So, when we think about whether not cussing is okay, we have to ask: is it good for building up? Most times, a person cusses when they are angry, frustrated, complaining, or insulting. None of these sounds like very encouraging ways to speak, so it's not a good idea. Of course, a person can be very demeaning without saying a cuss word, so the point isn't to just avoid a certain list of words, but to avoid any ways of talking that don't honor God.

This is why Colossians 1:6 says we should let our "speech always be gracious" and Paul encouraged Timothy to "set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity." [1 Timothy 4:12] Even more specific is this instruction: "Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving." [Ephesians 5:4]

When those who follow Christ treat others with disrespect, we are being poor representatives of the forgiveness and mercy Jesus has shown to us. We should put away "all obscene talk from your mouth" [Colossians 3:8] since we now serve Jesus Christ, who is never obscene or crude. Quite to the opposite, He is holy and pure.

See, the words that come out of our mouth actually reveal what's going on in our hearts. If we are quick to lose our temper or yell at others, then it's because we are impatient. But if we are seeking to honor God, then our speech will reflect that instead. A man named David knew this well, which is why he prayed that both "the words of [his] mouth and the meditation of [his] heart" would be acceptable in the sight of God. [Psalm 19:14]

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Maybe it would be good to first think about what prayer is. Most just assume it's talking to God, and while that's a part of prayer, it's hardly the whole thing. I don't even think it's the most important part. We don't pray to God to let him know what we're thinking or feeling, since he already knows us better than we know ourselves. Prayer reveals our dependence on God and shows that we trust Him to not only hear our prayers but provide His peace. And we know that "the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." [Philippians 4:7]

Speaking of Jesus, it's important to note that Jesus himself prayed. The very Son of God made a deliberate habit of praying, even getting up "very early in the morning, while it was still dark" and going off alone "and there he prayed." [Mark 1:35]

Think about a man who is in a boat on a lake. When it's time to return to shore, he throws a rope around one of the poles on the dock and starts pulling. Is he pulling the shore closer to him? Of course not. He's pulling himself closer to the shore. When we pray, we do so to know God better and understand Him more. It teaches us what He cares about, reminds us to thank Him for what He's done for us, and shows us how to express His love to others. Prayer can be talking, but it must also involve listening -- being sensitive to the work of the Holy Spirit within us. The Psalmist reminds us to be still and know that He is God. [Psalm 46:10] Through prayer, we get to know God better. And the more we know God, the more we trust Him.

If we just treat prayer like putting money in a vending machine, hoping that if we say the right combination of words we'll get what we want, then we've missed the point. And we'll likely get frustrated because that idea of prayer doesn't work. But the problem isn't prayer, and it isn't God, but it's due to a misunderstanding about what prayer is and how it works.

Other verses on prayer: Matthew 6:5-15; Matthew 26:36-46; Luke 11:5-13; John 17; Acts 1:14; Acts 4:24-31; Romans 8:26-30; Romans 10:8-13; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

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In fact, Jesus said: "But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only." [Matthew 24:36] If we were able to tell exactly when Jesus would return, it might cause us to become lazy in our efforts, or more self-centered in what we do, trying to get ourselves ready for his coming and perhaps neglecting the people he wants us to reach out to. His instruction to us is to be alert or "stay awake", living in a way that would always be prepared for his return.

Until his return, bad things will continue to be a part of earthly life. During these difficult times, it is very important to remember that Christ has promised to return for his people! In John 14:1-4, he says "Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare and place for you, I will come again and take you to myself, that where I am you may be also."

For those who put their faith in Jesus, a day will come when the wars and tragedies of this world will stop forever! We will finally be with Christ forever. Until that day, we are to eagerly wait for his return, reminding ourselves during difficult times that this world is not our home. We belong to the One who is preparing us a place in heaven. As the apostle Paul said: "Our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ..." [Philippians 3:20-21]

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In the Old Testament, we see angels guarding the entrance to the garden of Eden after Adam and Eve are expelled [Genesis 3:24]. The angel of the Lord appears to Moses in a burning bush [Exodus 3:2] and with Daniel's friends in the fiery furnace [Daniel 3:25]. Elisha's servant saw the armies of the Lord surrounding the Syrians with chariots of fire [2 Kings 6:17] and two angels in Scripture are specifically named -- Gabriel and Michael.

In the New Testament, we read that angels appeared to Mary and Joseph about the birth of Jesus [Luke 1:26-38; Matthew 1:18-25] and again appeared to announce Jesus' birth to shepherds [Luke 2:8-20]. The apostles were let out of prison by an angel [Acts 5:19] and the book of Revelation was written after an angel appeared to John in a vision. Jesus was ministered to by angels [Matthew 4:11] and cast out several demons while on earth [Mark 5:1-20; Mark 9:14-29; Luke 4:31-37].

So, the Bible talks about angels and demons frequently, and so we can be assured that they are real. But Scripture doesn't tell us to look for them or to try and see them. Instead, it tells us to be on guard against the devil and his schemes.

When dealing with the spiritual realm, it's very important to remember that there are many things -- as human beings -- we don't know about how angels and demons operate. What we do know is that the spiritual realm has power, and so we should be cautious when dealing with it. In fact, God's Word reminds us that Satan can disguise himself as an "angel of light" [2 Corinthians 11:14]. Trying to tap into the spiritual realm without the wisdom of God can be very dangerous. Perhaps this is one of the reasons why God forbid the people of Israel from practicing witchcraft, astrology, or anything else that would lead them in that direction [Leviticus 19:31].

Finally, I would say this: the word angel means "messenger", so even if you could see an angel, they would not want to be worshipped or prayed to. When John fell down to the feet of an angel in Revelation 22:9, the angel told him "You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God."

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Remember, you can't make your friend become a Christian. Apart from Christ, we are all "dead in the trespasses and sins" [Ephesians 2:1] so we must remember that only God can create new life in them, just as He did in us.

Because of that, it's important to tell your friend about who Jesus is and what He has done on the cross, giving us the chance to be made right with God. I recently read a quote from an atheist who said that none of his Christian friends have ever tried to tell Him about Christ. This shouldn't be true! Those of us who have Christ must share His message with everyone, especially those who do not know Him, since we are "ambassadors of Christ." [2 Corinthians 5:17-21]

Finally, I would encourage you to look for opportunities to share Christ's love in other ways as well. Maybe you can encourage her through a tough time, help her with a project, or offer to buy her lunch one day. If you can show that you care about her, she might be more willing to listen to what you have to say about Jesus. So, pray for her, share the message of Christ with her, and show the love of Christ to her.

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ANSWERED ON 02.01.2007

But, for the sake of argument, let's assume that it is real. Would telekinesis be a sin?

Let's think about it this way: is swinging a baseball bat a sin? Most of us would say no. But what if you intentionally swing a bat as hard as you can into someone's kneecap? Suddenly, there's a problem. It's not the act of swinging the bat that's wrong, but the motivation and intention of the one doing it. Trying to hit a ball during a game is fine; trying to brutally cripple someone is not.

So, telekinesis wouldn't necessarily be a sin, but it could be used to commit sins. And if most of us were honest, having the ability to move things with our mind would probably encourage a bit of laziness, which definitely moves us toward the kind of attitude that breeds sin. Or we might use our gift to impress others, seeking their approval instead of God's, and that's a problem, too.

Like any human skill or ability, we are warned to not put our faith or security in it. No matter how powerful we see ourselves -- or even if we were to have unusual abilities -- we are not greater than or equal to God. He is all-knowing, all-powerful, and all-perfect. There is nothing wrong or dishonorable in God.

Even a quick look at our lives tells us that we can't live up to the perfection of God. We have bad days, make poor choices, and we rebel against God by thinking only of ourselves. No amount of human effort or power -- whether it be volunteering to feed the hungry, going to church every day, earning lots of money, getting many college degrees, or even using telekinesis to help others -- can ever repair the rift between us and God; a rift caused by our rebellion.

The message of the Bible is that while we couldn't fix the damage between God and us, God could -- and He did. He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to earth for us. Jesus lived a rebellion-free life, never once dishonoring God. Then, Jesus willingly gave Himself to die in our place. God's anger against our rebellion was poured out on Jesus instead of us. And because of what Jesus did, God can now forgive us for dishonoring Him.

So you see, it has never been a question of human power. Even if someone were to develop telekinesis, and even if they used it for good, it would still not be enough to get to God. Only Christ could cross that gap, and now that He has, He offers us the chance to bridge that divide as well. If we truly believe that we have rebelled against God, and that we can't fix the problem, but that Jesus could -- and did -- fix it for us, and we trust that He is the only way to God, then God promises that we will be rescued from destruction and taken to Heaven with Him when we die. 

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ANSWERED ON 12.06.2007

Yet, and this is important to note, no false teaching has ever been able to overshadow the truth of the Gospel. There are certainly many people who reject the good news of Christ, but there is no falsehood greater than the Truth, and in the end, only Truth will remain.

In the meantime, however, what are Christians to do about false teaching?

First, we should pray. It’s really the best thing we can do. Any issue about false teaching is ultimately a spiritual one. We know, just like Peter discovered in Matthew 16:17, that the truth about Jesus Christ comes only from a revelation from the Father. Remember that our ultimate goal is NOT for false teachers to be merely discredited or humiliated, but to come to saving faith in Jesus Christ.

We should also pray for those who are apart from Christ, that God would reveal the truth of His Son to them so they would escape the snare of false teachings. And we should also pray for our brothers and sisters in the faith, that we might hold one another accountable to the truth of God’s Word.

Secondly, we should work together to know and defend the truth. Things like Sunday School classes or Discipleship groups are a good example of this. Not only for teaching, but for accountability. People who study together should ask questions of each other during the week through e-mail, phone calls, or conversations in the hallways and parking lots of church. This is how the body of Christ is meant to function – to help each of us know and practice the truth, and to prevent us from thinking we have to go it alone. We’re not talking about “majority rules” or anything like that, but if people you know to be well-grounded Christians are skeptical of a teaching or doctrine, then it at least warrants further consideration.

And when a teaching is clearly false, we are to identify it as such and reject it.

Thirdly, we must speak the truth in love. Don’t be afraid to call people out when they are wrong, but be sure to do it in a loving manner. Very few people that follow false teaching think that it is false, and the process of realizing the truth can take time. The goal in these conversations isn’t always to win the argument or defend our point, but to put relevant questions on the table for them to consider in the light of Scripture.

Let me put it another way: the goal should be to dialogue, not debate. The goal is to win the person to Christ, not win the argument. We are ambassadors of God, and the appeal we should be making to others first and foremost is the one God desires us to make, encouraging others to be made right with Him through His Son.

If God wanted, He could out-argue any of us. (Just ask Job, right?) Who among us could stand up to God’s debating skills or logic? We’d crumble like a dried-up leaf. God knows that, and so seldom does He talk to us that way. Usually, it’s gentle nudges from the Spirit and timely reminders from His Word. He is firm in speaking the truth, and will not compromise it one bit, but He speaks the truth in love, just as we are to do with one another.

Finally, we must remember that actions speak louder than words. The way we present information usually translates directly into how well it is received. A group of “Christians” who protest homosexual rallies with signs that say “God hates queers” is not only wrong, but also wipes out any chance for their message to be reasonably heard. Same thing with groups that bomb abortion clinics – in the name of God, no less: what message is being heard?

Being an ambassador of God means that we have to balance our commitment to the truth with the command to love one another and to show them the same mercy that God has shown us (Luke 6:36).  Far more effective are those who treat others with the kind of love and mercy that God has shown us. Drastic, dramatic measures often close the very doors they seek to open.

So, then, what are we to do about false teaching?

1. We are to recognize it as a result of purposeful prayer and Scripture study, as well as accountability with brothers and sisters in Christ.

2. We are to identify it, comparing it to the only standard of truth, God’s holy Word.

3. We are to engage it, proclaiming the truth to others while showing them God’s love and mercy.

4. We are to endure it, knowing that God and His truth are eternal. All falsehood will one day melt like snow, and the truth of God will remain. In the words of Isaiah 40:8 – “The grass withers and flowers fade, but the Word of our God will stand forever.”  

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Think about it this way: if your friend gave you an iPod and you wore it while swimming, it's not likely you would enjoy your music much longer. Why not? Because iPods weren't made to go underwater! If you use a gift in the wrong way, you hurt your ability to enjoy the gift the way you were meant to. God gave sexuality to us as a gift, but He also gave us clear instructions on how to use it, and that means staying sexually pure.

When we think about purity, our first instinct might be to ask “How far is too far?” But that isn’t the right question. It’s just another way of saying “How much can I get away with and fool myself into thinking I’m still pure?” If the focus is on ourselves and how we choose to define purity, that will never work. A more important question is: “How does God define purity?”

If we don’t understand how God defines purity, or why it is so very important for His people to live by His standard, then we will never have pure lives. We will never do the right thing. This is painfully obvious. Although there are many reasons for any person to avoid sex outside of marriage (such as: emotional and physical trauma, unplanned pregnancy, risk of disease, etc.) those reasons do very little to discourage people from giving in to impurity.

Christians can't have impurity – not even a hint of it – in their lives because God is pure. If our motivation for purity is to please our parents, or protect ourselves, we will be able to justify any type of sin we wish to commit. We’ll tell ourselves things like “they won’t find out” or “we’ll be careful” or “but I really love this person.”  But if our focus in on God’s purity, then we will never be able to rationalize that away. It will make diving into sin more difficult because the center of our attention isn’t on ourselves or others, but on God.

In Psalm 119:9, the writer asked the question: “How can a young man keep his way pure?” His answer (found in verses 9-16) helps us see that the only chance he had at purity was to learn what God said about purity, and then to live by those principles. He wasn’t just going to use the Scripture as a reference guide when troubles came up, but he was going to hide it in his heart. He was going to guard his life with God’s word. To follow God and obey His commands.

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First, sadness is a human emotion, and is part of how God created us. There are certainly things that should make us sad: when our friends go through tough times, when we grieve over the death of a family member, when we hear about the number of people who die from AIDS or abortion each day, and so on. These things (and many others) should make us sad.

Remember, Jesus wept at the tomb of his friend Lazarus [John 11:35] and he expresses sadness over Jerusalem's refusal to accept Him as the Messiah [Matthew 23:37-39]. If our great God and Savior can be sad, then certainly we can too! Sadness is part of who we are. We will all be sad, and there's nothing wrong with that feeling. The important thing is how to deal with it.

First, we must turn to God. Remember that God is all-knowing and "knows the heart" [Acts 15:8] so our sadness will come as no surprise to Him. We don't pray to inform God of things as if He didn't know them, but to express our need for Him and our dependence on His help. Jesus understood this. He prayed at the tomb of Lazarus, and thanked His Father for always hearing him [John 11:41-42]. As God's people, we are told to "not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." [Philippians 4:6] And, in times of great distress, we can be as sure that the Lord will hear and help us as well: "Out of my distress I called on the Lord; the Lord answered and set me free." [Psalm 118:5]

Another thing that can be a big help to us is the encouragement of other people in our lives. We who are in Christ are part of one body so that "if one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored all rejoice together." [1 Corinthians 12:26] In other words, we aren't supposed to go through life alone. Let other people know how you are feeling and share your struggles with them. After all, we are supposed to "encourage one another and build one another up." [1 Thessalonians 5:11]

For the Christian, being sad is okay. But not even sadness should overcome the joy of the Lord. Regardless of how difficult or depressing this life can get -- and it can be very tough at times -- we should be reminded that God lovingly and purposefully created us, and that He offers to help us with "mercy and...grace to help in time of need." [Hebrews 4:16] Trouble will come your way, but remember that God has loved you so much that He sent His son Jesus Christ to die for you!

Since Jesus has already done so much for us, we know He will help us now. He has already put aside his glory to become a man for our sake, and has purchased us with his blood. He gave up his life for us, and the help we need in our lives today is less than the great help he has already given. Since he has already helped our biggest need, we know he will give us help for our other needs (like sadness) as well. So then, no matter what happens here we are "sure that neither death nor life...nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." [Romans 8:38-39]

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ANSWERED ON 02.05.2007

Think about it this way: the current President of the United States is George W. Bush. Right away, there are many things we know about him. He is a Republican, the former governor of Texas, and used to be a part of the Texas Rangers baseball organization. He is married to Laura, and they have two daughters, Jenna and Barbara. His father was a former president, and his brother is the governor of Florida. 

So, we clearly know a lot about President Bush, but do we know him? Does he know us? We can't pick up the phone and call him, or drop by for dinner. There is knowledge of the President, but no relationship with the President. And that's a big difference. Jesus pointed this out to people in Matthew 7:21-23 when He said this: "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.' "

What this means is that knowing about God isn't enough. Going to church isn't enough. Trying to live a good life or treat other people well is not enough to get us to heaven. The only way to heaven is through Jesus.

A person can go to church from a young age, learn all about God and even memorize lots of Bible stories and verses. But that doesn't mean they are a Christian. God says that a Christian is a person who places their trust in Jesus Christ, believing that He is the only way to God, and that His death on the cross is the only thing that can satisfy God's anger toward our sin and make us right with God. A Christian believes that Jesus is the only way to God, just like He said: "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." [John 14:6]

Knowing about God just requires being familiar with Bible stories. Knowing God means developing and nurturing a relationship with Him through prayer and daily Bible reading, as well as worship and growth in a local church of fellow Christians.

A Christian should live in a manner "worthy of the gospel of Christ" [Philippians 1:27] and that means they will do many things in service to God. The difference is that a Christian doesn't put their hope in what they do. We don't rely on our works, but on Jesus Christ alone. It's not knowledge about God, or activity for God, that a Christian trusts in but "the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith." [Romans 3:24-25]

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ANSWERED ON 02.27.2007

In case you are not familiar with the details: Film director James Cameron (Titanic, among many others) held a news conference with Simcha Jacobovici about a new Discovery Channel special on the discovery of Jesus’ tomb, ossuary, bones, and that of his mother, brothers, wife, and his child Jude. This announcement also coincided with the release of a new book by Jacobovici. (Although it has little to do with the "evidence," it does seem a bit odd that a discovery of this supposed magnitude would come across more like an advertising campaign than a scientific find.)

For starters, what makes the discoverer believe that he has found the body of Jesus? He claims that the name "Jesus son of Joseph" is inscribed there, as well as names for Mary and others. But think about this: how many people do you know named Joseph or Mary? If you lived in early New Testament times, Mary would have been extremely common. (As a matter of fact, there are several women named Mary in the Bible.) For that matter, Joseph and Jesus (the Greek equivalent of Joshua) were very common names in Hebraic culture as well. And there is not one record Jesus himself of any of Jesus' followers in the first century ever referring to him as "son of Joseph" (they did call him "son of God" and "son of man" and even "son of David", but never "son of Joseph"; remember Joseph was not the biological father of Jesus, who was born to the virgin Mary).

Secondly, there are claims of DNA tests being run on the corpse, but what are they going to compare the DNA to? At best, they might be able to determine that the bodies in the tomb are related to each other, but without viable DNA from Jesus while he was alive, there's no way to prove that one of the bodies is his. DNA testing may make it sound more scientific, but it can't really prove anything about the identity of the bodies.

Besides this, the tombs were discovered near Jerusalem, but the Bible tells us that Jesus' ancestral home was Bethlehem and he was raised in Nazareth. Although Jesus was executed just outside Jerusalem, why would the rest of his family be buried so far from their homes?

Now, these are just some examples of the type of critical thinking that all Christians must engage in. Remember, we are commanded to love God with all our mind [Mark 12:28-34], and part of loving God with our minds means using our brains to think about things instead of just believing something is true because it is reported as fact.

More importantly, however, are the Biblical reasons that assure us these are not the bones of Christ.

The best reason that the body of Christ won't be found is that it's not here. God's Word tells us that after his resurrection and appearing to more than 500 people over the next 40 days, Jesus was taken into heaven where he sits at the Father's right hand, waiting for God's command to return for His people. Since Jesus is in heaven with God, then his body can't be here on earth as well. [see Acts 1:1-11, Hebrews 10:11-14]

The Bible talks more about the importance of the resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15. If Jesus was never raised from the dead (resurrected) then "our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain" [vs. 14] and those who are Christians have no hope and "are of all people most to be pitied" [vs. 19]. In other words, if Jesus is still dead, then there's no point to Christianity, the Word of God is a lie, and we have no hope for anything beyond this life.

But praise God that Jesus is alive! As Peter wrote: "According to [God's] great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead" [1:3]. And in the words of Hebrews 11:20-21:

"Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen." 

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ANSWERED ON 03.07.2007

As of now, there is no definitive proof that a person can be born gay. However, it is very important to realize that research is pointing in this direction. Based mainly on studies of sheep (although there have been a few human studies as well), it seems that some individuals might have a biological reason for being gay.

So this means that being gay is okay? No. Anything that goes against God and His Word is a sin, and that applies to everyone, regardless of genetics or biology. As people born into sin, our world has been corrupted by millennia of disobeying God. It's no surprise that the consequences of sin can be biological as well. When humanity decided to rebel against God, its DNA was not left unaffected.

Remember that the Bible is clear when it says that homosexual behaviors are a sin [Genesis 19:1-13; Leviticus 18:22; Romans 1:26-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9], and even if there was a clear genetic marker for being gay, it wouldn't change God's view of these behaviors. Even though the discovery might be new to us, if there was such a genetic marker then the all-knowing God was aware of it when He gave the law of His Word and modern science isn't telling Him anything He didn't already know.

What this means is that we are all responsible for our own sin, and sexual orientation is included. Those who do not struggle with issues of homosexuality should be careful not to condemn those who do. It's clear that no one can freely choose their sexual orientation at birth, so we shouldn't assume that sexual temptation and attraction are freely chosen either. How many of us choose all the areas of life we are going to be tempted in? Most often, a temptation is Satan's attempt to exploit a weakness (such as a genetic predisposition toward a certain sin). The devil is a deceiver and he "prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour" [1 Peter 5:8].

We may not choose the areas of life we will be tempted in, but don't miss this: we are absolutely responsible for what we do with these temptations, regardless of genetics.

If a person has a genetic condition that makes them more likely to be an alcoholic, that doesn't give them the right to become addicted and then blame their DNA. The act of picking up the bottle and drinking isn't caused by genetics -- it's a choice. Let's think about it a different way: what if a person was born with a genetic predisposition for killing? Would we allow them to murder people on a whim and not care because "they were born that way"? Not a chance. You can't kill someone without consequence just because you want to.

Or what if a person was genetically keyed with an unusually strong desire for sex: would they be able to have sex with whomever they wanted, even if they didn't consent, and get away with it because of their genes? No. We are responsible for our actions, and even a biologically enhanced sex drive doesn't give a person the right to abuse or rape others. 

The point is this: the way in which we are born does not excuse our sin. Homosexuals and heterosexuals alike are subject to the law of God, and we all fall short [Romans 3:21-26]. Homosexual behavior is a sin, just like stealing, gossip, drunkenness, jealousy, and all the other things God's Word condemns. It is only through the freedom found in Christ -- the freedom to no longer be enslaved by our sin -- that we can ever hope to escape God's wrath and judgment. [Romans 7:21 - 8:11]

God will judge those who participate in homosexuality, as well as those who lie, those who neglect their families, and all who have sinned in any way against Him. The correct punishment for all sin is death, but God offers a chance to be saved from this. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, gave his life in our place, so that his death might be a substitute for ours. Now, God's punishment against my sin has been paid, but I didn't pay it. Jesus paid it all on my behalf. "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." [Ephesians 2:8-9]

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