Question #471 - one wife forever? 
I would like to know if an Elder is considered scriptural if he has had a previous wife prior to becoming an elder, but had scriptural grounds to put her away. Also the 1st wife is also deceased. When the bible speaks of husband of one wife, it is not my understanding that it means one wife ever. Please enlighten me on this matter.

Leon's Response

Question #470 - punishment for actions? 
This was a question from my friend. Have you noticed... when you do something bad... that you get punished from the Lord? Has that happened to you where you noticed it for sure?

Leon's Response

Question #469 - baptism & christening 
On question 468 my friend asked this question Mark 16 verse 16 in my Bible says, "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned." If you read that several times you can't help but wonder why Mark did not say, "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe and is not baptized will be condemned." So, the question remains: Must you believe and be baptized to be saved? Or, must you simply believe? It only says that those that do not believe will be condemned. What about those who believe, but for whatever reason were not baptized? Speaking of baptism, in the Methodist Church you can elected to be immersed if you want when you are baptized. Most do not - they are just anointed with water. I elected to be immersed. I believe my wanting to be immersed came from my Church of Christ background. Also, in the Methodist Church children may be Christened. They are anointed with water, but the parents take the vows for the child until such time as the child is able to make his/her own decisions. I am not an expert on the Methodist Church, but I believe this practice is done so that even small children can be baptized (anointed). Typically when the child reaches an age of understanding and accountability he/she is baptized again.

Leon's Response

Question #468 - baptism really necessary? 
I am studying with a friend who does not believe that baptism is necessary for salvation. One point that he brings up is that in Acts 10 Cornelius receives the Holy Spirit before being baptized so he must have been saved without baptism. The other point that he brings up is that in 1 Corinthians 1:17 Paul says that Christ did not send him to baptize, but to preach. Any thoughts?

Leon's Response

Question #467 - slavery today? 
I would like to have a better understanding as to what kind of slave was Onesimus and from a Christian perspective would slavery be wrong today? I know that some slaves in Bible times chose to stay with their masters, thus the "pierce my ear".

Leon's Response

Question #466 - the ultimate sacrifice 
I have been having a conversation with two Christians that at one time they both were elders in the church. Also my sister-in-law has also voiced her opinion about not attending church regular. We are looking at Hebrews 10:25 What can you tell us about this chapter of Hebrews that we may get a better understanding of what is meant?

Leon's Response

Question #465 - the mark of Cain 
I'm studying the "mark of Cain". I know we don't know for sure, but Gen. 4:15 says the mark was there "so that no one who found him would kill him". Since 6:4 says there were giants before and after the flood, it seems logical to me that this giant gene was introduced through Cain. Being a giant would certainly stave off relatives wanting to avenge Abel's blood. If the mark of Cain is not the giant gene, then are there any scriptures that come to mind that helps explain how or why these giants got introduced. Thank you Leon.

Leon's Response

Question #464 - generational curses 
I have heard ministers speak of "generational curses" and how they effect us today. I don't believe in "generational curses" but, I could be wrong. I just don't see anything in the New Testament that would support this idea. Am I wrong? I can see in the Old Testament these "curses reported in the old Testament were directed at the enemies of God.

Leon's Response

Question #463 - fools & weak 
In light of what Paul has previously said (1 Cor. 1:18-2:5), what is significant about his use of the words “fools” and “weak” (v. 10) to describe himself and the other apostles? What contrast does Paul draw between himself and the Corinthians in verses 8-13? What point is he trying to make?

Leon's Response

Question #462 - still in the same place? 
Thank you for your answer to question 461. The thing that really lays on my heart is, yes, I believe that God will forgive me, but I am still in the same place that was sinful in God's eyes before. How does continuing in same situation not continue to be sin? I do not want to always have a doubt that God will say "Why did you stay in the sin you asked forgiveness for?" I want to be sure my soul isn't lost.

Leon's Response

Question #461 - divorce for the wrong reason? 
My question, after divorcing without scriptural grounds and remarrying someone who also has unscriptural divorces (two), what is the condition of our lives? I am now a Christian and he is not. I feel very uneasy about my soul.

Leon's Response

Question #460 - losing the Holy Spirit 
Bro. Leon, if you have sinned in the past so bad that the Lord would remove the Holy Spirit from you and you repent, does the Holy Spirit return?

Leon's Response

Question #459 - worship from home?
I have many friends & people that I really care about. So many of them have no interest in attending a church. They tell me that they do not have to go to a church to be a Christian. Just as long as they love God & believe in Jesus they are okay. I will admit that a number of them are really faithful in reading the bible on a regular base. A few receive their church by way of TV. I just don't have a good answer to them as to why it's important to go to a church. I always think of upon this rock I will build my church, knowing that he built his church for a reason, yet I do not have the wisdom on how to explain there is a reason & a need of why he built his church. Is it wrong for man to set himself apart from the church, is there truth to their words you don't have to go to church to be a Christian.

Leon's Response

Question #458 - what about a burial?
What are the beliefs of iglesia ni cristo when having a burial?

Leon's Response

Question #457 - adultery, divorce & remarriage
About 15 years ago my brother in-law suffered a brain aneurysm. At that time he was not married to my sister in-law whom was married. She divorced her husband to marry husband number 3. As time went by her husband was not able to have sex with her because of the aneurysm. She in turn starts having sex with a fellow worker from the high school where they both were employed. This in turn caused my sister in-law & husband to move to another state. I'm pretty certain that over the years my sister in-law came back to this state & had sex with ex fellow worker. Five years ago, my brother in-law had a stroke in which he was placed in a nursing home. A few years ago my sister in-law thought about having ex fellow worker move in with her to help with rent. Ex worker had prostate cancer so she there would not be any sex because he was unable to have sex. He did not move there. My sister in-law did take care of her husband while he was in nursing home. My brother in-law passed away April 15 of this year. In less than two months my sister in-law is back to seeing ex fellow worker. She claims it is just friendship only that she is seeing him. Yet she really dresses up when she goes to see him. She lives with us, her sister & me. She had by-pass surgery about a year ago. She is 58 years old. I've told her that it's just not right for her to carry on a relation with this person. Her husband that passed away has 6 brothers & two sisters & I'm certain that she would not tell them about the relation that she had while married to their brother. I realize that we are all sinners yet should she still see the ex fellow worker? She claims she just needs someone to talk to now that her husband has passed away. I know plenty of Christian women that would and that could fill these needs. I just don't think a male, and one that she has had sex with while married, is the right person for comfort. On top of this, she has a daughter that is divorced plus two grand daughters that also are aware of their mother & grand mother action. Just does not set good example.

Leon's Response

Question #456 - original sin - part 5
One additional follow up on the sinful nature topic. I do agree that children are not born with sin. I think the scripture you reference makes that clear. My question is: Is it fair to state that we are born with a nature that is bent toward being sinful? Maybe better phrased, because of our human nature we are going to sin because our nature is more apt to be selfish and want our own selfish desires. My reasoning is Adam and Eve had every opportunity to live a perfect life but God knew they would choose to sin b/c he had already set salvation's plan in motion. Does that make any sense and is that consistent with scripture?

Leon's Response

Question #455 - original sin - part 4
As a follow up to the question on the sinful nature. Please explain these references... Eph 2:3 we were by nature objects of wrath. Col 2:11 In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, Colossians 2:13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins. Thank you.

Leon's Response

Question #454 - predestination
Romans 9:11,13,16,18,22-23, Eph 1:4-6,9,11, Romans 8:30, 2 Tim 1:9, and 1 Thess. 5:9 all seem to suggest God has already determined who is going to be saved and who is not - He already knows. Other than just saying something like, "it is the plan that is predestined and not the actual person", what other scripture/defenses are there to refute this idea of predestination?

Leon's Response

Question #453 - original sin - part 3
In your answer to #451 you said at the last, "All have sinned. But not all our sins are counted against us. In Romans 4 Paul talked about those to whom the Lord did not impute sin or didn't count the sin against them.

I am assuming you're talking about this passage:

7 "Blessed are they
whose transgressions are forgiven,
whose sins are covered.
8 Blessed is the man
whose sin the Lord will never count against him."

Who is David talking about here? Is he not speaking of us - Christians living on this side of the cross who have forgiveness of our sins by the blood of the Lamb? And if so, how does that tie into the discussion of babies/children having sin?

Leon's Response

Question #452 - original sin - part 2
Similar to previous question, I've been having discussions with a friend who basically believes in original sin. He quotes passages such as Romans 3:23 and 5:12 which say that all have sinned. He argues this would include new born babies. When I try to contend that babies do not yet have the knowledge or ability to discern good from evil and are therefore innocent, he counters with the same scripture again with emphasis on "all". I can think of several counterpoints to make from a "common sense" perspective, but can you suggest some scripture, specific passages, that support children being innocent until they come to a knowledge of good and evil and are then accountable for their actions and need the saving grace God offers through His Son?

Leon's Response

Question #451 - are we born with sin?
When a child is born into this world, it's not long before parents have to begin the process of discipline. We discipline because the child is doing wrong. Is this 'wrong' sin? Or is it something else? If it is sin, then how can you argue that children are not born with sin? Or is it that the child is not born with sin, but with an inclination to sin, or a sinful nature?

Leon's Response