I was thinking today about agency, which is freedom of choice right? It has become apparent to me, through experience and through being told so, that we cannot avoid sinning,. If we can’t avoid sinning, is that a lack of agency, since if some of us could choose it, we wouldn’t sin?

Thank you so much for all your understanding in all these topics, and may God continue to bless you with profound wisdom!

I was reading a devotional and something this author wrote has disturbed me. Speaking of Romans 8:28 he said, “God promises that he will work out everything to our good, and the good of others, as long as we obey Him”.

As far as I know this Scripture reads this way: “And 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 purpose.”

I do realize that if someone loves God they are going to make every attempt to obey Him except that I know there are so many many times I do not obey God even though I always want to. So am I to believe that God is not going to work everything to my good because I’m sometimes disobedient?

I was talking with a Bible study teacher at my church who interprets 2 Thes 2:8-10 as indicating that after the rapture anybody who has heard the Gospel and rejected it prior to the rapture is ineligible to receive salvation in any sense before the 2nd coming. In so doing, he is putting this in the same arena as blasphemy against the Holy Spirit and receiving the mark of the beast. His focus on this is with the words “those who perish” and “they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved.” What are your thoughts on these verses?

In our Sunday service we say “the Lord’s Prayer”. The wording has been changed to “forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us”. Is sin the same as trespass? I know that I must forgive others who do me wrong but am I forgiving sin or trespasses? Thank you for your help.

Re: Whose Image Is It? I have a question about God’s image upon mankind post-fall, since as you pointed out, we all “bear the fallen image of Adam…what we call the ‘sin nature’ “. Is there a remaining “image of God” alongside the “fallen sin nature” then?

I have been converted to OSAS by your ministry. However, I must disagree with your use of the parable of the prodigal as proof of the OSAS doctrine. That is the story of the licentious son and the legalistic son, neither had a relationship with their father, as one was in a far country and the other was in a far field. The only way a person can be saved is through repentance and before the prodigal repents, he is merely a lost youth trying to find fulfillment in life.

Luke 12:49 has puzzled me for many years. Jesus said He came to send fire on the earth and how He wished it were already kindled. (NKJV) I’ve thought of different interpretations – the fire that would come at Pentecost, the fire of God’s wrath against the ungodly (tribulation), and fire in a believer’s heart that is manifested by fervent love of God and service to Him. Do you believe it is one of these or is there something else? I would truly appreciate your understanding.

Re: 1 Peter 3:15. “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.”

Why is it only a hope that we have? I’ve always considered that a strange phrase. Why is it not a sure thing? I hope for many things all the time, but a hope is wishful thinking. I hope all my family will be saved, but I have no assurance of it. How is Salvation any different? How can we be sure of our Salvation when it’s only a hope that we have?

Re: How Are We To Believe? Is not the Love we receive from Jesus the assurance we have in Him, the fact that He knows us, and loves us, and has a relationship with us? Is it not through this love He expresses to us that we are shown all things of His Kingdom? Scholarly approach to the Bible is great for argument, especially with the unbeliever, or the person who hasn’t learned to trust faith, but isn’t the revelation of the Truth, given by the Holy Spirit, the aim of scripture? There is nothing easy about believing, and I have found that the greatest stumbling block is me, my thinking, my need to think that I can understand.

In John 5:28-29 the Bible says “Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.”

This verse has me concerned as a believer in Jesus Christ. I was curious to know if this scripture pertains to unbelievers when it says “and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.” Those that have done good and receive eternal life are believers, correct?