone to raise their hands, shout and move about. Many in the congregation, including me, don’t always feel comfortable doing this. From time to time, I have raised my hands to the Lord but I don’t do it all the time. I was raised singing the old hymns and they speak to my heart and soul but the new pastor is insisting on singing the newer contemporary songs. The newer songs seem very repetitive to me and they go on and on without seeming to have an ending. What I need to know is…does the Lord expect everyone to raise their hands and shout to show praise to Him? Is He disappointed when I don’t do this? This really bothers me and I don’t want the Lord to be unhappy with the way I praise Him.

What was the specific reason the Apostle John was sent to the island of Patmos? Was it because he accused the king of adultery? I get confused sometime between the Apostle John and John the Baptist. Thank you in advance for your clarification.

RE: Collective Salvation. Our pastor recently stated that we do not have individual salvation without collective salvation. I am attending a Methodist denomination. Is this their established doctrine? I have been a follower of Christ and studied the Bible for 55 years, and attended many wonderful churches, but I have never heard this before. It does not ring true with me.

I have a question about tithing. My husband and I are scraping by with our bills and rent and I have nothing left to give to the church except being at church and joining in the worship. Will God still bless us even if we have nothing to give to Him?

Those who believe in a Pre-Wrath rapture say that the writers of the New Testament, especially Peter, Paul & John didn’t expect Jesus to come at any time. They say that according to Matthew 24:1-32 the temple had to be destroyed first. Also the Lord told Paul to go many places and the Lord couldn’t have come before Paul went to those places. Paul also said that the time of his departure was at hand, meaning he knew the Lord wouldn’t come back at just any time (2 Tim. 4:6). How do you answer them?

I have a question about John 4 where he talks about the nobleman’s son who is sick and who Jesus heals. Is it the same incident as the Centurion’s servant’s healing in Matthew 8? I have read that they are the same but are just different views. Just curious. What do you think?