Q&A Column

Q.Does 1 John 4:1-3 mean that any person, church, or group, regardless of standards, that claims Jesus Christ is God and came in the flesh is "of God" like it says in verse 2? And follow up question, if that is true, then why is it that we criticize those who are...

Q.Will the Holy Spirit leave a believer who contracts HIV?Do they still have eternal life or is only Jesus necessary?A.Hello, Thank you for your connected questions. I’d like to address your second question first. The Bible repeatedly promises eternal life to those...

Q.Can the Holy Spirit help you to know that someone is unsaved despite the fact that the person has given a testimony of salvation and even verbally expressed dependence on Jesus alone? And what about vice versa? AmberA.Hello Amber, Thank you for your question. It’s...

Q.Hi Brother John, Is one of the keys to revival understanding and appropriating the “identification truths” as taught by Paul in his epistles?  What are these identification truths and how might they lead one into personal or even corporate revival? Thank...

Q.In 2 Corinthians 3:6-7, Paul calls the "law" the “ministry of death” and contrasts it with the Spirit as the “ministry of life.” The way I understand this is that the law can only reveal sin and condemn. However, the indwelling Spirit imparts the law-fulfilling,...

Q.John, Hello from Minneapolis! I hope you are doing great! I appreciate you!! My question is regarding separation. My desire is, "That they all may be one..." (John 17:21) and to see the Spirit of God unleashed through multiple believers in my city. I am not sure how...

Q.How do you know you have the gift of Prophesy operating in your life? MargaretA.Hello Margaret, Thank you for your question and interest. I've been studying the gifts for the last couple of years. I’m still chewing on what I’m learning. There is the prophet of the...

Q.Regarding 1 John 4: 2-3,"By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God;"and 1 Corinthians...

Q.It is often quoted that the chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. John 15:8 says, “In this is my Father glorified that ye bear much fruit.” John 15:5 says, “He that abideth in me and I in him , the same bringeth forth much fruit.” Are these...

Q. I would love to hear your thoughts on Jeremiah 3:10. It seems to be an indictment against Judah in the days of Josiah (verse 6) for a half-hearted revival. Have you ever seen, read about, or studied this kind of thing? The description of the revival that took place...

Q.What is the role of the Holy Spirit in salvation? Is it to illuminate and convict? What would be the difference or is it the same thing? Would it be possible to have your mind illuminated without being convicted of your heart’s need of salvation?LeahA.Hello Leah,...

Q.Brother John, great article [Reckoning and Dying Daily]. Praise the Lord for the Spirit’s daily convincing. Amazing revelation of the complete work of Christ! Can you please explain how this reckoning relates to what we read in Romans 8:13, “But if ye through the...

Q.Brother John, Over the past couple of years, I better understand eternal security because we are sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise until the day of redemption. However, I used to see security as conditional based on my continuing to believe in Christ. I heard a...

Q.Brother John, I have been helped much with your connecting faith as the key to accessing the Spirit for filling. I would love to hear you at some point explain the trial of our faith and patience (endurance), and the salvation of our souls. (James 1:2-4; 1 Peter...

Q. Why aren't we pointing people to read Paul's epistles once they accept Jesus Christ as their personal savior, (especially starting with Romans)? Most mature Christians point people to read John's gospel. Zack A.Hello Zack, Fair question. Thank you for bringing up...

Q.Hello, Brother Van Gelderen!What are your thoughts on whether a Christian must be completely right before God before he can come to God in prayer on behalf of others? That is, if I have not had a time of confession yet in my daily prayer time but God brings someone...

Q.  Greetings to you, John, Galatians 2:19-20 appear to be truths that if understood aright, then personal revival would be achieved if applied in our daily walk with the LORD. Would you please share your insights on these verses as to the context and meaning and...

Hi John,Can you please explain what Paul means when he says, "That I might know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death." (Phil 3:10) How could understanding these truths lead one into...

Q.John, I was reading John 12:25 and having a hard time figuring out what it means. Could you briefly explain what you think it means? JordanA.Hello Jordan, Thanks for your question on a great passage! The verse in the context will help us. Let’s consider John...

Q.I feel a need for a spiritual breakthrough. I accepted the Lord at a young age. Got married against God’s perfect will and now feel guilt and lack of freedom in the Lord. Help!A.Thank you for your honest heart cry. Jesus is the healer of our hearts. The wonderful...

Q.When or why would someone be blotted out of the book of life? Are there 2 books: the book of life and the Lamb’s book of life? I’ve had 2 people ask me these questions and I can’t answer them. Thank for your help.A.Thank you for your question. The Old Testament does...

Q.When it comes to baptism when is the right time to baptize a convert. Some teach immediately upon faith in Christ. Others teach that baptism is a ordinance of the church so the new believer must be in a right standing before being baptized because if not church...

Q.What does "The Joy of the Lord is my strength" mean?  Jasmine A.Hello Jasmine, Great question! Nehemiah 8:10 says, “the joy of the LORD is your strength.” This was stated to the people of God on a day when the law of God had been read and they responded under...

Q.Hello John, If faith is not a work but man's response to the divine initiative and dependence upon the worker of faith (that is God), can that saving faith ever be lost and forfeited?Furthermore, if regeneration occurs at the time of saving faith, can the miracle of...

Q. I receive God's Gift of salvation been baptized in water read and spend time with him on a daily basis. But I'm not out there speaking his word to others I try to speak it to my family members but I forget or get choked up. I know that I got to be busy speaking his...

Q. Can you explain vinedresser?Adrian  A.Hello Adrian, Simple, but great question! Jesus said, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman” or in the vernacular, “the vinedresser” (John 15:1). Jesus as the true vine is the source of life. The Father as the...

Q.I have been counseling with a man who recently expressed interest in getting baptized again. He said he was saved at a young age but couldn't remember exactly when. His concern is that he was baptized before he believed. He says that he knows salvation is by faith...

Q.In Matthew 9:29, Jesus restored the sight of two blind men. He said to them, "...according to your faith be it unto you." My question is, can habitual sin stop God from fulfilling His promises in the life of a born-again child of God if he/she has the faith to...

Q.Is our time of death predetermined? Many Christians say God has set our death date but if that is true, why do we pray for physical healing? I understand He knows when we will die, but other than "it is appointed unto man once to die" (which doesn't necessarily...

Q.What is the most important thing that we need to do to have a revival? Dan A.Hello Dan, Great question! Over the years many have studied revival, the path to revival, and Bible passages related to conditions for revival. The summary of these conditions seems to be...

Q. Could you explain 1) How a pure and peaceful conscience could be related to faith-based reliance on the Holy Spirit's direction and timing for decision making, and 2) How a pure and peaceful conscience could also apply to one's personal opinions and standards in...

Q. Greetings John, The Bible declares that Spirit born believers are “the children of God” and as such are “heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ” (Romans 8:16,17). Would you please explain what exactly this means, as I think that a clear understanding of this may...

Q.Hello John, Could you please explain the meaning of being made “accepted in the beloved” (Eph. 1:6) and “complete in Him” (Col 2:10) and how understanding these truths may lead to personal revival. Thank you in Christ, Philip A.Hello Phillip, Thank you for your...

Q. So are we to do as the lady in the movie "War Room" literally say the words, I bind Satan? DougA. Hello Doug, Thanks for the follow-up to Q&A 124. The question you are asking is essentially, “Who binds the enemy?” The issue here is not necessarily using the...

Q. In a previous Q&A, you said, "Water baptism pictures Spirit baptism." Could you please explain the example in Acts 8 where the people are said to have received water baptism (Acts 8:12,15-17) but did not yet have the Spirit? Patrick A.Hello Patrick, Thank you...

Q. Hello, John Can you please expound on [2Co 5:10 ESV] "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil." I was under the impression that once a believer...

Q. Hi John,I’ve heard you publicly pray, “we plead the blood” and, “we claim our position at the throne.” Could you please explain what is meant by these prayer phrases? Thank you,Eric  A.  Hello Eric, Thank you for your question. I used to wonder about this when I...

Q. When presenting the gospel to someone, and they receive Christ, what should be said about the Holy Spirit to a brand-new believer? I am thinking of our sealing in Ephesians, asking for in Luke 11:13, rivers of living waters in John 7:38. A. Hello, Wonderful...

Q. Is it wrong for a believer to ask for more of the Holy Spirit? I have heard, "Do not pray for more of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is a complete member of the Trinity and is not in pieces. Every child of God has all of Him, but does He have all of you?" What...

Q. Have a few friends who struggle with addictions yet are saved. Will this affect their rewards in heaven? Nancy A. Hello Nancy, Thank you for your honest inquiry. It’s actually a question that pertains to anyone who has a bad habit, whether or not we call it an...

Q. I grew up in a pastor’s home and I got saved when I was 18. I felt a call to missions in Bible college but my dad didn’t think it was the right call. I dropped out of Bible college, married an unsaved man, separated, committed adultery, but came back to the Lord...

Q. Hi John, Our son was (sincerely) asking if a person can't lose their salvation, why can't they live however they choose, especially if they "like the way they are." He is heavily influenced by the world. Thank you. A. Hello, Thank you for this thought provoking...

Q. My question is very scary for me. I truly believe in the Lord Jesus and have as far as I know my own heart, have surrendered my entire life to Him out of Love and gratitude to Him for all He has done for me. But I have been reading about the fruit of abiding in Him...

Q. What is biblical revival?  Awi Sang  A.Thank you for your important question. The concept of revival is sometimes quite misunderstood, and the greatest reason for confusion is when revival is defined by what it may do rather than what it is. Descriptions too often...

Q.When Jesus spoke about bearing fruit, does it mean telling others about Him? Beverley A. Hello Beverley, Thank you for your question. The answer is important to understand. Jesus encourages bearing fruit in John 15 in the discourse on the vine and the branches....

Q.Would you explain forgiveness?  Thank you! Karen A.Hello Karen, Thanks for your question. In some ways it’s a big question; in others it’s simple—but it often demands the supernatural. “Forgive as Christ forgave” demands accessing Christ. Several books have been...

Q.Having read some of your critique of lordship salvation, is it correct to say that you lean slightly more to the free grace camp in the lordship salvation debate? Examples of theologians holding a mild free grace position that come to my mind are Lewis Sperry Chafer...

Q.Brother, You wrote "This (our faithfulness) will affect our potential in the kingdom made manifest at the judgment seat." [Q&A № 112] It seems that most Christians have a view of "life on earth, then heaven for eternity." Over the years I have become aware of...

Q. What does Paul mean in 2 Timothy 2:13 when he says, "If we believe not, yet he abides faithful." Aaron   A.Hello Aaron, Thanks for the incisive question. Years ago this was brought to my attention. In fact, another young preacher and I strongly disagreed over the...

Q.What are the evidences of meekness in a person's life? Karen A.Hello Karen, Thank you for your question. Meekness is an often overlooked and misunderstood word, so lexicons and word studies will provide a good starting point. Meek or meekness as used in the Old...