Can a person believe in some sense but not be saved?
There are different levels of belief, and different objects of belief, and not all that’s called “belief” is actually saving faith. James 2:19 says, “You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.” So, if a person simply believes that there is a God in heaven—and that’s the extent of…
Did Old Testament believers have eternal security?
The answer to the question of whether Old Testament believers in the Lord had eternal security is the same as the answer to whether New Testament believers have eternal security. God does not change (Numbers 23:19; Malachi 3:6) and is therefore consistent regarding His offer of salvation. If the New Testament believer is eternally secure…
What was the Old Testament way of salvation?
How people were saved during the time of the Old Testament is a confusing question to some. We know that, in the New Testament era, salvation comes by grace through faith in Jesus Christ (John 1:12; Ephesians 2:8-9). Jesus is the Way (John 14:6). But, before Christ, what was the way? A common misconception about…
What does the Bible say about household salvation?
Household salvation is the idea that whole families or households are saved at once. The saving of the entire family is accomplished through the faith of the leader of the family. If the father or the head of the home declares himself to be a Christian, then he presides over a Christian household—the members of…
Is there a difference between the book of life and the Lamb’s book of life?
There are eight references in New Testament to the “book of life,” and two of them refer specifically to the book of life that belongs to the Lamb, Jesus Christ. Seven of the references appear in the book of Revelation. Those whose names are written in the book of life are those who belong to…
Where do I find the age of accountability in the Bible?
The concept of the “age of accountability” is that children are not held accountable by God for their sins until they reach a certain age and that, if a child dies before reaching the “age of accountability,” that child will, by the grace and mercy of God, be granted entrance to heaven. Is the concept…
What happens to those who have never heard about Jesus?
All people are accountable to God whether or not they have “heard about Him.” The Bible tells us that God has clearly revealed Himself in nature (Romans 1:20) and in the hearts of people (Ecclesiastes 3:11). The problem is that the human race is sinful; we all reject this knowledge of God and rebel against…
How were people saved before Jesus died for our sins?
Since the fall of man, the basis of salvation has always been the death of Christ. No one, either prior to the cross or since the cross, would ever be saved without that one pivotal event in the history of the world. Christ’s death paid the penalty for past sins of Old Testament saints and…
Why did God require animal sacrifices in the Old Testament?
God required animal sacrifices to provide a temporary covering of sins and to foreshadow the perfect and complete sacrifice of Jesus Christ (Leviticus 4:35, 5:10). Animal sacrifice is an important theme found throughout Scripture because “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” (Hebrews 9:22). When Adam and Eve sinned, animals were killed by…
Why were there times in the Old Testament when God forgave people who did not offer a sacrifice?
Forgiveness of sin is a dominant biblical theme, both in the Old and New Testament. When God forgives a person’s sin, He pardons or excuses that person, freeing him or her from the guilt and consequences (or punishment) that offense deserves. One of the primary Hebrew terms translated as “forgive” is nasaʾ, which means “to…