Bible Questions with Andrew Farley

The Bible is inerrant in the original manuscripts. Still, something is always lost as the original languages are translated into new target languages. This is unavoidable. Despite minor variations in expressing things among translations and Bible versions, the most important thing is that the Gospel message itself remains crystal clear.

In today’s culture, many believe there is no evidence for Christ’s resurrection. However, there is actually ample evidence in both biblical and extrabiblical sources for the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

While pornography and sexual fantasy are clearly sinful, the physical act of masturbation is not mentioned in Scripture and seems to be an issue of conscience for each individual.

While the world around us seems to separate sex from the marriage commitment, God’s design is for them to be integrated as one. Sex should involve a commitment to marriage. The two are not to be seen separately (Genesis 2:24; Mark 10:8-10).

God designed men and women to have intimate sexual relations with one another within the marital context (Genesis 1-2). After sin entered the world (Genesis 3), God’s original design was distorted. This distortion led to homosexual practices which are shown to be sin in Scripture (Genesis 19:1-11; Romans 1:26-27).

If so, what does it mean to submit within the marriage context? While Scripture does teach the importance of wives submitting to their husbands in Ephesians 5:22, it teaches this in the context of mutual submission to each other which is to occur in marriage and in the church (Ephesians 5:21).

Some Christians believe God forbids remarriage after a divorce. However, this is not an accurate view of the whole of Scripture. God’s grace is big enough to handle any failed marriage and to empower us to have a new and healthy marriage going forward.

While God intended marriage to last a lifetime (Matthew 19:6), there are some circumstances in which it is healthy for a believer to divorce their spouse (1 Corinthians 7:15; Exodus 21:10-11). 

While many claim God killed Ananias and Sapphira, there’s no evidence they were true believers, and there’s no evidence that God actually killed them.

Many teach that believers will receive rewards in Heaven because of good works performed in this life. However, this concept is absent from the New Testament. Instead, the Bible teaches that all believers receive the same reward (singular): the reward of the inheritance in Christ (Colossians 3:24).

Some teach that James 3:1 speaks of Christian teachers/pastors being judged more harshly by God than other believers. However, the judgment in the passage is not from God but from people. Scripture is clear that all believers (including pastors and teachers!) have passed from judgment into life (John 5:24), and we are no longer under any condemnation (Romans 8:1). However, Bible teachers are often...

Some teach that God disciplines His children because they sin. But this is inconsistent with the fact that Christ removed our sins and remembers them no more (Hebrews 8:12; Hebrews 10:14). The truth is that we are always under the discipline and counsel of our Father. God’s discipline is training for the future, not punishment for the past.

Christians will not face any judgment for their sins. Christ died to take away our sins, once and for all (Hebrews 10:14). As a result, we have passed from judgment into new life in Christ, and there is now no condemnation for us (John 5:24; Romans 8:1). 

We often associate the word “fear” with being afraid. While Scripture is clear there is a healthy fear (awe) of God we can have (Matthew 10:28; Philippians 2:12; Proverbs 9:10), God does not want us to be afraid of Him (2 Timothy 1:7; Matthew 14:27; Luke 1:30). In fact, His perfect love is designed to cast out all fear from our lives (1 John 4:18).

You might be tempted to think God is angry with you, but this is not the truth. God loves the whole world so much that He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to take away your sins and offer you eternal life (John 3:16-17). This reveals God’s outrageous love for you! And consider this: What is the only thing that angers God? Sin. What does He do with your sins through Jesus? When you call upon the name of...

The imagery of crowns is used in different ways in the New Testament. However, crowns are never presented as heavenly rewards for good works. The crown of life, the crown of righteousness, and the crown of glory all refer to Jesus Himself and what He means to us.

While it’s sad to lose a household pet, there’s no passage of Scripture that directly states they’ll be in Heaven. However, the Bible is clear that there’ll be no tears or sorrow for us in Heaven (Revelation 21:4). This means there will be no regrets or emotional pain over our pets.

While some deny the existence of Hell, the concept is present in Scripture. Hell is described as the place reserved for fallen angels and those who have rejected the Gospel (2 Thessalonians 1:9; Matthew 25:41; Revelation 14:10).

Contrary to some popular teaching, God has chosen that everyone be invited to the Gospel message. He wants none to perish and everyone to believe (2 Peter 3:9).

The idea of predestination (God pre-planning something) often causes debate among Christians. However, the Bible makes it clear that predestination is simply God’s secret plan (now revealed!) to unleash the Gospel on the Gentiles and not just the Jews. This becomes obvious as one examines the “we” (we Jews) and “you also” (you Gentiles also) in Ephesians. This is why predestination as a doctrine i...

If so, what is free will anyway? The term “free will” is problematic. While we humans have the obvious ability to make choices, including the choice to believe the Gospel, we are always under the influence of something. Before Christ, we were under the influence of sin (Romans 6:20). After we are born again, we are then under the influence of righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 6:18).

Colossians 3:2 encourages us to set our minds on “things above.” We do this by making the conscious decision to think truth-filled thoughts and take every idea captive to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5; Philippians 4:8-9). The more we set our minds on truth, the more we will enjoy the reality of our new identity in Christ and God’s love for us (Romans 12:2).

While some claim Satan is only a symbol, the Bible is clear that he, along with a host of fallen angels, are real enemies waging war on God’s creation. This is the meaning of “spiritual warfare.”

While the Bible is largely silent as to the precise nature of demons, a little analysis seems to reveal that demons are fallen angels who were cast out of Heaven along with Lucifer when he rebelled against God (Isaiah 12:12-15; Revelation 12:4, 9).

The armor of God represents who Jesus Christ is to us and how He is our defense against the fiery darts of the enemy. The belt of truth? Jesus is the Truth. The breastplate of righteousness? Jesus is our righteousness. Feet shod with the gospel of peace? Jesus is the Prince of Peace. The helmet of salvation? Jesus is our salvation. Sword of the Spirit (the Word of God)? Jesus is the living Word! T...