VIII.        Reference #1: Common Questions Pertaining to Faith

A.     How do I know that there is a God? (Rom 1:18-20)

1.       The retribution for good and evil (Rom 1:18; Rev 22:12).

2.       Man’s natural desire to worship (Rom 1:19; 21-23).

3.       Natural inclination toward good (Rom 1:19; 2:14, 15; Mt 19:17).

4.       The creation of all things (Rom 1:20; Heb 3:4).

5.       The mystery of life (Rom 1:20; Job 12:10).

6.       The orderliness found in universe (Rom 1:20; Heb 1:3).

7.       The existence of miracles (Rom 1:20; Acts 2:22).

8.       The experience of the Holy Spirit (1 Jn 3:24).

B.     How did God come to be?

1.       Not a creature (Rom 1:25).

2.       Not transformed from a dead person (Job 7:9, 10).

3.       Self-existent and everlasting, “I AM WHO I AM” (Ex 3:14).

4.       The only God (Mk 12:29; 1 Cor 8:5, 6).

5.       Fills all in all (Jn 4:24: Eph 1:23).

C.     Why should one worship the true God?

1.       Our duty (Eccl 12:13).

 a.      He gave birth to (created) us (Ps 139:13-15)

 b.      He raised us (Acts 14:15-17)

 c.      Life, death, curses, and blessings are all in His hands (1 Thess 2:6, 7)

 d.      He has a father-son relationship with us (Lk 3:38)

(a)     We ought to obey and respect Him like a parent (Acts 17:24-29; Isa 1:2, 3).

2.       To have peace (Job 22:21; Isa 26:3).

 a.      The world is a bitter sea

3.       To return home in heaven (Heb 11:13-16; Rev 21:4) like the prodigal son.

 a.      We are like pilgrims

D.     Why should one believe in Jesus?

1.       Everyone has fallen into sin (Rom 3:23- 5:12).
(Please also refer to question H)

2.       No one can save himself or others (Rom 7:14-24).
(Please also refer to M)

3.       Everyone shall be destroyed in the future (Heb 9:27, Rom 6:23).
(Please also refer to I)

4.       Faith in Jesus can release one from bondage (Jn 3:16-18).
(Please also refer to J)

E.     Who is Jesus? (Mt 16)

1.       He is God born as man (Jn 1:1, 14, 18).
(Please refer to F)

2.       He is the Savior of mankind (Lk 2:8-11; Jn 3:16).
(Please refer to G)

F.      How do we know that Jesus is the true God?

1.       His birth (Mt 1:18-25).

2.       His miracles (Jn 3:2; 10:37, 38).

3.       His character (Rom 5:6-8).

4.       His resurrection (Jn 20:26-28).

5.       His promise (Jn 14:16-20; Acts 2:4).

6.       What He called Himself (Jn 10:30; 14:8, 9).

 a.      Was He a lunatic, a liar, or the True God?

G.    How do we know that Jesus is the Savior?

1.       Sinlessness (Rom 5:12; Ps 4:15; Mt 1:20, 21).

2.       Victory over sin (Rom 7:15-29; Heb 4:14-16).

3.       Forgiving sins of men (Mk 2:5-12).

4.       Resurrection (1 Cor 15:20-22; 50-58).

5.       Ascension to heaven (Jn 14:2, 3; 16:5-7).

H.    Do I have sins?

1.       From the following consequences or recompenses of sin, we know that one has sins

 a.      Toils of life (Gen 3:16-19; Ps 90:10).

 b.      Death (Gen 19; Eccl 8:8; Rom 5:12).

 c.      Sinful deeds (Gen 3:7; Rom 7:14-23).

I.       God is good and kind. Will He condemn men’s sins?

1.       God is merciful and does not want the sinners to perish (Ps 103:8-13; Ezek 33:11; 2 Pet 3:9).

2.       God is just and cannot ignore sin (Dan 9:14; Nah 1:3).

J.      I have so many grievous sins. Will God want me?

1.       Jesus came to save sinners (1 Tim 1:15; Isa 1:18).

2.       Jesus was and still is a friend to sinners (Mt 9:10-13; Rom 5:8).

3.       As long as you repent and receive the Lord's baptism (Acts 2:38; 3:19).

K.    After I have improved myself, I will believe in Jesus

1.       Man cannot rely on himself to forsake evil for good (Rom 7:18-24).

2.       Only by relying on the Lord can one be perfect (Rom 8:1-4).

L.     As long as my heart is sincere, it does not matter what I believe

1.       We must worship God in spirit and truth (Jn 4:24).

2.       Believe in Jesus, and He will forgive your sins and give you salvation (Jn 3:16; Mk 16:16; Acts 22:16).

3.       If one refuses to believe in the truth, he will be condemned (2 Thess 2:10-12).

M.   Why should I believe in anything if I can cultivate myself and do good deeds?

1.       There is no one in the world who always does good and never sins (Eccl 7:20; Rom 2:10-12).

2.       Confucius said: “Knowing righteousness but unable to act upon it; knowing evil and incapable to change, such is my sorrow.”

3.       Paul (Rom 7:18).

4.       It does not come from righteous deeds but from one’s faith in the Lord (Rom 3:23-28).