Bible: Questions and Answers

Brief answers to common questions about faith and life—with Scripture references whose text is taken from the Father’s Blessing Bible.

Will the dead be resurrected?Yes, Scripture speaks of the resurrection of the dead: Christ was raised as the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep; the righteous and the unrighteous will be resurrected; the dead in Christ will be raised imperishable, and the living will be changed.
What is the meaning of life according to the Bible?The Bible connects the purpose of human life with God: knowing Him, loving Him and our neighbor, living for His glory, and doing good.
Did Jesus Christ rise from the dead?The New Testament testifies that Jesus Christ rose from the dead on the third day and appeared to His disciples.
Are all sins the same?Scripture shows both commonalities and differences.
Where is the soul after death?Scripture speaks about the dead with restraint.
Should a wife submit to her husband?The New Testament explicitly says that wives should submit to their husbands (Eph. 5:22–24; Col. 3:18; 1 Pet. 3:1), but these words cannot be read in isolation: they are preceded by a call for all believers to submit to one another (Eph. 5:21), husbands are commanded to love sacrificially, following Christ’s example (Eph. 5:25–33; Col. 3:19; 1 Pet. 3:7), and spouses have mutual rights (1 Cor. 7:3–5).
Should a woman be a pastor?The New Testament does not directly pose the question in these terms, and the answer is formed from several passages.
Why did Jesus die?The New Testament says that Jesus died for our sins—according to the Scriptures.
Is Jesus Christ God and man?The New Testament speaks of Christ as a man: the Word became flesh, He shared in flesh and blood, and He is called the man Christ Jesus.
Does God heal today?Scripture shows that God is able to heal, and the New Testament calls us to pray for the sick.
How should we treat our enemies? Is revenge allowed?Jesus commands us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us, while Paul says not to repay anyone evil for evil, not to take revenge, and to overcome evil with good.
How can we cope with the death of a loved one?Scripture does not shy away from grief: Jesus wept at the tomb of His friend, and Paul says that believers grieve over the dead, but not as those who have no hope.
How can I receive God’s forgiveness?Scripture connects the forgiveness of sins with Christ: it is given to those who believe in Him as a gift by grace, not as payment for works.
How can I receive the Holy Spirit?The New Testament connects receiving the Holy Spirit with faith in Jesus: Paul writes about receiving the Spirit through instruction in faith and about believers being sealed with the Spirit.
How can I know that I am saved?Scripture bases assurance not only on feelings: John writes so that those who believe in the Son of God may know that they have eternal life; assurance rests on Christ’s word to those who hear Him and believe in the One who sent Him.
How should I pray?Jesus taught us to pray sincerely—addressing the Father, not seeking to impress people; it is not the number of words that makes prayer heard, for God knows our needs beforehand.
How can I draw near to God?Scripture says that a person draws near to God through Jesus Christ: His blood has opened the way to God.
How can I forgive someone?Scripture calls us to forgive because God forgave us in Christ; Jesus connects our forgiveness of others with forgiveness from the Father and teaches us to forgive without counting.
How can I be saved?Scripture says that salvation is through Jesus Christ: it is given by grace through faith.
How can you know God's will?Scripture directly identifies many things as God's will for believers: sanctification and abstaining from sexual immorality, joy, continual prayer, and thanksgiving.
How can you strengthen your faith?In Scripture, faith is described as something that can grow and be strengthened: it comes from hearing the word of Christ; the disciples asked for their faith to be increased, the father of a sick child asked for help with his unbelief, and trials produce perseverance.
How can you hear God?Scripture says that God spoke in the past in many ways, but “in these last days” He speaks through the Son; the written Word of God is an accessible source of revelation, useful for instruction and equipping us for every good work.
How should you read the Bible?The Bible contains no instruction titled “how to read the Bible,” but it does provide examples: examine the Scriptures and compare what you hear with them, explain the meaning of what you have read, ask God to open your understanding, search the Scriptures for testimony about Christ, and put what you read into practice.
What sin does God not forgive?In the Gospels, only one sin is explicitly said to be unforgivable: blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.
When will the end of the world come?Scripture plainly says that the day and hour of the end have not been revealed: only the Father knows.
When will Jesus Christ come?Scripture does not give a date: only the Father knows the day and hour, and when asked about the timing, Jesus replies, “It is not for you to know the times.”
Whom should we pray to—the Father, Jesus, or the Holy Spirit?The New Testament directly teaches us to pray to the Father and contains an example of such a prayer; it also includes prayers addressed to Jesus: Stephen calls out to the Lord Jesus, and Revelation ends with the appeal, “Come, Lord Jesus.”
Who is the Antichrist?The word “antichrist” appears in John’s letters: he writes that the Antichrist will come and that many antichrists have already appeared; the Antichrist is identified as one who denies that Jesus is the Christ and denies the Father and the Son.
Who is God?According to the Bible, there is one God—the eternal Creator of heaven and earth.
Who is Jesus Christ?The New Testament calls Jesus the Christ, the Son of God, and Lord.
Who is Satan?Scripture portrays Satan and the devil as an adversary, tempter, liar, and deceiver.
Who is the Holy Spirit?In the New Testament, the Spirit is called the Spirit of truth, the Holy Spirit, and the Spirit of God.
Is smoking a sin?The Bible contains no direct commandment about smoking: tobacco is not mentioned in it.
Does God love every person?The Bible speaks of God’s love for the world and shows His goodness and desire to save people: He sent His Son so that the world might be saved, does not desire the death of a sinner, and wants all people to be saved.
Is masturbation a sin?The Bible contains no direct passage about masturbation, so the statement “The Bible says masturbation is a sin” would have no basis.
Is it possible to remarry after divorce?Passages about remarriage after divorce should be read together: in Mark 10:11–12 and Luke 16:18, marrying another after divorce is called adultery without qualification, while Matthew 5:32 and 19:9 include an exception for sexual immorality.
Is it permissible to marry an unbeliever?These are two different questions.
Is it permissible to tell fortunes, consult psychics, or read horoscopes?The Bible directly condemns divination, fortune-telling, sorcery, summoning spirits, and consulting the dead, and directs us to God and His Word.
Is it permissible to get tattoos?Tattoos are mentioned directly in Leviticus 19:28—in the Law of Moses; in context, this verse appears among instructions concerning pagan mourning practices and divination.
Can salvation be lost?Scripture contains two groups of passages that must be read together.
Is divorce permissible?Scripture sets a high standard for the permanence of marriage: Jesus points back to the Creator’s design and restricts divorce, while the Law of Moses allowed a certificate of divorce “because of hardness of heart.”
Is it permissible to judge others?Scripture forbids hypocritical judgment, judging by outward appearance, and judging in matters of conscience; it also forbids taking God’s place as Judge (Matt. 7:1–5; Rom. 14; Jas. 4:11–12).
Can a Christian drink alcohol?The Bible directly condemns drunkenness and intoxication, but it does not contain a universal prohibition against drinking wine in any amount.
Is it necessary to confess to a priest?Scripture connects confessing sins with God’s forgiveness; Psalm 32:5 speaks directly of confessing to the Lord, and 1 John 1:9 says that when we confess our sins, God forgives and cleanses us.
Is baptism necessary for salvation?In the New Testament, baptism is closely connected with conversion and salvation (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; 1 Peter 3:21), while salvation is also described as a gift of grace through faith, not from works (Ephesians 2:8–9).
Is it necessary to help the poor?Scripture approves and commands helping those in need: Israel was instructed to open its hand to the poor, while John and James say that love and faith are demonstrated by deeds, not words.
Is it necessary to observe the Sabbath?The Torah sanctifies the seventh day and commands the Sabbath for Israel as a sign of the covenant, while Jesus says that the Sabbath was made for man and that the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.
Is it necessary to attend church?The New Testament urges believers not to neglect meeting together (Hebrews 10:24–25) and speaks of the Church as the Body of Christ, where each person needs the others.
Must a Christian tithe?Tithing is explicitly commanded in the Law of Israel—for the support of the Levites, for feasts, and for those in need.
Is a Christian required to observe the Law of Moses?The New Testament does not answer this question in a single verse.
Why does God allow sickness?Scripture does not provide a single explanation for every illness.
Why does God allow evil?Scripture does not provide an exhaustive answer to why God allows evil, but it shows several things: evil entered the world through human sin and disobedience; God is not the source of temptation to evil; He is patient, delaying judgment; evil will be judged and eliminated.
Why does God allow suffering?Scripture does not provide a single explanation for every instance of suffering.
Why does God not heal?Scripture does not explain why a particular person was not healed.
Why does God not answer prayers?Scripture names several possible reasons why a person may not receive what they ask for: the request may not align with God's will, may be made with wrong motives, or may be accompanied by deliberately holding on to sin and unforgiveness.
Will God forgive a serious sin?Scripture shows that God forgives serious sins of those who come to Him in repentance: David after adultery and murder, Paul—the persecutor of the Church—and people who had previously lived in grievous sins.
Is suicide a sin?The Bible contains no separate commandment phrased as “Do not commit suicide.”
Is sex before marriage a sin?The New Testament reserves sexual intimacy for marriage: marriage should be held in honor and the marriage bed kept pure, and God will judge the sexually immoral; God’s will is abstention from sexual immorality.
Are we saved by good works?Scripture says both that salvation is not earned by works and that living faith is demonstrated by works.
Does God exist?The Bible does not construct an argument for God’s existence: it begins with God and assumes that He exists.
What does the Bible say about marriage?Scripture begins with the Creator’s design: God created man and woman; a man leaves his father and mother, clings to his wife, and they become one flesh.
What does the Bible say about raising children?In Scripture, parents—especially fathers—are told not to provoke their children or discourage them, but to bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
What does the Bible say about anger?Scripture does not simply say that “anger is sin,” but neither does it justify every kind of anger.
What does the Bible say about pride and humility?Scripture says that pride leads to falling and humiliation, while God opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble.
What does the Bible say about money and wealth?Paul calls the love of money a root of all kinds of evil and warns about the danger of the desire to become rich.
What does the Bible say about depression?The Bible does not use “depression” as a medical diagnosis, but it describes people in deep sorrow, discouragement, and despair—psalmists, Elijah, and Paul—and does not condemn them for it.
What does the Bible say about work and laziness?Scripture values work and condemns laziness: God placed man in the garden to tend it, Proverbs warns the lazy person, and Paul instructs people to work with their own hands so they may live honorably and be able to help those in need.
What Does the Bible Say About Reincarnation?The word “reincarnation” does not appear in the Bible, but its texts describe a person’s destiny after death differently: a person is destined to die once and then face judgment, while the dead will be resurrected—some to life and others to condemnation.
What Does the Bible Say About Itself?The Bible speaks about “Scripture” in several places: Paul writes that Scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching; prophecy in Scripture comes from God through people moved by the Holy Spirit; Jesus says that the Scriptures testify about Him; and John states that the purpose of his book is faith and life.
What Does the Bible Say About Anxiety?Scripture calls us not to be anxious but to bring our concerns to God: Paul advises us to present our requests to God with thanksgiving and promises the peace of God; Jesus points to the Father’s care for the birds and lilies; and Peter urges us to cast all our cares on God.
What Does the Bible Say About Infidelity?Scripture calls adultery a sin: the commandment says, “You shall not commit adultery,” and Hebrews 13:4 calls marriage honorable and the marriage bed undefiled.
What Should I Do If I Keep Committing the Same Sin Again and Again?Scripture answers as follows: confess your sin to God—He forgives those who confess, and Jesus Christ remains our Advocate; do not let sin rule over you, but surrender yourself to God; use the way of escape God provides in temptation; and do not remain alone—believers are called to help one another when they fall.
What Should I Do If I Doubt God?Scripture describes people who doubted—the father of a sick child, Thomas, Peter on the water, and John the Baptist—and in these accounts Christ responds to them by calling them to believe, revealing Himself, or pointing to His works.
What should you do when you are afraid?Scripture says “do not be afraid” many times and gives the reason: the presence of God with a person.
What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus?A disciple of Jesus is someone who follows Him: denying themselves, taking up their cross, and following Him; abiding in His word, loving other disciples, and bearing fruit.
What does it mean to live by the Spirit?To live by the Spirit means to live not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit: Paul contrasts the desires and thoughts of the flesh and the Spirit, writing that the Spirit of God lives in believers and that, by the Spirit, they put to death the deeds of the flesh.
What does it mean to pray in Jesus’ name?In the Gospel of John, Jesus tells His disciples to ask in His name, promising to do whatever they ask so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
What does it mean to honor your father and mother?Scripture connects honoring one’s father and mother with children’s obedience and practical care for their parents.
What does it mean to be born again?“To be born again” are Jesus’ words to Nicodemus: without this, no one can see or enter the Kingdom of God.
What does 666 mean?Revelation 13:16–18 speaks of a mark on the right hand or forehead: without it, no one could buy or sell, and this mark is the name of the beast or the number of its name.
What happens after death?Scripture distinguishes several stages: death, then the abode of the dead until the resurrection (about which little is said), resurrection, judgment, and the final state—the new heaven and the new earth.
What is hell?Scripture speaks of judgment and the punishment of unbelievers using several expressions: Gehenna, eternal fire, destruction, the lake of fire, the second death, and eternal punishment.
What is grace?In the New Testament, salvation is described as being by grace through faith, not by works (Ephesians 2:8–9); justification is a gift by God's grace, through redemption in Christ (Romans 3:24).
What is faith?Hebrews 11:1 describes faith in our translation as “the assurance of things hoped for” and “the evidence of things not seen.”
What is the Lord’s Supper (Communion)?At the Last Supper with His disciples, Jesus took bread and the cup: He called the bread His body, and spoke of the cup as the new covenant in His blood, instructing them to do this in remembrance of Him.
What is the Second Coming of Christ?The Second Coming is the personal return of Jesus Christ.
What is speaking in tongues?In the New Testament, tongues appear as a work of the Spirit in specific events and as one of the gifts in the Church.
What is sin?Scripture describes sin in several ways: sin is lawlessness, that is, violation of God's law; all unrighteousness; and falling short of the glory of God.
What are the gifts of the Holy Spirit?In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul writes that the gifts are diverse, but the Spirit is one: each person is given a manifestation of the Spirit for the common good, and the Spirit distributes the gifts as He wills.
What is the Gospel?In the New Testament, the Gospel is the Good News about Christ.
What is temptation, and how can we resist it?According to James 1:13–15, God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself tempts no one: a person is tempted when drawn away and enticed by their own desire, and desire, when it has conceived, gives birth to sin.
What is sanctification?In the New Testament, sanctification is both what God does and has done for believers and the way of life to which He calls them.
What is the fruit of the Holy Spirit?The fruit of the Spirit consists of qualities that Paul contrasts with the works of the flesh: in Galatians 5:22–23, he names nine traits, including love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, and self-control.
What is repentance?In the New Testament, repentance means turning to God, not merely regret: Jesus calls people to repent and believe in the Gospel, while the apostles call them to repent and turn to God by doing deeds worthy of repentance.
What is fasting, and is a Christian required to fast?In the New Testament, fasting is presented as a practice connected with prayer and serving God, but these texts establish no single rule regarding how often, on which days, or how to fast.
What is heaven?In Scripture, the word “heaven” refers both to the place where God dwells and to the future state of believers.
What is the Judgment of God?Scripture says that there will be judgment: people are destined to die, and after that comes judgment; God has appointed a day when He will judge the world through Jesus.
What Is the Trinity?The word “Trinity” does not appear in the Bible.
What Is the Church According to the Bible?In the New Testament, the Church refers to people: an assembly of believers in a specific place (the church of God in Corinth) and, more broadly, the Body of Christ, of which He is the head.