Questions & Answers

Listed below are questions that we have received from visitors to this web site. If you have questions about Bible subjects that you would like us to answer, please submit them here. Also, if you have any comments or further questions about any of the answers to the questions listed below, please send those comments to us as well. We cannot promise to answer each e-mail individually, but we will answer as many as we can, and those answers will appear in this section of our web page. We thank you for your continued interest in our site and for your patience as you wait for us to answer your question.

We get many questions on the issues of baptism, the church, and remarriage. A good starting point for questions in these areas would be to look at our special lessons on these topics in our recent Questions & Answers class: Lesson on Baptism, Lesson on the Church, and Lesson on Marriage and Divorce. We have an entire series of lessons on the church that you may find helpful. We also receive many questions regarding the use of instrumental music in worship, and we ask that you see our special lesson on that topic for help in that area.

Please click on a question below to see its answer.

  1. Is baptism really necessary? Can't one just be sprinkled?
  2. May one continue living in adultery after coming to Christ?
  3. Which version of the Bible should I use?
  4. But what about the thief on the cross?
  5. Isn't it more important to be spiritual than scriptural?
  6. Does God permit divorce?
  7. What type of music has God authorized in worship?
  8. What about the Community Church movement?
  9. What about the baptism of the Holy Spirit?
  10. Who does “they” refer to in 2 Peter 2:20-22?
  11. Do you believe in the eternal security of the believer in Christ Jesus?
  12. I was baptized when I attended the Mormon church. Was I properly baptized?
  13. What is confession before baptism?
  14. What is the gift of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2:38?
  15. Is preaching required?
  16. What does Ephesians 3:16 mean?
  17. May the church help a non-member?
  18. What does "judge not" mean?
  19. Was Jesus black?
  20. When is the Holy Spirit received?
  21. Please explain Genesis 6:2-3.
  22. What about women preachers & free will?
  23. How many times is baptism used in the Bible?
  24. What about fallen angels?
  25. Who was Ananias?
  26. What about responsive readings and praise teams?
  27. Why did Cornelius receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit before water baptism?
  28. Can a Christian scripturally marry a person divorced for other than adultery?
  29. Why do the genealogies of Christ differ?
  30. Is the church of Christ part of the Reformation?
  31. When did the church of Christ begin?
  32. Open or Closed Communion?
  33. Where does the Bible say the earth is tilted on its axis?
  34. Please explain Ephesians 4:11-15.
  35. Five More Questions on Instrumental Music and Singing
  36. Providence or Chance?
  37. Does A Christian Lose Salvation When He Sins?
  38. What about tithe paying?
  39. What is Total Hereditary Depravity?
  40. May a woman occupy a position of authority over a man in the secular world?
  41. A Question About Computers and Women
  42. Is Jesus in my heart or at the right hand of God?
  43. When and Why Did Sunday and Wednesday Evening Services Begin?
  44. More Questions on Women’s Role in the Church
  45. Why does the church not practice disfellowship?
  46. What are the steps for me to get baptized?
  47. What about Hebrews 4:10-17?
  48. Will those who have never heard the gospel be lost?
  49. What about women teaching teenagers?
  50. What about Mark 13:32?
  51. Are some worship services more important than others?
  52. Do you have any opinion about songs by Darlene Zschech?
  53. How can those who have never heard the gospel be saved?
  54. Why don't you quit making a big deal out of everything?
  55. Isn't instrumental music just a matter of choice?
  56. What is the millennium?
  57. What are the dynamics of faith?
  58. Does the church believe in debt free members?
  59. How can you know if your church is the true church?
  60. If baptism is essential, then must erring Christians be rebaptized? Why was Jesus baptized?
  61. Can you remarry if your former spouse lusted in his or her heart?
  62. Should we leave a church that blesses and marries homosexuals?
  63. How was a Jew saved between Abraham and Moses?
  64. What about giving microphones to men and women during the song service?
  65. What about the practice of women speaking during Bible classes?
  66. Did Jesus go into heaven and sprinkle blood on the mercy seat?
  67. What about the songs Days of Elijah and Indescribable?
  68. What about infant baptism?
  69. Is it wrong to eat in the church building?
  70. Why did God create man?
  71. What are the acts of worship?
  72. Elders and deacons, who selects them and how many should there be?
  73. What should those whose marriages are adulterous do when they obey the gospel?
  74. What is the Gospel?
  75. Can Natural Selection Co-exist with Faith?
  76. Must one attend all of the worship services of the church?
  77. Are important verses removed from the new translations?
  78. Is salvation a present condition or a future prospect?
  79. What are anti-institutional congregations of the church of Christ?
  80. What is the status of adulterer in unscriptural marriage after first spouse dies?
  81. Are we saved by baptism?
  82. How do we know that Jesus is the Messiah?
  83. Isn’t giving just another tradition of the church?
  84. Does Acts 2:38 refer to water baptism?
  85. Can the church today be traced to the New Testament church?
  86. Who baptized John the Baptist?
  87. Must we use just one cup in the Lord's Supper? (And see Question 105.)
  88. Is it a sin to listen to religious music on the radio?
  89. Is your website conservative or liberal?
  90. Must women be silent in Bible study?
  91. What is the age of accountability?
  92. With whom were the Old Testament covenants?
  93. More thorny issues on divorce and remarriage
  94. What about family members with different beliefs?
  95. Was Jesus kosher?
  96. Are the divorce and remarriage rules different for men and women?
  97. Are located preachers scriptural?
  98. Can we use notes and words not from the Bible in our singing?
  99. What was the origin of the synagogue?
  100. Is Sunday the commanded day for worship?
  101. Must one be immersed to be saved?
  102. Questions About Questionable Songs
  103. How does lust affect us and the church?
  104. Must we partake of the Lord's Supper only on Sunday?
  105. What is the one cup? (Follow up to Question 87)
  106. How is money to be used in the church?
  107. What about remarriage when there was adultery in the heart?
  108. Ananias and Sapphira -- was their problem ego or greed?
  109. Do you have any other verses about baptism other than Acts 2:38?
  110. What is wrong with the song He Lives?
  111. What is a Christian's responsibility to illegal aliens?
  112. Is the Kingdom of Christ present or future?
  113. What are the treasures we should lay up in Heaven?
  114. Are we guilty of picking and choosing the verses we will follow?
  115. Why did Paul exclude the appearances to the women in 1 Corinthians 15?
  116. More questions about the role of women in the church.
  117. What about infant baptism?
  118. Why did David remain with Bathsheba if he repented?
  119. What does 666 mean in Revelation 13?
  120. Why can't you see that baptism is not needed and that we can't lose our salvation?
  121. Where does the Bible say that you are not to play instruments in worship?
  122. Baptism is a work and we are not saved by works, right?
  123. What is the sin not unto death in 1 John 5?
  124. Do I need to be baptized again?
  125. Why can't you see that you don't need to be baptized in order to be saved?
  126. Do you have any information on dating non-Christians?
  127. Is there any Biblical authority to clap hands while singing hymns?
  128. Does lust constitute scriptural grounds for divorce?
  129. What about wearing crosses? What about illegal aliens?
  130. May I post lessons found on your website?
  131. Do we need to read the first five books of the Old Testament?
  132. Is it okay to wear casual clothes in the worship service?
  133. Must women be silent during a Bible class?
  134. How does God forgive sins, and how can we can learn to forgive ourselves?
  135. Is it okay for a woman to wear pants to church?
  136. When may a Christian sue?
  137. What is the difference between a priest and a Levite?
  138. Are the gifts of the Holy Spirit still active today?
  139. What is wrong with Songs of Faith and Praise?
  140. What about the second coming? What about instrumental music?
  141. What is your teaching on Infant Baptism?
  142. What's wrong with the song "Shine, Jesus, Shine"?
  143. If Satan is in the lake of fire, then why is there evil in the world today?
  144. Have I committed the unforgivable sin?
  145. Is disagreement equal to falling away?
  146. Did Timothy receive any spiritual gift by the laying on of hands?
  147. How can I get a copy of the N.B. Hardeman sermon on your website?
  148. How can you say that the church of Christ are the only ones going to heaven?
  149. Is witchcraft real in our world today?
  150. If I sin deliberately, have I committed the unforgivable sin?
  151. Shouldn't we worship on the Sabbath Day?
  152. Is it wrong to pledge allegiance to the flag?
  153. What about speaking in tongues?
  154. How can I locate a church near my home?
  155. What about the final resurrection?
  156. Is it scriptural to have a Bible study phone line?
  157. Why doesn't the Bible say more about drinking and gambling?
  158. What does 1 Corinthians 5:11 mean?
  159. What has Alton Howard done to my favorite songs?
  160. Why did Ananias call Saul a brother prior to his being baptized?
  161. What role does the Old Testament play in modern Christians' lives?
  162. Is it scriptural for a woman to lead a song or serve communion?
  163. Does God pick out a person he wants one to marry?
  164. Do you have a home office?
  165. Doesn't ICR deserve more credit?
  166. What is the difference between the baptism of Jesus and John's baptism?
  167. What should I do if I'm not sure I believe in God anymore?
  168. How can you squeeze 3 days and 3 nights between Friday afternoon and Sunday morning?
  169. Must I give to my local congregation or can I give to a congregation I am visiting?
  170. What about death bed conversions?
  171. Can an unmarried person be an adulterer?
  172. Where does it say that what happened in the Old Testament doesn't count?
  173. What about the veils in 1st Corinthians 11?
  174. When we die do we go directly to heaven with God or is there a waiting time?
  175. Why do people get baptized in the name of Jesus only?
  176. Why is fellowship not allowed with churches bearing a different name?
  177. In response to not using musical instruments in worship, what about these verses?
  178. What about Christians wearing the title "Doctor"?
  179. Is finding out you are related a ground for divorce?
  180. What should I do when I get discouraged praying for someone's salvation?
  181. What does God say about body piercing?
  182. How is money to be used in the church?
  183. Why are you so liberal?
  184. Please define in detail "Ecclesiology."
  185. While Jesus was among us here on the earth, did he himself baptize anyone?
  186. Is an ordained minister the only person who can baptize someone?
  187. Who baptized the apostles?
  188. Isn't your stance on musical instruments in worship divisive?
  189. Did Jesus have skin liken unto the color of bronze?
  190. What happens after death?
  191. What about "children's" church?
  192. Can you suggest some literature on personal evangelism?
  193. How do we know Jesus Christ is the true Messiah?
  194. What are God's and Jesus' true names, and shouldn't we be using them?
  195. Why was Jesus not called Immanuel?
  196. You subscribe to Church Replacement Theology, right?
  197. Is it wrong for a woman to baptize her daughter?
  198. Can you explain Hebrews 13:4?
  199. You're nuts, you're a Pharisee, and no one likes you, right?
  200. Are you aware of scripture that allows us to pray to Jesus?
  201. Songs are not inspired, so why do you criticize some of them?
  202. How many different colors of horses are there in Revelation?
  203. Is it okay to socialize with homosexuals?
  204. How can I battle bad thoughts?
  205. Can a marriage covenant ever die?
  206. Why is doctrine important?
  207. Should we forgive someone before they ask for forgiveness from God?
  208. But the thief did not die before Jesus did, right?
  209. What is a deaconess?
  210. What about Women's Meetings?
  211. What does it mean when James tells us to call for the elders to anoint the sick with oil?
  212. Why do you mention only 10 songs in your list of Problem Songs?
  213. If A marries B and then divorces B after discovering B had been married, may A remarry?
  214. Is a single person free to marry after having had an illicit affair with a married person?
  215. One more time, isn't baptism a work? We aren't saved by works, right?
  216. What are you thoughts on David Lipscomb not voting and on his being a pacifist?
  217. What do you have on Galatians and on Law and Grace?
  218. Will we know each other in Heaven?
  219. Did Cornelius and his household receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit?
  220. Aren't you being too hard on Song #577?
  221. Does the death of an elder's wife disqualify him?
  222. Who are the spiritual host of wickedness in heavenly places?