Commonly Ask Bible Questions
Preface
It took about 1,600 years to complete the writings of the Bible which is composed of two books: the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament was written before the birth of Jesus while the New Testament was written after the birth of Jesus.
The purpose of this booklet is to answer frequently ask Bible questions to equip members of Word Became Flesh Ministries to become and effective witnesses of the gospel.
Questions About the Bible
- The Bible is an advance science – thousands of years before scientists discovered them the Bible already says:
- The world is round. (Isaiah 40:22)
- The earth is hanging on nothing. (Job 26:7)
- The movement of the sun. (Psalm 19:4-6)
- The countless number of stars. (Jeremiah 33:22)
- The unity of the Bible – tthe Bible was written by about forty authors at different times within a period of about 1,600 years, with different backgrounds, in different circumstances, different languages (Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek) and were living in different continents (Europe, Africa and Asia). Despite the foregoing, their writings have no contradictions for the writing of one complements with the others in perfect harmony. This could not happen by sheer coincidence.
- Fulfillment of prophecies – Bible prophecies are 100% accurate. The Bible is the only book that can foresee the future and predict in details what will exactly happen. Examples are a) the prophecy of fall Babylon in the book of Daniel and Isaiah; b) the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus; c) the prophecy of the destruction of Tyre found in chapter 26 in book of Ezekiel; and d) events unfolding before our eyes that cause the deterioration of the world’s condition brought about by earthquakes in various places and other calamities, wars, famines, pestilences (diseases without known cure), and increase of criminality (wickedness) spelled out in chapter 24 of the book of Matthew.
- Power to transform lives – it is a common knowledge that countless drug addicts, alcoholics, hardened criminals, and degraded prostitutes experienced the liberating power of the Bible as they were transformed into model citizens and became followers of God as the result of their following the teachings of the Bible.
A: Many assume that Adam and Eve had only two children, Cain and Abel, if you read Genesis further down, you will read: After he begot Seth, the days of Adam were eight hundred years; and he begot sons and daughters. (Gen. 5:4) during those time human lifespan reached more that nine hundred years.
Cain wife was his sister. The danger (causing birth defects) of marrying a close relative in those days was not present because human body was still close to perfection as it was originally created by God. In fact, Abraham married his half-sister, Sarah. (Gen. 20:12)
As human race multiplied such intermarriages were no longer necessary as they were associated with great dangers – birth defects. God in the book of Leviticus chapter 18, forbids the marriage of brother and sister and other close relatives.
Different Christian denominations arising from the study of the same Bible is another proof that the Bible is the word of God who uses men (prophets) to write on His behalf through dreams, vision and direct communication. (Heb. 1:1-2, Jer. 32:1, and Num. 12:6) Isaiah 55: 8-9 says: For My thoughts are not your thought, Nor are your ways My ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.
Our salvation is through faith in Jesus Christ (John 3:16), not on our accurate understanding of the Bible. We are judge according to our faithful obedience of our honest understanding of the light (truth of God – the Scripture) we received. (Luke 12:47-48, John 10:41, and Acts 7:30)
The protestant Bible has sixty-six books. Thirty-nine books in the Old Testament and twenty-seven in the New Testament. While the Roman Catholic Bible has more than sixty-six books for it includes Apocrypha. Apocrypha are writings or statements which are considered noncanonical by Protestants because they are not part of the Hebrew Scriptures. The dictionary defines Apocrypha – writings or statements of questionable authorship or authenticity.
There are two ways of studying the Bible:
- For information purpose and
- For transformation purpose. For those who studied the Bible for information purpose only, may memorize the entire Bible but there is no transformation. They simply study the Bible like studying history books. God’s transforming power comes to a person only when he/she seeks God with all his/her heart (Jeremiah 29:13, Hebrew 11:6, & Proverbs 8:17).
Salvation is only through faith in Jesus Christ (John 3:16). To be saved, no additional work is required for the death of Jesus on the cross was complete for our salvation. However, for us to develop genuine faith in Jesus that would result in good deeds, we must know more about Jesus. We could not trust a person if we do not know him/her. How can we develop a genuine faith (essential to our salvation) in Jesus if we do not know Him. The best way of knowing more of Jesus is studying the Bible.
The Bible does not mention the word trinity. However, it supports the teaching of trinity by implication. When Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River by John the Baptist all three: God the Father, the Holy Spirit, and the Son (Jesus) were all present at the same time (Matthew 3:16-17). Moreover, Jesus told His disciples: Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19). Again, in the foregoing passage, it mentioned the three persons in God: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
It is divided into two parts to give a clear distinction between the Old and the New Testament because the Old Testament (the same as the Hebrew Scriptures of 39 books) was written before the birth of Jesus Christ, while the New Testament (not included in Hebrew Scriptures), composed of 27 books was written after the death of Jesus.
The Bible is not easy to understand because of three reasons. First, the Bible is God’s word. Human intelligence could not understand God’s word without the help of the Holy Spirit because His ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts are above our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9); Second, understanding the Bible is given only to God’s followers. When Jesus told the Parable of the Sowers (Matthew 13:3-23) to a great multitude, His disciples questioned Him: Why do You speak to them in parables? (Matthew 13:10) and Jesus replied: Because it has given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them [unbelievers] it has not been given. (Matthew 13:11) Finally, the Bible was written thousands of years ago, based on the cultures, traditions at that time, and its writings are in parables, narratives, prophecies, proverbs and Psalms complicated by the use of Figure of Speech (words in non-literal way) such as metaphor.
Yes, the Bible teaches predestination. God has predestined us to have eternal life. However, God gives us the power to override the predestination through our freedom of choice. In the Garden of Eden, God gives our first parents, Adam and Eve the freedom to obey or disobey His command not to eat the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil for in the day they eat it they will surely die. (Genesis 2:16-17) Adam and Eve chose to disobey, thus, they died. Today, our circumstance is like Adam and Eve, with the same power to circumvent the predestination by choosing not to obey God’s commandments. Other Bible passages that support predestination to eternal life are Jeremiah 1:5, Jeremiah 29:11 and Ephesians 1:4-5.
The dictionary defines Sabbath: 1) the seventh day of the week, Saturday, observed as the day of rest and worship by the Jews and some Christian sects. 2) the first day of the week, Sunday, observed as the day of rest and worship by most Christians.
The dictionary has two Sabbath days: Saturday and Sunday. In terms of Christian worship the Bible is the authority. The Bible precisely states that the Bible Sabbath Day is Saturday. During biblical time days were counted from 1 to 7. The day between the day Christ died (Friday – Mark 15:42), and the day Christ arose from the grave (Sunday – Matthew 28:1), is what the Bible call the Sabbath, which is of course Saturday in our present calendar. The dictionary says (see above italics) that Sunday is the first day of the week, and Saturday the seventh day of the week.
Different interpretations of Bible passages relative to the Bible Sabbath day is the reason why some Christians worship on Saturdays and others worship on Sundays.
Christians who worship on Sundays believe that the Bible Sabbath Day, Saturday was changed to Sunday – the day Jesus’ was resurrected (Matthew 28:1-6).
For those who worship on Saturdays they believe that Jesus resurrection on Sunday did not change the biblical Sabbath day (Saturday). The following Bible passages support said belief: 1) God’s law is perfect (Psalm 19:7); 2) no reason to change His laws, which are done in truth and uprightness (Psalm 111:7-8); 3) Jesus did not come to destroy the law but to fulfill (Matthew 5:17-19); 4) it was Jesus custom to worship on Bible Sabbath day (Luke 4:16); 5) Apostle Paul as his custom worships on Bible Sabbath (Acts 17:2; 18:4); and the Christians after the death of Jesus worship on Bible Sabbath (Luke 23:54-56).
The writer after studying related Bible texts on the subject of Sabbath, believes that Saturday remains the biblical Sabbath day which is the fourth of the Ten Commandments (Deuteronomy 4: 13 & 5:6-21) also called The Law of God written by God Himself on the tablet of stones for they are intended to last forever.
Unlike the Law of Moses (Malachi 4:4) also called Ceremonial Law written in a book (Deuteronomy 31:24) for it was not intended to last forever. The Mosaic Law was not to save people, for the law made nothing perfect (Hebrew 7:19), it was pointed toward the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. Because the law already served its purpose, it was nailed on the cross (Colossians 2:14) upon the death of Jesus, not the Ten Commandments or God’s Law for they are intended to last forever and ever (Psalm 111:8).
The passage says: Therefore let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or new moon or Sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.
There are two kinds of sabbaths in the Bible. The yearly sabbaths and the weekly Sabbath.
The yearly rest days (sabbaths) were different from the weekly Sabbath. The yearly sabbaths fell on a fixed day of the year, and therefore the celebrations of these sabbaths were made on a different day from year to year.
They were appropriately called annual sabbaths in contrast with the weekly Sabbath.
Annual sabbaths are found in Leviticus 23 some of these are The Passover and Unleavened Bread, The Feast of Firstfruits, The Day of Atonement, and The Feast of Tabernacles. While the weekly Sabbath is the fourth of the Ten commandments found in Exodus 20:8-11and in Deuteronomy 5:11-14.
The annual sabbaths were part of the ceremonial laws that pointed towards the coming of Messiah, Jesus Christ. When Jesus Christ died on the cross they were nailed with Him because a shadow of things to come became a reality in the person of Jesus Christ who is the substance of the annual sabbaths’ celebrations.
Apostle Paul in Colossians 2:16-17 clearly, does not refer to the weeky Sabbath, but he speaks of the annual sabbaths which expired on the cross upon the death of Jesus. Thus, we do not need to sacrifice animals for forgiveness of sins (parts of the ceremonial laws) for Jesus is the ultimate sacrifice.
The Ten Commandments is divided into two parts: You shall love the Lord your God… and You shall love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:37-39).
Jesus knew that the young ruler obeyed the first part of the commandments, to love God, but failed to comply with the second part of the commandments, to love your neighbor. Jesus did not tell the young ruler to keep the Sabbath holy for the he was already doing it.
Jesus pointed out to the young ruler his weakness of being greedy, the reason why Jesus only enumerated the second part of the commandments (how to love neighbors) and told him to sell all his possession and to give it to the poor.
In Mark 2:27, Jesus says: The Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath. (The Sabbath was instituted 1500 years before the existence of a Jew. See Genesis 2:1-3).
Salvation is only through faith in Jesus Christ. If you know the God’s truth about the Sabbath, and you have a genuine faith in Jesus you will worship God on the biblical Sabbath day. Obedience to God’s commandments is not separate from genuine faith, for obedience is the result of authentic faith.
For those who knowingly violated God’s commandments commit sin and would be condemned for the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23).
John 9:41, Jesus says: If you were blind, you would have no sin…, moreover, in Acts 17:30, Apostle Paul says: Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked…. Based on the foregoing passages those with genuine faith in Jesus and unknowingly violated God’s commandments including the biblical Sabbath would not commit sin and would not be condemned.
Jesus says: If you love Me, keep My commandments (John 14:15). For the balance of the answer, please read the preceding answer on question number 5.
Note: For more information about the Sabbath read the booklet, “Why not Talk to God about the Sabbath?”
Mark 16:15-16, says: And He [Jesus] said to them [His disciples] ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.’
The foregoing passage, mention two requirements for baptism: 1) one must be taught of the gospel and 2) one must believe. A baby has no capacity to be taught and to believe.
To meet the biblical requirements for baptism as mandated by Jesus Himself, you have to study the Bible, then, believe and be re-baptized.
Again, Salvation is through faith in Jesus Christ. Though, we are saved by faith, we are judged according to our work (Matthew 16:27, Revelation 20:12, 22:12 & Romans 2:6-11) because genuine faith will result in our obedience to God’s commandments. Faith without good work is dead (James 2:17).
Baptism is commanded by Jesus and through His disciples (John 3:1-7, and Acts 2:38). Jesus Himself gave us an example and was baptized (Matthew 3:13-16).
If you have a genuine faith in Jesus you would obey his commandments and willingly offer yourself to be baptized.
When Jesus came to John the Baptist to be baptized at the Jordan River, John tried to prevent Jesus saying: I have need to be baptized by You, and are you coming to me? (Matthew 3:13-14)
Jesus answered: Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all rightness. (Matthew 3:15)
Yes, there are people who accepted Jesus at the last moment at their lives and died before they could be baptized. Example was one of the criminals who was crucified with Jesus and said to Him: Lord remember me when You come into Your kingdom. Jesus answered: Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise. (Luke 23:42-43)
Jesus assured the criminal of his salvation even though he was not baptized, because, Jesus’ baptism was for those who have faith in Him and died before being baptized. Thus Jesus insisted to be baptized by John Baptist (though He did not commit sin) for according to Jesus: …for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness [righteousness of those believers who died without being baptized]. (Matthew 3:15)
Bible baptism is the baptism prescribed by the Bible: one must be taught of the gospel and believe before baptism (Mark 16:15-16) and the mode is immersion into the water. (John 3:23, Matthew 3:16, and Acts 8:38)
When Noah came into the ark God instructed him: You shall take with you seven each of every clean animal, a male and his female; two each of each animals that are unclean, a male and his female. (Genesis 7:1-2)
God should have let all the unclean animals died, had they did not have a purpose for their creation, but God had a purpose. Unclean animals, birds fish, and insects are used as janitors or vacuum cleaners to clean the ocean, water, land and forests that human beings could not able to do.
God instructed Noah to take only two pairs of unclean animals because they were not intended for food, but as janitors and vacuum cleaners. There were seven pairs of clean animals for they were intended for food.
List of unclean animals, fish, birds, and insects are found in the book of Leviticus: 20:25-26; 11:29-30; 11:1-8; 11:9-23; 11:41-44.
These unclean animals and other unclean creatures feed on dead or decaying matters (scavengers). Medical Science is gradually catching up with the Bible as doctors advise their patients to avoid eating food with high cholesterol which are the meat or flesh of unclean animals, birds, fish and insects.
In the passage (Colossian 2:16-17), Paul did talk about the unclean food found in the book of Leviticus but the food served during the celebration of the annual sabbaths, pointing towards the coming of the Messiah (Jesus Christ) which already expired upon the death of Jesus on the cross. (Please see answer on question number 13 for more details.)
The Jews believed including Peter that they were special people of God, gentiles (non Jews) were considered unclean by the Jews. The vision of Peter is not about unclean animals or unclean food, but about people. The vision was for Peter to know that God does not discriminate people.
If you read from Cornelius’ vision in Acts chapter 10 verses 1 to 37, Peter himself explains the meaning of his vision: Then Peter opened his mouth and said: ‘In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him. (Acts 10:34-35)
Matthew 15:11 is not talking about food but it is about the tradition of the Jews of washing hands before they eat. Matthew 15:1-20 affirms that the argument between Jesus and the scribes and Pharisees is not about unclean food written in the book of Leviticus, but about the tradition of hand washing. In fact, in verse 20, Jesus says: …, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man.
When Jesus says in verse 11: … what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man, He was talking of spiritual defilement, not physical defilement as He further explains in verses 19-20: For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man….
Providing them with immaculate habitat and feed them with clean food could not make them clean for God created their digestive systems to secret chemical that could kill germs from the their food of dead animals and decaying matters.
Feeding them with clean food could not stop the secretion of the chemical in their digestive systems. The chemical secreted is unhealthy for human consumption.
Jesus Christ died for the salvation of humanity not to clean the unclean animals, birds, fish and insects. John 3:16, says: For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believe in Him should not perish but have eternal life. Animals, birds, fish and insects are incapable of believing the Son (Jesus Christ) therefore, the death of Jesus had nothing to do to change their condition.
A.Generally “last days” in the Bible means the time between the first coming and the second coming of Jesus. Jesus said: But of that day and hour no one knows, no not even the angels of heaven, but my Father only. (Matthew 24:36)
A.Generally “last days” in the Bible means the time between the first coming and the second coming of Jesus. Jesus said: But of that day and hour no one knows, no not even the angels of heaven, but my Father only. (Matthew 24:36)
Yes, there are signs of Jesus second coming. Some of these signs are wars, rumors of wars, nation will rise against nation (Matthew 24:6); there will be famines, pestilences, earthquakes in various places (Matthew 24:7); and there will be dangerous times and dangerous men (2 Timothy 3:1-5).
A.In a nutshell, at the second coming of Jesus, He will reward everyone (Matthew 16:27); the dead righteous will be resurrected (1 Thessalonians 4:1) and the living righteous will not die anymore (1 Thessalonians 4:17). While the wicked will be punished and will run and hide and try to commit suicide (2 Thessalonians 1:7-10; Revelation 6:15-16).
: Pain and suffering are not God’s will. These are the result of sin committed by our first parents, Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. (Genesis 2: 8-25 & 3:1-24)
Satan (Lucifer), the great opposer or adversary of God is one of God’s creatures. Isaiah 14:12-15 and Ezekiel 28:11-19 relate a picture of Satan’s original condition and the reasons for his loss of that position.
There is a raging spiritual battle (2 Corinthians 10:3-4) going on between God and Satan and the battleground is the human mind. After we have exercised our freedom of choice in choosing which side we are in, the battle would be over, then, God will destroy Satan at His own timetable as disclosed in the foregoing passages.
God created man as free moral agent, not a robot. As free moral agent God provided man a mental faculty with intellect to discern what is right and what is wrong. In the Garden of Eden, God instructed Adam to eat of every fruit in the Garden except the fruit of the tree of the knowledge and evil for in the day he eats it he shall surely die. (Genesis 2:16-17) God’s instruction applies to Eve as well.
Adam and Eve knew fully well the consequence of their choice of not following God’s instruction. The God given freedom of choice is a demonstration that God is love. Without freedom there is no love.
Today, God gives us the same freedom of choice he gave to Adam and Eve for us to obey or not to obey His teachings written in the Scriptures.
And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. (Genesis 2:7) Man therefore is both material (dust of ground) and spiritual (breath of life).
Apostle Paul says: …For things which are seen [material] are temporary, but the things which are not seen [spiritual] are eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:18) Moreover, Jesus told the young ruler to sell all his material possessions and to distribute to the poor for him to possess treasure in heaven. (Luke 18:22)
The foregoing passages expound that material things are temporal while spiritual things are eternal. Thus, Jesus when he was on earth gave more importance on spiritual things than on material things for us to emulate because they are eternal and essential for salvation.
Apostle Paul compared the church to a human body with many parts and each part has a specific function different from others. (1 Corinthians 12:12- 27) Each church member is a part of the body of Christ (the church) whose function depends on her/his spiritual gift.
Any part separated from the body, the said part is bound to die for it would not receive nourishment through the blood which carries oxygen and nutrients.
Similarly, any Christian who is not a member of the body of Christ (the church) would also bound to die spiritually because he/she is not attached to the body of Christ (the church) which regularly provides him/her spiritual nourishments in: worship, Bible studies, Christian fellowships, small group membership where each member is given wholehearted support in both spiritual and material needs, and other wholesome activities which are designed to nurture each member spiritually.
Jesus said: I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. (John 15:5)
The dictionary defines tithe, a tenth part of one’s income contributed voluntarily for the support of the church.
The earth is the Lord’s, The world and those who dwell therein. (Psalm 24:1) The foregoing passage affirms that God owns everything including our life, body, talents, energy, health, and our capacity to earn. Meaning, we do not own anything for all what we have is from God.
We are simply managers (stewards) of God on what we have. As managers we have to follow the instruction (to return to Him through the church 10% of our income and to keep the remaining 90% for our needs) of the owner (God).
Though God does not need money, He commands us to return the tithes and to give offerings because of the following: 1) to test our faithfulness and obedience to His commandments, 2) to partner with us in sharing the gospel to others for the tithes would be used for evangelism (Matthew 28:19-20), 3) to pour His blessing upon us (Malachi 3:10), and 3) to overcome our greediness.
Abraham practiced tithing (Genesis 14:18-20), Jacob also endorsed it, and Jesus supported the giving of tithes (Matthew 23:23). Other passages uphold tithing are Deuteronomy 16:17, 14:22, Leviticus 27:30, and Malachi 3:8-9.
Apostle Paul urged God’s people not to forsake assembling together (go to church) to encourage and love one another. (Hebrew 10:24-25) For more details, please read the answer on question number 36.
The Bible does not support any denomination. In fact, Jesus forbids sectarianism. Jesus did not belong to any denomination. He even rebuked Apostle John when he requested Him to forbid a man who was not one of them, from casting demons using Jesus’ name. (Mark 9:38-40) The true Church of Jesus is not determined by denomination or name of a church, but by its teachings practice by its members. The true church of Jesus teaches doctrines from the Bible—no less and no more. (Deuteronomy 4:2 & Revelation 22:18-19)
Salvation is for everyone who believes in Jesus. (John 3:16) Jesus, confirmed this: I am the way the truth and the life no one comes to the Father except through Me. (John 14:6) It is God’s will to save every one. Thus, He instructed His disciples to spread the gospel to all nations (Great Commissions), to give everyone an opportunity to accept or reject God’s offer of salvation.
Jesus said, the world would not come to an end until the gospel is preached in all the world. (Matthew 24:14) For those who did not hear the gospel, Apostle Paul says: truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked…(Acts 17:30), also Jesus says: If you were blind, you would have no sin…. (John 9:41)
The above pronouncements of Apostle Paul and our Lord Jesus would mean salvation for non-Christians and for those who did not hear the gospel is based on faithful obedience of whatever God’s truth revealed to them through His creation (nature) and other instrumentalities.
A.When our first parents sinned, their bodies started to deteriorate and bound to die. (Genesis 2:17) so with all living and non-living things on earth. Moreover, because of sin, God also cursed the ground. (Genesis 3:17-19)
The adverse effect of sin is so far reaching that even the ground degenerates. Through the passage of time it will finally crumble and disintegrate. The Bible predicts these events (earthquakes, famines, wars and pestilences) would lead to a great tribulation (sorrow & suffering) that has never happened since the beginning of time. (Matthew 24:1-24)
Pain and suffering like the Tsunami on December 26, 2004 in Asia was not the will of God, but the consequence of sin. This pain and suffering however will come to an end when God establishes a new heaven and a new earth at his own time. (Revelation 21:1-5)
And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. (Genesis 2:7) We are a combination of a physical (dust) and a spirit (breath of life). When we die, it is a reverse of creation: our body will return to earth and the spirit will return to God. (Ecclesiastes 12:7) Other related texts are Eccl. 9:5-6, Job:14:10-12, and Psalm 146:4.
Please read answer to question number 40.
Apostle Paul said: For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23) Adam and Eve committed sin. Hence, they died. Moreover, in Romans 3:23, Apostle Paul further said: For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. We are all sinners, consequently, the death penalty is applied to us.
Furthermore, our bodies came from Adam and Eve who committed the original sin which brought about mortality to their bodies. Accordingly, we inherit from them mortal bodies which are doomed to die. It is like parents with hereditary disease that could be transferred to their children. In view of the aforementioned, God could not be accused of being unfair or unjust, for He is only respecting the freedom of choice given to humanity – to obey or not to obey His commands.
Jesus said to Thomas: Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believed. (John 20:29) Genuine believers walk by faith in God’s word in the Scriptures not by what is seen. (2 Corinthians 5:7) For more about faith, you may read Hebrews chapter 11.
The purpose of the church is to fulfill God’s plan of salvation for humanity as Jesus spelled out in the Great Commission. (Matthew 28:18-20)
There are two types of death in the Bible: physical death and spiritual death. Jesus saves us from the spiritual death which is the eternal death. (Revelation 20:6 & 21:8)
Spiritually mature Christian should associate with unbelievers just like
Jesus, so he/she could share the gospel to them and lead them to fully accept
Jesus in their lives.
However, if a Christian is not yet mature spiritually (specially newly
converted Christian), there is a danger that she/he be tempted to go back to
his/his old habits (backslide) which are not consistent with biblical principles.
Apostle Paul says: Do not be deceived: ‘Evil [bad] company corrupts good
habits.’ (1 Corinthians 15:33) Moreover, Apostle John says: Do not love the
world [worldly pleasures] or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world,
the love of the Father is not in him…. (1 John 2:15-17)
And that servant who knew his master’s well, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes…. (Luke 12:47- 48) Moreover, Jesus says: If I had not come and spoken (through reading the Scriptures or through His followers) to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. (John 15:22)
In addition, Apostle Peter says: For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the later end is worse to them than the beginning…. (2Peter 2:20-22)
In view of the foregoing passages, yes, those who ignored the truth would be more answerable than those who did not know the way of righteousness.
God’s plan of salvation is for everyone. In fact, Jesus said in Matthew 24:14 that the end of the world will not come until the gospel is preached in all the world as a witness to all nations i.e. giving everyone the opportunity to know the way to salvation.
Anyone who avoids hearing the gospel (God’s truth), even his prayer is an abomination or repugnant to the Lord. (Proverbs 28:9) It is therefore unwise to avoid knowing God’s truth
A committed Christian reflects the character of Jesus because he/she has the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23)
Moreover, a committed Christian keeps God’s commandments, go to church regularly, gives regular tithes and offering, share the gospel to others, and above all God is his/her priority in life.