Q. I’m saved, but what if I sin?
A. Sin is definitely not a good thing for a Believer, but God has His ways of dealing with disobedient children without throwing them out of His family. He spanks them. Hebrews 12:6 says,
“…For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth."
The words “chasten” and “scourge” mean that God disciplines by spanking. He spanks His children for their profit, not to harm them. He has many ways of disciplining, including loss of fellowship, prayer, and health - but God’s discipline for a child will never be Hell. He will never stop being your Father and has promised that He will never cast you out of the family. That promise is in John 6:37. It says,
“All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”
God disciplines all of His children. Why? All of His children disobey the Father, some more than others. Sin is definitely bad for a child, but God allows us to grow and learn – even when we mess up.
Q. The Bible says eternal life is a free gift to Believers, but why are there also commands in the Bible to obey God and do good works?
A. The numerous commands of scripture to obey God and do good works are for "further benefits." Believers should never be satisfied with only having a home in heaven one day. There are further benefits that come through obeying and doing. Life is at its best when Believers obey God and do good works.
"...these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men."
- Titus 3:8
"But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed."
- James 1 :25
Heaven is not the only issue in the Bible. Most of the scriptures are written to motivate those who have already believed to live for further benefits. These include blessings, health, rewards, favorable judgment, and fellowship with God.
Q. Baptism is not required for salvation, but what does John 3:5 mean?
A. Right, water baptism is not required for salvation. John 3:5 says, ” ...except a man be born of water and of the spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”
Two “births” are required for entrance then. Birth by water, and birth by spirit are required.
The spirit birth is the new birth that God gives when we believe in Christ.
“Born of water” refers to physical birth. Why? Because of the context.
John 3:6 says, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the spirit is spirit.”
Here the two required births are repeated, with no reference to water. The words “water” and “flesh” are interchangeable in the two verses so they must mean the same thing. Babies are born from the rupture of a bag of water in the mother. Everyone alive has had this birth, but they need to be born again for entrance into the kingdom of God.
