Faith (Belief)

Most Bible references seem to be negative about "imagination," so what purpose does "imagination" be? [Romans 1:21, 2 Corinthians 10:5, Psalm 6:18-19, Genesis 6:5, Philippians 4:6-7, Psalm 84:11, Romans 10:17, Matthew 5:28].

How did you get over your disolutionment with "religiousness" and get to your strong faith? [John 16:7, Matthew 28:19-20].

How does one have faith? How can one be certain? [Matthew 5:8].

Caller shares the Amplied version of the familiar passage John 3:16, commenting on the deeper and expanded meaning of "belief." [John 3:16].

Does Jude 3 indicate that all of God's revelations (for the faith) are complete? [Jude 1:3, 1 Timothy 4:1, 1 Corinthians 13:9, Matthew 16:13-17, 2 Peter 1:3].

Why do we think that John 3:16 is only about believing and not about being faithful? [John 3:16, Revelation 2:10, Revelation 17:14].

If I tell those I am trying to evangelize that God has given everyone "a measure of faith" and they just need to connect to that faith, am I rightly diving the word? [Romans 12:3, 2 Timothy 2:15].

Shouldn't we be able to prove there is a God? [Psalm 19:1, Matthew 7:6-7].

Does scripture say we are given faith to believe, or does that come from within us? [Romans 12:3, John 6:44-51, 2 Timothy 2:25, Philippians 1:29].

If there is no sin gene, are there genes that make one more susceptible to becoming a believer?

Could you expand on the difference between "hope" and "faith"? [Ephesians 4:3-6, 1 John 3:2-3, Romans 8:24, Romans 10:17].

What if I (born Jewish, but a long-time Buddhist) wants to be baptized into Christianity? [Matthew 11:29].

What is a good remedy for weakening faith? Rec: Topical lecture: "Foundations," lecture on "Faith." [Romans 10:17, 1 Samuel 17:37].

If we are to love another, but we can't please God without faith, which is more important, lover or faith? [Hebrews 11:6, Matthew 22:34-40, 1 Corinthians 13].

How do you understand "putting on the whole armor of God" and how does one go about it? [Ephesians 6:10-18, 1 Peter 5:8, 2 Timothy 2:3-4].

Accolades from a 91 yr old former fighter pilot and then a series of inquiries about being assured of his salvation, the receiving of the Holy Spirit, and living according to the law. [Romans 8:9, Galatians 3:3-5, Matthew 7:11, 2 Corinthians 13:5-6].

Could you help me understand justification by works, because James 2 seems contradictory to other passages? [James 2:24, Romans 4:1-10, Genesis 15:6, 1 Peter 3:21, Galatians 5:6, 1 John 3:15-20, Titus 2:14, Titus 3:1, Titus 3:14, Ephesians 2:8-10, 1 John 3:9].

Doesn't this verse in 2 Peter indicate that some people have not been given the gift of faith and therefore cannot be saved? Rec: Topical lectures series, "God's Sovereignty, Man's Salvation." [2 Peter 1:1, 1 Corinthians 12:9, Galatians 5:21-22, Deuteronomy 30:11-14].

Am supposed to be doing something to work out my faith? Is there a difference between belief and faith? [Romans 4, Genesis 15:6, Hebrews 11, Galatians 5:6].

If an Israelite in the Old Testament was unfaithful to the Covenant, does that equate with New Testament salvation? [Genesis 15:6, Habakkuk 2:4-6, Deuteronomy 28:15].

In the familiar verse "by grace you are saved, it is a gift of God" what is "it?" Is it "grace" or the "whole package?" [Ephesians 2:8].

How do you address some of the objections and verses, "like no one an snatch us out of His hand," used to support the idea that we cannot fall away (apostatize)? [Isaiah 53:6, John 10:27-30, John 3:36].

Don't you think that these verses prove that faith is given by God? [John 6:27ff, Revelation 3:18-20].

Could you give examples of how someone sealed with the Holy Spirit can still lose their salvation for all eternity? Rec: Topical Lectures: "Content of the Gospels," "Eternal Security." [1 John 5:11-12, John 3:16, John 3:36, John 15:1-6, Romans 11:16-22, 1 Corinthians 9:26-27].

Is not the creation and the Word (of God) enough to make us responsible to believe? [Romans 1:20-21, Romans 10:17, Romans 1:16]

Caller attempts to support his Calvinist views with scripture. [Romans 3:21-22, 1 Thessalonians 3:2, Romans 10:17, Isaiah 6, Matthew 13:15, Isaiah 64:6, Isaiah 29:13, Ezekiel 33:31, Jeremiah 17:9-10, Genesis 6:5].

What does it mean to "believe?" [Romans 4:18-22, Genesis 15:6, James 2:19, Galatians 5:6].

Caller disagrees with Steve about free will positing that God and man cannot both have free will. [1 Peter 1:5, Romans 8:16-19, Matthew 10:33, Ephesians 2:8, 1 Peter 2:17, 1 Timothy 4:1, 2 Peter 2:22, Galatians 5:22-23, Luke 8:13].

Practically, how do we show faith amid fear and anxiety? [Luke 8:25, Matthew 6:33].

Do you believe regeneration is caused by man believing, or by God? Rec: Topical lectures "God's Sovereignty, Man's Salvation." [John 3:15-16, John 20:31, Colossians 2:10, Ephesians 2:8, Romans 10:14-15, 1 Corinthians 2:14, 2 Thessalonians 3:2-4].

Isn't it true that atheists can never prove the absence of God, but believers, if correct, can prove it forever (Pascals' Wager)?

Can you help me sort the parable of "The Unprofitable Servant?" Rec: Topical lecture, "Refuse to be Offended." [Luke 17:5-10, 1 Peter 4:19].

Would you comment on the passage about the faith that can move mountains? [Mark 11:25, Matthew 7:7-11, John 14-16].

Does Galatians 5:6 prove the Calvinist "Total Depravity" Doctrine (that we cannot choose God because we are dead and without ability to love)? [Galatians 5:6].

In light of Romans 3, is Paul supporting the need to keep The Law, even though he has clearly said we are not under The Law, but under a new covenant? [Romans 3:31, Genesis 15:6, Romans 4:2-9, Matthew 5:17].

What does it look like when one "turns their life over to Christ?" Rec: Book by Steve Gregg. "Empire of the Risen Son, Vol 2."

Isn't the familiar saying, "I would rather live my life as if there is a God ..." less than desirable as it is allowing for doubt in one's faith?

Why didn’t Jesus just show Himself to Pilate to prove His resurrection?

Do you think that Judas was saved before He betrayed Jesus?

If faith is the condition required of man, is it also applicable to whole nations? [Hebrews 11].

If someone loses their faith, were they ever really saved? An atheist questioned, "How someone could be persuaded to disbelieve?" [Luke 9:62].

Caller postulates that we no longer have to do good works. [1 John 2:4, Titus 1:16, Galatians 5:6, Ephesians 2:8-10, Titus 2:14, Romans 2:17-24, 1 Corinthians 6:9, Matthew 28:19, Mark 16:15, Matthew 7:21-26, Romans 2:8].

If we end our prayers with "if it is Your will," are we being fatalistic (showing a lack of faith)? [1 John 5:14, James 4:2].

What do you think about a teacher who says, "If you add any requirement for good works for salvation, then you are teaching a false doctrine?" [James 2:26, 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, Ephesians 2:8-10, Matthew 16:24-26, 1 Corinthians 6:20].

How does one "continue" in the faith, so as to not lose it? De we ensure it, or does God? [Luke 22:31-32, 1 Peter 1:5, Jude 1:24-25].

Would you comment on the apparent different levels of faith in scripture, some naive and childlike, others more deeply understood? [Luke 19:8-10].

Caller wonders if he is still a Christian because he no longer feels obsessed. [Galatians 1, Philippians 3:1-6, Philippians 3:8].

Caller comments on baptism in Jesus' name and its inception after the death of Christ. [Acts 2:38, Acts 16:31, Romans 10:9, 1 John 5:12, 1 Corinthians 6:20].

It seems that sometimes there is contradictory information about being saved (faith and/or works)? [James 2:14-26, Luke 18:9-14].

In scripture are we to more faith in God, or in His promises. Is it God's character or His promises that assures us of His care and provision for us? [Matthew 6:25-34, Matthew 6:33, Psalm 34:9-10, Psalm 84:11, Psalm 37:35].