John 20:23 says: "If you forgive anyone his sins they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven." If after you had sinned against a person and asked to be forgiven, have you received forgiveness even though the person in question did not forgive you?
This scripture needs to be looked at in context of the two preceding scriptures. After Jesus was resurrected, he appears to his apostles and tells them, "As the Father has sent me, I am sending [...]
Why was the Apostle Paul forbidden by the holy spirit to speak the word in Asia? (Acts 16:6)
Acts 16:6-10: “Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the holy spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. When they came to the border of [...]
Who are the “elect” in Matthew 24:22 and what is the purpose of shortening the days for their sake?
Just as Our Lord’s Great Prophecy (Matthew 24) applies now to the close of the Gospel Age, it also applied to the close of the Jewish Age. Jerusalem was sieged by the desolating Roman armies, [...]
Do Catholics, Jews, and Christians all go to the same place when they die even though they have different beliefs?
We believe that in order to go to heaven a person must be seeking the Lord and righteousness and believe that Jesus was the Messiah who died so that the entire human race would have [...]
How can we apply the statement given by Jesus: “do not resist an evil person” to the old adage: “all evil needs to thrive is for good people to do nothing.”?
Jesus said, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for an eye, and tooth for a tooth.’ But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. [Do not retaliate.] If someone strikes you [...]
Are Christians allowed to drink water when they fast?
When we look at the three Gospel accounts (Matthew 4:1-11, Mark 1:12-13, and Luke 4:1-13) of Jesus’ 40-day fast, nothing is said regarding whether Jesus drank water or not. Luke 4:2 specifically says, “He ate [...]
Is there any relationship between the giant Goliath (1 Samuel 17) and the progeny of the fallen angels mentioned in Genesis 6?
The scriptures do not actually tell us if Goliath had six fingers and six toes. We learn much later in another war the Philistines had with Israel (2 Samuel 21:15-22 and 1 Chronicles 20:4-8) that [...]
Why is it that so many Christians do not see the connection between faith and works?
We believe that one reason for the “disconnect” you spoke of may be the element of sacrifice that “works” involves. It is far easier to believe that faith alone is all that is needed in order [...]
What is the meaning of 1 Timothy 2:3-6?
“This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and [...]
Where did Enoch and Elijah go since flesh and blood cannot enter heaven?
“Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.” (Genesis 5:24) The Apostle Paul confirms this thought in Hebrews 11:5, “By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; [...]
Will the world end in 2017?
Honestly, although we have heard of many dates predicting the end of this present evil world, we had not heard of this particular one, so we looked on the Internet and found out where it [...]
What does the scripture mean “Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures [eagles] will gather.” (Matthew 24:28)?
In Matthew 24 and Luke 17:20-36 Jesus tells his disciples what the signs would be of his second presence. He tells them that the end times would be similar to the days of Noah when [...]
Does everyone have an angel and what is the purpose of that angel?
The word “angel” means messenger or ambassador. In the past, angels had been sent to earth by God to execute His commands and make His purposes known to men. You can read about some examples [...]
If God has already planned everything for us, how can we have a free will? How could God be "angered" by something if he planned it?
God created man in his “image” (Genesis 1:26-27), which means that man has the ability to reason and to make choices. God could have made man a robot to always do what is right, but then [...]
Why were the “High Priests commanded to eat meat”?
We believe you are referring to Leviticus 8:30-31, “Then Moses took some of the anointing oil and some of the blood from the altar and sprinkled them on Aaron and his garments and on his [...]
Why did the three Hebrews in Daniel chapter one eat only pulse and water for ten days?
When Daniel and his three Hebrew companions were taken captive to Babylon, Daniel resolved not to defile himself with royal food (meat) and wine that might have been offered to idols and thus violate the [...]
Is it wrong to eat meat, particularly pork?
God provided animal flesh for meat after the Flood in Genesis 9:3, "Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things." However, dietary restrictions [...]
Do animals have rights?
Throughout human history animals have been thought of as property to be used by man. In the Bible animals have been used for servitude, riding them for transportation and warfare (Nehemiah 2:12; Psalm 32:9; Proverbs [...]
Why did the angels in the dream of Jacob need a ladder if they had wings?
The account of Jacob’s dream does not say that the angels had wings. Genesis 28:12 says, “He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to [...]
Why did Jacob use a stone for a pillow when he stopped for the night on his way to Haran?
Why does Jacob use a stone for a pillow? The scriptures tell us “Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Haran. When he reached a certain place he stopped for the night because the sun [...]
Which scriptures pertain to intoxicating wine versus non-intoxicating wine (sweet wine or grape juice)? What is the difference between old and new wine? In Regard to the miracle that Jesus performed in Cana, what is the difference between the "best" wine that was served at the end and the inferior wine that was served earlier?
The difference between old and new wine is based on fermentation. Old wine is fermented and has an alcoholic content. The new wine mentioned in the Bible is usually grape juice and has no alcoholic [...]
Why was Joseph not at the cross of Jesus? Did Jesus appear to his mother after his resurrection or did others tell her of the event?
Why was Joseph not at Jesus’ crucifixion? The last biblical reference to Joseph, the adoptive father of Jesus, is found in Luke 2:41-52. In the account we learn that Jesus was twelve years old when [...]