The Bible Answer Kid

Q. Could Jesus microwave a hot pocket, so hot, that even he couldn? eat it? (Submitted by Devil's Advocate)
A. "For nothing is impossible with God."(Luke 1:37) There is not limit to His power. [However,] If you choose to say "God can give a creature free will and at the same time withhold free will from it," then you have not succeeded in saying anything about God: meaningless combinations of words do not suddenly acquire meaning simply because we prefix them with the words "God can." [? It is no more possible for God than for the weakest of His creatures to carry out both of two mutually exclusive alternatives; not because His power meets an obstacle, but because nonsense remains nonsense even when we talk it about God. (p.28, The Problem of Pain by C.S. Lewis)

Q. If all bad people go to hell, wouldn't hell just be one big party? (Submitted by Devil's Advocate)
A. The answer to your question is no. The New Testament uses three words which can all be translated to the word hell. They are hades, tartarus, and gehenna. They all are a place of punishment. The Greek word "Hades" means literally "a place devoid of light; a dark, obscure abode"; and in Greek writers was applied to the dark and obscure regions where disembodied spirits were supposed to dwell." (Barnes, from http://www.e-sword.net/commentaries.html) The only place the Greek word tartarus is used is in 2 Peter 2:4 which says, "For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell [Tartarus], putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment" Finally, there is the Greek word gehenna or as Revelation calls it the lake of fire. "Hell, the place or state of the lost and condemned ... In the NT Gehenna is presented always as the final place of punishment into which the wicked are cast after the last judgment. It is a place of torment both for body and soul" (The Complete Word Study Dictionary of the New Testament, Spiros Zodhiates, p.360-361) We can conclude that the final punishment for sinners (those who have broken God? law) is the lake of fire. This is one of the things that the Bible has to say about hell: "They [bad people] will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power" (2 Thessalonians 1:9) Hell is a place of punishment, not partying.

Q. Is gluttony a sin? (Submitted by Ryan Henderson)
A. The Bible does not specifically say that gluttony is a sin. However, by looking at these verses I think we can come to a sensible conclusion. "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship." (Romans 12:1) This verse says that we should honor God by taking care of our bodies. Gluttony is not helpful in doing this. Let? look at another verse. James 4:17 says this: "Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins." We can conclude that because honoring God with our bodies is good and that not honoring God with our bodies is bad. Therefore, it is sin.

Q. Why did God put us on this earth if he knew that we were going to sin? (Submitted by Hact)
A. It is true "God saw all that he had made, and it was very good?(Genesis 1:31). This includes us. However, we sinned making us wicked and unrighteous. God knows the future and it was not completely an accident that man sinned. The Bible says that "He[Jesus] was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in the last times for your sake. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, so your faith and hope are in God. (1 Peter 1:20-21) God wielded the thing we call sin to glorify Himself because the outcome will be far greater than any other way. You may object to this by saying something like this: "That verse only proves that God glorified Jesus not Himself." Let me use two verses to counter this objection. ?esus replied, "If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me."?John 8:54) So this verse also says that the Father is the one who glorified Jesus. The second verse says this and proves that God glorified Himself: "I and the Father are one."(John 10:30) For more information about the Trinity click here.

Q. Where does the word "Bible" come from? (Submitted by 1NF3RN0)
A. The word Bible comes from the Greek word "Biblos" which means The book. It is the only complete, comprehensive revelation of God to man. It is formed from "Biblia" or books. The individual books of the Bible were put together to form a Bible, a collection of books.

Q. Ok Bible Answer Kid, riddle me this: Do you think that the tsunami and the mud slides in Cali are a sign that the end of times are near? (Submitted by Ariana)
A. Let? cut to the chase. What does the Bible have to say? It says this: "Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that it is near, right at the door." (Mark 13:28-29) That means that there will be signs of the end. However the Bible also makes it clear that nobody knows the day or the hour except the Father (see Mark 13:32). "When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains." (Mark 13:7-8) So, yes, the tsunami and the mud slides in California are signs that Christ is coming again! What? the point? "Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. It's like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with his assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch." (Mark 13:33-34) The tsunamis are a warning to the Body of Christ saying "keep watch" but to those who are not of Christ it? a message saying "REPENT" for he commands this: "In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead."(Acts 17:30-31)

Q. If someone claims they believe in God, and did everything they needed to do, but don't act like it at all (like swears, listens to trashy music...etc), are they really Christians? (Submitted by yourworstnightmarecometru)
A. I think instead of you or me judging whether that someone really is a Christian we should let that person judge for themselves. Paul wrote these words to the Corinthian church: "Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you?nless, of course, you fail the test? And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test." (2 Corinthians 13:5-6) That person should understand that a tree is recognized by its fruit (see Matthew 12:33) and as Christians we should be producing good fruit. In fact, we all ought to examine ourselves and see what kind of fruit we?e producing. "Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners?f whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life." (1 Timothy 1:15-16) Paul didn? say he was the worst of sinners; he said he is the worst of sinners. So, as a Christians we aren? perfect. However, that, as lofty a goal as it may seem, is indeed, our goal. Keep on keeping on!

Q. How do we know that we worship a real god and not a fake one? (Submitted by Tim Griffith)
A. Firstly, we must know that there is a God. How do we know that there is a God? We know because of the created world and order of things therein. As I sit at my computer answering this question, I see a computer, a lamp, and outside my window--some trees. Who made the computer? A computer maker. Who made the lamp? A lamp maker. Who made the trees that I see? Logically, doesn? it have to be a "tree-maker"? The thing itself testifies to the fact that it has a designer because it has design. This is what Paul meant when he said, "For since the creation of the world God? invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made so that men are without excuse." (Romans 1:20) Now, how do we know that this God of the Bible that we worship is real? "Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come." (2 Corinthians 1:21-22) This could be compared to a man who says he? going to give you a million dollars. To prove it, he tells you to meet him at such and such a time and such and such a place and there, he will give you $500,000 on the spot and the rest later. You meet the man and sure enough, the man gives you the money he promised. You know he? serious about giving the whole million dollars (no matter how long it takes). This God we worship has promised that if we repent (see Acts 17:30-31) and put our trust in Jesus Christ (see John 3:16), that he will give us his Spirit as confirmation that he is the real, only, living God. I dare you to try to prove him wrong. To find out what it means to repent and put your trust in Jesus Christ visit this page.