Bible Questions Answered:
We've seen some flooding and the good thing was how people come together to help one another, isn't this a sign of good to come?
Hagen/ Brisbane Australia
Bible Answer:
Ecclesiastes 7:29 KJV
Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.
How refreshing it is to see the good actions of some! One must also recall under such events that there was much looting.
Is mankind becoming successfully more enlightened and moral?
Here is the word of the Lord.
Luke 18:7,8 KJV (Jesus speaks about God answering prayer.)
7 And shall not God avenge His own elect, which cry day and night unto Him, though He bear long with them?
8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of Man cometh, shall He find faith on the earth?
This statement by Jesus, was not some glowing accolade, but rather a stinging inditement as to the sinful nature of men, taking course.
A world filled with ritual and self righteousness, yes, but not of true faith, which is faith in the finished work of salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, man's “only” Saviour.
Matthew 7:13-23 KJV
13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
21 Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.
Good religious church people, seemingly charismatic, and full of wonderful works, and yet Jesus said of them,“ I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.”
Though they confessed Him, He did not “own,” them!
Verse 21
“ Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven;
Well why not?
Last half of …
Verse 21
“...but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven.”
All the rituals, traditions of men, beautiful music, religious pomp and circumstance, did not mean at all, that these were “living in holiness unto the Lord of Glory!”
Church, to them, was a place to placate their consciences, for the evil life styles they so fondly pursued.
But mankind does not fool God!
Isaiah 29:13 KJV
Wherefore the Lord said, For as much as this people draw near Me with their mouth, and with their lips do honor Me, but have removed their heart far from Me, and their fear toward Me is taught by the precept of men:
Matthew 15:9 KJV
But in vain they do worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
Matthew 23:28 KJV
Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
Titus 1:16 KJV
They profess that they know God; but in works they deny Him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
Proverbs 14:12 KJV
There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
Proverbs 17:3 KJV
The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.
Jeremiah 17:9 KJV
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
Are men becoming more righteous?
Mark 13:22 KJV
For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.
I Timothy 4:1-3 KJV
1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
II Timothy 3:1-5,13 KJV
1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, truce breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
II Timothy 4:3,4 KJV
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
II Peter 3:3 KJV
Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
I John 5:19 KJV
And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.
II Thessalonians 2:1-12 NLT (Events prior to the Lord’s Second Coming)
1 Now, dear brothers and sisters, let us clarify some things about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and how we will be gathered to meet Him.
2 Don’t be so easily shaken or alarmed by those who say that the day of the Lord has already begun. Don’t believe them, even if they claim to have had a spiritual vision, a revelation, or a letter supposedly from us.
3 Don’t be fooled by what they say. For that day will not come until there is a great rebellion against God and the man of lawlessness is revealed—the one who brings destruction.
4 He will exalt himself and defy everything that people call god and every object of worship. He will even sit in the temple of God, claiming that he himself is God.
5 Don’t you remember that I told you about all this when I was with you?
6 And you know what is holding him back, for he can be revealed only when his time comes. 7 For this lawlessness is already at work secretly, and it will remain secret until the one who is holding it back steps out of the way.
8 Then the man of lawlessness will be revealed, but the Lord Jesus will kill him with the breath of His mouth and destroy him by the splendor of His coming.
9 This man will come to do the work of Satan with counterfeit power and signs and miracles.
10 He will use every kind of evil deception to fool those on their way to destruction, because they refuse to love and accept the truth that would save them.
11 So God will cause them to be greatly deceived, and they will believe these lies.
12 Then they will be condemned for enjoying evil rather than believing the truth.
