Please distinguish the terms "vow", "oath", "swear" and "pledge." Some of these are interchangeable and some are referred to in the bible as totally different from each other. I'm specifically interested in what Jesus meant in Matthew 5:33-37 and how that applies to nowadays "pledging" for a building fund or other church projects.
Can you please explain 1 John 5:16. This verse confuses me. I have heard several explanations, but they don't quite make sense. examples-do not pray for those unreceptive to the Gospel, but the wording of the last sentence implies that you don't have to, not don't. What do you think about it?
Why should we take the Holy Communion? Who should not take the Holy Communion?
In our Bible study at church we are working our way through Hebrews and in my own daily reading I have been in Ezekiel. Recently I have read through the last 8 chapters concerning the millennial temple. It's been very interesting to me to compare some of the statements made in Hebrews with what we read in the last 8 chapters of Ezekiel. I have to say that I have questions without answers.
I've been having a heated discussion with a fellow church member about the differences between James and Paul. How James was under a different dispensation than Paul, my friend can't buy that. I was wondering what scriptures I could show him that would back up my argument? I tried to explain how James was a legalist, that his teaching was faith plus works for salvation, and Paul's teaching is Faith. Can you help?
