Why should I read the word of God?

The Bible is the inspired word of God and is by design the manual for success in every area of life. Every thought, issue or concern that involves mankind is addressed in the word of God.

2 Timoth 3:16-17 American Standard Version (ASV)

¹⁶ Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness .

^{1 7} That the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work.

John 8:32 King James Version (KJV)

³² And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

 Psalm 119:105 King James Version (KJV)

¹⁰⁵ Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Why is the gospel of Jesus Christ, the gospel of grace?

The word Gospel is translated as “Good News”, and the good news is that God with His amazing grace has offered all mankind reconciliation through His Son Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 2:4-9 King James Version (KJV)

⁴ But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

⁵ Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;

⁶ And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

⁷ That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

⁸ For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

⁹  Not of works, lest any man should boast.

How can I get faith to believe the gospel?

The bible clearly states that faith comes by hearing; the more we hear, read and study the Word of God the more we will see the truth in the Word.

John 8:32 King James Version (KJV)

³² And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Romans 10:17 Amplified Bible (AMP)

¹⁷ So faith comes by hearing [what is told], and what is heard comes by the preaching [of the message that came from the lips] of Christ (the Messiah Himself).

What is the New Covenant? 

The New Covenant is the new agreement that God has with believers both Jew and Gentile, whereby, He has forgiven our sins and has chosen not to remember our sins any more after we have accepted Jesus as our Savior and substitute.

Hebrews 8:7-13 Amplified Bible (AMP)

⁷ For if that first covenant had been without defect, there would have been no room for another one or an attempt to institute another one.

⁸ However, He finds fault with them [showing its inadequacy] when He says, Behold, the days will come, says the Lord, when I will make and ratify a new covenant or agreement with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.

⁹ It will not be like the covenant that I made with their forefathers on the day when I grasped them by the hand to help and relieve them and to lead them out from the land of Egypt, for they did not abide in My agreement with them, and so I withdrew My favor and disregarded them, says the Lord.

¹⁰ For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will imprint My laws upon their minds, even upon their innermost thoughts and understanding, and engrave them upon their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.

¹¹ And it will nevermore be necessary for each one to teach his neighbor and his fellow citizen or each one his brother, saying, Know (perceive, have knowledge of, and get acquainted by experience with) the Lord, for all will know Me, from the smallest to the greatest of them.

¹² For I will be merciful and gracious toward their sins and I will remember their deeds of unrighteousness no more.

¹³ When God speaks of a new [covenant or agreement], He makes the first one obsolete (out of use). And what is obsolete (out of use and annulled because of age) is ripe for disappearance and to be dispensed with altogether.

Did the blood of Jesus pay for all my sins; even my future sins? 

The shed blood of Jesus on the cross at Calvary provided complete atonement for all of the sins of mankind. However, we must by faith, accept His sacrifice as a gift provided by God, and receive Christ as our Lord, Savior and substitute.

Isaiah 43:25 Amplified Bible (AMP)

25 I, even I, am He Who blots out and cancels your transgressions, for My own sake, and I will not remember your sins.

2:13-14 Living Bible (TLB)

¹³ You were dead in sins, and your sinful desires were not yet cut away. Then he gave you a share in the very life of Christ, for he forgave all your sins, ¹⁴ and blotted out the charges proved against you, the list of his commandments which you had not obeyed. He took this list of sins and destroyed it by nailing it to Christ’s cross.

What if I sin after accepting Christ, does God hold that against me or punish me? 

The Bible says that if we confess our sins that God will forgive us because of our relationship with Jesus Christ. However, acting outside of the will of God, often has unpleasant natural consequences. Remember Adam and Eve.

1 John 1:9 King James Version (KJV)
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 

Romans 3:23 King James Version (KJV)

23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Hebrews 8:12 King James Version (KJV)
12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.

How can I be born again? 

John 3:16 King James Version (KJV)

¹⁶ For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Romans 10:9 King James Version (KJV)

⁹ That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Ephesians 2:8-9 King James Version (KJV)

⁸ For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: ⁹ Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Why should I partake in communion worship? 

Believers should partake of Holy Communion because it helps us to keep present in our thoughts and heart what a wonderful gift God provided through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. It also magnifies Jesus and the victory He won on Calvary for all believers, and reminds us that the new covenant is in effect and we are reconciled to God through Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 11:24-26King James Version (KJV)

²⁴ And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.

²⁵ After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, this cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.

²⁶ For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.

1 Corinthians 10:16-17King James Version (KJV)

¹⁶ The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?

¹⁷ For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.

Should I abstain from communion worship if I’ve sinned? I don’t want to take it unworthily. 

Many believers have refused to partake of Holy Communion because they are concerned about taking Communion unworthily. The scripture (sited below) is really about people being gluttons and getting drunk at the communion meal and not discerning it as the representation of the Body and the Blood of Jesus Christ. However their concern about drinking unworthily actually demonstrates that they do indeed recognize and have reverence for the Body and the Blood of Christ. If you’ve sinned ,confess your sins and receive God’s forgiveness and boldly receive communion. It is the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ that has provided forgiveness and reconciliation with God , keep that in rememberance and celebrate His love until the Lord returns.

1 Corinthians 11:27-34 King James Version (KJV)

²⁷ Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.

²⁸ But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.

²⁹ For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.

³⁰ For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.

³¹ For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.

³² But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

³³ Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another.

³⁴ And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come.

Why should I pray? 

Prayer is the way that we communicate with God, and all believers should seek to spend time in prayer. Prayer provides time to both speak to as well as listen to God. The bible has promised that we can ask for anything in faith in the name of Jesus and it would be done.

Mark 11:22-24 King James Version (KJV)

²² And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. ²³ For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. ²⁴ Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

John 15:7 Amplified Bible (AMP)
7 If you live in Me [abide vitally united to Me] and My words remain in you and continue to live in your hearts, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you. 

Jeremiah 33:3 Amplified Bible (AMP)
3 Call to Me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things, fenced in and hidden, which you do not know (do not distinguish and recognize, have knowledge of and understand

Does God heal sickness and disease?
Healing is part of the finished works of Jesus Christ on the cross at Calvary. Health and Healing belong to born again believers through grace by faith in the blood of Jesus Christ.

 Isaiah 53:5 King James Version (KJV)
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Psalm 103:2-4 King James Version (KJV)
2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;

4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;

James 5:15 King James Version (KJV)
15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

Why should believers tithe and give offerings?
As believers, we should all be interested in helping to show the love of God in every way possible. Often times this requires our finances to promote Gods agenda of service. Giving is how God’s economy works in the earth, seed-time and harvest. Giving is a personal demonstration of our reliance on God as our supply and our understanding of our role as steward.

Luke 6:38 King James Version (KJV)
38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

2 Corinthians 9:7 King James Version (KJV)
7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

Proverbs 3:9-10 King James Version (KJV)
9 Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:

10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.

Genesis 8:22 King James Version (KJV)
22 While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease

Psalm 112:3 King James Version (KJV)
3 Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness endureth for ever.

Psalm 35:27 King James Version (KJV)
27 Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.

Jeremiah 29:11 Amplified Bible (AMP)
11 For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.

Does God want me to prosper financially?
God’s word has always indicated that He is our source, and believers are to live a blessed life, and that includes financially. Prosperity includes much more than finances but we are blessed to be a blessing.

Deuteronomy 8:18 King James Version (KJV)
18 But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.

Proverbs 10:22 King James Version (KJV)
22 The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.

Psalm 112:3 King James Version (KJV)
3 Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness endureth forever.
Psalm 35:27 King James Version (KJV)
27 Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.

Jeremiah 29:11 Amplified Bible (AMP)
11 For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.

Is hell a real place?
Hell is a real place where there is a lake of eternal fire and never ending torment. It was not created for mankind, however because of our decisions some people will end up there. God doesn’t send people to hell; the only way to go to hell is to reject the gift of atonement through Jesus Christ.

John 3:16-18 King James Version (KJV)
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Matthew 25:46 King James Version (KJV)
46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

Is God in control of everything that happens?

No, God is not in control of everything that happens. Man has free will and because of that we make decision, and often those decisions are in opposition to the will of God. Also Satan is influencing much of what happens in the earth; unfortunately because of free will, God doesn’t always get what He wants for His creation.

Revelation 3:20 King James Version (KJV)
20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

2 Tim 2:26 King James Version (KJV)
26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

Proverbs 1:29 King James Version (KJV)
29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD: