I was wondering where the concept of using a pastor or minister as an officiator for a wedding began. I have not seen any reference in the Bible that you must be married by one, so why is it done? What makes a couple truly married? Thanks and God bless.

Your articles on eternal security were such a blessing to me. I am still wrestling w/ some vital concerns however. You stated in several of your articles the believer’s behavior will not negate his or her salvation. But there are several verses in 1 John which seem to indicate to the contrary. For instance, chapter3 vs:9 says anyone born of God will not continue to sin because God’s seed remains in him , he cannot continue to sin! There are several others as well.

Coming out of a denomination that stressed grace/ works and struggling w/ sin as a believer, I want w/all my heart to embrace what you’re teaching! My sanity and marriage depend on it. Please keep serving our precious Lord by helping to liberate multitudes in bondage to legalism and rules and commandments taught by men!

Is it really possible to be angry at God for his action in ones life? I have a strong feeling that I am. When he took my wife home He left me in this messed up world alone after standing on his healing words and it didn’t happen. I feel so lost and confused. I really don’t want to be here anymore and hate every day that I am. I think about it day and night. Am I saved? His word says I am. I’ve accepted Jesus as my savior 23 years ago. My wife was. And I just want to be with her in heaven not this world. There has been so many times I’ve come close. I find no joy here. Sometimes I feel like It was just foolishness to believe he was going to heal her now that she is gone. I feel as though Ive been tossed in to hell its self and forgotten. Why do I still stay here? Why doesn’t he just take me now?

Luke 18:19 says “No one is good but One, that is, God.” What I don’t understand is why Jesus says that He isn’t good, and why He uses this word. I would use words such as awesome, perfect, holy, wonderful etc. What is the Bible definition of “good”? In my opinion a lot of things are good.

I was born again a year ago, and have slowly been realizing what God expects of me as a believer as I read more and more what His word says. A while ago I started working toward paying a full tithe and am now doing so. I feel that I have received many blessings already from our Lord. One thing I’ve prayed for is to be readmitted to a college program I flunked out of in 2003. It was a long shot , but I applied anyway and was accepted as if I had never left. Is it OK for me to see this as a blessing I received from seeking His kingdom first? Is it OK for believers to want to excel in a career?

I feel extremely blessed to have found GTF and you. My question concerns the mind and how many times various ‘stuff’ pops in there in short time spaces. I have made Proverbs 23:7 and Jeremiah 17;8 my daily theme as best as my mind will allow. My question is when the Rapture occurs so fast and there is a foul thought in my mind how do I get forgiveness before being in the presence of our Lord? I wrestle with this of thing sort constantly. I hope you can help. Thanks and may God Bless You.

I feel that the rapture is coming very soon, and I am excited about that. This world is getting more corrupt daily. At the same time, I feel selfish for wanting to go home now. My longing for Christ feels selfish to all of the poor souls who will be left here. Certainly I am being convicted of my selfishness right? So I have been praying for God to show me where He wants me to be, mentally speaking, during this time.

I give what I can to American charities, but have been leery of giving to international charities due to the fact that many are helping sinners. What is your take on this? These are not religious charities that I speak of.

If I list all the faithful patriarchs from Adam through Abraham (found in Genesis 5:3-32 and Genesis 11:10-22) and add Isaac and Jacob, the total comes to 24. Since we are never told how long the 24 Elders have been in Heaven or when they got there, wouldn’t their number more likely be composed of these patriarchs rather than being representative of the Church?

How does our blatant sin interfere with our hearing from the Lord? Do you believe that we are punished for repetitive sin and perhaps the Lord doesn’t do things for us that He might if we were repentant regarding our sin?