QUESTIONS AND RESPONSES

In this section, we encourage you to submit questions you may have concerning something we have written or said, or questions regarding any aspect of spiritual Life, in general. When you submit your question through the form below, it will be forwarded to one or more of our C.M.I. members, who will then give it thoughtful consideration and study, and then respond. We will do our best to provide you with a response in a timely manner.

For the title of this section, we decided that "RESPONSES" was more appropriate than "ANSWERS". This is because we are aware that we may not always be able to give you an 'answer' to your question. And also, even when we do address your question, our response will be according to our understanding at the time, which may be limited. We readily admit that we do not have all of the answers, and that we, like you, are ever learning Christ and coming to see Him in a greater way. Our joy is in the pursuit of Christ, and in the desire and search to know Him and comprehend Him. One thing that we can certainly promise you, is that for every honest and sincere question, we will provide a 'response.' (form created 12/29/04)

We are temporarily experiencing problems with our "Question" form. Please e-mail us your comments or questions to cmibibleresearchcenter@ yahoo.com. Please include your name, city, state, and country. We hope to have our "Question" form back in place shortly.

**Questions & Responses**
Date	Question	Response
12/02/2004	Hello, I have a quick question. I understand that in Christ we are the City of God, the temple, the Kingdom, etc. And that the Kingdom was conferred on us when we received the life of the King...and we abide in that Life. And that life, His life, is the very life of the believer. So, in light of that, what is Jesus talking about in Matthew 11 and Luke 16 when he says the "{violent take the kingdom by force". Obviously, Adam can't TAKE anything at all. He was crucified and the kingdom was freely given to the new creation in Christ. ("it is the Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom") More accurately, the kingdom IS the new creation in Christ. I have always heard these passages taught with a works mentality that if we really "press in" we can take more and more of God...whatever. But that's obviously hogwash. You can't lay hold of the Life of the King through works of the flesh. But what are those two verses talking about? Thank you kindly,	Response
02/03/2005	I have a question about Hebrews 9:28. I have been reading JW's "the Time and Order of His Appearing" and very much enjoying it. I understand his point that Christ has gone beyond the veil one time to offer a sacrifice for sins (death) and appeared again without reference to sins (resurrection). And I understand how this is typified in the high priest of old. But what I don't understand is why Hebrews 9:28 uses the FUTURE TENSE about this appearing, saying "will appear a second time" or "shall appear". I checked the Greek on it. Why is that future tense? Why isn't it in the present or past tense since He has already come forth in resurrection"? Do you understand my question? Thank you kindly,	Response
03/17/2005	Hello, In light of the finished work of the cross, and our present union with Him in resurrection life, I was hoping you might be able to help me understand Acts 3:20-21 which says "...and that He may send forth the One before proclaimed to you, Jesus Christ, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, etc". I have two questions: 1. what does it mean to "send forth Jesus" if we are already living in union with Him. 2. why does it seem as though this "sending forth" is spoken of as a future event? Thanks!	Response
10/25/2005	Can Christ be my Life and then at some point in my life I disobey God and go back to my old life?	Response
12/06/2005	Your writings have been a tremendous blessing to my spirit. I have one question. Do you embrace the belief that it is possible in this age to enter into a state of sinless perfection? I know that Christ is in this state of Sinless perfection and that HE is our life and that IN HIM, I am free from the dominion or power of sin... but is there a place in our journey NOW, in experience, where we experience the eradication of sin within so that it is only myself in union with the Sinless One and no inherent sin in my flesh so that I am free from both the power of sin and the presence of sin within? Thanks for your response.	Response
12/09/2005	If we do attain to the full expression of Christ in this life....does this destroy and remove the sin in my flesh which I am called to deny? I agree our goal is not sinless perfection, but the full expression of the Sinless One. But what about that flesh within....should I let Christ be my life and expression...of course I will not be sinning...but will the flesh and the sin principle in it be removed in time...be eradicated out of me as Christ my life gains full expression...or will that presence of sin in my flesh always be with me till mortality is swallowed up in immortality...till that which is subject to corruption is changed to incorruption? Can this happen BEFORE the physical coming of Jesus?	Response
12/26/2005	I just want to know what characteristics did Virgin Mary have to have to become the mother of Jesus? What kind of woman was she, that God decide to chose her? Or maybe what can we imitate from her so we can please God as she did? Thank you	Response
04/01/2006	Will there be a second coming when Christ comes for his bride? Will we be gathered to meet in him in the air? If a person asks God for Christ to be revealed in them, is there anyway that person can hinder that request being granted?	Response
04/03/2006	Is the last supper (from Luke 22:19) a type and shadow? Is this to be a regular ceremony like so many Churches practice it, or is there something else we need to see in this? From Luke 22:19, "And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. 20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.	Response
05/07/2006	I would love to understand what the Bible means in Ephisians 1:23, 3:19 and 4:13. I want to be pelnty In Him. Eph 1:23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. Eph 3:19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Eph 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:	Response
06/08/2006	My question is based on John 21:22: "Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me." Why does Jesus say "Till I come"? Which event does this talk about? Thank you for helping me to understand this issue, maybe I do not have good information of the history of the time.	Response
08/16/2006	According to your understanding at this time, please explain to me how I should explain to my Bible group 1Thessalonians 4:17-18 and 5:1. Please explain the time of this event in verse 4:17 where it says, "caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air." Is this an event that is going to happen, or that has already happened? Hope you understand me.... thank you.	Response
10/03/2006	I have somewhat of a burning question. The Christian life is the life of Christ in us and the expression of this new life in us. I also know that psychology is no option in the growth of this life, because psychology is simply pagan and never rises above the soul life of man. On the other hand, Oswald Chambers declared that we have to build habits on basis of the new life in us. I wondered whether this introduces psychology in some way. Often we get good advice for example relative to marriage; advises like 1) Always stay connected, or 2) Make conflict a path to intimacy. Do we need to work out our new life in Christ along these lines of advice by forming habits based on the new life as Oswald Chambers’s states? Is it bad to have a method handed over as a communication tool, or do I have to see this as not line with Christ who is all in all? It seems that good Christian habits are important to us, but where does this end and where does psychology enters the stage? I look forward to read your response.	Response
09/08/2007	Can a person lose his salvation? If you would like to explain your answer, that would be helpful ... but, please start off with either YES or No. Thank you.	Response

Questions & Responses

Date

Question

Response

12/02/2004

Hello, I have a quick question. I understand that in Christ we are the City of God, the temple, the Kingdom, etc. And that the Kingdom was conferred on us when we received the life of the King...and we abide in that Life. And that life, His life, is the very life of the believer. So, in light of that, what is Jesus talking about in Matthew 11 and Luke 16 when he says the "{violent take the kingdom by force". Obviously, Adam can't TAKE anything at all. He was crucified and the kingdom was freely given to the new creation in Christ. ("it is the Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom") More accurately, the kingdom IS the new creation in Christ. I have always heard these passages taught with a works mentality that if we really "press in" we can take more and more of God...whatever. But that's obviously hogwash. You can't lay hold of the Life of the King through works of the flesh. But what are those two verses talking about? Thank you kindly,

Response

02/03/2005

I have a question about Hebrews 9:28. I have been reading JW's "the Time and Order of His Appearing" and very much enjoying it. I understand his point that Christ has gone beyond the veil one time to offer a sacrifice for sins (death) and appeared again without reference to sins (resurrection). And I understand how this is typified in the high priest of old. But what I don't understand is why Hebrews 9:28 uses the FUTURE TENSE about this appearing, saying "will appear a second time" or "shall appear". I checked the Greek on it. Why is that future tense? Why isn't it in the present or past tense since He has already come forth in resurrection"? Do you understand my question? Thank you kindly,

Response

03/17/2005

Hello, In light of the finished work of the cross, and our present union with Him in resurrection life, I was hoping you might be able to help me understand Acts 3:20-21 which says "...and that He may send forth the One before proclaimed to you, Jesus Christ, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, etc".
I have two questions:
1. what does it mean to "send forth Jesus" if we are already living in union with Him.
2. why does it seem as though this "sending forth" is spoken of as a future event?
Thanks!

Response

10/25/2005

Can Christ be my Life and then at some point in my life I disobey God and go back to my old life?

Response

12/06/2005

Your writings have been a tremendous blessing to my spirit. I have one question. Do you embrace the belief that it is possible in this age to enter into a state of sinless perfection? I know that Christ is in this state of Sinless perfection and that HE is our life and that IN HIM, I am free from the dominion or power of sin... but is there a place in our journey NOW, in experience, where we experience the eradication of sin within so that it is only myself in union with the Sinless One and no inherent sin in my flesh so that I am free from both the power of sin and the presence of sin within? Thanks for your response.

Response

12/09/2005

If we do attain to the full expression of Christ in this life....does this destroy and remove the sin in my flesh which I am called to deny?

I agree our goal is not sinless perfection, but the full expression of the Sinless One. But what about that flesh within....should I let Christ be my life and expression...of course I will not be sinning...but will the flesh and the sin principle in it be removed in time...be eradicated out of me as Christ my life gains full expression...or will that presence of sin in my flesh always be with me till mortality is swallowed up in immortality...till that which is subject to corruption is changed to incorruption? Can this happen BEFORE the physical coming of Jesus?

Response

12/26/2005

I just want to know what characteristics did Virgin Mary have to have to become the mother of Jesus? What kind of woman was she, that God decide to chose her? Or maybe what can we imitate from her so we can please God as she did?
Thank you

Response

04/01/2006

Will there be a second coming when Christ comes for his bride? Will we be gathered to meet in him in the air? If a person asks God for Christ to be revealed in them, is there anyway that person can hinder that request being granted?

Response

04/03/2006

Is the last supper (from Luke 22:19) a type and shadow? Is this to be a regular ceremony like so many Churches practice it, or is there something else we need to see in this?
From Luke 22:19, "And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. 20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.

Response

05/07/2006

I would love to understand what the Bible means in Ephisians 1:23, 3:19 and 4:13. I want to be pelnty In Him.
Eph 1:23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
Eph 3:19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
Eph 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

Response

06/08/2006

My question is based on John 21:22: "Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me."
Why does Jesus say "Till I come"? Which event does this talk about?
Thank you for helping me to understand this issue, maybe I do not have good information of the history of the time.

Response

08/16/2006

According to your understanding at this time, please explain to me how I should explain to my Bible group 1Thessalonians 4:17-18 and 5:1. Please explain the time of this event in verse 4:17 where it says, "caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air." Is this an event that is going to happen, or that has already happened? Hope you understand me.... thank you.

Response

10/03/2006

I have somewhat of a burning question. The Christian life is the life of Christ in us and the expression of this new life in us. I also know that psychology is no option in the growth of this life, because psychology is simply pagan and never rises above the soul life of man. On the other hand, Oswald Chambers declared that we have to build habits on basis of the new life in us. I wondered whether this introduces psychology in some way. Often we get good advice for example relative to marriage; advises like 1) Always stay connected, or 2) Make conflict a path to intimacy. Do we need to work out our new life in Christ along these lines of advice by forming habits based on the new life as Oswald Chambers’s states? Is it bad to have a method handed over as a communication tool, or do I have to see this as not line with Christ who is all in all? It seems that good Christian habits are important to us, but where does this end and where does psychology enters the stage? I look forward to read your response.

Response

09/08/2007

Can a person lose his salvation? If you would like to explain your answer, that would be helpful ... but, please start off with either YES or No. Thank you.

Response