Dear Roger, Is it possible that God already has His two witnesses (from Revelation) here on the earth, proclaiming the return of Christ before they show up in Jerusalem? I remember praying and asking God to let me see those two witnesses before I die or before Jesus’s return. Then I forgot about the prayer. Recently, I walked right past the corner of a busy Chicago intersection and experienced a very surreal moment as if time slowed down. It was the most bizarre thing I’ve ever seen in my life! Standing on the street corner were two men dressed in white robes with something like tied rope around their waists, ancient sandals, and long flowing brown hair. I was staring right at these men; one was facing north and the other faced towards me. I could see his face. They were saying to repent because the time is near for the Messiah to return. Crowds passing by them were oblivious. What I really had difficulty processing was their voices. Roger, their voices sounded like rolling waves of water or echoes. The words rolling off their tongues, filling up the entire area … but they had no microphones. I don’t know how much time passed, but I distinctly remember I felt the Holy Spirit reminding me that prayer I prayed about seeing the two witnesses. “Well, God just answered your prayer.” And trust me, it was a wake-up call telling me to truly make Jesus my Lord in all areas of my life. Do you have any thoughts about such a thing? Could it be the two witnesses according to Scripture? Or might it be angels?   Sincerely, Lana Dear Lana, Amazing! I can’t tell you for sure what happened, but I do know that when the Holy Spirit speaks, we need to pay attention. He is going to speak loudly in the last days: And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit on all flesh;your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. (Joel 2:28-30 RSV) I believe Scripture teaches that God gives visions. Paul wrote that he was “caught up into the third heaven whether in the body or out of the body, I do not know” (2 Corinthians 12:2 NET). Visions have also been described by preachers, teachers, theologians, and many other Christ-followers throughout history. Also, just as Revelation predicted, today nations are aligning to attack Israel. I’ve heard stories that many Jews and Arabs are coming to Christ because they had supernatural visions of Christ. How You Can Know God Is Speaking to You Before I address who the witnesses might have been, let me share a ten biblical tests that will help you know if God is really speaking to you: God speaks to your innermost human spirit. Self or Satan speaks in your Soul (Hebrews 4:12). God tends to speak with gentle leadings in contrast to what I often perceive to be the compulsive, clamoring, loud demands of Self or Satan (1 Kings 19:11-13). God’s voice produces freedom. Self’s or Satan’s voice often produces bondage (Matthew 11:28-30). God tends to speak when we are consciously seeking Him. Self or Satan tend to speak with sudden intrusions of thoughts into the mind (Jeremiah 29:12-13) When God speaks there is a definite sense that everything is under control. When Self or Satan speaks there is an inner sense that something is out of control (Psalm 37:4). God gives clear-cut, specific directions. Self or Satan often communicates in confused, uncertain wonderings (Galatians 1:7) God convicts of specific sins. Self and Satan often accuse in broad generalities that leave a lingering sense of haunting and unfocused guilt (John 16:8). God speaks with 100% truth that can be tested by the Word of God. Self and Satan often traffic in lies, deceit and half-truths (John 14:6). God’s voice always leads to a deep, abiding sense of peace. Self or Satan often do not (Philippians 4:7). God’s voice is testable and confirmed by the wisdom of many counselors (Proverbs 11:14; Deuteronomy 19:15; and Matthew 18:16). Did You REALLY See Revelation’s Two Witnesses? Now, let’s talk about whether the preachers you saw in your vision were the two witnesses referred to in Revelation 11. The key passage to which you refer is in Revelation 11:3-12: And I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.” They are “the two olive trees” and the two lampstands, and “they stand before the Lord of the earth.” If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die. They have power to shut up the heavens so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want. Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them and overpower and kill them. Their bodies will lie in the public square of the great city—which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt—where also their Lord was crucified. For three and a half days some from every people, tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial.The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them and will celebrate by sending each other gifts, because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth. But after the three and a half days the breathof life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them. Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies looked on.” First, the two witnesses appear near the end of the Tribulation. When they appear, the Temple is already built, and the Antichrist is on the scene. John writes that the whole world will see them. The most likely candidates are Moses and Elijah, Enoch and Elijah, or two unknown believers whom God calls to be His witnesses in the End Times. Moses and Elijah are seen as possibilities for the two witnesses due to the witnesses' power to turn water into blood (Revelation 11:6), which Moses is known for (Exodus 7), and their power to destroy people with fire (Revelation 11:5), which Elijah is known for (2 Kings 1). Moses and Elijah also appeared with Jesus at the transfiguration (Matthew 17:3-4). But Hebrews 9:27 says, “It is appointed to a man once to die, and after that the judgment.” Of course, Moses did die once (Deuteronomy 34:5). But the people Jesus resurrected during His earthly ministry also died and were raised. Enoch and Elijah are considered because God took them before death (Genesis 5:23; 2 Kings 2:11). Also, the two unknown witnesses could follow the pattern of John the Baptist, who can be considered a “virtual Elijah” (Malachi 3:1; 4:6; Luke 1:17). We do know that we will not be here at the time of the preaching of the two witnesses if we believe in Jesus’s death on the cross to forgive our sins, receive Him into our hearts, and join the dead in Christ at the Rapture (1 Thessalonians 5:17). We will only see these two witnesses from our view in heaven!  If you know Christ, you will never meet the two witnesses here on earth.  Could the Two Men You Saw Have Been Angels? The word in Greek for “angel” is “angelon” which means “messenger.” Angels appeared to people in the Bible in three ways. First, some angels appeared to people in a recognizable form, even seeming to be human. For example, the angel that announced the virgin birth to Mary appeared in some kind of recognizable form (Luke 1:26-38), as did the angel who appeared to the shepherds and the angelic multitude who praised God (Luke 2:8-15). The angels who appeared to Abraham and Lot in Genesis 18-19 were humans from the men’s standpoint. Second, other angels appeared to people in dreams. This was especially true surrounding the birth of Jesus. An angel appeared to Joseph, the man engaged or betrothed to Mary, in a dream to tell him to take Mary as his wife and that their son would be Jesus, the Messiah (Matthew 1:20-21). An angel also appeared to Joseph in another dream to warn him to flee to Egypt with his family (Matthew 2:13). Third, some angels appeared to people in visions. This was true of Ezekiel (Ezekiel 1 and  10 ), as well as John’s vision in Revelation. These visions were distinct from dreams, as they took place when the individuals were awake. However, these visions were also different from appearances in which angels came to people in a recognizable way, or as humans, and could be seen by others. Whether your vision involved the two witnesses of Revelation or angels, the message God sent you was very clear. Repent. Get your life in order because Jesus will return soon. Take that message very seriously. I count a message like that—a vision—to be a very special, loving gift from our Creator. God answered one of my prayers on a foggy morning when I was driving back from Texas to Arizona. I was feeling worthless as a young pastor. I prayed, “God, please let me know that you care and that you know where I am—what I’m going through.” I stopped for gas at a deserted station outside of Van Horn, Texas. No one else was at the pump. The pay phone rang and rang. No one came out to answer it. I picked up the phone and the voice on the other end said, “Roger Barrier, is that you?” I was speechless. I swallowed hard and answered, “Yes.” “My name is Pastor John Kenny. I was praying and God told me to call you. He gave me this number. I think He wanted you to know He loves you.” God sent a personal message to me because he knew I needed it. I am so glad He revealed Himself to you. Love, Roger

Dear Roger, I struggle with fear all the time. I wake up with my stomach in knots. I can’t shake the feeling that something horrible is going to happen. Can you help me? Lisabeth Hello Lisabeth, I’m so glad you reached out. My daughter, Brie, fights fear every day and WINS. I asked her to share her heart and some of her tools with you today: Sometimes I think I’m always afraid. Afraid of pain. Afraid of my husband getting hurt. Afraid of something happening to my family. Afraid of losing my work. Afraid of incompetence. Afraid of social situations. Afraid of the world falling apart. Afraid of poverty. Afraid of God’s plans for me. Afraid of missing God’s plans for me. My body and my mind betray me—I have a serious anxiety disorder. My heart races and my stomach twists in knots. My mind lies and my emotions believe it. Chronic illness and PTSD can do that…but so can simply living in this fallen, broken world. I can’t wait for heaven! Oh, to be free from the chains of fear! To see my Savior’s face and know that all will always be well in his presence. To sing and dance with absolute joy in love and truth! What a day that will be! But until then, I have to fight. I’m really grateful for modern medicine and a doctor who cares about balancing my body and mind. I work hard to take my thoughts captive and fill my mind with healthy, uplifting things. I spend time in God’s Word, believing His promises. Try reading them out loud; feel the fear lose its power. Perfect love DOES cast out fear. (1 John 4:18) I can fear not, because HE IS WITH ME. (Isaiah 41:10) I WILL NOT be anxious about everything, but with prayer WILL present my needs to God. (Philippians 4:6) I will CAST MY ANXIETY ON HIM, because He cares for me. (1 Peter 5:7) I will BANISH ANXIETY FROM MY HEART and cast off the troubles of my body. (Ecclesiastes 11:10) Did you know there are 366 Bible verses dealing with fear and anxiety? God knew we would all struggle with this daily. What precious evidence that He walks beside us! Now, speak your fears or worries out loud, telling God exactly what you’re thinking and feeling. He already knows … but simply acknowledging your anxiety and pain verbally can help you remember the truth of who He is and who you are in Him. Then, simply ask Him for help. Ask God to take away the anxiety, the fear, the pain, to help you know what’s true, and to fill your heart with His peace. He’ll answer. And you’ll know you’re not carrying all of the stress alone. Deliberately take time to count your blessings. I do this every morning before my feet touch the floor. They may be simple, and it’s easy, like “Thank you God that I can listen to my husband snore.” “Thank you for my service dog, Wicket, because he’s just a ball of silly that makes me smile.” Sometimes, I have a harder time. I have to MAKE myself count blessings. “Thank you, Lord for my teenage daughter’s sarcasm. She’s so smart.”  And sometimes, I have to start with the ridiculous, “Thank you Lord, for my mom’s green Jell-O, because it’s the one thing she can make without burning down the kitchen.” It’s amazing how the blessings will come to mind if you just start! Finally, it’s no accident that God calls us to sing hundreds of times in Scripture. It’s literally the only activity where we use both sides of our brain equally! Talk about a reset. I don’t care if you just make a joyful noise. Singing will slow your heart rate, force you to breathe deeply, and quiet your racing thoughts. I use every tool, every time. I’m not claiming that my anxiety completely disappears. I don’t usually feel physically better. But my heart is lighter. And I know God is with me. I choose to be grateful. This is how I survive to fight another day. So today, I will choose faith over fear the very best I can. Lisabeth, I’d love for you to join me. Love, Brie Barrier Wetherbee

Dear Roger, I am getting married, but I know so many couples who get bored and frustrated with each other when the “honeymoon” wears off. My own parents have been married 32 years. They barely talk to each other. My Mom nags my Dad and he ignores her. I haven’t heard them laugh together in a long time. Is this what married life is like? A lot of my friends live together because they just don’t want to make a lifelong commitment. Can I really enjoy my wife for the rest of my life? Sincerely, Jaden Dear Jaden, The answer to your question is a resounding YES. I am just getting ready to celebrate my 50 th anniversary with my wife Julie. We fell in love at first sight. I still feel so happy when I see her. She lights up a room. Sounds like a fairy tale, right? But marriage is not a fairy tale. It is hard work. We have survived the agonizing death of a child, death threats in my ministry, serious health crises and a litany of other challenges. We also have had incredible adventures. We’ve gotten to speak at conferences in 32 countries and befriend brothers and sisters in Christ around the world! No marriage is without unbelievable obstacles and must be met with prayer, perseverance, and faith. It’s worth the cost and commitment. Every marriage is unique but let me give you some biblical principles that will help you enjoy your spouse for a lifetime. “Enjoylife with your beloved wife [ during all the days of your fleetinglife that Godhas given you on earthduring all your fleeting days for that is your reward in life.” Ecclesiastes 9:9 NET PICK THE RIGHT PERSON IN THE FIRST PLACE. Here are some good questions to consider as you think about marriage. Is he/she a Christian? Paul speaks frankly about the importance of marrying a believer in Jesus in 2 Corinthians 6:14. “Don’t become partners with those who reject God. How can you make a partnership out of right and wrong? That’s not partnership; that’s war. Is light best friends with dark? Does Christ go strolling with the Devil? Do trust and mistrust hold hands? Who would think of setting up pagan idols in God’s holy Temple? But that is exactly what we are, each of us a temple in whom God lives. God himself put it this way: “I’ll live in them, move into them; I’ll be their God and they’ll be my people. So leave the corruption and compromise; leave it for good,” says God. “Don’t link up with those who will pollute you. I want you all for myself. I’ll be a Father to you; you’ll be sons and daughters to me.” The Message translation Ask yourself, “Why will my marriage be different and not end in divorce?” When you marry as God intends, you are completely devoted to Christ and to your spouse. You give your life for her just as Christ gave His life for you. “And you husbands, show the same kind of love to your wives as Christ showed to the Church when he died for her,to make her holy and clean, washed by baptism and God’s Word; so that he could give her to himself as a glorious Church without a single spot or wrinkle or any other blemish, being holy and without a single fault. That is how husbands should treat their wives, loving them as parts of themselves. For since a man and his wife are now one, a man is really doing himself a favor and loving himself when he loves his wife! No one hates his own body but lovingly cares for it, just as Christ cares for his body the Church, of which we are parts. 31  (That the husband and wife are one body is proved by the Scripture, which says, “A man must leave his father and mother when he marries so that he can be perfectly joined to his wife, and the two shall be one.”) Ephesians 5:25-31. Is my prospective spouse becoming my best friend? Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 13:7 “If you love someone, you will be loyal to him no matter what the cost. You will always believe in him, always expect the best of him, and always stand your ground in defending him.” Best friends are loving, loyal, protective and supporting. They are also transparent. My youngest daughter Bronwyn married her best friend. Bronwyn and Richard confided in each other. They loved spending time together. In fact, when Richard kissed her for the first time, she giggled. She said “it felt weird to kiss your best friend.” They have been married 21 years. He still makes me laugh,” she says. Do we pray and study the Bible together? I met Julie when I was supply preaching at a church near my college. Julie was the pianist they assigned to help with the music. We began pastoring our first church when she was 18 and I was 20. Our whole relationship revolved around praying and studying the Bible. When I left for seminary, we studied Romans and sent our notes to each other. We pray together every day.We served in the same church for 38 years. Julie helped lead the worship ministry and I preached. She sat through every sermon on most Sundays. I can’t imagine a life without loving Christ with my wife. Solomon was a terrible husband. But he penned great advice: “Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor.  10  For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up.  11  Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm  alone ?  12  And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three  strands  is not quickly torn apart.” Ecclesiastes 4: 9-12 NASB Two are better than one because they protect, strengthen, and comfort each other. The most powerful verse is verse 12. “A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” When Jesus is in the center of your relationship, you two can weather anything. He is the glue between you two and makes you strong. MAKE A CONSCIOUS INVESTMENT OF DELIGHT AND ENJOYMENT IN YOUR SPOUSE. Relationships sour over time if not cultivated.  How can you enjoy someone if you never spend time with them? Proverb 5:18: “Rejoice with the wife of your youth.” Song of Solomon 4:9-11: “You have stolen my heart, my sister, my bride;         You have stolen my heart         With one glance of your eyes,         With one jewel of your necklace. How delightful is your love, my sister, my bride!         How much more pleasing is your love than wine,         And the fragrance of your perfume than any spice! Your lips drop sweetness as the honeycomb, my bride;         Milk and honey are under your tongue.” Enjoy the wonder of each other’s bodies. Show each other affection and adoration. Julie’s parents were married 63 years. Her Mom had Alzheimer’s for the last ten years of their lives together. They eventually needed caregivers to assist them. Dad told the nurse to come later in the morning. He confessed, “I really need time alone in the morning with my wife. We are not done kissing yet.” Now that’s how you enjoy your wife for the rest of your life!

Dear Roger, My question is where did Jesus go for the 3 days and 3 nights? Did He in fact go to hell and take my sins. I shudder to think that would have happened as being without His Father on the cross with my sins laid on Him is so painful, I just can't comprehend He had to spend that time in hell to save me as well. On the other hand did He spend this time in Heaven with God to get Him ready for the 40 days on earth? I have heard it explained both ways. God Bless you and Julie Dear Victor, No one knows for certain where Jesus was the entire time during the three days between His crucifixion and resurrection. We know for certain where he was part of the time––in Paradise. But an enigmatic verse in 1 Peter about, “preaching to the spirits in prison” opens up other possibilities. FIRST, WHAT WE KNOW FOR CERTAIN. JESUS SPENT TIME IN PARADISE. Jesus was crucified between two criminals. One of them mocked him. The other one asked Jesus to include him in his kingdom. One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:39-43). Where and what was Paradise?   I believe that we can safely assume that the word “Paradise” refers to Heaven. However, since the word is used only three times in Scripture, need to take a close In Revelation 2:7 , addressing the church at Ephesus, Jesus described Christians in Paradise as eating from the Tree Of Life. In context with the other church letters in Revelation 2-3, the Tree Of Life is obviously located in Heaven. “To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the Tree Of Life, which is in the paradise of God. In 2 Corinthians 12:1-4 Paul mentioned being taken up to the third heaven, which he identified as Paradise. The third was known as the place where God lived. “I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows. And I know that this man was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell.” So, we know that Jesus spent some time in Heaven during those three days. However, Jesus also spent time with spirits in prison. SECOND, NOW WE SPECULATE ABOUT JESUS PREACHING TO THE SPIRITS IN PRISON. A rather enigmatic passage in 1 Peter 3:18-20 gives a confusing and convoluted insight: "For Christ died for sins once for all ... to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built...." Preaching to "the spirits in prison" intimates that the people who died before the crucifixion (especially the people who lived in the days of Noah) were given a second chance to repent! Another verse or two in the Bible corroborating and expounding upon Peter’s statement would be nice. But, since Peter is the only one who refers to this idea, I don't believe a definitive declaration is possible. The earliest reference outside of the Bible regarding what Jesus might have been doing during those three days and nights was formulated in the 4th century A.D. when the Apostles' Creed was agreed upon by the church leaders. The Apostles' Creed attempted to simplify the basic truths of the Christian faith. I have shared below a copy of the Apostles' Creed so you can be aware of its existence. Notice the reference to "He descended into hell". This obviously comes from 1 Peter but leaves much to the imagination. "I believe in God, the Father Almighty, the Creator of heaven and earth and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord: "Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. "He descended into hell. "The third day He arose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty, whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. "I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting." By the way, thank you Victor, I have never heard the idea that Jesus spent the three days and nights in Heaven getting ready for His next assignment of 40 days on earth before His ascension. By the way, if Peter truly means that some received a second chance then Hebrews 9:27-28 will need some explaining : "Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, ... " Incidentally, a careful reading of Romans Two is interpreted by some to mean that Paul is describing the way to Heaven for people who die without ever hearing of the gospel of Christ. The idea in Romans Two seems to be that some will be judged according to how well they have lived up to the "Light" that they did have. Finally, I grieved with you as you described your personal feelings about the suffering of Christ for our sins. The pain He suffered in that divine transaction is incomprehensible. While we grieve for Him, we also feel a deep-seated sense of gratitude for His work on the cross and for whatever else He was accomplishing during those three days. I hope this helps. Love, Roger

Dear Roger and Brie, I think God’s calling me to go into full-time ministry. I feel it in my gut. When I pray, it comes to my mind over and over again. But it’s so far from what I thought I’d do or be! Frankly, I don’t think I can—I’m just not ready or able to give up all the plans I’ve had for so long. What happens if I can’t do what He’s asking me to do right now? Sincerely, Steven Dear Steven, This is Brie. God is really clear that He has a specific, planned calling for each of His children. That can be incredibly reassuring or absolutely terrifying. Or both! I remember Dad telling me that he was just 13 years old when he knew God wanted him to be a pastor. He walked up the center aisle on the next Sunday morning, and by the end of that month, he was preaching his first sermon in front of the entire congregation. God kept calling him into more and more difficult, heavy responsibilities. From shepherding thousands of church members to preaching around the world to engaging in spiritual warfare, Dad said yes to God again and again. Everyone thought he was so brave. That he stood undaunted in the face of danger. That he never, ever said “no” to God’s call on his life. As his daughter, I saw behind the curtain. Dad used to wrestle with God in prayer, begging Him to take away the stress and pain of ministry. I remember him crying as he said “yes” to the ten-year process of relocating our church. He confessed that he’d begged God to take him out of the battle time and time again … and yet God allowed him to suffer horrific loss and brokenness. But I learned a remarkable lesson from my father. He always told God exactly what he was feeling and thinking. If he was afraid, he admitted it. If he was hurting, he described the pain. If he was just DONE, he let God know. And in those personal, honest conversations, God always heard his frustration and provided for his needs. GOD’S MERCIFUL RESPONSE Let’s take a look at Moses. Did that man ever have excuses for saying “no” to God! In Exodus 2, we learn that the children of Israel had been living as slaves in Egypt for nearly 400 years. They were tired. They were frustrated. They were struggling to hold onto hope. God heard their groaning and remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He turned to Moses, the one-time prince of Egypt and now murderer, hiding as a shepherd in the land of Midian. Moses didn’t seem like the perfect one to save the Israelites from slavery, did he? But God so often uses the weak to shame the strong and show His power (see 1 Corinthians 1:25-27). God waited until Moses was alone in the desert, tending his sheep. Then He appeared to Moses in a burning bush, saying, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. … I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. … I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.” (Exodus 3:7-10) Moses took one look at God and said, “Who am I that I should go to Pharoah and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” (Exodus 3:11). He’s seriously talking back to the God of the universe! I think the back and forth between Moses and God in the next few verses is fascinating. Every time Moses says, “But I can’t,” God says, “but I can.” God meets every excuse with the solution of His power and presence . He even gets into nitty-gritty instructions: “Moses, tell the Israelites these exact words.” “Moses, I will take care of Pharoah for you.” GOD’S EXTRAORDINARY PATIENCE You’d think that would be enough for Moses … you’d think. But he kept going, trotting out excuse after excuse. My, our God is a patient God. I hope that gives you great hope! When I read this passage, I want to shake Moses and tell him to just do what God’s asking him to do. And yet, God, in His infinite grace, keeps meeting Moses’s needs for assurance. Look at Exodus 4. Moses asks for signs to show the people, so they’ll listen to him. God turns his staff into a snake and back again. He makes Moses’s hand leprous and heals him. Finally, God tells Moses that He will turn water into blood if the people still don’t believe. And after ALL THAT, Moses finds another excuse. “I can’t speak very well. No one will listen to me.” God—again, I’m amazed by His infinite patience—says, “I gave you your mouth. I will help you speak and tell you what to say” (Exodus 4:11-12). Moses turns God down. “Send someone else.” We know what happens. God provides Aaron to speak, and Moses leads the people out of Egypt. Miracle after miracle. And God’s will is complete. GOD WORKS IN SPITE OF OUR EXCUSES But I want you to really take in what God does with Moses’s excuses … because I’m sure you’ve felt the same way. I know I have. We struggle to believe that God would call little, insignificant me to do a big thing. We assume we don’t have the pedigree … we don’t have the political clout … we don’t have the friends or the army … we don’t have the resume or the standing. But HE does. No matter what excuses we offer for why we can’t answer His call, they fail in the presence of the God. We may fill our lives with all the reasons why we can’t follow or experience the promise of His Word, but every single reason falls apart when we recognize God’s power. We have value—value that wipes away our excuses—simply as God’s children. God orchestrated the very formation of your life, purpose, and gifts. He has a specific plan for your life and will equip you to see it through. Pray like it. Believe in it. Act like it. God WILL meet your needs. Thousands of people attended my dad’s memorial services, both in-person and online. More than anything else, I heard them say, “Your dad inspired me to pursue God’s will for my life.” He fulfilled God’s calling—not because he was perfect, but because he just said “yes” again and again. No matter the consequences. Steven, I’d like to encourage you today. I know you’re afraid. I know you have so many reasons NOT to answer God’s call. Why don’t you tell Him? Give Him the opportunity to show His power in your weakness and knock down all of your excuses. You won’t regret it. Love, Brie

Dear Roger, I have so many people telling me that their way to God is the right way. I've been a Christian for a long time, but I have very little knowledge of the Bible that would help me differentiate between the teachings of other religions like Islam and Buddhism. Can you give me some insight. Love, Rajesh Dear Rajesh, Understanding the unique perspective between Christianity and other religions, will give you certainty about Jesus, salvation, heaven and hell. My good friend Tom Terry has been a missionary all over the world. I'd love for you to hear his answer. If you’ve ever been confronted by a Mormon at your door, or spent time listening to a Buddhist talk about enlightenment, or sat in a church service of progressives, then you may have wondered to yourself if what was being discussed was true. Maybe your own faith has shaken a bit as you considered the claims of a competing worldview.  Today, I want to set your mind at ease. I’m going to give you ten brief characteristics of Christianity that will enable you to instantly recognize whether what you are hearing is true or false. That’s right, I said instantly. Once you understand these characteristics, spotting a spiritual fraud will be easy, and you’ll be able to begin holding your ground against a false religious claim. So, let’s get started. All false religions deny, redefine, or supplement some or all of the following truth: 1. Biblical inspiration, authority, and sufficiency This means that the Bible is more than a book written by average people. Its source is divine. It is the written authoritative source for the practice of our faith and is sufficient for all of our needs in living the Christian life ( II Timothy 3:16 ;  II Peter 1:20 ;  3:15-16 ). If you are told that there is another book, also inspired but apart from the Bible, then you can know that scripture’s authority and sufficiency is being attacked. If you are told that the Bible is not the Word of God, or that it only contains some of the Word of God, then its inspiration is being attacked. This is a common attack by Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses against the Bible. 2. Jesus’ incarnation This means that the fullness of God dwelt in a human body, in Jesus, from conception ( Luke 1:35 ;  Colossians 1:19 ). Attacks against Jesus’ incarnation are popular with Muslims. Attacks against the virgin birth are also attacks against incarnation. 3. Jesus’ humanity This means that Jesus was fully human in addition to being fully divine ( Luke 2:52 ;  I Timothy 2:5 ;  Hebrews 5:8 ). 4. Jesus’ deity  Both the Old Testament and the New Testament reveal that Jesus was God in human form ( Psalm 110:1 ;  Isaiah 9:6 ;  John 1:1 ,  8:58 ;  Colossians 1:19 ). Jehovah’s Witnesses regularly dismiss Jesus’ deity, referring to him instead as a glorified angel. Muslims also dismiss Jesus’ claims to deity. 5. Jesus’ crucifixion  Jesus’ crucifixion is a historical fact, but some religions deny it took place. This is especially true of Muslims and the Quran, which state that Jesus was never crucified. 6. Jesus’ substitutionary atonement  Substitutionary atonement is the doctrine that Jesus took our place, our punishment for sin ( Isaiah 53:5 ;  II Corinthians 5:21 ,  I Peter 2:24 ). Forgiveness of sin is made possible because of what Jesus did on our behalf. Atonement is not a picture or type, it is a real event. Without atonement, there can be no forgiveness. 7. Jesus’ bodily resurrection from the dead Some religions teach that Jesus rose from the dead spiritually. The Bible denies this and states clearly that Jesus rose bodily (physically) from the dead, never to die again ( Luke 24:12 ;  24:39-43 ;  I Corinthians 15:3-8 ). 8. Jesus’ Lordship (authority) Lordship is not something that many Christians fully understand. In essence, it means that Jesus Christ has sovereign authority over all things ( Matthew 28:18 ). He has the right to do with us whatever it is that he deems to do, according to his good pleasure. He is Lord ( Acts 2:36 ;  Romans 6:23 ,  10:9 ;  II Corinthians 4:5 ). Religions which deny Jesus’ deity usually deny his lordship as well. 9. Sin Every religion has a view of man as good, but misguided, or uneducated, or unenlightened, etc. Only the Bible portrays man as having a sin nature that is in rebellion against God ( Romans 3:23 ,  5:12 ;  Ephesians 2:3 ). Therefore, only God can provide a solution to our sin problem. He did that in sending Jesus to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Denying the doctrine of sin denies the need for forgiveness and salvation, which guts the Gospel. Also, watch out for redefinitions of sin, popular in Buddhism and other eastern religions. 10. Salvation by grace This means that it is only by God’s grace that man receives forgiveness of sin. There is nothing that we can do to earn salvation or forgiveness. Salvation is a gift ( Ephesians 2:5 ). Every religion, apart from Christianity teaches a works-oriented salvation of some kind. Only the Bible teaches a grace model. A false religion does not need to deny all ten of these doctrines to be revealed as a false religion. Some groups teach a few points, some teach others. However, by denying these things as true, such groups place themselves outside of orthodoxy and are therefore, without salvation, without a relationship with God. But what about…? Most religions believe in helping the poor, recognizing a spiritual or other-worldly realm, and doing good works. But these things do not differentiate the true from the false. What is the difference between a Buddhist or a Muslim or a Christian giving money to a homeless guy? None. Their acts of mercy, by themselves, don’t verify the claims of their founders. Therefore, it goes to the fundamentals of their faith. What do they believe about the Divine, about salvation, about sin, etc.? Those religions which deny these truths cannot lead a person to God. Cults, like Mormonism and the Watchtower mainly redefine these fundamentals to include things that are outside biblical truth. In this way they appear genuine, but in reality are just as false as Buddhism, or Islam, or any other non-Christian faith. For instance, the term, Son of God may be used by Mormons. But what that means is different from the biblical usage. The Bible refers to Jesus as an uncreated, divine being. But Mormons refer to Jesus as a created being, the spirit brother of Lucifer. This denies Jesus’ uniqueness. All religions share two things of importance: a person and a practice. The religion reveres its founder and prescribes a set of practices to follow in order to obtain salvation or a higher state of existence. Christianity is different. It has observances like the Lord’s Supper and baptism, but the observances themselves carry no saving power. They point to something higher, the person of Jesus, who alone has saving power. When it comes to good works like helping the poor and oppressed, other religions require such work to earn salvation. But in Christianity these works have no saving power. In other religions, observances and practices are necessary for salvation, or ascension, or enlightenment. Essentially, this is works oriented and a denial of number ten, salvation by grace. Properly understood, we do these works in response to what Christ has already done for us, but not to obtain salvation, which is unobtainable apart from God’s grace. All ten of these things are exclusive. The Bible demands exclusivity in its truth and prescriptions. In other words, you can’t believe in the inspiration of the Bible and Book of Mormon, or the Quran since they contradict one another. Divine inspiration is for the Bible only. You can’t believe in Buddhist rebirth and resurrection, they are mutually exclusive ( Hebrews 9:27 ). You can’t believe in Jesus’ authority and Mohammad’s authority, or Buddha’s authority. Jesus’ authority is exclusive; and so on. Jesus condemned the blending of false religion and its practices with faith in him ( Exodus 32:4 , 19-20 ;  Revelation 2:14-15 ). This is called, syncretism, and it is always condemned in the Bible. If you remember and hold on to a right understanding of these ten things, you will be able to recognize a false religion right away, whether it is old or new, or eastern or western. And from there you can embolden your witness for Christ by helping the other person learn the truth about the Bible, Jesus, and their own need for salvation by grace.

Dear Roger and Julie, I have had so many pastors give me more questions than answers about what Jesus wrote in the sand when the adulterous woman was about to be stoned. Is there a way to know what He did and what it meant? Sincerely, Curious Dear Curious, I have preached on this passage many time, but my wife Julie did a deep dive into what the incident could have meant. Here are her thoughts. Preachers have provided us with a plethora of postulations. I think I have a pretty definitive answer to that question. Here are some lame ones. Was Jesus doodling to stall for time until He collected His thoughts? Give me a break. He was the Son of God. His thoughts were definitely collected. Was He writing in “sandskrit?” (Forgive the pun). Did Christ scrawl the names of some prostitute these pious pretenders had visited in town? Highly unlikely. One interesting theory is that Jesus wrote the name of each “stone-holding accuser” from the oldest to the youngest. They were so amazed at His supernatural knowledge that they dropped their ammunition, stunned and silenced. All accusers departed, from the oldest to the youngest. Many “sermonizers” I’ve heard suggest that Jesus wrote the sins of each religious leader in the sand, and the schemers were so convicted, they dropped their rocks and ran away. A close preacher friend of mine stated that Jesus knelt in the sand because the woman was there and He wanted to support her in those terrible moments. However, verse three states that the scribes and Pharisees forced the adulteress to stand before the group. Just to refresh your memory, let me remind you of the passage in John 8: 2 At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. 3 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4 and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women.Now what do you say?” 6 They were using this question as a trap,in order to have a basis for accusing him.But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 7 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stoneat her.” 8 Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9 At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. 10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 “No one, sir,” she said.“Then neither do I condemn you,”Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.” NIV Jeremiah 17:13 is the secret to the “finger-writing” passage. But before we discuss it, let me give you a little Hebrew history: Whenever someone was caught in adultery, both the man and the woman would be brought to the Nicanor temple gates and accused. If witnesses could be gathered to confirm that adultery had indeed been committed, then there was a certain ceremony that would be done in order to bring judgment. However, in this instance they only brought the woman. This was a violation of the Oral Law of God. Secondly, the priest was required to then stoop down and write the law that had been broken, along with the names of the accused, in the dust of the floor of the Temple (which Jesus did) . By doing this, Jesus showed these accusers that THEY were not keeping the law, but He would anyway. (As an aside-two eyewitnesses must be present, and there is no mention of the witnesses’ presence in this scene. The Scribes and Pharisees just say she was caught in the act. By whom?) The Scribes and Pharisees ignored the law, brought the woman only, and then continued with accusations. So Jesus stood up (after plainly demonstrating they were violating the law themselves)  and said "He who is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her" John 8:7 ). THEY did not want to cast the stone, they wanted Jesus to condemn her, so they continued accusing. To truly comprehend the pivotal verse that answers this age-old question, we need to know a little Hebrew history. Every year on Yom Kippur (The Day of Atonement), the Kohen HaGaddol, or High Priest would immerse up to 11 times in a Mikveh (a baptismal tank) in order to be ceremonially cleansed between each separate portion of the day's sacrifices. (I’ll bet he got a little pruny.) At the end of Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, there was a celebration at his home, and there would be great rejoicing that God had received the sacrifice, and everyone’s sins had been rolled forward another year until Messiah came. To end the day and announce to everyone the party was over (and it was time to go home), the High Priest would come out and quote this verse: "'Oh YAHWEH, the Mikveh of Israel...' just as the mikveh (purifying bath) cleansed me on this day, may the Holy One (Messiah), blessed be his name, cleanse all Israel when He comes." Jeremiah 17:13. Any religious Jewish man had heard this verse quoted by the High Priest every year since he was 12 years old. At 50, he would have heard it 39 times ! (although YomKippur was NOT a Feast of ascension, many Jews would come up for it anyway, because of it's close relationship in time to the Feast of Booths (Tabernacles), when they had to be there anyway). The entire verse is as follows: O LORD, the hope of Israel, all that forsake thee shall be ashamed, and they that depart from me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the LORD, the fountain of living waters. Jeremiah 17:13 The exact Hebrew translation is this: "Oh YHVH, the Immerser ( BAPTIZER ) of Israel, all those who leave your way shall be put to shame (publicly embarrassed), those who turn aside from my ways will have their names written in the dust and blotted out, for they have departed from YHVH, the fountain of Mayim Hayim (the waters of life).." So Jesus gave them a chance -- they could have been just embarrassed and then repented before the LORD. but instead they refused to repent, rejected the Messiah, and in turn had their names written in the dust. This passage in Jeremiah is a Messianic prophecy of what Jesus would do when He came - and in this passage in John, we see Jesus fulfill the prophecy. In my opinion, the most interesting part is verse 9 of John 8: “And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.” They heard the voice of God in their conscience, the Spirit of God bringing to their remembrance all the times they heard the High Priest quote the verse -- but instead of receiving the conviction and repenting, they departed from Him (just as it was prophesied!). They left from the eldest to the youngest, the older having heard the verse quoted more often. The verses in John 7:37-39 occurred just prior to this incident. Jesus had just proclaimed that He was the fountain of living waters . (as one more aside, then Jesus returns to his teaching of the multitude in the Temple, by saying "I am the light of the world"... this was the very morning that the four great lamps of the court in the Temple (which were called "The light of the world" were being extinguished after being kept lit for the entire week of the Feast of Tabernacles). Now, for some application. What motivated this woman to commit adultery? She knew it was against God’s laws and punishable by death. What was her life like? Little girls were betrothed and married by the ages of 12 or thirteen, usually to an older man in the extended family like an uncle. Fathers always wanted sons to carry on the family name and to provide for them in their old age. Daughters were usually hidden from society until they were adults. Women had no civil rights. They could not be educated or taught the Torah (the Jewish Bible). They could even go to church with the men. They were considered to be property. Perhaps this young woman had been beaten by her father. He certainly must have told her that he was disappointed in her. Perhaps he said, “I wish I had more sons. All I have is this worthless daughter!” What must she have been feeling?  Humiliation, terror, shame….What would have driven her to the point that she would risk her life to be with a man in an illicit affair?  Was her husband abusive?  Did she feel trapped?  Was she desperately unhappy?  Was she depressed—did she really want to be found out to end her miserable existence? What did Jesus see in those tear-stained eyes? …fear, condemnation, shame? Perhaps this man that she had the affair with, was the one person she could talk to. Maybe he told her she was beautiful. Maybe he told her he loved her and he was sorry she had to be forced to marry someone she didn’t love. Now this does not excuse her sin. She had broken the Law of Moses and the consequence for adultery was stoning. Jesus knew that. The leaders caught her, dragged her into the Temple grounds where Jesus was teaching. She was probably half-dressed, ashamed and terrified. Jesus knew the Scriptures. Adultery is mentioned in the Ten Commandments, all four Gospels, and ten other books of the Bible. So why did Jesus respond to this woman with such compassion and forgiveness? Jesus knew that those trapped in even the worst sins were not hopeless. They could be redeemed. Let’s look at the second group of wounded people. The religious leaders: the Scribes and the Pharisees. The Scribes were like lawyers, they wrote, taught and interpreted the law. The Pharisees were middle class people. They weren’t rich like the Saduccees but they spentevery waking moment trying to live of to the 643 laws and a huge list of what the New Testament calls “traditions” of men. They washed their hands until they bled, they were afraid of the diseased and sinful in their society, because they were unclean. The religious leaders were terrified of failing to measure up to a demanding God-an angry taskmaster. So the thought that this Rabbi could give grace-undeserved love and forgiveness to people instead of working for a mean, demanding God just made them furious. After all, they had racked up a few brownie points and deserved favor with God and respect from men. Jesus came claiming to be the Messiah they had been waiting and praying for all of their lives, He did miracle after miracle, even raising the dead, but he didn’t look or act like they expected. Christ wanted them to repent. The Scribes and the Pharisees were proud of how hard they tried to please their “inspecting” God. John the Baptist said of them: "But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, He said to them, 'Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father''" (Mat 3:7-9). Jesus also said: "For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven" (Mat 5:20). Jesus came to the religious leaders as the hope they had waited and prayed for. But this was what happened when you try to please a demanding God: you become filled with hypocrisy, pride and prejudice. You can never know the rest of God's grace. Two kinds of people faced Jesus that day. The religious leaders were the pretenders who thought that if they were just smart enough, worked hard enough, prayed hard enough, that somehow they would earn their way into Paradise. The woman had given up. She thought she was hopelessly trapped in a cycle of sin. God could never love her. God could never forgive her. Both the woman and her accusers needed forgiveness, restoration and hope. Jesus offered all three. “Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more.” *Historical information by Kevin Cornette, of Prophecy Fellowship. Don't forget Jeremiah 17:13, "Hope of Isra’el, Adonai! All who abandon you will be ashamed, those who leave you will be inscribed in the dust, because they have abandoned Adonai, the source of living water." Please refer to a more detailed discussion of Jewish history and practice by a Messianic Jew and rabbi: https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/prophecy_fellowship/simchat-torah-and-jesus-writing-in-the-dust-t9.html

Dear Roger, I have met several individuals that identify as “transgender.” I am appalled at the thought that someone would be that confused about their sexuality. What does the Bible teach on the subject and how do I respond? Sincerely, Darin Dear Darin, Our team has asked Tom Terry, president of the Preach It, Teach It Board of Directors, to answer this question. We believe his answer is both wise and balanced. Roger’s daughter, Brie Barrier Wetherbee, also contributed. Thank you, Tom and Brie! NOTE: This article is about the spiritual implications, problems, and solutions to the trans movement, which is growing in public attention and debate. This article is not about the politics of trans or cultural implications. Here, I want to touch on spiritual truths around trans people and how Christians should respond to them relationally. If you’re looking for a political, social, or education discussion, you can find those elsewhere.  The issues of transgender and transexual people have become a matter of discussion in government, the media, and social media. Men identifying as trans have entered women’s sports destroying women’s competition. President Biden appointed a transgender person as Assistant Secretary of Health. The more time goes by, the more we see it in the news. Many people have a natural revulsion to the transgendered or transsexual person. This is actually a normal response to something that is so abnormal on its surface. However, this abnormality is also destructive to the person embracing the trans lifestyle. And it is not only harmful to that individual, but to those around the trans person who loves him or her.  As Christians, how are we to respond to the trans person? While there are responses we should make on the public policy level, I am more concerned, in this treatment, of our relational response to the individual trans person.  What Is Behind the Trans Lifestyle? We must first ask the question, what is the source of trans identity or feelings? There are, in fact, multiple potential sources for this behavior, and we should briefly consider them all. What best describes the source of trans behavior? There are at least four potential areas where the trans lifestyle may originate or may have contributed to a person choosing a trans lifestyle. Trans may be a matter of: Mental illness Biological influences Relational abuse Cultural and societal influences Sin The American Medical Association used to classify certain behaviors, like trans behaviors, as a product or symptom of mental illness. But as American culture has shifted leftward, the AMA has also shifted and now defines trans as a matter of preference. This may be a political decision and not a medical one. Some people classify trans as a mental illness because being trans, especially transsexual, denies not only cultural norms, but biological norms as well. Regardless of where you stand on the issue of mental illness, many agree that trans behavior is outside the norms for sexual identity. Could trans feelings and lifestyle be biological in nature? Yes. We already know from medical research that there are numerous biological problems that contribute to non-social behaviors. People can be biologically predisposed to fits of rage and violence. But even though that may be true, we don’t absolve that person of their responsibility because they are biologically influenced. Biology is not morally determinative. Biology speaks to ontology, not morality. There does seem to be some evidence that homosexuality is biologically influenced (not determined but influenced). Does this apply to a trans person? I would argue yes. But, as noted, that doesn’t absolve them of responsibility.  There is evidence that many people who adopted a trans lifestyle were previously abused in one way or another. Abuse does terrible things to people and often skews a person’s thinking and emotions to adopt behaviors outside the norm. In such cases, the effects of the abuse have to be dealt with to help a trans person recover. Cultural and societal influences can be a strong push towards a trans lifestyle. When a person struggles with feeling outside the norm, not being accepted by peers or family, or even simple loneliness, the trans community can look like a refuge. They preach acceptance and push against any and all who would criticize their choices. This community can be especially attractive to teens and young adults, because they’re in the process of determining self-identity and looking for their “tribe.” Lastly, there is the issue of sin. As already noted, the Bible speaks of the overarching issues being a matter of sin. Though a person’s trans lifestyle may be influenced by mental illness, biological influences, relational abuses, or cultural influences, sin is still a factor. Many of these same arguments were put forward decades ago about homosexuality. If homosexuality is biologically influenced, does that mean a person is off the hook for that sin? Not at all. The Bible doesn’t treat the issue in that way. There is still the matter of choice and sin to be addressed. The same is true for all other sins. Consider the gluttony, the reality of obesity in our nation, and the current craze for weight-loss drugs. They work biologically. But the decision to overeat and not care well for the bodies God has given us is still ours. The Bible and the Trans Lifestyle In Scripture, you will not find a specific passage that deals with the modern issue of trans people. But there are passages that broadly cover sexual issues that can be applied to the trans person. Now, it should be noted that these passages pull no punches. They are not what you might consider friendly. However, that does not diminish or dismiss the passages’ truth. The Bible says it straight up, trans is sin. Scripture condemns it. But scripture also gives guidelines for how we are to respond relationally to the trans person. Scripture is both directly truthful and compassionate. Let’s look at some passages together: “God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen” ( Romans 1:24-25 ). “And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper” ( Romans 1:28 ).  “Although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them” ( Romans 1:32 ).  “For I know that good does not dwell in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want” ( Romans 7:18-19 ). “For the desire of the flesh is against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, in order to keep you from doing whatever you want” ( Galatians 5:17 ).  “For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God” ( Romans 8:6-8 ).  What Do Paul’s Teachings about Sexual Sin Mean? It is clear from Paul’s letters that he resolutely condemned sexual sin and its variants. This would include transgenderism and transsexualism under the broader context. And, Paul not only condemned this behavior, he stated plainly that such people will not go to heaven ( I Corinthians 6:9 ). Some people are angry with Christians who may use Paul’s language. These moderns condemn anyone who uses such “unloving” language. But they forget that Paul used identical language to condemn “Slave traders, liars, perjurers” ( I Timothy 1:10 ). When was the last time you condemned a slave trader? Is it unloving to tell a slaver trader he is going to hell? How about you? When was the last time you lied? In fact, Paul went further, using the same kind of language to condemn, “adulterers…thieves, the greedy, the habitually drunk, verbal abusers, and swindlers” ( I Corinthians 6:9-10 ). Habitually drunk? Aren’t we told in our modern day that alcoholism is a disease and not a sin? But Paul doesn’t make that distinction. Paul might be criticized as a “verbal abuser” or “intolerant” because he condemns sin with strong language and an uncompromising stance. But this is only from the faulty understanding of a modern worldview. Notice that no one complains about the language Paul uses to condemn these other categories. Paul’s language here is not “unloving,” it is simply a declaration of facts where eternal life is concerned.  How Should We Respond to a Trans Person? If transgender and transsexual is only a matter of choice, then those choices should be lovingly discouraged. If the trans person comes from a history of abuse, then be merciful and kind, and carefully and patiently shepherd that person in the right direction with gentleness. If the trans person is struggling with a mental illness or biological issue, then realize that the victim is trapped in a way that a simple choice cannot solve. The sin nature is not limited to the spirit of a person. The sin nature also encompasses the flesh and the mind. We know there are biological influences for anger and violence. There are biological influences for sex addiction. There are biological influences for deviant behavior. As noted above, gender confusion issues and trans behavior are likely also biologically influenced. Do you realize what this means? It means that such a person is trapped by their own biology and cannot escape their condition on their own. They need compassion and merciful help.  So, no matter what the cause or influence may be of becoming transgender or transsexual, the victim still needs a solution cultivated through a loving, listening, merciful approach that is plain about the truth while being non-endorsing in support. Let me touch on four areas of our relational response to trans people: Grief —What is your first feeling when you see a trans person? I believe grief needs to be at the top of our list of emotional responses. The person who becomes transsexual, in this example, is mutilating their body for the sake of a feeling. This is a true tragedy. We need to grieve for them.  Compassion —"There but for the grace of God go I.” Remember that any one of us could have become a victim of our own sin in the extreme. Be compassionate. The trans person must experience your compassion. Remember, there is no compassion without passion.  Truth-Telling —When it comes to the progress of your relationship, there must come a time when you share with the trans person what the Bible says about their condition and your desire to lovingly help them.  Non-Endorsing Support —Treat the trans person with kindness and honor. Look for the image in God in such a person and encourage him or her in that direction. Trans people need help to abandon their condition. Provide it, but always be careful not to verbalize what could be taken as support for their sin problem.  Do Not condemn, make fun of, ridicule, or express disgust at the trans person. Gender confusion is extreme. None of these things will bring the redemptive love of Christ to bear on their situation. Several Solutions for a Trans Person Counseling —when dealing with a sin or condition that completely takes over someone’s life, it is doubtful they can escape it alone, without help or support. Counseling may be in order, along with other treatment and behavioral efforts. Repentance —At some point in the trans person’s life they will need to express repentance for embracing a lifestyle which the Lord condemns. There is no question that Scripture condemns a trans lifestyle. Therefore, at some point repentance must take place. Be with the trans person when they reach that point. Just as you likely didn’t come to Christ all by yourself (you had the help of another), walk beside the trans person. Support Group —If there are support groups in your area for helping a trans person transition back to normality, help him or her avail themselves of it.  Medication for related mental illnesses—there is disagreement over whether trans is a mental illness or not. Speaking as one who is mentally ill, I can testify that the right medication can do a world of good for a person who cannot control or has great difficulty controlling their own thoughts. It is doubtful that a trans person became a victim of their condition in a vacuum. Medical help may be needed to transition back to normality.  The Bottom Line The bottom line is simple. Is trans sin? Yes. Is a trans person unredeemable? No. Should we embrace trans people with love? Yes. Should we seek to help the trans person transition out of their condition? Yes. Just as with any sin or condition, the response of the Christian must be loving, gentle, and yet firm in truth. By doing these things, you may radically change a person’s life and help bring them back into normality. Even more important, you may be able to help them discover God’s love and build a relationship with Him. Well, Darin, We hope this has been a helpful answer for you. We anticipate this issue becoming bigger and bigger in the culture we live in—and we need to prepare our hearts and minds to offer the love of Christ and the truth of God’s Word. May you be blessed as you learn to do the same! Tom and Brie

Dear Roger, Who were the mysterious "Sons of God" that made God want to destroy the earth? Were they angels, demons, or just godless men? A Curious Bible Student Dear Curious Bible Student, We have asked Tom Terry to address this question. I hope it will be helpful. We are going to combine two questions. Who are the “Sons of God” referred to in  Job 38:7  and  Genesis 6:2 ? Hover over the text to read passages. Job was the earliest book written, even before Genesis. Its author is unknown, but was most likely not Moses. It does not refer to things in standard Hebrew terms. There is no mention of the law. Sacrifice is mentioned, but there is no temple or tabernacle. Job’s origins are non-Hebrew, coming from Uz, part of the kingdom of Edom. What does the surrounding passage say? There is the creation of the earth. There are Morning Stars that watched the earth being created.  Read  Job 38:1-6 . It presents God answering Job’s complaint by talking about God’s work of creating the universe. In poetic form, God basically asks Job, “Where were you when I created everything?” It is a rhetorical question with only one possible answer: he wasn’t born yet. Yet God refers to people who saw him do his creative works. He calls them the sons of God. Where are these terms used elsewhere in the Bible? “Sons of God” is used five times elsewhere in the scripture. It is also used in  Job 1:6 ,  2:1 ,  Genesis 6:2  and  6:4 .  What do you notice about how the term “Son of God” is used in the Old Testament or New Testament? Son of God may refer to angels. In the New Testament, it refers to Jesus and to Adam. Different authors in different times use it to refer to different things. Thus, the meaning of the term must be derived from its context. Who is able to present themselves before God’s throne in the context of  Job 1:6  and  2:1 ? ANGELS. Man is not here because he does not have physical access to God’s throne. Interestingly, Job presented himself—remotely—before God all of the time, making sacrifices for his children. His presentation of himself before God was in faith and righteousness, unlike Satan, who came to accuse. Note how God uses this term and Satan in 1:6. He says the sons of God came to present themselves before him, and then he says Satan also came. What does this suggest? In other words, Satan is not considered to be one of the sons of God. This is significant to understanding its usage in  Genesis 6 , which we will get to in a moment. If humans were not created yet, then who could be referred to in  Job 1:6 ,  2:1 , and  38:6 ? ANGELS.  Now let’s look at  Genesis 6:2 . Traditional, historical interpretation has regarded these references as angels because the term “Sons of God” in the Old Testament refers to angels. But could there be another interpretation? Why do you think the Genesis passages refer to angels?  Some say sons of God refers to angels because of the Nephilim in verse 4. But there is no readily apparent causal relationship between “Sons of God” and “Nephilim” in this passage. Nephilim are mentioned in  Numbers 13:33  with no reference to the sons of God, so a causal relationship is not established. Other giants existed with no angelic reference ( II Samuel 21:16 , 18 , 20 , 22 ;  I Chronicles 20:4 ). Goliath was one of them. Let’s look at the context for the passage. Read  Genesis 5:1-32 . Notice two things: 5:1 refers to man being made in God’s image. Nowhere in scripture are angels said to be made in God’s image.  What is the context of  Genesis 5 ?  Genesis 5  is a genealogical record of men. Thus, the context of the passage is man, not angels. There are two natural breaks in these chapters that give us the context of “men” and not “angels.” Look at 5:1. “This is the book of the generations of Adam.” Then look at 6:9. “These are the records of the generations of Noah.” Thus, the context for our terms must be found between these divisions in the book. Look at  Genesis 6:5-7 . What is God doing? Judging men, not angels. Yet if the angels sinned in this way, why are men being judged for what angels did? Angels do not sin. If angels don’t sin, then the “Sons of God” in  Genesis 6  can only be demons. But as we saw with Satan in  Job 1  and  2 , Satan is termed separately from “Sons of God.” It does not seem likely that God would call demons “Sons of God.” Common sense implications: If angels can have children with women, then that means they have DNA. That means they are male. That means they have the ability to reproduce. But nowhere else in scripture do angels have the ability to reproduce. Read  Romans 8:12-17 . Here, the term sons of God is used about us. Notice: heirs with Christ, struggles with the flesh. Compared with  Genesis 6  with sons of God fall ending into sin. This is another case of the scripture’s authors using terms differently from one another.  Genesis 6  does not refer to angels. It refers to a line of men, a righteous line, who have walked away from God, leading to God’s wrath. Men were considered “Sons of God” at creation. The New Testament acknowledges this in  Luke 3:38 , calling Adam the “son of God.” This is how far man has fallen from God. We were considered, “Sons of God,” but fell away from that lofty position.  How do we apply this knowledge to our lives? This is a hard one. But I suggest three points of application. As Christians, we have become children of God, in a special relationship with God through Christ. Remember, we can also fall just as the early humans did ( Romans 11:17-21 ). Watch ourselves and stay humble.  Be careful about wild interpretations of scripture. Just because something sounds supernatural doesn’t mean that it really is ( II Timothy 4:3-4 ).

Dear Roger and Brie, So, God told Hosea to marry a prostitute? WHAT?!? How is that supposed to teach us anything? Isn’t prostitution a huge, ugly sin? Please help me understand, Lila The reality of sex trafficking in our community and culture shatters my heart daily. I (Brie) spend a great deal of time interviewing survivors and sharing their stories in order to help raise funds for the ministries that care for these precious young women and children. You can’t imagine the horrors they endure. The deliberate, systematic breaking down of their minds and bodies leaves them in pieces. Thank God for the rescuers. For the trauma counselors. And for the unconditional love of Jesus Christ, revealed in the lives of all who step in to help. Every day I see the broken redeemed by God’s unrelenting love and grace. Far too many are so damaged that they struggle to accept love. They can’t imagine that they have worth, which is so far from the truth! It takes months of consistent acceptance to overcome those walls … but God is infinitely patient. WHAT?!? MEET HOSEA AND THE PROSTITUTE The Book of Hosea has taught me more about the broken hearts and minds of victims and survivors than anything else. It’s also an allegory of the relationship between us and our Savior that stops me in my tracks every time. He loves. We run. He loves. We lash out. He loves. We fight. AND HE LOVES. Take a look at Hosea 1:2-3 with me: When the Lord began to speak through Hosea, the Lord said to him, “Go, marry a promiscuous woman and have children with her, for like an adulterous wife this land is guilty of unfaithfulness to the Lord.” God says, “Hosea, my prophet, go marry a prostitute.” A what? A woman that his culture deemed unclean? What would that mean for his ministry? Would he be fully discredited? What about the children they would have? Would they be ostracized? It must have taken everything Hosea had to obey God. But I think it’s really interesting that the name “Hosea” means “salvation,” don’t you? God knew what He was going to ask of Hosea before he was even born. My Dad, Roger Barrier, said that “ A man usually finds his earthly heaven or hell in the woman that he marries .” In Gomer, Hosea found his hell. WHEN LOVE IS REJECTED We can read a lot between the lines of Hosea’s book. They had a child together, but then one day, Hosea came home from a trip and overheard some gossip in the marketplace. He couldn’t believe the words he was hearing!  Hosea discovered that Gomer had squandered his love away with other men. She conceived and gave birth to a daughter, and God told Hosea to name her “ Lo-Ruhamah ,” which means “not loved.” She wasn’t Hosea’s child. Months passed, and another child arrived. God told Hosea to name his baby son “ Lo-Ammi ,” which means “not my people.” He wasn’t Hosea’s child either. Imagine the pain Hosea felt. He must have wanted to run, to cast away Gomer and wallow in his agony … and then she was gone. He became both father and mother to all three children. And it’s hard to believe, but rather than badmouthing Gomer all over town, Hosea prayed for her safe return. I can’t tell you that I understand how Hosea was able to forgive like that. Personally, I experienced a betrayal that deep, and it’s taken more than a decade to recover and forgive—even though that person never asked for forgiveness. Hurt that deep leaves scars. YOU CAN’T RUN FROM GOD’S LOVE But God gives us an indelible picture of His unconditional love when Hosea heard that Gomer had been sold into slavery by the man who seduced her away. She fell for a deceiver and ended up in bondage both literally and figuratively. One time, Dad described that scene for me. He said, “ God spoke, ‘Hosea, true love keeps on doing the duties of love even if the one for whom we do them doesn’t deserve it. True love never stops. GO GET HER .’” Hosea 3:1-3 reads, The Lord said to me, “Go, show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by another man and is an adulteress. Love her as the Lord loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods and love the sacred raisin cakes.” So, I bought her for fifteen shekels of silver and about a homer and a lethek of barley. Then I told her, “You are to live with me many days; you must not be a prostitute or be intimate with any man, and I will behave the same way toward you.” Hosea began to search the slave markets, one by one, looking for Gomer. And through day after day of searching, Hosea began to realize how much God loved His people, Israel. They had gone chasing after other gods, but God still loved them and wanted them back . All that love? Unconditional love? Don’t miss this. Hosea still put his heart on the line when he found Gomer. She had every opportunity to reject him. She couldn’t know that he was there to rescue her—after her choices, she very well could have expected retribution. When he found Gomer, she was broken. Stoop-shouldered and gaunt. Marked by sin and shame. But when the auctioneer cried, “What am I bid for Gomer?” Hosea didn’t hesitate for a moment. He bid an enormous price. The audience gasped! They called him a fool for paying such a price for a scrap of broken humanity. But all Hosea saw was his wife—the one he loved with all his heart. Even when humankind resisted the love of God and turned from Him in cool contempt, God didn’t utterly cast us off. In mercy, He refused to throw us away. God went to the slave market and bought us back from the captivity of sin. But the purchase price was nothing less than the life and blood of His Son, Jesus. GOD LOVES ME THAT MUCH? That love—that unfathomable, unconditional love—is the same love God has for you and me. Sometimes, I have a really difficult time accepting His love. I know I sin. I know I’m broken and damaged. I know I don’t always trust God. I simply don’t feel worthy. BUT the Savior. BUT His patience. BUT His unrelenting pursuit. At the end of His book, Hosea’s message changed. He used to preach about the wrath and judgment of God. Then, after his journey with Gomer, he began to see a God of love: Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God, For you have stumbled because of your iniquity. Take words with you and return to the Lord. … I will heal their apostasy, I will love them freely, For My anger has turned away from them. (Hosea 14:1-2, 4) God’s love transforms our hearts and lives when we experience it. Period. That’s why I love working with trafficking survivors the most. When they truly recognize and feel His unconditional love, they begin to heal. Their trauma ceases to define them. They become new in Christ. Lila, I want you to know that love. You will never be the same! Love, Brie

Dear Roger and Julie, My sister and I were talking about how people fall in love. I think that there are numerous choices we can make and still have a successful marriage. I know that you believe that there is only one true soul mate for every person. What do you think and why? Sincrely, Kelly Dear Kelly, I don’t think that God has just one way of bringing two people together. The Bible has various examples of how He works. Roger, my husband, and I preached a sermon on this topic and we listed some humorous Bible verses about finding a mate. “Forget eHarmony or any other on-line matchmaking service. If you need some tips on finding a wife, maybe these examples from the Old Testament will help. Don’t be so picky. Grab as many wives as you can get. Solomon (1 Kings 11:1-3) Even if no one is out there, just wander around a bit and you’ll find someone. Cain (Genesis 4:16-17) Find an attractive prisoner of war, bring her home, shave her head, trim her nails, and give her new clothes. Then she’s yours Any old Hebrew Guy (Deuteronomy 21:11-13) Cut 200 foreskins off of your future father-in-law’s enemies and get his daughter for a wife – David (I Samuel 18:27) Go to a party and hide. When the women come out to dance, grab one and carry her off to be your wife. – Sons of Benjamin –Those party animals. (Judges 21:19-25)” Kelly, your premise that God has several possible mates for you is an interesting one. However, I think it’s beneficial to examine Bible love stories to see if there are underlying principles that guide His process. The most obvious coupling is Adam and Eve. Although there were no options available, it was clear that God custom made the perfect “helpmate” for Adam. He first introduced all His creatures for Adam to name. Adam clearly understood none of these would assuage his loneliness. God put His first man under general anesthesia, extracted a rib, and made a beautiful “helpmate” for Adam. The first man looked at his bride and burst into song: “This at last is bone of my bones     and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman,     because she was taken out of Man. Genesis 2:23 ESV God’s foreknowledge of your life is also clearly stated in Psalm 139:14-16 "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;     your works are wonderful,     I know that full well., Your eyes saw my unformed body;      all the days ordained for me were written in your book     before one of them came to be." NIV If God did allow you to choose your mate, He certainly knew your choice ahead of time. I believe He created you both to uniquely complement each other. The key to this premise is to be surrendered to God’s will. A second Bible romance is found in Genesis 24. Abraham wanted his son Isaac to have a godly Hebrew wife, unlike the pagan women who lived nearby. He commissioned his servant to find Isaac’s future bride. The servant wisely prayed to God to give him a sign. He asked God to send a young lady with a generous heart: Genesis 29:13-14 reads: “Lord, the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water.  14  May it be that when I say to a young woman, ‘Please let down your jar that I may have a drink,’ and she says, ‘Drink, and I’ll water your camels too’—let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master.” NIV God brought Isaac a bride as an answer to prayer. You must pray for God to send you the right person, and for you to recognize “the One” when He answers. The Lord can also speak directly to you about your future spouse. God clearly spoke to Joseph through an angel and told him to take Mary as his wife. All Joseph knew was that Mary was pregnant and that he was definitely NOT the father: 20  As he considered this (canceling the engagement), an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit.  21  And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:20-21 NLT This example illustrates the importance of looking for God’s guidance through the prompting of the Holy Spirit. He may not send an angel to point out your prospective mate, but it is the job of the Spirit to guide you to God’s will. “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears (from God), and he will tell you what is yet to come.” John 16:13 NIV The closest example of “love at first sight” in the Old Testament is the romance of Queen Esther and King Xerxes. The king had his pick of beautiful women, but when he saw Esther, everything changed: 16  Esther was taken to King Xerxes at the royal palace in early winter of the seventh year of his reign.  17  And the king loved Esther more than any of the other young women. He was so delighted with her that he set the royal crown on her head and declared her queen. Esther 2:16-17. Esther had been prepared to meet the king for over a year. The takeaway from this story is to be the kind of woman a man could love. Esther was godly, wise, humble, and gracious (not to mention she used a little perfume now and then). My last Bible example is the story of Ruth. Ruth, the great-grandmother of Jesus, is not lauded as outwardly beautiful. She is commended for having beautiful character. Ruth was a widow, a pagan bride from the country of Moab. Her father-in-law and her husband died suddenly. Rather than staying in her homeland, she faithfully followed her mother-in-law back to Israel. Her devotion and courage were legendary. Boaz, a kinsman of Naomi, saw Ruth gleaning in his field to provide food for her family. He loved her and eventually married her. The love lesson of Ruth and Boaz to exhibit admirable character. Ruth was loyal, courageous and tenacious. Boaz saw these qualities and made her his wife. I can’t answer your question definitively, Kelly. But there are so many ways you can find a mate. Listen to God’s leadership. Be marriage material. Develop qualities of godliness, unselfishness, kindness and purity. Don’t be in a hurry. Remember, God can bring a soul mate to you. Just keep your eyes open and listen to the Holy Spirit. Kelly, my own love story sounds like a fairy tale. I grew up in church but wasn’t particularly spiritual. After dating a wide assortment of teenage boys, I graduated high school without meeting my handsome prince. However, God had a soulmate ready for me even when I wasn’t looking for one. God miraculously led me to Roger, my future husband. I won a singing competition in high school and the head of the music department at a nearby university awarded me a full scholarship to study voice with her. She spent months working with me even before college. It was time for university to start. I had been accepted, admitted. I even had my bags packed. Then something remarkable happened. God spoke to my heart. He told me not to go to the school I planned, but to attend a college 100 miles south of my hometown. I had not even visited the campus. My parents called the music department to see if I could audition. The head of the voice department “coincidentally” was holding auditions near me on that same day. I was immediately accepted into the music program and moved to the new school that same week. Why did the Holy Spirit send me on a Divine Detour?  Only God knew. Soon after, I attended a small prayer meeting on campus. I gave my life fully to Christ that night. The Holy Spirit had already prepared a soulmate for me.  Roger, my future husband, was preaching at a nearby church. He needed a pianist, and I was dispatched to fill the position. I got lost on my way and arrived 30 minutes late. I burst through the back door and raced to the piano to perform the offertory. I was supposed to accompany all of the worship, but Roger had to lead the songs a cappella.  He confessed later that the moment I began to sing and play the piano, he thought, “I’m going to marry that girl.” I finished singing and sheepishly slid into my seat. As this young man preached, I was enraptured. I had a vision of me wearing a wedding dress, standing with him in front of the altar. I knew without question he was the One for me. Does it sound a little “Pentecostal” to you? Visions and voices? Roger and I joked that it was “love at first sermon.”  Neither of us could explain the mystical events of that Sunday morning. But we passionately loved, laughed, struggled and served God together for almost half a century.  God gave me the man of my dreams when I wasn’t even looking for him. Love, Julie

This Ask Roger was penned by Tom Terry, the president of the Preach It, Teach It Board of Directors. Dear Tom, I have always heard of the "sin that leads to death," but I do not know if there is a conclusive Bible foundation for the concept. What is your belief on this important issue? Sincerely, Jason Dear Jason, In order to answer your question, let me start with a biblical definition of sin. 16 “ If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life—to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. There is sin that leads to death; I do not say that one should pray for that.  17  All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that does not lead to death” ( I John 5:16-17 ).  What is sin; what is your definition? A Definition of Sin There are multiple words in the scripture that are used to communicate the idea of sin. These words include sin, lawlessness, transgression, and iniquity.  Sin is disobedience to God. We sin by disobeying God’s written word, or the conviction he gives us regarding our behavior or his will for our lives, or by violating our conscience. “To him who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, it is sin” ( James 4:17 ).  Lawlessness is transgression of God’s law, either by omitting to do what God’s law requires or by doing what it forbids.  “Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness” ( I John 3:4 ).  The word,  transgression,  implies a boundary that someone crosses wrongly. The boundaries in the Bible include the Mosaic Law, God’s character, or standards of God’s calling or will.  Iniquity is considered gross sin, sin that goes to the extreme. God’s character is the ultimate standard we violate. All of God’s law is based upon his character which he passes on to us in the Adamic covenant in  Genesis 1:26-28 .  “God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”  27 God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.  28 God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” In that covenant God created man to be like him, to be his image. Sin, therefore, is also the violation of the image of God. We see this directly in God’s covenant renewal with Noah.  “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image” ( Genesis 9:6 ). Here we see a direct tie-in between the image of God and sin. So, sin is any feeling, thought, or action that violates God’s character, will, law, standards, covenants, or image.  Some passages make it easy to define what a sin is.  Exodus 20  is one such example. These are laws that forbid certain things. However, sin also violates God’s covenants. We see this in  Genesis 1 . Even though at that time there was no stated law forbidding murder, we may imply the sin of murder by someone acting contrary to  multiplying  by killing someone so they cannot multiply.  Types of Sin  In general, there are two types of sin typified in the Mosaic Law: Intentional sin and unintentional sin. God’s law dealt with these kinds of sins differently. Unintentional sin is to commit a violation of God’s law or standards without forethought or malice. For instance, in a moment of frustration someone may curse. They didn’t plan on cursing; it just came out. Another example is someone who may cause harm to another by what they say, making a false accusation or damaging someone’s reputation with wrong information. There may be no malice involved, it may just be a mistake. But a sin has been committed, nonetheless. Sacrifices according to the Mosaic Law were made to pay for unintentional sins.  “If anyone sins unintentionally in any of the Lord’s commandments about things not to be done, and does any one of them…then he shall offer for the sin that he has committed a bull from the herd without blemish to the Lord for a sin offering” ( Leviticus 4:2-3 ).  Intentional sins were different. There were very few sacrifices available for intentional sins. But we do see one in  Leviticus 6:2 . “If anyone sins and commits a breach of faith against the Lord by deceiving his neighbor in a matter of deposit or security, or through robbery…And he shall bring to the priest as his compensation to the Lord a ram without blemish out of the flock, or its equivalent, for a guilt offering” ( Leviticus 6:2 , 6 ).  Specifically, this provision only covers acts of robbery. It doesn’t cover, as an example, murder. Of course, no sacrifice would be acceptable to God without repentance. This is why Moses referred to this offering as a guilt offering. The violator recognizes his guilt and repents. Part of his repentance according to verse 4 is restitution. But this doesn’t cover other sins. How would you restore something after a murder, or rape, or adultery? You can’t. There was no sacrifice prescribed for sins like murder, rape, or adultery. This is why King David said after his affair with Bathsheba and murder of Uriah: “For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering…” ( Psalm 51:16 ).  The exception is that the annual sacrifices of Passover and the Day of Atonement would cover national sin. Jesus is our Passover and Atonement. Thankfully, all sin, unintentional and intentional, is covered by the blood of Christ. Where did sin come from? The Origin of Sin The first sin: pride, committed by Satan. “Your heart was proud because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor” ( Ezekiel 28:17 ).  Satan was corrupted by his own beauty and decided that he wanted to be like God. “You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High’” ( Isaiah 14:13-14 ).  Human sin: Adam and Eve. Ironically, Adam and Eve committed the same sin as Satan, just in a different way. Satan tempted Eve saying that if she ate of the forbidden fruit she would become like God. “The serpent said to the woman, ‘You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil’” ( Genesis 3:4-5 ).  The scripture records that Eve was the first to sin. She was deceived by Satan and ate the forbidden fruit. But the scripture also says that sin was passed on to us through Adam, not through Eve.  “Because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man… one trespassled to condemnation for all men” ( Romans 5:17 , 18 ). This is because Eve sinned by being deceived. She thought she was doing something acceptable. But scripture does not portray Adam this way. Adam was not deceived. His sin was committed in rebellion. And in fact, all of the sin that we commit is also in rebellion against God.  Human sin: Us. The Bible teaches us that we have a sin nature. We have a natural proclivity to sin. It is in our nature (“You who were once slaves of sin”  Romans 6:17 ). As such, the person who is without Christ naturally chooses to commit sin. If we want eternal life, then we must confess our sin to God and repent of it (turning around).  Ultimately, sin is about supplanting God. We want lordship of our own lives. We want lordship over others.  All sin is committed in relationships. Every sin that is mentioned in the Bible is either a sin directly against God or against other people.  What does sin do to a person? The Effects of Sin Because all sin is committed in relationship sin always violates and interrupts relationship. Sin separates persons. Sin separated man from God, and it also separates us from one another. Adultery is probably the best example of this. By violating the marriage covenant, a husband and wife are separated in relationship either permanently through divorce or unless forgiveness is granted and there is restoration.  Because we sin, we are under a sentence of death, “One trespass led to condemnation for all men” ( Romans 8:18 ), both physical death and spiritual death.  God told Adam that on the day he ate the fruit he would die. To put it more bluntly, God essentially warned Adam that he would kill him for his sin. So, when Adam sinned, two things happened.  First, Adam and Eve died spiritually. This means that their relationship with God was damaged, and they became separated. By casting Adam and Eve out of the garden he was illustrating this change in their relationship. The garden was God’s sacred space where he was to enjoy relationship with man. Sin destroyed that uninterrupted blessing between God and man. The second thing that happened was that God killed an animal instead of Adam and Eve so that the requirement of judgment would be met. The scripture says that God killed an animal to make clothes of skin for the first couple. This symbolized the coming Savior, who would be killed as final payment for our sin. But it also symbolized the covering of our sin by the blood of Christ. Just as Adam and Eve acquired skins to cover their shame, so too, we “Put on” Jesus, as the permanent covering of our sin.  “Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires” ( Romans 13:14 ).  “All of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ” (NIV,  Galatians 3:27 ).  Can you think of any good thing that comes about as a result of the existence of sin? The Necessity of Sin This is not a subject that most Christians have really thought about. But it is an important one because it tells us something about God’s nature that we would not know otherwise.  Let’s make this very simple. In eternity past, before there was a creation, when only God existed in his triune form, there was something missing from God’s expressions of himself. Though the three members of the Trinity enjoyed unbroken fellowship and love between them, there were certain character attributes of God that were not only unexpressed, they could not be expressed without the existence of sin.  Mercy. Forgiveness. Grace. Wrath. Anger. Since there was no sin among the Godhead there was no expression of forgiveness or mercy or wrath. In order for God to experience the expression of these attributes, God planned for sin to come into existence so that these things could be expressed, especially forgiveness. Now, this does not mean that God is author of sin. The scripture denies this. But God did plan for sin’s existence by giving both angels and people the ability to choose rebellion so that all of his attributes could be expressed. The Elimination of Sin  Finally, at some point in the future, sin among God’s people will be done away with permanently. People who go to hell will still experience sin and their sin will be eternally condemned, but God’s people will eventually have no more sin.  “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” ( Revelation 21:4 ).  Because death will be no more, and death is the result of sin, we can surmise that sin will be done away with. “Behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind” ( Isaiah 65:17 ).  Answering the question: What is the sin that doesn’t lead to death? This is a hard passage to understand because it appears that John does not define for us what the sin is that does not lead to death, and what is the sin that does lead to death. Doesn’t all sin bring about death? What could this mean?  I think there are two hints in the context of this passage that if carefully examined, will give us the answer we seek: (1) the context of the chapter, and (2) that little word, “Brother.”  Let’s deal with, “Brother.” First, all sin brings death in a general sense. But we are freed from eternal death by Jesus’ work on the cross. So, by using two phrases, “Brother,” and “Sin that does not lead to death” we see that John is referring to a Christian. He is not referring to an unbeliever whose sin brings death.  If a Christian sins, since he has already been given forgiveness by Christ, then his sin will not lead to death. He does not lose his salvation. But he must still repent. That is why John encourages us to pray for that person.  Second, the whole context of  I John 5  needs to be taken into account. Notice what John talks about.  First, he defines a Christian by what they believe about Jesus (5:1-2).  Then he says the Christian obeys Christ’s commands (5:3).  Then he says Christians have overcome the world (5:4-5).  Later he says that Christian has eternal life (5:11-13).  Then look what happens. In verse 14 and 15 he says, “This is the confidence we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.”  After promising an answer to our prayers, it is then that John tells us what to pray for, the thing that God will answer in verse 16, “If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life.” IE, he will be forgiven. How do we know he will be forgiven? First, because the person committed to Christ has already obtained general forgiveness of sin, as John touched upon earlier in this chapter. But then he goes a bit further in verse 18 and says, “We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning.” The believer, the true believer, at some point, will repent because the Spirit will convict him through the prayers of the believer.  So, then, what is the “Sin that leads to death?” Since all sin leads to a judgment of death, but the Christian is spared from that punishment, then this passage must refer to the thing that makes a person a Christian in the first place. But again, notice the context of the passage, the usage of the word, “Brother.”  If someone claims Christ has his own, but then turns away from Christ, he commits a terrible sin that can only lead to his eternal death. This is similar to the passage in  Hebrews 6 . This is, essentially, a pretend brother. Or one who claims Christ and experiences the good things of God but isn’t truly commit to Jesus with his whole life.  Once a person has crossed that threshold no amount of prayer will help him, as John hints at when he says, “There is sin that leads to death. I do not say one should pray for that” (v.16). The one who plays at being a Christian, or who is part of the covenant community, but hasn’t made a real commitment to Christ is in terrible danger if he abandons Christ after having received such great benefits. APPLICATION By way of application, there are three things we should do when confronted with the temptation to sin. Resisting Sin Scripture tells us to resist temptation and that God provides the Christian with the power needed to do just that. “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it” ( I Corinthians 10:13 ).  Just before going to his crucifixion, Jesus told his disciples to pray so they could avoid temptation. “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” ( Mark 14:38 ).  Confessing Sin When we sin, we need to confess our sin to God. God promises to forgive confessed sin.  “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” ( I John 1:9 ).  What is the hardest thing about sin? Forgiving Sin  We’ve already seen that when we confess sin, God forgives us. When we confess we can experience God’s love and forgiveness. But if we do not confess, then our relationship with God is impeded.  The hardest part of forgiveness is to forgive others.  I was once falsely charged with a crime. The person who filed the complaint was hoping to have me put in prison. In fact, I could have faced as much as 10 years in prison if I had been found guilty. Things went all the way to the prosecutor who, thankfully, told me that it was obvious that I had not committed the crime and the whole thing would be dropped.  After it was over the people that I worked with urged me to file a suit against my opponent to see her punished for what she tried to do. However, I refused. It took me a while, but eventually I knew I had to forgive my opponent and wish her well. And I had to do it from my heart. From the very seat of my emotions. Jesus talked about this in  Matthew 18:25 . “Forgive your brother from your heart” ( Matthew 18:25 ).  True forgiveness always has an emotional component to it. Imagine Jesus on the cross, forgiving his killers. Do we think that Jesus only forgave his killers intellectually, or from his heart? He asked his Father to forgive them. In other words, to not hold this sin against him. Some say that Jesus was God, and therefore, he could do that. But we are only human and can’t. But they forget that Jesus was also human. And he was our example. We are to think the things he thinks, feel the things he feels, and do the things that he does. The ultimate test of forgiveness is in whether nor not we are willing to forgive others from our heart. It may take time, but that is the direction that God wants us to go.  Finally, because we are forgiven through Christ, we don’t need to worry about the sin that leads to death. We have overcome that through Christ. We may still sin from time to time, but because of Jesus that sin will not destroy us. www.guywithabible.com.