The last shall be first, and the first shall be last... what does this mean?  Does it mean those who suffer, but keep their faith, will have priority over those who believed enough to get in heaven but had wealth on earth?

Sincerely,
Poor In Spirit

Dear Poor In Spirit,

One of the best explanations of that statement can be found in Mk 10:28-31.  Peter asked Jesus what would happen to the apostles because they had left everything to follow Him.  Jesus stated that those who sacrificed things in this life to serve God would receive a hundredfold more from Him as well as eternal life.  This is what it means for the first to be last and the last first – those who sacrifice to serve the Lord will be blessed by God for their service and faith.  God exalts the humble and brings the proud down (Matt 23:12).

I am reading the Bible in one year.  I am 50% through and very proud of myself for finally making this commitment.  However, with reading the Bible, I have come across several confusing and contradicting things... too many to mention.  In Romans, it talks about how God chooses to show mercy to some and chooses to harden the hearts of others, so they refuse to listen.  Doesn't this contradict our free will?

Sincerely,
Feeling Robotic

Dear Feeling Robotic,

The chapter you are referring to is Romans 9, and the controversial verse is Rom 9:18.  The point of this chapter is that God decides whom He wishes to show His mercy to – it is His decision, and those who are saved are saved because of His purpose and generosity.  The apostle Paul, the writer of Romans, gives three examples of how God’s purposes and plans are what matter:

1. God chose Jacob instead of Esau to be the one that Christ’s lineage would come through (Rom 9:10-13)
2. God used Pharaoh, even though he was a wicked man, to glorify His name (Rom 9:17)
3. God, as the master potter, decides what clay (in this case, people) to use and what purpose to use them for (Rom 9:20-21)

This chapter is often confusing to folks because it seems as if the point is that people don’t have freewill, and God manipulates us arbitrarily – however, that isn’t the case.  All of these examples teach that God decides who receives His mercy and who won’t.  Now, here is the B-I-G question:

Who does God say will be blessed?

The answer – “Blessed are they that hear the Word of God, and keep it.” (Lk 11:28)

God will bless all those who choose to live by faith in His Son and follow His Word – we can’t be saved by any other method.  God has decided who He will save.  He will save christians (Jhn 14:6).

     What does it mean in Matt 7:7 where it reads, “Knock and the door shall be opened unto you”?

Sincerely,
Who’s There?

Dear Who’s There,

Matt 7:7-11 is addressing our relationship with God and how God is willing to bless us if we will seek Him out.  In Acts 17:27, Paul said that we should seek God, and if we do, He is not far from us.  God wants to bless us and open His arms wide to us.  If we want to be saved and we want to be forgiven, all we have to do is reach out to Him.  If you want God to open the door, all you have to do is knock.  Read “Five Steps To Salvation” for how simple it is to become a christian and find forgiveness in Jesus.

      When Jesus was crucified on the cross, did He give His real flesh or His symbolic flesh for the life of the world?  Real or symbolic?  I have a college professor who seems to spiritualize most biblical events.  Thanks.

Sincerely,
Literally Confused

Dear Literally Confused,

Jesus’ death was a real, physical death.  He really breathed His last breath upon that cross (Jhn 19:30).  The Roman soldiers that oversaw the crucifixion checked to make sure He was dead and even stabbed Him with a spear to make sure (Jhn 19:31-34).

Paul dealt with the argument that Jesus’ death and resurrection were merely symbolic in 1 Cor 15.  Paul’s conclusion: if Jesus’ death and resurrection were not real events, we have no salvation, and christians are the most pitiable creatures on the planet (1 Cor 15:17-19).  Jesus died a literal, physical death that we might have life.  He sacrificed Himself for us.

     In Acts 14:14, Paul and Barnabas are specifically referred to as "apostles".  They both don't seem to fit the qualifications of being an apostle from Acts 1:21-26.  Can you explain?

Sincerely,
Skeptical

Dear Skeptical,

The word ‘apostle’ means ‘one sent forth’.  We associate the word apostle with the apostles of Christ, but technically speaking, anyone sent forth by another is a type of apostle.  Paul was an apostle of Jesus because Jesus specifically sent him forth to preach to the Gentiles (Acts 9:15), and the Bible often refers to him as an apostle of Jesus Christ (1 Cor 1:1, Gal 1:1).  However, there is debate over whether or not Barnabas was an apostle of Christ.  Acts 14:14 is the only place that Barnabas is referred to as an apostle, and we are still left with the question of who sent Barnabas.  Acts 13:3-4 says that Barnabas and Paul were sent forth by the church in Antioch and the Holy Spirit to preach throughout Cyprus and Galatia.  It is most likely that “sending forth” that is referred to in Acts 14:14.  That would make Barnabas an apostle of the church in Antioch, but not Jesus’ apostle.