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Dan Gatlin - September 29, 2019 pm - Gospel Meeting                                                MP3                                PP

Great Bible Questions

 

Intro.— In the KJV, there are 3,298 questions.

     A. There are different reasons why questions may be asked.

           1. Sometimes man will ask questions because we lack information.

           2. Sometimes questions are asked to get people to think about where they are, or what they have done.

           3. Jesus often asked questions to teach.

     B. Sometimes we like the answer to a question, sometimes we don't.

1. When the Bible tells us something we don't like, that's when we are tested.

2. Remember, God only seeks our good.  If we reject His answers, we'll have to talk to him about it someday.

C. Obviously, with over 3,000 questions—we'll only look at a few.

 

I. “Where Are You?” — Gen. 3:9

A. This question is asked by God after man had eaten from the forbidden tree.

1. Adam & Eve hid themselves because they were naked.

2. God is all-knowing and knew where they were. — He didn't need the information.

3. This questions is designed to get them to think about their spiritual condition.

B. We cannot hide from God.  He sees & knows all.

1. "I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According

to the fruit of his doings." - Jer. 17:10

  2. "23 'Am I a God near at hand," says the LORD, "And not a God afar off? 24 Can anyone hide himself in

secret places, So I shall not see him?' says the LORD; 'Do I not fill heaven and earth?' says the LORD." -

Jer. 23:23-24

3. Jonah tried to flee from God (1:3), but soon learned that it was impossible.

4. "in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel." - Rom. 2:16

C. Where are you in your relationship with God?  Are you ready for Him to examine your life?

II. “If a man dies, will he live again?” — Job 14:14

A. Men will experience physical death once (Heb. 9:27).

1. Physical death is not the end of us.

2. "Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, And the spirit will return to God who gave it." - Eccl. 12:7

B. However, our spirits will live throughout eternity.

1. "28 Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice

29 and come forth — those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done

evil, to the resurrection of condemnation." - Jn. 5:28-29

2. How you conduct your life will determine where  you spend eternity.

C. Many believe that when we die, we vanish into non-existence.

1. Blaise Pascal was a 17th century mathematician.  He came up with "Pascal's Wager."

2. He reasoned: "Everyone make a 'bet' (wager) on the existence of God."

a. If you wager that God DOESN'T exist:

1) and you're correct, you haven't lost anything.  There will be  no punishment because there is no God.

2) but if you're wrong, you've lost eternity, because God does exist.

b. If you wager that God DOES exist:

1) and you're right, you've gained eternal life.  Because you have been obedient & faithful.

2) but if you're wrong (and God doesn't really exist).  You've lost nothing.

3. Pascal's conclusion: It is much better to believe in God & be faithful.  You may gain eternal life.

4. Pascal's argument is flawed in that it is purely philosophical — He does not consider the evidence for God

existence — which is abundant.

III. "For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?" — Matt. 16:26

A. To answer this question properly, we must understand that the world is temporary & your soul is eternal.

1. Even with that knowledge, most people would choose the temporary things of this world.

2. If you were offered a choice between: a) a billion dollars, but eternity in hell, or b) live in poverty, but eternity in

heaven, which would you choose?

3. Yet, most will sell their soul for so much less than a billion dollars.

a. Some will sell their soul for a sinful pleasure: a sinful sexual relationship, the pursuit of fame/power.

b. Some don't want to be inconvenienced by divine obligations.

B. "For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out." - 1 Tim. 6:7

1. Everything that you amass will stay behind — except your relationship with God.

IV. "13 Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?" . . . "15 But who do you say that I am?" - Matt. 16:13, 15

A. Technically, these are two questions.  But they are closely related.

B. "Who do men say that I . . . am?"

1. In Jesus day the answer was: John the baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, or one of the OT prophet.

2. Today, many would give a different answer.

a. Many "scholars" (critics) would say that He's nothing more than an historical figure.

1) There was a time when critics would deny the existence of Jesus.  But there's too much extra-biblical

evidence to deny Him.

2) So instead, they deny who He was—God in the flesh.

3) They will paint Him as a liar, fraud, or — if they are extra generous — just a teacher.

4) The proof that Jesus was the Son of God is found in the resurrection.

A) "3 concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to

the flesh, 4  and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by

the resurrection from the dead." - Rom. 1:3-4

B) There were 100's of witness to the resurrection.  If He was a fraud, that would have become known and

Christianity would have died at the start.

b. Some would say that He was just a religious teacher, like Buddha, Mohammad, or Joseph Smith.

1) Jesus was unique in His person and His teaching.

2) His person.  "In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten

Son into the world, that we might live through Him." - 1 Jn. 4:9

3) His teaching. "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." - Jn. 14:6

V. “Then who can be saved?” — Matt. 19:25

A. Jesus said it easier for a camel to go through eye of needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.

1. That's what prompted the question.

2. The disciples seemed to have the notion, like the friends of Job, that wealth is an indication of righteousness.  If

you are rich, it's because God is blessing your righteousness.

3. Of course, that's not the case.  "17  Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. 18  Let them do

good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share" - 1 Tim. 6:17-18

4. Rich or poor can be saved or lost.

B. Who does God desire to be saved?  "3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4  who

desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." - 1 Tim. 2:3-4

C. If God wants everyone to be saved why will most be lost?  "For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as

to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard

it." - Heb. 4:2

D. Men choose their own destiny by the kind of life they live.

VI. "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" - Acts 16:30

A. Let's do a word study of "save" or "salvation."

B. Believe. "Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will

die in your sins." - Jn. 8:24

C. Repent. "37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the

apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" 38 Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of

you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the

Holy Spirit." - Acts 2:37-38

D. Confess.  "9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has

raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and

with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." - Rom. 10:9-10

E. Be baptized.  "15  And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16

"He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned." - Mk.

16:15-16

 

Con. Where are you, spiritually speaking?  Have you obeyed the Gospel?  If not, why not?