God & Doctrine
-
Is the God of the Old Testament different from the God of the New Testament?
No. The Bible shows one unchanging God (Mal 3:6; Heb 13:8). Grace runs through the Old Testament and judgment through the New, and Jesus shows us the same Father.
-
What Does It Mean That Humans Are Made in the Image of God?
Being made in God's image means being created to represent him and relate to him. It gives every person worth, and Christ is the perfect image who restores us.
-
What Does It Mean to Fear God?
To fear God is to revere him with awe, trust and obedience. For his children it is not terror of punishment but a reverence that leads to wisdom, life and joy.
-
Can a Christian be possessed by a demon?
According to the majority evangelical view, no: a believer belongs to Christ and is indwelt by the Holy Spirit, but can be tempted, attacked and oppressed.
-
Is It a Sin to Doubt God?
Doubting God is not a sin in itself: honest doubt that brings its questions to God is heard in Scripture. The sin is unbelief that hardens the heart and turns away from him.
-
How Do I Hear God's Voice?
You hear God's voice first in Scripture, where he has spoken clearly, as the Holy Spirit opens the text to you. Every personal impression must be tested by the Bible.
-
How Can I Know God's Will for My Life?
You know God's will by obeying what he has already revealed in Scripture and, in open decisions, by praying, asking for wisdom and seeking counsel, without fearing you will miss his plan.
-
Why doesn’t God answer my prayers?
The answer may be waiting, a “no” given with grace (as with Jesus and Paul), or an obstacle in how we ask. The Bible never treats silence as proof that God isn’t listening.
-
Why Does God Allow Suffering?
God allows suffering in a world wounded by the fall and the misuse of human freedom. Faithful Christians differ on how He governs evil, but He is good and will end suffering.
-
What is the difference between the soul and the spirit?
The Bible tends to use soul for the living person, with desires and emotions, and spirit for God's breath and our bond with Him. Christians differ on whether they are two parts.
-
Are there guardian angels?
The Bible teaches that angels serve and protect believers (Heb 1:14), but it does not clearly teach that each person has one personal guardian angel.
-
Does God change His mind?
God does not change in His being, character, or eternal purposes — but Scripture genuinely records that He responds to prayer and repentance in real and personal ways.
-
What does it mean to be filled with the Holy Spirit?
To be filled with the Holy Spirit means to live under the active control and transforming influence of God's Spirit — not a one-time event, but a continuous posture of surrender and dependence.
-
What is the unforgivable sin (blasphemy against the Holy Spirit)?
Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is the hardened attribution of the Spirit’s work to Satan. Jesus warns of this unforgivable sin in Matthew 12:31-32, in the context of that accusation.
-
What is the gift of speaking in tongues? Is it for today?
Speaking in tongues is a spiritual gift of words given by the Holy Spirit, and yes, it is for today. Scripture nowhere declares it ended, and Paul calls the church to use it in order and in love.
-
How, why, and when did Satan fall from heaven?
Satan fell through pride, wanting to exalt himself above God. Scripture doesn't date it precisely, but his fall came before he tempted Adam and Eve in Eden.
-
What are the seven spirits of God?
The seven spirits of God in Revelation are not seven beings but a symbolic picture of the one Holy Spirit in His fullness and perfect completeness before God's throne.
-
What are the different names of God, and what do they mean?
The names of God in the Bible reveal His character—Elohim (Creator), YHWH (the eternal "I Am"), Adonai (Lord), and El Shaddai (God Almighty) each show who He is.
-
What does the Bible teach about the Trinity?
The Bible teaches that God is one Being who exists eternally as three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—each fully God, yet there is only one God.