Sovereignty and Free Will
Q.God is sovereign and, in His sovereignty, has given man a free will to choose or reject Christ the Savior, a statement often made that seems to limit God’s sovereignty to man. Your thoughts. BuddyA.Hello Buddy, Thanks for the intriguing question. Many have pondered...
№ 168 Love and Obedience: Command or Promise?
Q.Question: John 14:15 I’m so torn by this verse and two lines of thought. Is it something I do, or is it something I’m enabled to do. Or is it both. RandyA.Hello Randy, Thanks for your heartfelt question. In John 14:15, Jesus said, “If ye love me, keep my...
№ 167 In Spirit and in Truth
Q.For the last couple of years I’ve wondered the answer to this question. I’ve not been settled with the answers I’ve been given. John 4:24 To me this verse when it says they must worship in spirit seems to me they must have the Spirit, but from the preaching I’ve...
№ 166 – The Overcoming Life
Q.I John 5:4-5 says, "For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God." Would you please share your thoughts on...
№ 165 – Greater Is He
Q.Question: What does it mean in 1 John 4:4 "greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world"? Could personal revival be experienced by rightly understanding this scripture? EricA.Hello Eric, Thank you for writing and thank you for your question. “He that...
№ 164 – Salvations during Gospel Presentations
Q.Can folks simply believe on Jesus while you’re giving the gospel like in Acts where the Holy Ghost fell on them based upon their belief? RandyA.Hello Randy, Thanks for your interesting question. Acts 10 is an example. God had prepared Peter through a vision that he...
№ 163 – Was Joseph of Arimathaea a Secret Believer?
Q.I was reading in your book about lordship salvation. It mentioned that Joseph of Arimathea was a disciple of Jesus and was saved. Judas was also a disciple of Jesus but not saved. How do you know for sure that Joseph was saved before he begged for the body of Jesus,...
№ 162 – What about Hebrews 6 and 10?
Q.Hello Mr. Van Gelderen,Very recently I purchased your book, Assurance of Salvation. I would like to ask for your viewpoint about the verses in Hebrews 6:4-8, 10:26-29? I know the Lord's word never contradicts itself. I was wondering if you could explain about these...
№ 161 – Seeking Personal Revival
Q.Hi John,What would you say are some key steps to personal revival? PhilipA.Hello Philip, Thanks for your question on personal revival. Several basic thoughts come to mind. Acknowledge your need.When the psalmist prayed to be revived “again” he acknowledged his need....
№ 160 – The Bond of the Gospel
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...
№ 159 – The Permanency of the Indwelling Spirit
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...
№ 158 – Discernment Regarding Salvation
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...
№ 157 – The Identification Truths and Revival
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...
№ 156 – The Law and the Law of Liberty
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,...
№ 155 – Unity without Compromise
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...
№ 154 – Discerning the Gift of Prophecy
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...
№ 153 – The Spirit and Jesus
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...
№ 152 – Abiding and the Glory of God
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...
№ 151 – Pretense in Revival
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...
№ 150 – Illumination and Conviction
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,...
№ 149 – How Does Mortifying Fit In?
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...
№ 148 – Believing and Eternal Security
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...
№ 147 – The Testing of Faith
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...
№ 146 – New Believers and the Epistles
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...
№ 145 – Confession and Intercession
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...
№ 144 – The Essence of Personal Revival
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...
№ 143 – Knowing Christ
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...
№ 142 – Death and Life
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...
№ 141 – Healer of Hearts
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...
№ 140 – The Book of Life
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...
№ 139 – The Timing of Baptism
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...
№ 138 – The Joy of the Lord
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...
№ 137 – Faith and Assurance
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...
№ 136 – Becoming Unashamed
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...
№ 135 – The Vinedresser
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...
№ 134 – Baptized Again?
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...
№ 133 – Habitual Sin and Faith to Believe
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...
№ 132 – Death Date: Fixed or Flexible?
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...
№ 131 – The Most Important Condition for Revival
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...
№ 130 – Conscience and the Holy Spirit’s Leading
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...
№ 129 – Heirs of God and Personal Revival
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#128 Accepted and Complete in Christ
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...
№ 127 – Who Binds the Enemy?
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...
№ 126 – Receiving the Spirit’s Power
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...
№ 125 – The Judgment Seat and No Condemnation
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...
№ 124 – Pleading the Blood and Claiming the Throne
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...
№ 123 – Teaching New Christians about the Holy Spirit
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...
№ 122 – More of the Spirit?
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...
№ 121 – Addictions and Rewards
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...
№ 120 – Can a Christian Backslide?
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...
