Answers to Frequently Asked Questions by (un)believers

Common questions from (un)believers often focus on the problem of evil, the reliability of the Bible, and the exclusivity of faith, with answers typically centered on free will, historical evidence for the Resurrection, and the nature of God's love. These questions often challenge the Christian worldview regarding suffering, miracles, and the necessity of belief for salvation. You wish to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior. How do I do this? You have prayed this prayer; what will happen now? "God is love," say men. However, is that true? Why does God not interfere? I am praying, but I do not experience any or hardly any fulfillment of prayer. Does it make sense to pray? Does it make sense to pray for curing? Is your salvation sure?

I live good as the average human. I am no sinner, no way

Everyone commits a lie for good. And sometimes we do not think very well over a person. God looks into the human heart. The Bible says, "You must serve God, Who lives in Heaven, and love Him with your complete heart, mind, and spirit." That is God's most important commandment. If you fail to do so, then you are a sinner for God. That means that you live separate from God. Not only now, BUT also after your death. Because the Bible (God's word to humans) tells us that after your death, two things can happen with man. OR he/she continues to stay separated from God and shall experience the punishment upon sin (and go to the lake of fire), OR he/she shall live with God in Heaven.
The only way to live with God is to confess that you are a sinner and believe (accept) that Jesus Christ (the Son of God) died for your sins at the Cross of Calvary.

You wish to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour. How do I do this?

You may kneel down and fold your hands. Thereafter, you say:

Lord Jesus Christ, please help me. I confess to being a sinner, and I am not capable of reconciling myself with You. I accept that You died for my sins at the Cross of Calvary, and I ask You to purify me through Your blood.

I wish to ask You, Lord Jesus Christ, to enter into my life as Lord and to teach me about Yourself and teach me knowledge of You and the Bible. Please show me the way; guide me to the right person(s) to teach me and assist me.

Thank You that You wish to enter into my life. AMEN.

You have prayed this prayer, what will happen now?

The Holy Spirit has entered inside you. Many experience great happiness or relief. Sometimes nothing.
You may also notice that you become uncertain over a period. Therefore, it is good to visit an (evangelical) church, where you feel at home. That means visiting some different churches. And people conversing with you and helping you grow in faith.
In case you are unable to find the right church for yourself, or if you need a contact, feel free to send a email to the EZBB info@ezbb.org.

God is love, says men. However is that true?

Yes, unfortunately we live in a world of violence, great violence. The only way to know God's love is written in the Bible, John 3:16: For God so loved the world that He gave His only SON, that whoever believes in Him should not perish (that is, after death you receive God's punishment for your sins and remain separated from God) but have eternal life (that is, after your death you will live together with God in Heaven).

God has commanded to love God with your whole heart and spirit and to love your neighbor as yourself. Also from the beginning (from creation), God has assigned man to reign over the earth. With this fact, man is responsible for the earth and all that is living on earth (relations with beings, animals, fishes, birds, forests, ambience, etc.). Sometimes men kill each other, but that is the RESPONSIBILITY of man. God told us to love one other as ourselves!!! And to take care of one other. That also means to take care of persons in the third world. Kings, presidents, governors, and politicians—they all are responsible for their civilians and their welfare and to care for the people in the third world and the environment. However, you yourself too have a personal obligation; you must resist evil, help persons in the third world, take care of the ambiance, vote for politicians who serve God, and acknowledge Jesus Christ.

God's love is also visible through the work of missionaries.
Often they try to help persons in the third world through medical assistance, education, and food. In this manner, they demonstrate God's love, and by the support of a home front (including financial and prayer), the missionaries are able to supply their first needs.

Why does God not interfere ?

In the end, God shall interfere, and that shall happen soon (a signal for this is the existence of the state of Israel). Finally, a great war shall occur between the nations and God (which is described in the Bible, the book of Revelation). Every man shall personally account for his/her way of living on earth before God. Every man has a life after death on earth, in the lake of fire, or in Heaven. Also, every king, president, judge, leader, and boss—yes, every person—shall be judged by God (every person appears before God after his/her death on earth). Only those who accept Jesus Christ as their personal Savior shall live eternally in Heaven with God (but still face the tribunal of Christ); all others shall not live in Heaven.

I am praying, but I do not experience or hardly any fulfillment of prayer. Does it make sense to pray?

God is a sovereign God. All that we receive from God is purely grace. The Bible gives some guidance in relation to how to pray and fulfillments of prayers (see Bible study Prayer). Shortly, this is what the Bible tells us:

• We need to pray in accordance with the will of God. That requires knowledge of what the will of God is (i.e., knowledge of the Bible).
• We shall NOT pray out of hearts' desires. So, not to gain personal welfare, but pointed to the Kingdom of God.
• We must pray in faith. You must believe that when you pray according to God's will, you shall receive.
• Sometimes the time is not prudent and consistent in praying; you have to wait.
• It serves as a recommendation to pray with two or more persons and together examine what the will of God is.

Does it make sense to pray for curing?

Yes, always. The will of God is that the believer seek (only) Him for curing. However, God can cure every individual in His own way (through doctors or miracles). Does God cure everyone? NO.
Also, while Jesus was on earth, He did not cure everyone. Sometimes God tests the faith of the believer. Also, God knows what is best for the sick person. Sometimes God has a reason for the sickness. Sickness can be the result of sin. In that case, the purpose is to correct the believer, to mediate, and to confess sin.
There are cases in which God uses a sickness (or handicap) to glorify Himself (think of Lazarus and Joni Eareckson).
Yes, in such cases, it is hard to determine how to pray. We, human beings, do not like to lose a beloved one. At all times, it is useful to pray, but it is useful to add, "Your will occurs." Always pray for curing and NOT for continuing life. Unfortunately, it occurs that one insistently prays for that a person continue to live, without adding, "Your will occurs." Sometimes God lets Him overrule, and the seriously sick person continues to live, but without complete healing. Then afterwards, people regret that they pray that the sick person remains living because his life is horrible and a human disgrace. God knows when it is better for the sick to die.
Do not forget that sickness and death are a consequence of the fall (sin). Every man shall soon or later die and leave this earthly body. Might it be a comfort that when the sick are believers and accepted Jesus Christ as Savior, they go to Heaven where there is no sickness and suffering? But woe for the unbeliever; his or her suffering will even be worse (in Hell).

Giving tenth is an obligation?

No, but already for the institution by the Torah, the Old Testament believers, such as Abraham, gave their tenth. Tenth, however, was more than a tenth; there were about all kinds of things (among other things, the birth of the first child) that charges were levied on, so according to some calculations, the total came out at 33%.
God loves the cheerful giver (2 Co. 9:7). Tithes and gifts are very necessary from the contemporary Christian. Why?

• It is your gratitude to the Lord Jesus Christ that he died for your SIN and redeemed you from God's judgment. Be grateful for your daily food and drinks that you will receive out of his hands.
• You need to grow in faith, and you do that in the Church and through Bible studies and prayer meetings. There is children's work. All this must be paid for (from the tithes).
• I do not know how you have come to faith, but people need to be reached with the Gospel through evangelism and missions. That takes quite a lot of money, which is paid from the gift.
• There is the training of pastors and missionaries. There is children's work, evangelism, and mission material needed.

Do you want to know more about tenth, see the Bible study of giving a Tenth.

Your salvation is sure?

Personally, I find that the Bible contradicts itself. But there are theologians who say that the Bible cannot contradict itself. So here will follow the biblical texts that speak of salvation, and you may draw your own conclusion if this comment is correct or not.

YES,

1. John 3:18: Whoever believes in him (Jesus Christ) is not convicted.
2. After an unbeliever accepts Jesus Christ as his/her Savior, the Holy Spirit immediately comes to live in him/her (1 Corinthians 6:19), which is given as collateral to him/her (Ephesians 1:13-14).
3. Read 1 Corinthians 3:11-1. 5. Verse 15 says, "But if any man's work burns, he himself will be saved, but like a man escaping through a wall of flames."

These verses confirm your salvation for eternity.

NO

1. John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life, and he that believeth NOT on the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.
2. Matthew 25:1-13 The story of the virgins going to the wedding. The foolish virgins whose lamps go out (they are not full anymore of the Holy Spirit) find the wedding door CLOSED.
3. Luke 13:26-28 People who have proclaimed Jesus but are still ruled out as workers of iniquity.
4. Matthew 7:21-23 Many have prophesied and done miracles in Jesus' name, yet Jesus does not know them, and they do not come to Heaven.

This is in contradiction to the yes. Or do these verses speak about people who deny Jesus when they have to give evidence or be tortured and then deny Jesus? These are believers who have come to faith but then deny Jesus by remaining living in the flesh and life, and the fruits of the Holy Spirit are not visible in them (Matthew 25). These are workers who themselves did not believe in Jesus, and they did everything in the name of Jesus for their own glory.
Read also Matthew 13:18-23. One accepts with joy, and in a period of trouble or persecution, he falls. Another accepts Jesus but finds life in the world more attractive, and also he is infertile.
This means that in addition to your belief and assumption of Jesus Christ and the need for adoption as the LORD Jesus Christ, who changes your life, you must live in obedience and be full of the Holy Spirit in order to obtain eternal life in Heaven.
In any case, let this NO be a serious warning! Take your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ seriously and leave your worldly life (the life in the flesh) and enter and continue on to a life guided by the Holy Spirit.