Q. The Bible says, “To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, [God will give] eternal life” (Rom. 2:7). Doesn’t this teach salvation by good works?
A. Indeed it does. In fact, it teaches salvation by perfect works. The suggestion is that God will give eternal life to those who invariably, without exception, live righteous lives. Unfortunately, all have failed to do this. “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). Therefore, no one has achieved the possibility of salvation by perfection, which is what this verse teaches. Being bankrupt before God, each person must now receive salvation by the only other way possible, that is grace. Therefore, “by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Eph. 2:8,9).

Q. Are there other gods in the world, the universe?
A. I presume that you mean, “Are there other gods beside the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ?” One would be tempted to believe that there are many real, but lesser, gods when he reads of them being worshipped by other people and especially other nations. But, the Scripture says, “For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the Lord made the heavens” (Psa. 96:5). So, the so-called “other gods” are idols of wood and stone, carved by man.

The Bible also indicates that by worshipping these “other gods,” pagans may be worshipping demons. “And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk” (Rev. 9:20). Here is an indication that the worship of demons and idols will grow in the time of the Tribulation.

Q. I’m afraid to die. Can you help me?
A. Yes, a thousand times yes! You must become a Christian because when you are saved you will not be afraid to die. The Christian, in fact, does not die. Jesus promises us, “Whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die” (John 11:26). Christ “hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” (II Tim. 1:10). Christ by His death came to “deliver them who through the fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage” (Heb. 2:15). Far from being worried, the Apostle Paul said that he was “earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven” (II Cor. 5:2).

Q. Considering the terrible things going on in our world, why does God allow war?
A. First of all, remember that God is not the cause of war. “From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts, that war in your members? Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts” (James 4:1-3).

But we wonder why God does not intervene in these bloody conflicts. He does not because this is not the time of divine intervention. Man is given the power of choice, and human volition is greatly respected by God. Choice would be a charade if there were not consequences to that choice. Above all, remember that the universe is not a charade but a very serious thing with God. Therefore, God will allow human volition to run its course, for a man uses that same volition to accept Christ and to commit himself to God. Finally, remember that there is coming a day when God will intervene. Remember then however, that, as C. S. Lewis has said, “When the playwright walks onto the stage, then the play’s over.”

Q. Will the nations of the world finally turn to God?
A. No, they will not. Rather, the nations will go to war against God (Psalm 2), saying, let us “cast away their cords from us.” The human heart is desperately wicked and that final rebellion against God will demonstrate this. Finally, of course, God will impose His will upon the nations of the world and Christ will reign for 1000 years from the city of Jerusalem.

In the meantime, no individual needs join a rebellious nation. Rather, he can believe the Gospel and be saved by the grace of God. Then, in the divine economy, he is no longer seen as a child of this world but rather as a child of God.