Question of the Week

Why do we pray for people to get saved?

Question of the Week: Why do we pray for people to get saved?

The question as to why we pray for anything at all includes this very topic. When scripture encourages us to bring our requests to God, Philippians 4:6-7, it doesn’t do so with the goal of accomplishing our will. The goal is the peace of God. We see this demonstrated first-hand when Jesus showed us what a perfect relationship with the Father looked like. And even then, He didn’t pray for His will to be done. He brought His request to the Father, but ultimately submitted to His plan as the better option. Matthew 26:39. So why do we pray for anything? Not to change the mind or coerce God into giving us what we want, but with Jesus as our example, we use it to align our desires with God’s. Are you praying that your loved one accepts Jesus? You’re sharing God’s heart towards them because He wants them to get saved too!
2 Peter 3:9
Ezekiel 33:11

A Reason For Hope is a ministry of Calvary Christian Fellowship of Tucson

Listen: Monday – Friday 5-6pm, on 106.3FM Reach Radio

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What is going to matter at the Judgment Seat of Christ?

Question of the Week: What is going to matter at the Judgment Seat of Christ?

When it comes to matters of judgment for believers, it needs to be first clarified what the word “judgment” means. It isn’t always a negative thing. To judge means to come to conclusions. If Jesus concludes that we belong to Him, we have been judged by Him in a very positive sense.
With that said, the sort of things that will matter to Him when He judges our lives, there are two Old Testament passages and two New Testament passages to keep in mind.
Ecclesiastes 12:14
Daniel 12:2-3
2 Corinthians 5:9-11
And Colossians 1:9-11
From these core passages and others, we conclude the following truth statements from them.
1. God will judge the thoughts and motives as well as the words and deeds.
2. The judgment will include a resurrection for both the righteous and the wicked.
3. Jesus will judge those who have a relationship with Him, therefore His standards matter most to us.
4. The following are the things that matter most to Him; being filled and strengthened with the Spirit, growing in knowledge of Him, waking worthy of Him, giving thanks, and showing patience with joy.

Likewise, there are specific rewards mentioned that fall in line with the things Jesus is looking to reward in Colossians 1. Several of which overlap with one another tying into the heart and attitude that consistently and joyfully looks forward to His return.
1. The Imperishable crown in 1 Corinthians 9:24-25, which is for those who walk worthy of Him.
2. The Crown of Rejoicing in 1 Thessalonians 2:19, which is for those who patiently await His return with joy.
3. The Crown of Righteousness in 2 Timothy 4:8, which is for those who love His appearing.
4. The Crown of Glory in 1 Peter 5:4, which is for the same reason.
5. The Crown of Life in Revelation 2:10, which is for those who endure persecution and even death for Jesus’ sake.

However, all of these rewards are null and void if we don’t first have a relationship with Him in the first place. If our sins aren’t first judged to be separated from us and paid for by the sacrifice Jesus made in His own blood, then we will face the Great White Throne Judgment in Revelation 20 where every non-believer will get their day in court and fairly shown by these same standards what they ultimately chose. Based on their actions and thoughts, they will be given what they want. Separation from God forever. Those who receive Jesus’ gift of mercy will be given a new heart before Him legally as well as personally to want to do the things that He will reward us for.
Philippians 2:13

A Reason For Hope is a ministry of Calvary Christian Fellowship of Tucson

Listen: Monday – Friday 5-6pm, on 106.3FM Reach Radio

Email your questions:

questionsforhope@gmail.com

Follow Twitter: @ScottR4H

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Watch our Frequently Asked Questions on GodTube or YouTube.

How do we deal with having sinful thoughts?

Question of the Week: How do we deal with having sinful thoughts?

Martin Luther once observed that you can’t prevent the birds from flying over your head, but you can prevent them from making a nest in your hair. He applied this illustration to temptation with two key passages in mind. Romans 13:14 gives us both a defensive and offensive means of combating temptation internally as well as externally. First, make no provision for the flesh to fulfill its lusts. You aren’t doing yourself any favors by having things in your life that you know you’ll struggle with. Practical steps in avoiding these are what’s referred to as amputation. If you struggle with pornography, get a filter on your computer/phone or remove them entirely. If you struggle with gambling or drinking, put your finances in the hands of a spouse or roommate. The examples aren’t easy to act on, but simple to identify. These efforts in cutting off negative input will show fruit in time. However, you can have no means of acting on sin and still have a sinful heart. Which is where the first point Paul made comes into play. Put on the Lord Jesus Christ. An active pursuit of God is the most offensive effort you can make towards sin and darkness in your heart. Don’t just curse the dark. Pursue the light. Which is what brings us to the second passage. James 5:16 encourages accountability among believers that struggle in similar ways. Find someone who has been through the same struggles you have and talk to them face to face about the problems you’re having. Prayer and confession aren’t rituals to be performed with the permission of a priest. It is something God’s word emphasizes to be done among believers. Just make sure of three key things. If your struggles are sexual, don’t meet with someone of the gender your flesh is objectifying. That will merely be another provision for your flesh rather than a solution. If you’re looking for an accountability partner, don’t just pick someone who is just as young and frail in the faith as you are. Find someone who has seen victory in the areas you’re in bondage to and that you can look up to spiritually. And if you choose an accountability partner, make sure that the areas they are still struggling with aren’t going to cause both of you more problems then your meetings are attempting to solve. If you are going to trust someone with anything, make sure they are worthy of that trust.

A Reason For Hope is a ministry of Calvary Christian Fellowship of Tucson

Listen: Monday – Friday 5-6pm, on 106.3FM Reach Radio

Email your questions:

questionsforhope@gmail.com

Follow Twitter: @ScottR4H

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Watch our Frequently Asked Questions on GodTube or YouTube.

Why is Proverbs 26:10 written two different ways in two different translations?

Question of the Week: Why is Proverbs 26:10 written two different ways in two different translations?

Proverbs 26:10 (KJV): The great God that formed all things both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors.

Proverbs 26:10 (NIV): Like an archer who wounds at random is one who hires a fool or any passer-by.

In order to understand the discrepancy, we first need to clarify something that is often taken for granted when reading our Bibles. It was not originally written in the English language. While this proverb remains consistently translated in the original language, different translators have taken two different positions regarding two key words in the passage. The word translated as transgressor and archer are the same because it’s the word we use for sinner. Someone who misses the mark. Likewise, the word translated great and employer are the same because they are the word we use for someone in authority. This is where the translators had difficulty. Is the passage referring to the one with ultimate authority and his dealings with sinners and righteous alike? That is a biblically consistent conclusion since we read elsewhere in Matthew 5:45 that God is good to people regardless if they deserve it or not. On the other hand, is the passage referring to those generally in authority over others unwisely making themselves responsible for people they don’t know? That is also a biblically consistent conclusion given the immediate literary context of the Proverb. Proverbs 26:9 and Proverbs 26:11 are both addressing foolish people in the horizontal sense. This is more likely to be the accurate translation. The key detail to note is that given both translations and all available information, we could choose one Proverb over the other, or even remove the Proverb entirely from all English translations, and no doctrine of belief of Christianity would change as a result. The real issue with this passage is how often do these kinds of translation hazards occur? The answer is extremely rarely and never in the kind of passages that make a real difference to the Bible as a whole. The complete list of problem passages in the Old and New Testament combined total a half page of text. And no major doctrine of Christianity is affected by any of them.

A Reason For Hope is a ministry of Calvary Christian Fellowship of Tucson

Listen: Monday – Friday 5-6pm, on 106.3FM Reach Radio

Email your questions:

questionsforhope@gmail.com

Follow Twitter: @ScottR4H

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Watch our Frequently Asked Questions on GodTube or YouTube.

Is it possible to accidentally take the Mark of the Beast?

Question of the Week: Is it possible to accidentally take the Mark of the Beast?

No. The first time the Mark of the Beast is mentioned and defined in scripture is Revelation 13:15-17. Therefore all of our understanding of what it is and isn’t should be defined through this passage and those to follow. The way people take the Mark of the Beast is explained within that passage. Revelation 13:15 If you don’t worship the Image of the Beast, you will be killed. It follows that in the Antichrist’s kingdom, those who take the Mark will be spared. People who take the Mark will do so under the threat of death. The immediate next chapter details how the gospel will be shared during this time in the Tribulation. Literal Angels will be warning people across the globe exactly what will happen if they take the Mark long-term. Revelation 14:9 If you worship the Image of the Beast, you will face the wrath of God. Taking the Mark involves worshipping his Image. We have no reason to believe this is symbolic, since idols have been set up in the Jewish Temple before in history where people were threatened with death if they didn’t worship it. This was first detailed in Daniel 9-11 and repeated by Jesus in Matthew 24 as the Abomination that Causes Desolation. The Mark of the Beast is an afterthought to the real action that permanently severs your relationship with God. You can’t accidentally worship the Image of the Beast in the rebuilt Jewish Temple and personally recognize the new world leader as the True and Living God. Therefore, you can’t accidentally take the Mark of the Beast.

A Reason For Hope is a ministry of Calvary Christian Fellowship of Tucson

Listen: Monday – Friday 5-6pm, on 106.3FM Reach Radio

Email your questions:

questionsforhope@gmail.com

Follow Twitter: @ScottR4H

Follow on CCF Facebook: facebook.com/ccftucson
Watch our Frequently Asked Questions on GodTube or YouTube.

Follow us on our social media platforms!

Why do we pray for people to get saved?

What is going to matter at the Judgment Seat of Christ?

How do we deal with having sinful thoughts?

Why is Proverbs 26:10 written two different ways in two different translations?

Is it possible to accidentally take the Mark of the Beast?

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