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And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
- Acts 2:42 (NKJV)
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What does the Bible say about:
Heaven
How do you know for sure someone is going to heaven?
Let me address this by first starting that none of us are God and He is the one who decides who gets into heaven. However He has set some parameters in His Word: that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9NKJV
I often wonder about people who don’t like to talk about Jesus – yet they call Him ‘Savior’. The only time you hear the name of Jesus out of their mouths is when they hit their finger with a hammer. His Word also tells us that we will know them by their love and their lives should exhibit the fruit of the Spirit (which is love).
You know I used to spend a lot of time wondering if that person was saved or not: I don’t anymore-you know why? The Lord spoke to me one day and told me that I should spend time loving everyone (believe me that’s hard enough work) and leave the judging to Him. I really do believe when we get to heaven there will be some we will be looking for and won’t find and then there will be others that will be there and we will scratch our heads wondering how. Bottom line-love everyone and let the Spirit of God do it through you; that keeps me busy enough!
What does the Bible say about:
The Garden of Eden
The Bible speaks of God creating man and woman and placing them in a suitable habitat—the Garden of Eden. After they sinned the two were forever banished from the Garden. Are we to assume that the Garden of Eden is an actual place? If so, then where is it?
The Bible makes it clear that the Garden of Eden was an actual, rather than a mythical place. It is associated with four rivers which are named in the text. There are the Euphrates, Hiddekel (Tigris), the Pishon and Gihon. The Tigris and Euphrates are well known as rivers that flow through modern day Iraq. Indeed, they are located in Assyria (vs. 14) which is modern day Iraq.
The exact location of the Gihon and Pishon are not known. The Gihon is associated with the land of Cush which would place it northeast of the head of the Persian Gulf. Thus, the Garden of Eden was located somewhere in Mesopotamia.
If the Garden of Eden were a literal place, then should we expect to find it today in its pristine condition? No. Its magnificence is portrayed to us before sin entered into the universe. The influence of sin was felt upon the Garden of Eden as well as every other place on earth. Since two of the rivers, the Gihon and the Pishon, are unknown this may suggest that many geographical changes took place in the time between Adam and Moses.
The Fall, as well as the great Flood, may have altered some of the geographical references. Thus, it would be fruitless to attempt to search for the Garden of Eden in modern times because it degenerated along with everything else. We should not expect to find any archaeological evidence of the Garden of Eden because Scripture does not indicate that Adam built any permanent structure nor did he make any pottery.
There is the interesting fact that the writer of Genesis describes the rivers in terms of known geographical boundaries at his time. This indicates that the rivers were known to him. This suggests that at least this portion of Genesis was written at a very early date—possibly before the Flood.
What does the Bible say about:
Cremation
Does the Bible forbid cremation? That has been a controversial topic in our family recently, because an aunt of mine died not long ago and directed that her body be cremated. One of our cousins, however, claims the Bible says you can't go to heaven if you're cremated. Is he right?
No, this isn't what the Bible says, and I find nothing in the Bible that forbids cremation as a means of disposing of a person's body.
It's true that burial was the common practice in the Bible, and cremation was rare. When cremation was practiced, it showed contempt for the person (e.g., Achan, who disobeyed God and brought defeat to the Israelites -- see Joshua 7:25). Cremation is often practiced today in cultures that have no respect for the human body or see it as evil; Christians in those societies reject cremation. We believe God gave us our bodies, and they should be treated with respect. After creating the human race, "God saw all that he had made, and it was very good" (Genesis 1:31).
One reason burial has been preferred by Christians is because the Bible teaches that one day those who die in Christ will be raised from the dead and given new bodies. But God is able to bring together whatever has been scattered: "And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens" (Mark 13:27).
What does the Bible say about:
Deeds
I heard a pastor say that those who reject Christ will be judged according to their deeds. Do you know what the Bible says about that?
Take a look at Revelation 20: 11-15. It is commonly called the Judgment of the Great White Throne, at which the lost, small and great, are assigned their punishment for having spurned God’s offers of mercy. The text says, “The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.”
Salvation is given freely as a gift. God gives eternal life to as many as repent and believe the gospel. Nobody can earn it. Read John 3: 16-21. But those who refuse to repent and believe will be judged according to what they did in life, and nothing that they did while alive can absolve them from their sin. The prospects are terrifying. I am so glad I am saved and am going to heaven-you too?
What does the Bible say about:
Sabbath
I have been talking with someone from the Seventh Day Adventist church. What is their stance on what they call the Sabbath and how does the Bible look at all of that?
The New Testament church met on the "Lord's Day" (first day of the week) as a memorial of Christ's resurrection. The SDA Church's insistence that Sabbath-keeping is mandatory for Christians is unwarranted. The claim that Sunday worship is the mark of the beast is unfounded. Salvation and commitment to Christ are not demonstrated by adherence to external legalities (see Rom. 13:8-10, 14:4-13; 1 Cor. 16:2; Gal. 4:9-11; Col. 2:13-17). If you recall that is the same stance the Pharisees complaint was in John 5: they were upset that Jesus was not keeping the Sabbath and Jesus was simply doing what His Father had commanded Him to do!
What does the Bible say about:
The Garden of Eden
The Bible speaks of God creating man and woman and placing them in a suitable habitat—the Garden of Eden. After they sinned the two were forever banished from the Garden. Are we to assume that the Garden of Eden is an actual place? If so, then where is it?
The Bible makes it clear that the Garden of Eden was an actual, rather than a mythical place. It is associated with four rivers which are named in the text. There are the Euphrates, Hiddekel (Tigris), the Pishon and Gihon. The Tigris and Euphrates are well known as rivers that flow through modern day Iraq. Indeed, they are located in Assyria (vs. 14) which is modern day Iraq.
The exact location of the Gihon and Pishon are not known. The Gihon is associated with the land of Cush which would place it northeast of the head of the Persian Gulf. Thus, the Garden of Eden was located somewhere in Mesopotamia.
If the Garden of Eden were a literal place, then should we expect to find it today in its pristine condition? No. Its magnificence is portrayed to us before sin entered into the universe. The influence of sin was felt upon the Garden of Eden as well as every other place on earth. Since two of the rivers, the Gihon and the Pishon, are unknown this may suggest that many geographical changes took place in the time between Adam and Moses.
The Fall, as well as the great Flood, may have altered some of the geographical references. Thus, it would be fruitless to attempt to search for the Garden of Eden in modern times because it degenerated along with everything else. We should not expect to find any archaeological evidence of the Garden of Eden because Scripture does not indicate that Adam built any permanent structure nor did he make any pottery.
There is the interesting fact that the writer of Genesis describes the rivers in terms of known geographical boundaries at his time. This indicates that the rivers were known to him. This suggests that at least this portion of Genesis was written at a very early date—possibly before the Flood.
What does the Bible say about:
His dwelling place and the Word of God
He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. Psalm 91:1NKJV
What is this secret place and how are we to abide in it? Is this done by using His Word?
What a great question! First of all there is some discussion among scholars as to who the author is of this Psalm. Some say David, others Solomon and still others point to Moses-to me it doesn’t really matter because whoever wrote it was inspired by the Holy Spirit.! In this verse there are three key action words: ’dwell’, ‘secret’ and ‘abide’: once we understand those words we can gain a better understanding of the verse.
First the word ‘dwell’: it’s most prominent meaning in Hebrew (the language Psalms was written) is ‘to inhabit’. The word ‘secret’ in Hebrew has the meaning in English which is ‘shelter’ . The word ‘abide’ in the Hebrew language translates as ‘to lodge or to pass the night’. So when you look carefully we can say the verse says, He who inhabits the shelter of the Most High shall pass the night under the shadow of the Almighty.
Since Father God does not physically walk among us today (as He will in the millennium) we must look at His Word and take comfort in His character and His instruction for our lives there. It tells us in His Word that, All Scripture is given by God and is useful for teaching, for showing people what is wrong in their lives, for correcting faults, and for teaching how to live right. 2 Timothy 3:16NCV
So to answer your question: get in His Word: especially when night casts a shadow in your life and things seem bleak: most tend to run from Father God at that time and that is the time they need Him the most!
What does the Bible say about:
Emotions and the closeness with God
I am a fairly new Christian and struggle with feeling really close to God one day and like He is a million miles away the next day. What does the Bible say about dealing with emotions like this?
Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness, ‘the Lord is my portion’, says my soul, ‘therefore I hope in Him!’ The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him. (Lamentations 3: 22-25)
That is a real nugget of wisdom in the Bible that should be of great help to us. If you look at this passage there are a couple of very important points to note. First: no matter what happens today, tomorrow will be new. A fresh batch of God’s mercies awaits us each day! Second: the best response when circumstances threaten to overwhelm is to wait quietly on the Lord’s help.
One of the keys to maintaining a health emotional outlook is to leave the circumstances and challenges of everyday life in God’s hands and to trust Him to do what’s best.
Another portion of Scripture that is applicable to your question is found in 1 Corinthians 10:13: I encourage you to look it up but it tells us that God never gives us more than we can handle but the proviso in that passage is that He never gives us more than what we can handle…with His help!
What does the Bible say about:
Overcoming evil with good
I enjoyed your sermon on ‘Binding Satan’ and understand the overcoming evil with good strategy; however how can that be applied practically in a relationship where one person consistently acts with disrespect or unknowingly (due to illness) causes tremendous grief for you. How do you overcome evil with good then?
Good question! To answer this question let me point you to our friend the Apostle Paul:
Your love must be real. Hate what is evil, and hold on to what is good. Love each other like brothers and sisters. Give each other more honor than you want for yourselves. .. Be joyful because you have hope. Be patient when trouble comes, and pray at all times. Share with God’s people who need help…Wish good for those who harm you; wish them well and do not curse them…Live in peace with each other. Do not be proud, but make friends with those who seem unimportant. Do not think how smart you are. If someone does wrong to you, do not pay him back by doing wrong to him.. My friends, do not try to punish others when they wrong you, but wait for God to punish them with his anger. It is written: “I will punish those who do wrong; I will repay them,” says the Lord. Excepts from Romans 12:9-19NCV
Hope this helps: I really don’t think I can improve on it!
What does the Bible say about:
The 2 testaments
Why are there two divisions in the Bible called the Old and New Testament?
The Bible is divided into two testaments or covenants – the old and the new. Testament is not the best word to describe these parts of Scripture. They are not part of a last will or testament but rather an agreement, or contract that God has made with His people.
The Bible speaks of different agreements that God made with humanity. The entire flow of biblical history is based upon the covenants that God has made with humankind. In the Bible we find covenants made with Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and David. Through the prophet Jeremiah God also promised a new covenant. Jesus Himself is the one who instituted the new covenant.
God has kept His part of the bargain in all of these covenants. However humanity miserably failed to keep their part. This is why a Savior is desperately needed.
What does the Bible say about:
Many wives
In reading the Old Testament it is noted that Solomon and David had many wives and concubines.
A passage of Scripture that answers this question directly is 1 Kings 11: 1-13 and several of the chapters leading up to that passage in Kings. We know for a fact that Solomon had more wisdom that anyone else in the world; yet he didn’t listen to the warnings of the Lord. Instead he married lots of foreign woman who eventually led him to be involved in pagan religions and his heart turned away from following the Lord. The repercussion of this sin is found in chapter eleven where God tells Solomon that his family line would not be able to continue to reign over Israel. The kingdom would be divided and eventually conquered. If you want to reach you fullest potential for the Lord: let Him be your first love.
What does the Bible say about:
The Sabbath
I have had conversations with others about which day is the day we are supposed to worship? Which day really is the Sabbath?
First of all let me say in answer to your question about which day we are to worship: everyday. Our relationship with the Lord is supposed to be the most meaningful one in our lives: if that is the case then He is one you speak with everyday and prayer is a form of worship. Now let me give you some history on the Sabbath: Our Sunday is different from and a substitution for the Jewish Sabbath. After God had led His people out of slavery in Egypt, He commanded this new nation at Mount Sinai (where He entered into a covenant with them) that they should work for six days. The seventh day could be used for physical and spiritual refreshment. The Sabbath was a call to rest. God also rested on the seventh day after He created the universe (Genesis 2:1–3). On this day believers should worship Him and have fellowship with Him in a special way, in order to be renewed for service in God’s world.
Through Jesus Christ a change came from the Sabbath to a Sunday as the day of rest. As the full meaning of the resurrection of Christ dawned upon the early church, they spontaneously shifted their day of worship from the Sabbath (Saturday) to the Sunday (the first day of the week). Because this was the day on which Christ arose, it became known as the Day of the Lord.
What does the Bible say about:
Psalm 91:10
Psalm 91:10 says, “…no plague shall come near your dwelling”. What does this promise cover? Our cassia bushes are covered with big yellow caterpillars and although we have sprayed and prayed they are still there. Why doesn’t this verse work?
The Bible tells us that even creation groans waiting for the return of Jesus. Why? Because it remembers what it was like before the fall of man. Up until that time all of creation was as Father God intended: but once Adam and Eve sinned; then everything began to exist in a fallen state and everything is appointed to death. Stop and consider what your real ‘dwelling’ is: who you and I are, is all captured in one place-our souls. The one part of us that will never die: and that cannot be touched by anyone-even your big yellow caterpillars! Our souls are secure as long as we abide in the Lord: just like our saying on the front cover of the Calvary Connection says today, ‘for all you do, His blood’s for you.’ His blood keeps the plague of our soul (sin) from affecting us as long as we abide in His love. I am reminded of that every time I take part in the Lord’s Supper.
What does the Bible say about:
Perfection
Hebrews 10:14 and other places in the New Testament tells us we should be perfected? Does that mean we should strive to be without fault?
Everyone would like to look perfect, act perfect, and do perfect work. Aside from a few people receiving ‘perfect’ scores at the Olympics, most of us will find perfection elusive in every area of life. No matter how much we try, we fail. If we seek to live the perfect Christian life, our thoughts or attitudes will trip us up before we even get out of bed in the morning!
So what does it mean for believers that Christ’s sacrifice perfected forever those who are being sanctified (Heb. 10:14). Believers have been made perfect in God’s eyes because of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. As the same time, however, we are “being sanctified” being made perfect and holy progressively through our walk with Him. As we let God work in us, He perfects us. Instead of measuring perfection by worldly standards, we should seek to obey God, looking forward to the day when He will finally make us perfect for life with Him in our perfect eternal home…heaven!
What does the Bible say about:
Salvation
one reader wrote in: I recently read John 15: 1-8; and am unsure if you can lose your salvation or not?
Many people endlessly debate about the issue of eternal security. Can you lose your salvation, once you are a child of God? This passage is one of the passages that seem to indicate the possibility that you can lose you salvation. “If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.”
But this passage doesn’t make me insecure at all. I intend to always abide in Him. Why would I ever want to cease abiding in Him? If I abide in Him, I live a life of fruitfulness. If I abide in Him, He answers my prayers. If I abide in Him, I abide in His love. I am eternally secure as long as I abide in Him, and I am going to do just that. I will leave the argument to the theologians. Me? I am simply going to abide in Him!
What does the Bible say about:
Sanctification
1 Corinthians 6 teaches us to glorify God in Body and Spirit – to live a sanctified life. Does that mean that if we don’t – are we still saved? Does this teaching apply only to Christians?
There are two real questions here. Let me address the issue first of Christians living immorally: First of all; I am not God, nor should any of us try to be therefore we are not to judge – we are to love one another – the judging is left to Him. However, Paul does address the issue in verse 12: “all things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.” As a Christian we will still sin and we will not be perfected until we get to heaven. If we commit an act of immorality we are still saved: but it will not assist us in growing in our relationship with the Lord. Think of your child (if you have one) even though they act out of stupidity they are still your child. Jesus told us the only sin that can separate us from the love of God is the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. That is refusing to accept His forgiveness and acknowledging our need for a Savior.
Let me address the second question: Does this teaching apply only to Christians? Running up to a non-believer telling them that their lifestyle is damning them to hell is no way to lead them to Jesus. Let me direct you to 1 Corinthians 5: 12-13. It isn’t our job to fix the world. It is our job to share the gospel (Good News) with the world. I don’t make rules for how the world should live, I think it is a mistake to endeavor to write Christian legislation. You can’t make men holy with laws. They need a change of heart. We can’t fix the world by judging it, but rather by introducing them from the inside. The changed believer will change the world.
What does the Bible say about:
Creation
Isn’t there any scientific evidence that the Earth is billions of years old?
If you were to ask the average person on the street this question, he or she would answer unhesitatingly, “Yes!” However, if his life depended on coming up with one positive proof, he would be unable to do so.
The reason there is such a worldwide belief that there is evidence for the evolutionary theory is the result of indoctrinization by evolutionary scientists. They claim a lot of things about the theory of evolutionism that simply are not fact. Though the public assumes that the evolutionary community has firmly established the age of the Earth, the truth is that they have not, and the more candid evolutionists will admit it. For example, evolutionist Dr. Stephen Moorebath of the University of Oxford, stated:
No terrestrial rocks closely approaching an age of 4.6 billion years have yet been discovered. The evidence for the age of the earth is circumstantial, being based upon … indirect reasoning (Scientific American, March 1977, p. 92).
Another evolutionist, Dr. John Eddy of the High Altitude Observatory in Boulder, Colorado, stated in the prestigious journal Geotimes:
There is no evidence based solely on solar observations that the sun is 4½ to 5 billion years old … I suspect that the sun is 4½ billion years old. However, given some new and unexpected results to the contrary, and some time for frantic recalculation and theoretical readjustment, I suspect that we could live with Bishop Ussher’s value for the age of the Earth and Sun. I don’t think we have much in the way of observational evidence in astronomy to conflict with that. (Geotimes, Sept. 1978, p. 18).
So the next time someone begins to insist that the Earth is billions of years old, ask them: “How do you know that it is so old? Were you there?” If they respond by claiming that there are dating methods that prove the Earth is billions of years old, then ask if he could supply a list of some of them. If by chance he remembers one of the radiometric processes such as uranium-lead, then ask, “Are these methods of dating absolute or are there certain assumptions built into them which cannot be proven?” If he hasn’t walked off, and if he is honest, he will have to concede that there is not one dating method which can positively establish a verifiable date for the Earth.
What does the Bible say about:
Gods Will (continued)
We began last week looking at this issue and discussed the first facet to understanding God’s will in our lives-the ‘decretive will’. This week we look at the second and final part.. God’s Permissive Will
This represents what God allows. For example God allowed Job to go through suffering. He didn’t cause the suffering – He permitted it. God does not cause sin but He does permit it. He is not pleased when His creation yields to temptation, but He uses even that to accomplish His purposes. God’ s leading in our lives generally follows basic principles that can help us determine His will for our lives. 1. His Written Word. Psalm 119:105, Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. 2. The prompting of the Holy Spirit. Phil. 2:13, It is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. 3. The counsel of wise, qualified, trustworthy people. Proverbs 11:14, Where there is no counsel, the people fall; but in the multitude of counselors there is safety. 4. An inner assurance and peace. Col. 3:15, And let the peace of God rule in your hearts.
Ultimately, God’s Word provides all the light we will ever need for our journey through this earth. When you have decisions to make: keep His Word close to your heart and stand in faith on what you know to be true. Anything else is sinking sand.
What does the Bible say about:
Gods Will
There are two facets to God’s Will: we will look at the first facet this week and complete this topic next week.
Much of the confusion goes back to not understanding God and how He does his inscrutable work in our lives. The Christian life is not merely a matter of getting from here to there. Instead, god’s will for us in this life is more about the journey itself.
The first facet of God’s will is His ‘decretive’ will. This determined, decreed dimension of God’s will has four qualities: (1) It is absolute (2) It is immutable-unchangeable (3) It is unconditional, (4) It is always in complete harmony with His plan and His nature. In other words, the decreed will of God will be holy, just, good and righteous; therefore, it will be best.
What does the Bible say about:
Abortion
Psalm 139: 13-16 gives a powerful, poetic look inside the wondrous world of the pregnant womb: “For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret…Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed, and in Your book they all were formed, and in You book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them.” Obviously; human life is no accident of biology. God, the grand Designer of the universe, forms the ‘inward parts’ and works to ‘weave’ together a masterful conception. Genesis demonstrates God as the Creator of life. (Gen. 1:27) A personal God personally created life so the people could have a personal family relationship with Him. God brings life into the world purposefully and deliberately. God created and blesses life and therefore deems it sanctified.
What does the Bible say about:
Worry and Anxiety?
The Bible has lots to say about these topics. Psalm 37: 1-3 specifically reminds us that we are to ‘trust in the Lord’ and “Delight ourselves in the Lord” and we are to “Commit our ways to the Lord” and finally to “Rest in the Lord”.
Ever try to rest when you are really nervous? Not an easy task: yet to be able to rest in someone you first must trust them. Now when you stop and consider that we are to rest in the Lord which implies we are to trust in Him; that is not so hard when you think about it. After all, He is the Creator, He does sit on the throne and His plans for us are to give us a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11).
Now I am not trying to be flippant: but the cure for worry is to trust the one who is in charge of all things. Philippians 4 tells us that we are to ‘rejoice in the Lord’ in all things and Proverbs 17 tells us that ‘a merry heart does good, like medicine but a broken spirit dries the bones’. It is important to learn to trust the Lord; not only for our sanity but for our bodies as well!
What does the Bible say about:
Worship
Is it wrong to attend church and worship on Saturday rather than Sunday?
Of course not! We are free to worship on any day; we are free to worship on everyday. But the Scripture strongly exhorts us not to be hung up on the days which we worship and not to go back underneath the bondage of legalism.
You still follow teachings about special days, months, seasons, and years. I am afraid for you, that my work for you has been wasted. Galatians 4:10-11NCV
“Religious” interprets that we must worship on a special day: yet Jesus calls us into a relationship that should be special everyday. It is important to attend church as we are not to forsake the fellowship of believers as Hebrews instruct-yet what day? Look at what the apostle Paul writes:
So do not let anyone make rules for you about eating and drinking or about a religious feast, a New Moon Festival, or a Sabbath day. These things were like a shadow of what was to come. But what is true and real has come and is found in Christ. Colossians 2:16-17NCV
Remember, we do not have a Sabbath day, but rather a Sabbath life in Jesus Christ. The Sabbath day is a shadow, Jesus Christ is the substance. What a glorious rest we have in Him!
What does the Bible say about:
Christians and Demons
From time to time teachings circulate through the body of Christ that are neither Scripturally nor historically held. The Apostle Paul calls such unsound teaching "wind of doctrine (Ephesians 4:14)." Tragically, as these winds blow through the church some people find themselves caught up and blown out!
Recently, there has been interest in the so-called "deliverance ministries" which claim to have cast demons out of Christians. They often report of demons being coughed up and vomited out of believers. What about these experiences? Let us always be careful never to let experience supersede the Word of God. The Word is the only authority upon which we can build doctrine. Paul said, "but though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed (Galatians 1:8)."
So what does the Bible say about demon possession in Christians? First of all, we are told, "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places (Ephesians 6:12)."
These demonic forces seek to hassle our walk with Jesus and hinder our work for Jesus. Sometimes, for no apparent reason, you may find yourself bummed out and feeling down and discouraged. This can be the work of a demonic attack, but a demon cannot enter into or exercise control over the life of any true believer. Let's see why.
First, you are in Christ Jesus
When you accepted Jesus as your Lord, you were placed into Christ Jesus. Jesus said, "... ye shall know that I am in My Father, and ye in Me, and I in you (John 14:20)." In that same teaching Jesus went on to say, "... for the prince of this world (Satan) cometh, and hath nothing on Me (John 14:30)."
Satan and demons have nothing in Jesus for Jesus is, "Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named ... (Ephesians 1:21)." Where are we? "And (He) hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:6)."
We see that Satan or any of his powers have nothing in Jesus Christ and, therefore, have nothing in us either! Praise the Lord!
Secondly, Christ Jesus is in you.
When you accepted Jesus as Lord, Jesus came into your heart to live in you (see Revelation 3:20).
He is, "... the light of the world . . . (John 8:12)" and Scripture declares that, "... God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all (1 John 1:5)." Darkness and light cannot dwell in the same place at the same time.
Now, those who teach demons can possess Christians often hide behind a semantically smoke screen and say, "Demons possess or invade the body and the mind but not the spirit." But the Lord dwells in the body as well, as the word clearly states, "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you ... (1 Corinthians 6:19)." The Lord also dwells in our mind for we are told, "... we have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16)." There just is no room for darkness when the Lord of light lives in us!
Thirdly, the Bible gives absolutely no example or teaching on demons in Christians
If such a major problem as demon possession in Christians was possible, without a doubt we would see several examples of this in the Gospels and the Book of Acts. We would also have clear teaching on this in the epistles, but it is just not there. The one example some do use as a "proof text" is that of Ananias and Sapphira. A careful study of that text, however, seems to indicate that they were not true believers at all. Even if they were, there was not an "exorcism or deliverance" that took place but rather instant judgment (see Acts 5)!
Also, is it not arresting that nowhere in the epistles is a teaching on demon possession or demon invasion of believers? Would God ignore such an important issue if it were such an important issue?
Then, why do people have such experiences of demons being regurgitated, cast out, or coughed up? I believe that these unscriptural practices come from sincere people who have a tendency to pass the blame for their carnal acts onto the devil. remember Flip Wilson's famous comedy sketch in which he said, "The devil made me do it?"
It is interesting to me that often the supposed demons identify themselves as the demon of lust, envy, impurity, witchcraft, anger, etc. But Galatians 5:19 specifically lists these activities as being "works of the flesh!" We are told to "... put off the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts (Ephesians 4:22)," and recognize these things to be dead (Romans 6:11). We are never told to, "cast them out."
I believe we, as Christians, should avoid pitfalls of looking for demons and focusing on Satan; rather, we should keep our focus, teachings, and attention on our Lord Jesus Christ. The way to overcome darkness is to turn on the light. The way to overcome the devil is to resist him, and he will flee from us (James 4:7). We resist him by keeping close to our Lord (James 4:7), for "greater is He (Jesus) that is in you than he (Satan) that is in the world (1 John 4:4)."
What does the Bible say about:
Baptism
Is there a difference between water baptism and the baptism of the Holy Spirit?
Yes there is. Jesus was baptized with water by John the Baptist. In doing so (the Son of God really didn’t need to be baptized) He associated Himself with us; becoming like us in every way except for the fact that He did not sin. As we enter the waters of baptism we associate ourselves with our brother Jesus; taking a public stand for Him and announcing to the world we love Jesus.
At the same time Jesus was water baptized: we see in the account that the Holy Spirit descended upon Him as a dove. This is the time chronologically as the very beginning of Jesus public ministry. Likewise; the baptism of the Holy Spirit is for us to be witnesses of the power of Jesus in our lives through the ministry of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit ‘comes upon’ us as it did Jesus for the purpose of ministry. It is significant that if you study the life of Jesus-He did not perform any miracles until after the Holy Spirit came upon Him. It is also significant that Jesus told the disciples not to try to do any ministry until after the Holy Spirit ‘comes upon’ them. It is my prayer as the pastor of Calvary Chapel Deltona every ministry we have is done in the power of the Holy Spirit – everything else is just a religious act that man performs; we should be witnesses to the power of His Spirit in our ministries!
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