Background

This list of challenging questions was presented to Columbia Road Baptist Church by a young Catholic man who had been attending our church with his fiancé. I realized immediately that this thought provoking list of questions indicated a sincere desire to know the Truth. Realizing that the eternal destiny of this young man laid in the balance, I endeavored to provide a detailed, biblically based response to each of his questions. This booklet is the culmination of that effort. It is my sincere prayer that other individuals seeking to know the Truth will be pierced by the two-edged sword of the Word of God and set free for all eternity. God bless you as you read through this booklet.

“And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:32

Fifty Interesting Questions

I would like to briefly comment on the questions listed below prior to delving into them in greater detail in an attempt to provide an answer. In a sense, I am amazed at the level of thought that went into this challenging list of questions and applaud the depth at which these spiritual issues have been considered. However, I must say as well that having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ is based solely on faith and faith alone. The Bibles says in Ephesians 2:8 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God” and in Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” In Hebrews 11:6, we are told “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” [Emphasis mine]. Many people in our world today want to make an intelligent, informed, rational decision about their beliefs, based on empirical evidence. They have the mindset that “if you can prove it to me, then I will believe”. While this is a natural tendency for man, it is not how an individual comes to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. This knowledge is by faith, not by sight. The Bible tells us that we come to Jesus as little children (Matthew 18:3). My children have no problem with believing in the reality of God and Jesus, who they have never physically seen, because they have child-like faith. We need that same type of faith as we invite Jesus into our hearts as Saviour. Finally, an individual cannot know “all the answers” about God UNTIL they have a conversion experience with Him. I Corinthians 2:14 tells us the following: “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” During His earthly ministry, Jesus said that he came to give sight to the blind (spiritual sight to the spiritually blind). The Apostle Paul was a very religious man prior to his conversion, but as Jesus got hold of him one day, he shared with him His plan: “To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me” (Acts 26:18). Paul met Jesus and accepted His free gift of eternal life and his eyes were opened to the truth about religion and the reality of who Jesus was – the only begotten Son of God, God incarnate! From that point on, his life would never be the same – just like the life of every person since then who has bowed their knee and given their life over to Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour (2 Corinthians 5:17).

I would like to acknowledge the assistance of the following individuals in the completion of this document: Pastor Alan Jenkins, Jim Skuly, and Alice Acree. Many thanks for your time and effort in drafting responses for some of these questions! Additionally, I utilized several resources to assist in documenting the answers that are included. The most helpful resource was the Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible & Christianity (Edited by David Cloud).