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Question #1: 

I have been studying your web site on the Internet and would like to know where I can obtain your material so I won't have to download everything. I am currently unemployed on disability and have been doing a lot of study on the Internet about God. If the author does not show where it is found in the scriptures, I do not check the information out. I am now with a group of Christians who meet on Monday nights to have Bible study. We have all given up on the physical church and just want to study the word of God and to take all the paganism and other distractions out of our worship of God. I would be very appreciative if you would let me know how I can obtain your literature to further help us in our studies. I have been religious all my life, but I really found God about 4 years ago after I had been hurt in an explosion at work and have been disabled ever since. I am a babe in God and am thirsting for more milk and you have quenched my thirst a lot but I want more. I would appreciate if you would tell me how I can obtain copies of your work without having to download it all off the Internet.

Sincerely,

Response #1:  

I have deliberately resisted having these studies commercially published in order to be able to continue offering them free of charge and in order to retain complete independence in matters of content. [omitted]

I would also like to encourage you in your efforts. I can certainly relate to your frustration vis-à-vis the current situation in much of the Church. It truly is difficult to find a place where the Word of God is the point, and where extraneous activities have not gone "over the top". What is really difficult, however, is to consistently immerse oneself in the Word and help others to do so as well without the support of a traditional church. I applaud your efforts. May God bless you in them and lead you into all truth.

*Other alternatives now which do not require printing/reading:  Curtis Omo's Bible Academy and Steven Tamen's YouTube ministry (at the links); many Ichthys studies are also available now as MP3s as well (at the link).

Yours in Him who is our truth, our Lord Jesus Christ.

Bob Luginbill

Question #2: 

I have been looking for a way to study the Bible exactly like you have presented on the internet. Thank you so much. All the answers to questions I have when reading the bible are plain and simply explained.

Next, I wish it were in a published format as it is difficult to print out or to read online.

Thank you again.

Response #2: 

Thanks for your encouraging e-mail.

Incidentally, I am very pleased to be able to report that Part 2B of "The Coming Tribulation" series entitled "The Heavenly Prelude: Revelation 4:1 - 7:17" is now available in HTML at the Ichthys Site (just click the link). I just put this on the web tonight (eight months in the making). [update: access the entire CT series now available at the link]

As to your comment, I very much understand your desire for true "book-format" publications. It is true that, for a number of reasons, these studies are not presently available in the commercial market, but here are two things to consider:

If you haven't already tried it, the Adobe PDF format is really a wonderful way to view and/or print out these documents. Adobe even has "electronic book" readers - I don't know much about these, but with PDF you can view these things on all manner of laptops and hand-held devices. Also, if you decide to print-out, PDF comes out looking like a very professional "white-paper".

In any case, I thank you for your kind words.

Yours in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Bob Luginbill

Question #3: 

Hey Dr. Luginbill,

You know, I tried to send you an email last week but the computer I was on poofed it. I haven't gotten around to sending another one until now. I was looking at different majors on a website. I know I've already declared, but I just don't know. I mean after all, they say do what you love. I'm just a little worried, though. Everyone says how awful English majors have it. I would imagine that those other things I'm interested in are even harder majors to find jobs for. What do you think? I was a business major before. I read online though that there are too many business majors. So I changed my major to Biology, but I hated it. This was when I was at another college.

Can you tell me what you think I should major in? I just can't decide. I have at least 50 credits, not counting the classes I'm in now. I still have a full year to go after this semester. I was looking at different colleges, and they only let you transfer so many credits. If I only take 12 credits from now on, I'll be transferring 87 credits. Who's going to let me transfer that many classes? Most of the colleges I was looking at only let you transfer like 60 something credits. Do you have any advice?

Thanks,

Response #3:

Good to hear from you as always.

I always give the same advice on this subject. Life in the 21st cent. USA is highly competitive. Whatever field you choose will involve a struggle to get prepared and a fight to get employed (that's true if a person wants to be an auto-mechanic or a hair-dresser). That being the case, it seems logical to me that a person ought to weigh carefully both their talents and their interests, and set themselves to do what they both enjoy and are gifted to do. God helping them, these two things will intersect somewhere, and with prayer and the guidance of the Spirit the best course will become clear. On the other hand, nothing, it seems to me, could be worse in life than being enslaved to some profession or livelihood that was not at all what the person in question wanted and not at all what he/she was truly gifted for and, as a result, probably not at all what the Lord wanted them to do (but they took that route anyway for "practical reasons").

Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this.
Psalm 37:4-5 NIV

Yours in our dear Savior Jesus Christ,

Bob L.
p.s., whenever a person transfers schools or programs, time / credits are "lost", and usually more than are anticipated. On the one hand this should be taken into careful consideration; on the other I wouldn't let it stop me if I were convinced that the Lord wanted me to change course.

Question #4: 

Dear Bob,

I thank you very much for being here.

I had a strong feeling driving home from the dump this morning that I should withdraw my memoir manuscript from the publishing company currently reviewing it and seek a Christian agent and publishing company to facilitate the process for whatever light is trying to come through me.

Do you know of a Christian agent or publishing company with whom I might dialogue?

With Love and Blessings,

Response #4: 

Thank you for your two e-mails. I must say that I find your resume and career impressive in the extreme (who would not?)! You have certainly not hidden your talent in the ground, but have exploited what the Lord has given you to a very impressive degree. I think many Christians underestimate the importance of doing one's work well for the Lord - there is a great area of witness here that many ignore, so it is always good to see someone who puts Jesus first working as hard and consistently as you have obviously done in your life. It is true that everything we have, we have from the Lord, be it talent, opportunity, or success, but it is no accident that talent, opportunity, and success often fall to the lot of those who are willing to respond in the way that the Lord would have them to do:

But by the grace of God I am what I am. And His grace to me did not prove pointless, but I worked [at my ministry] more diligently than all of [the other apostles] - and yet it was not me, but the grace of God [working] with me.
1st Corinthians 15:10

Nothing gives me greater pleasure than when these studies prove to be helpful to the spiritual life and growth of my fellow believers in our Lord Jesus. Thank you for your kind words. I have put your name on my notification list. If for any reason you ever want it removed, all you need do is ask (the list seldom generates more than two e-mails per year). Rest assured that I never give this information out to anyone else.

As to the issue of publishing companies, I regret to say that I am not at all what one would call well-connected in such matters. I have managed to publish one secular book [update: two; see the link], but my experiences with my publisher have been neither particularly happy or satisfactory. So I'm not sure exactly what to tell you about this. The one observation I would choose to make is that the only advantage I can see which you might garner from pursuing a "Christian" publisher is that they might be more open to the spiritual dimension in your book. From what little I can perceive, most of them are generally about business first. And, on the other hand, I don't see any problem per se with your going with a secular press, as long as it doesn't cause you to make any changes you might regret. I think that you have hit the nub of the issue with your comment about the content of your book. It seems to me from your remarks that you are mostly concerned not to let the main point of your story fall by the way for the sake of getting it published. With this position I would heartily agree. And I really don't think it is necessary. A man of your exceptional accomplishments will no doubt find that, if this press should pass, there are many out there who would be thrilled to have a chance at your inspiring story (both Christian and secular).

Thank you again for your good words and for your example of a noble Christian life.

In our dear Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,

Bob L.

Question #5: 

After study John 19 some interesting info was sent to my brain. People who died from crucifixion were usually left to rot or be eaten after they were dead. People who were crucified were not 6 feet of the ground like the movies show. They were low enough that they could be reached by an 18 inch reed when thirsty. This made me stop and wonder with all the info that has been taken into my brain. The cross they died on was a "T". The stipes (I think I spelled that correct) were in the ground. The cross piece was carried. That means they had to lay them down, nail there hands, help them up, lift them up so the cross piece sat on top off the stipes, and then nail their feet. That is even more painful then I can imagine. The extra pain of getting up and carrying this 110 lb. beam on your back or being dragged up by your nailed hands. Give me lots of drugs please.

Have a great evening

Your Brother In Christ

The old, tired, and retired Portagie

Response #5:  

I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.
Isaiah 50:6 KJV

(3) He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with suffering. Like a person people hide their faces from, He was despised, and we did not hold Him of any account. (4) For He took away our torments, and He shouldered our weaknesses. And yet we considered Him as [the One who had been] punished, smitten and afflicted by God. (5) But [in fact] He was made subject to torment on account of our transgressions, and He was crushed because of our collective guilt (lit., “guilts”). The punishment [required] for making peace [with God] on our behalf [fell] upon Him. Because of His wounding, we have been healed. (6) We have all gone astray like sheep. Each of us has turned to his own way. And the Lord caused the guilt of us all to strike Him. (7) Though He was oppressed and afflicted, like a lamb led to slaughter He did not open His mouth, and like a ewe before her shearers He did not open His mouth. (8) By repressive judgment He was taken away, and who gave any thought to His posterity? For He was cut off from the land of the living. He was punished for the transgression of my people.
Isaiah 53:3-8

Yes indeed, I cannot imagine a more horrible experience than crucifixion – except the one that our Lord had after being hung between heaven and earth, namely, to go into the darkness for us, to be forsaken for us, and to be judged for all of our sins.

He made Him who had no [personal] experience of sinning [to be] sin (i.e., a sin offering) for us, so that we might have God's righteousness in Him.
2nd Corinthians 5:21

He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, in order that we might die to sins and live to righteousness. By His wound you are healed.
1st Peter 2:24

There really is nothing to boast about or get excited about on this earth compared to the cross of Jesus Christ! He has saved us from this kingdom of darkness, from death and condemnation, so that we have only joy and glory and light to look forward to – because of what our Savior did for us.

Thanks much for your observations. You can find my own take on all this at the link in BB 4A: Christology.

In the One who loved us so much He gave Himself over to death for us, death on a
cross, our Savior Jesus Christ.

Bob L.

Question #6: 

Hello Bob,

As I have mentioned in the past, I value and am blessed by you ministry and help. While looking for info on "Redemption" I found the article copied below. If you don't feel uncomfortable doing so, would you give me your opinion?

Thanks-
[omitted]

Response #6: 

I agree with and was taught and teach that the reason for our Lord's being judged for all sin on the cross is that God's justice had to be satisfied in order for us to be saved (see "God's Justice and Mercy" in BB 3B, and in general Bible Basics part 1: Theology).

There are many issues in soteriology, of which redemption is an important one, but not the only one. That's as far as I would want to go here, as this essay is a bit too desultory for my taste. Parts 4A and 4B of the Basics series are in the process of production and will address these issues in detail [update: now available at the link along with the entire Bible Basics series]. Until then, I am happy, or course, to answer any specific questions you have on redemption or anything else.

In Jesus,

Bob L.

Question #7: 

Dear Professor,

I want to thank you for your prayers. Things are improving and although I know that tough moments may still await me with this, worst anguish when one is faced with what hurts most is now past. I wrote to you that all the tests which started last year have been teaching me not to set my heart on anything in this world. And this has been the toughest test, when I now have to abandon my last earthly hope, my last resort of earthly happiness - the one I loved.

We exchanged a few emails and there is nothing left to be said. It is the end, although I'm still coming to a full belief that what I'm writing is actually now happening, after all these years. It all left me stunned and devastated, things happened in a way I never imagined. What hurts me most is that __ has put faith aside and I can only now pray and hope that at one point __ will realize about the vanity of things chosen over the truth. Maybe God will at some point provide something that will turn __ back, although I don't know if this will happen and, if it does happen, what it will be. I leave this with God.

I know I have to accept it and fully commit to what I'm here to do.

In our Lord,

Response #7:  

Hello my friend,

I will most certainly continue praying for __ . . . and for you. Where there is life, there is hope. I have seen more than one person whom I thought for sure had abandoned faith later exhibit that their faith had not in fact died (even if they were not proceeding spiritually as I would have preferred).

The Lord knows all . . . and knew all, even before He made the world. He has your best interests in mind. Pruning is never an enjoyable process (Jn.15:1-8). I am experiencing that myself as well. But it is a good process, if only we submit to the Lord's will and allow "patience to do its perfect work" (Jas.1:4).

The time is growing short. If we were living a hundred years ago, perhaps there would be time for "other things". As it is now, every minute counts. Who is equal to that imperative? Nevertheless, we can only do the best we can do and try might and main to be consistent in our taking in of the truth of the Word of God, our walk with Jesus, trusting Him no matter what, and in helping our brothers and sisters through the gifts and ministries we have been given. There is, as you well know, great reward in doing so. That doesn't mean we don't have tears here and now, sometimes by the bucketful. But it does mean that we can and indeed we must look forward in our hearts to the end of a good fight fought for Jesus Christ:

Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them.
Psalms 126:5-6 NIV

In our dear Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,

Bob L.

Question #8: 

Dear Professor,

It is true, pruning is hard. But, as you say, God has our best interests in mind. When I look back I see how all the testing has been helpful and how it required me to constantly grow in faith.
Thank you so much for you prayers. I have not abandoned the hope regarding __'s faith. I just know that now is the time when I have to accept things as they are and can only pray. God gave a miracle nearly two years ago when __ came to believe and every doubt that crept into my prayers back then I regretted when I saw the might of our Lord working in __.

__'s current spiritual state is in a way more dangerous than what it was then.

As you say, time is short and I want to make the best possible use of it. I know that tests will keep coming, but at least this recent time helped me redirect my thoughts towards eternal rewards. I feel there is nothing left for me here.

I continue to pray for you and await the good news. Your ministry and example you have given daily inspire me and motivate to keep running the race. And there isn't almost anyone out there among the Christians of today who sets the highest standards, such is the time in which we live. I am blessed to have you as my teacher and friend in faith.

In Jesus Christ,

Response #8: 

We never can really be sure what is going on in another person's head and heart. That is even true (or maybe even especially true) of those near and dear. One thing is for certain, however: the Lord knows how to get a person's attention. It is a very common thing for a person, especially a young person, and especially a new Christian, to "experiment". Divine discipline is always perfectly attuned to make all who are willing to turn around and come back do so. The prodigal son is the perfect example – and the perfect paradigm.

In the meantime, we will continue to pray for each other and for our mutual concerns, you and I. We know that God is working everything out for good, and that the valley of the death shadow does not stretch on forever (even if it sometimes seems to be never-ending). As long as we are holding on to Jesus' hand on this journey, we really can have perfect peace, and we really can even have abundant joy, even if we also have plenty of trouble and tears to go with them.

Your friend and future neighbor in New Jerusalem,

Bob L.

Question #9: 

Hi Bob,

That's really interesting - thank you.

So to go too far away from what's reasonable interpretation, makes it easier for someone to think they have scriptural support for their own beliefs. Beliefs that aren't always the truth.

It really is a blessing to have an English Bible and it's a blessing to have you as my teacher. You continue to help me to learn and understand the Bible far more than I ever could on my own. You've helped me enormously to get to where I am now and to help me to grow spiritually. I'm very thankful to the Lord for you, Bob!

In Jesus

Response #9:  

Thanks for the good words! Truly, there's nothing better "down here" than the Word of Truth.

What did you decide on the job dilemma? Keeping in mind that our true "job #1" is pleasing the Lord, of course, and if we are doing that, everything else will be taken care of (Rom.8:28). When we are honoring Him, He honors us (1Sam.2:30), and if we are giving Him the respect He deserves, we have nothing whatsoever to fear from this world (Lk.12:4-7). Our job is to trust Him no matter what.

Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,
And whose hope is the LORD.
For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters,
Which spreads out its roots by the river,
And will not fear when heat comes;
But its leaf will be green,
And will not be anxious in the year of drought,
Nor will cease from yielding fruit.
Jeremiah 17:7-8 NKJV

Keeping that issue and all other things in my prayers, my friend.

The cold has come back here with a vengeance! Haven't been able to get my usual exercise because everything is still iced up. Only a little walking where there aren't yards and yards of ice and packed snow.

In Jesus,

Bob L.

Question #10: 

[omitted]

Response #10:  

Re "perfectionism": I think you are over-thinking things. Even though we are not perfect, the Spirit helps us respond with a pure heart – a very necessary thing too because otherwise no one's heart is truly "good" (Jer.17:9).

Just because we have erred or otherwise been less than pure in our motives yesterday should not be allowed to be an excuse to NOT seek the Lord today. Even if we have just a mustard seed's amount of willingness, the Spirit can blow that spark into a flame. Concentrate on what's good; don't obsess over what's not.

And don't give up.

For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise.
Hebrews 10:36 NKJV

Keeping you in my daily prayers.

In Jesus,

Bob L.

Question #11: 

I hear many people say "just do your best and God will lead you from there". In spite of that, they say they themselves have felt the enemy push back against those efforts, and it takes significant effort to get off the ground and continue to "fly" above the murk of stagnation.

These are typically, in my experience, people who preach on Scrupulosity and other mental illness, that leave people in a "do it just right, be certain it's just right or God won't help you/you'll be living in sin". It crushes the souls of countless who could otherwise be great ministry for Christ.

I have to be honest in this confession: for the longest time I thought of you as a kind of voice for this spiritual tyranny, [omitted]

While we may disagree on issues (the majority of which are really just nuance), I can appreciate you truly do what you do out of genuine love and concern for your fellow believers. I may not agree it's what's best at times (especially from personal experience), but I hope we can still talk in spite of all that. You have, genuinely, been a great help to me, and i hope I may be to you somehow. God bless.

Response #11:  

No one ever said life was easy. However, "do it just right, be certain it's just right or God won't help you/you'll be living in sin" is certainly not biblical. The Bible celebrates God's mercy and His forgiveness – and we ALL need His forgiveness every day (1Jn.1:8-10); these sentiments you report are rank legalism – as if we COULD follow the Law (or someone else's made-up rules masquerading as "the Law"). What we all need – and what God offers freely – is grace.

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.
Ephesians 2:8-9 NKJV

Re: "for the longest time I thought of you as a kind of voice for this spiritual tyranny". I'm not sure why. I will say that more than once (much more), you have attributed teachings and phrases and sentiments to this ministry that were inaccurate and incorrect. You seem to have a tendency to blend what I say/teach with things you've heard elsewhere and/or "interpret" them wrongly based upon this prior experience. This is one reason why "Smorgasbording", as I term it, is inimical to spiritual growth. Growth is what will make you happy; nothing else will. No, it's not easy . . . for anyone. It requires consistency and commitment – and very few believers in Laodicea have that.

Re: "You have, genuinely, been a great help to me, and I hope I may be to you somehow." Thank you – you can pray for me and this ministry (that's always appreciated).

In Jesus,

Bob L.

Question #12: 

Hi Dr L,

I get the impression from you that believers are not obligated to fellowship or give encouragement to other believers. The verses that seem to say that mean first in the context of believers choosing which believers (in the sense of balancing those verses with everything else).

I see that believers, for there to be faith, are not to just walk by a starving brother/sister (in general). That then faith is dead. But this is also in a sense of being in context with balancing everything else.

And it is something that the deeper things of pain and love are more important that food, which we see over and over, so I think it is accurate to also read into James bit that encouraging others and similar goes with giving them food when starving.

1) I suppose we are meant to read into the Lazarus and rich man story, that the issue isn't that he passed Lazarus by so much as he did NO acts of faith (like helping other certain believers in another way)?

2) Is it just that case there are believers who are in a group of real believers (who do works of faith in other ways), but the role of the dice is that these certain believers can go through this group and never get real help, so that they are in real and uncommon pain, and yet everyone is a believer? Like that other believers are not necessarily sinning by not helping that person? Say this person never had family and real friends, not only that, they were taught wrong and evil things and have to work hard to undo, so that on their minds are questions like that (to survive and heal), whereas everyone else' minds have questions like what new phone they want (and only on the deeper stuff on rare occasion when a bad thing does happen to them). And I am focusing on the emotional here. So this group is all believers, just that this one person, it plays out, just has a painful life while other believers watch and know...I mean the silver lining is that they do end up relying only on God. I hope this makes sense. I am contending with if believers are required by the Law of Love to help (and I mean emotionally here) any believer like this, and so if they are not helping that is a sin, or if they are not required, and this believer just has a hard path.

Well, I just need to understand, please just be bluntly honest,

Response #12: 

We are all responsible for what we do and what we don't do. If we are stingy and unnecessarily so with other believers who are in need, that is "not good". Of course it depends on all of the details and all of the circumstances on both sides of the equation, but I think the above is a fair assessment. Here are some verses:

Whoever despises his neighbor is a sinner,
but blessed is he who is generous to the poor.
Proverbs 14:21 ESV

Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward them for what they have done.
Proverbs 19:17

Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor will also cry out and not be answered.
Proverbs 21:13 NIV

Those who give to the poor will lack nothing, but those who close their eyes to them receive many curses.
Proverbs 28:27 NIV

If a brother or a sister is without clothing and in need of the day's food, And one of you says to them, Go in peace, be warm and full of food; but you do not give them the things of which their bodies have need, what profit is there in this? Even so faith without works is dead.
James 2:15-17 BBE

And as we've discussed before, we're certainly not obligated to socialize with anyone, especially not with those whom we feel are exploiting us or not treating us fairly in any way and for any reason. We are to love our brothers and sisters in Christ; we are to treat them as we would wish to be treated by them; but that does not mean going out to lunch with them is mandatory. In fact, in Laodicea, where most believers are not even spiritually mature, it's often better to "love them from a distance", to refrain from being hateful or judgmental, to desire their growth and to pray for it, but not to get involved in their personal matters.

I think the experience you report "in church" is indicative of just what I have been saying. Just because believers dress up nice on Sunday morning, show up for the service, sing and "amen!", smile at you and shake your hand, does not mean that they are doing what the Lord wants from them. We know what is important. Nothing is more important than the truth which saves us and which equips us to do what Christ wants us to do (Eph.4:11-16). We are happy to share the truth with all who want it – that is love. Not pretending you care about someone while eating coffee cake.

Do feel free to write me back about this.

In Jesus,

Bob L.

Question #13: 

Hi Bob,

I just wanted to share some news with you. I know sometimes we get daunted by how bad things seem and also it looks as though those who love evil are really triumphing right now but I am writing to remind your ministry that this is not the case.

I have had news today that a relative who did a lot of evil to me in the past has now reaped what she has sown. Her marriage fell apart and she has lost her home which was worth millions. I am not gleeful about this at all, in fact I followed what the Bible says and I have been busy praying for those who have despitefully used me. I have been praying for her and her family for years now.

Sadly, despite the great tragedies that have fallen on her she has doubled down and hardened herself even more. I hoped that going through this would finally humble her so that she came to her senses and seek the Lord. Not so, she has dug her heels in all the more fiercely and has a lot of people cheering her on.

Seeing all this, I don't know if I should continue to pray for her as blessings didn't move her and suffer doesn't humble her.

Maybe better to pray for her heartbroken husband and her children and grandchildren as no doubt they are really going through the mill even if she refuses to believe she has done too.

What I am trying to say is that it is good to leave vengeance to the Lord and also good to pray for our enemies as justice is always served...we just need to trust Him and be patient.

In Jesus,

Response #13:

While I'm sorry to hear this, I rejoice at your very prudent handling of this and your very wise analysis of the situation.

There comes a time when I also "commit the person to the Lord" and move on as we have limited time for prayer even if it is a priority for us. That usually happens for me when the person breaks fellowship or proves by their actions that prayer for them is not going to be effective as long as they are determined to go the wrong way.

In the end, God's will is always done. For us who love Him and are called according to His purpose, He works it all out for good (Rom.8:28); but for those who spurn Him and His grace and mercy, they always receive their just deserts.

Keeping you in my prayers, my friend.

In Jesus,

Bob L.

Question #14: 

Thanks for the Answer Bob,

My next question is, does Romans 13 imply that we are still under the 10 commandments?

„Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.“ Romans 13 : 8 - 10 KJV

I did believe that we walk in the fulfillment of the law, but rather through Jesus and at the same time I thought that we aren’t under the law. But if we have to fulfill the law, than we are still under it.

In Jesus,

Response #14: 

For Christ is the fulfillment (lit., “end”) of the Law, resulting in righteousness for everyone who believes [in Him].
Romans 10:4

We are no longer under the written Law of the letter, but the Law of the Spirit.

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.
Romans 8:2 NKJV

That does NOT mean we are to live in a lawless and sinful way, however – God forbid (Rom.3:8)! By following the Spirit, as you intuit, we fulfill the spiritual purpose of the Law . . . "that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit" (Rom.8:4 NKJV).

Clearly, we are to follow the ten commandments. These are all repeated in one way or another in the New Testament . . . which has plenty to say on its own about the way we should behave ourselves. (e.g., Gal.5:19-21). Only the fourth commandment is not repeated in the New Testament. That is because after the cross we are to fulfill that commandment spiritually by entering in the moment-by-moment faith rest in the Spirit at ALL times (rather than ritually fulfilling the fourth commandment on one day of the week). Here are some links which will fill in the details about all this (do feel free to have a look and write me back):

The Mosaic Law (in HE 7)

Entering into God's Rest (in HE 4)

In Jesus,

Bob L.

Question #15: 

Hi Bob,

Just a couple of questions:

1: Does prophesy in 1 Cor 14 mean future prophecies as in Isaiah or spreading the gospel. I suppose at the bottom of the line it's a distinction with no difference.

2: I assume "speaking in tongues" refers to real languages. Not the nonsense some cults engage in while rolling around on the floor. I think you have already addressed that and I understand the former. Am I correct?

I hope you're staying warm and pray you and yours are well and comfortable.

In our Lord,

Response #15:  

Good to hear from you, my friend!

On your questions,

1) 1st Corinthians 14 is speaking of the gift of prophesying, a temporary gift which helped to fill the gap in the teaching of the truth before the completion of the Bible and before there were sufficient prepared men in the Church to teach it (see the link).

2) Tongues had a similar purpose in evangelism (see the link). The actual gift of tongues always involved enabling a person who did not otherwise know and who had not learned another language to speak it for the purpose of spreading the gospel – just as happened in Acts chapter two on the day of Pentecost when the assembled crowd heard the gospel in many different languages although the speakers were all uneducated Galileans.

It's finally warming up. A few more days of this and the ice patches will finally be gone off of the streets and sidewalks (here's hoping).

How are things out on the prairie?

Keeping you in my prayers, my friend.

In Jesus,

Bob L.

Question #16: 

Thank you Bob,

Another question: when is buying things stocking up treasures on earth?

In Jesus,

Response #16: 

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Matthew 6:19-21 NKJV

Few of us are self-sufficient "off the grid" farmers, so we all need to buy things on occasion. In the passage you reference, our Lord is speaking about the folly of assuming that anything we can come to possess on this earth will last forever. Instead, since we know that we are "down here" for Him, we ought to be prioritizing what is really important, namely, spiritual growth, progress in test-passing and learning how to apply the truth, and helping others through ministry. That is what will constitute the basis of our rewards. The bumper sticker philosophy "he who dies with the most toys wins" is insane from the Christian point of view: even if we die with no toys we will have rewards beyond imagination in eternity . . . if we have done what Jesus told us and "stored up treasures in heaven" through doing His will (see the link).

There is a lot about this in scripture. E.g.,

Surely every man walks about like a shadow;
Surely they busy themselves in vain;
He heaps up riches,
And does not know who will gather them.
Psalm 39:6 NKJV

Don't be afraid when a man is made rich, When the glory of his house is increased.
For when he dies he shall carry nothing away. His glory shall not descend after him.
Though while he lived he blessed his soul -- And men praise you when you do well for yourself
He shall go to the generation of his fathers. They shall never see the light.
A man who has riches without understanding, Is like the animals that perish.
Psalm 49:16-20 HNV

Everything down here on earth is vanity (Eccl.1:1-11). Even if someone could possess the entire world, it won't last (Matt.16:25-26).

See also following link: in SR 4 "Strangers in the Devil's Realm".

In Jesus,

Bob L.

Question #17: 

Ok, thank you Bob, I didn’t understand this properly to be honest but I’ll add another question..:

Are Catholics (the ones that worship Mary) idolaters because of their worship of Mary? And if yes, am I allowed to worship with them, because a duty for God (the „sunday-service“) should be done without idolaters which call themselves brothers?

I hope this question doesn’t sound to shocking, but I really want to know the answer…

Jesus is the truth

Response #17:  

This is a matter of application, I would say. No two people are the same. No two people believe the same things. Just because a group says it believes XYZ does not mean that everyone in it does. Every Protestant church that I know of has a statement of faith, but doubtless there are plenty in any given church who don't "hold" with everything in the statement.

That said, yes, RC is a works religion, and I couldn't recommend having anything to do with it. We are saved by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ (Eph.2:8-9), not by being a communicant in a specific church/religion, not by "good works", not by rote rituals, not by venerating saints and other human beings, e.g.  I can't imagine why anyone who was a believer genuinely seeking the Lord, making it their goal to grow spiritually, would ever want to go to an RC service (not if they've ever read the Bible). Why would you? So as far as I'm concerned that's a hypothetical which would seldom come up if ever for someone trying to please the Lord the way He desires – through response to the truth.

If you mean an RC person going to a different church, I don't see any problem with that. Maybe that would turn them around – which is what we desire, after all. But, practically speaking, I don't know of many non-RC churches which are teaching the truth either. They may not be as badly anti-truth (depending upon the place we're talking about), but it's been a long time since I've even heard of a place which didn't have a pretty standard "order of service" and in which actual teaching of the actual Word of God was seldom taking place in any sort of depth (no, sermons don't count; see the link: Red Hot or Lukewarm? Bible Teaching versus Sermonizing.).

In terms of association, that is always a judgment call. We can't go out of the world; we can't become hermits (or shouldn't); we do need to keep at least at arms length those who are not walking as Christ wants us to walk yet call themselves Christians.

I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people. What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked person from among you.”
1st Corinthians 5:9-13 NIV

Where to draw the line is a matter of application. But, generally speaking, if the good we stand to do for them (through a good witness to the truth) is less than the harm they stand to do to us spiritually ("Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.”": 1Cor.15:33 NKJV); then separation should be considered – or at least putting a bit more distance between ourselves and anyone who is dragging us down spiritually.

In Jesus,

Bob L.

Question #18: 

Hey Brother how are you doing?

I’m doing fairly well and I’m being very careful on what I read or listen to. It is helping.

However, I continue to face what feels to be headwinds on a daily basis when I want to read God’s Word or to pray or teach my SS class. I’m not sure if this is the same thing Paul struggled with in Romans 7? Is it my old nature fighting me? I ask God to fill me with His Holy Spirit to help me and there is this inner resistance. I don’t know how to explain it any better than that.

Then I remember when I was a young man . . . [omitted] This keeps coming back to me. I don’t know how to overcome it. Please don’t be upset with me. It is a real battle I’m trying to overcome.

Thank you

Response #18: 

I'm sorry that this is continuing to plague you.

As you know, I hope, our Father is the perfect, loving Father. He disciplines us NOW for what we do wrong NOW so that we will improve. He doesn't wait years to spring something on us. How would it help our child to be disciplined at ten for something he/she did at five?

In terms of inner resistance, of course the sin nature, the world that inflames it, and the devil and his minions who "work on" us and it are problems we will have to contend with all the way to the end. Even if we were living perfect lives and fighting perfect fights, this would be the case. To the extent that we are not fighting, to the extent that we are not staying in fellowship, praying daily, doing Bible study and reading daily, trying to walk with our Lord continually, to that extent we open ourselves up to greater negative influence which can slow down our momentum and put us into the swamp on the side of the road where the going is a lot slower.

We do have control over our own free will. But that doesn't mean that "doing the right thing" is easy. And sometimes it's harder than at other times. But when we get in a slump, often it's the breaking out phase that is the toughest. Once we get some momentum back, things usually return to normal. The evil one doesn't waste time when he's getting nowhere.

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
James 4:7 KJV

It's important to take responsibility. The Spirit will help . . . IF we choose to fight through. He doesn't do it for us. That would be abdicating our free will.

But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.
Romans 13:14 NKJV

In other words, yes, it is a fight. And we have to engage to win the fight. Actually "resisting to the point of blood" (Heb.12:4) whenever we are having trouble breaking through. The good news is the fight CAN be won, every time. We just need to be willing to do whatever is necessary to win it.

For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
Philippians 2:13 NKJV

If we meet Him half way, He helps us get the whole way.

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.
James 4:8a NKJV

How do we do this? Through daily spiritual growth, prayer, Bible study and Bible reading, and walking with our eyes on Jesus Christ.

It was by faith that Moses left the land of Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger. He kept right on going because he kept his eyes on the one who is invisible.
Hebrews 11:27 NLT

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.
Hebrews 12:1-2a NIV

Keeping you in my daily prayers, my friend.

In Jesus,

Bob L.

Question #19: 

Hey brother,

Thank you for your reply and your godly advice.

I was able to get away for a little bit last night and read over your response and I spent some earnest time in prayer over it.

I felt led to turn to Romans 8:26 and Psalm 23.

I believe it was just what I needed.

The Holy Spirit “helps” us with our weaknesses, He doesn’t necessarily take them away.

So I find comfort in that.

Psalm 23 says that He “leads” us in the paths of righteousness – the right directions, also which leads to right living and/or right actions/thinking, etc.

Since He promises to lead me I must be willing to follow. I can be a stubborn sheep at times! Lol.

He restores my soul. Not only can I trust Him with my physical needs but also my spiritual needs no matter how bad they are.

I have been under a huge amount of stress the last 3 months and I think I was just getting worn down physically, mentally, and spiritually.

More time with the Lord in prayer and reading His Word is what I need.

I want to follow Him with all my heart and have no desire to turn back now.

Thank You and God Bless You

Response #19:  

That is an EXCELLENT application of scripture!

Well done, you!

This is what we all need to do, especially when we are under pressure or otherwise feeling a bit adrift. The Spirit helps us with this when we engage with Him.

Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 40:28-31 NIV

(16) For the Spirit Himself testifies to our spirit that we are God's children. (17) And if we are God's children, then we are also His heirs, even fellow heirs of Christ – that is if we have indeed suffered with Him so that we might also be glorified together with Him.
Romans 8:16-17

Keeping you in my daily prayers, my friend.

In Jesus,

Bob L.

P.S.:  If you haven't noticed or already done so, please check out the list of wonderful ministry offerings on the Special Topics page, including Jordan Bomberger's new Bible teaching website: Bible Driven, Mike Ceja's new YouTube channel, "Everything is Fine", John Jackson's Hub pages (anyone with questions about the "church-visible" will find this helpful), the Expanded Index to Old Testament translations at Ichthys, Foundational Principles, by Odii Ariwodo, "The Peter series", Video presentations by Steven Tammen based on the SR series, and Steven's group studies of BB 6A (see also Steven's new website: BibleDocs).

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