What is your opinion about the relationship between a married couple where, simply, things do not go well for a long time, for various reasons such as lack of faith of one of the partners, the difference of character, different intellectual level, etc. Any attempt to settle the conflict only increases the problems. Would you prefer to continue your life as a calvary or divorce would be more correct?

All of us are different and you will not find a couple where the spouses have the same levels. Differences are those that attract us, make us fall in love and then we get married, and they also create harmony in our families.

God is the author of marriage and He hates divorce. If you have become a Christian and you were already married, you have to learn from the Holy Scriptures how to relate properly to the husband or wife who are non-Christians. Lord Jesus said that adultery is the only reason for divorce.

Do not think that it is appropriate to consider differences as a calvary. Moreover, you should think about children. Last Sunday, we had a baptism at “Bunavestirea” Church and one young woman said in her testimony that she was about to commit suicide when she had learned of her parents’ intention to divorce. For children, the separation of their parents, the partition of property, the procedure of divorce, even the most friendly one is a real calvary. So, each spouse must think not only about him but also about children, when he is tempted by the idea to apply for divorce or live separately. Moreover, I have noticed that children love both parents without caring about their intellectual differences, etc.

Translated by Felicia Rotaru

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Please, write an article where the biblical teaching on holy water is presented and specifically, how it is made, when it is used, why it is used, who may be sanctified and who not, etc.

It is not a New Testament practice

No wonder you did not find anything about the holy water because it was not practiced by the Lord Jesus, by the apostles or by first Christians.  Holy water is mentioned nowhere on the pages of the New Testament, in the sense that is used nowadays.

Holy water was applied to cases of jealousy

In the book of Numbers God gave a law regarding the cases of jealousy that were happening in Israel. You know that today also, in many families, unfounded jealousy creates serious problems for the rest of life. To not happen this, God gave Israel the following commandment:

… if a spirit of jealousy comes over him and he is jealous of his wife when she has defiled herself, or if a spirit of jealousy comes over him and he is jealous of his wife when she has not defiled herself, the man shall then bring his wife to the priest, and shall bring as an offering for her one-tenth of an ephah of barley meal; he shall not pour oil on it nor put frankincense on it, for it is a grain offering of jealousy, a grain offering of memorial, a reminder of iniquity. Then the priest shall bring her near and have her stand before the LORD, and the priest shall take holy water in an earthenware vessel; and he shall take some of the dust that is on the floor of the tabernacle and put it into the water. The priest shall then have the woman stand before the LORD and let the hair of the woman’s head go loose, and place the grain offering of memorial in her hands, which is the grain offering of jealousy, and in the hand of the priest is to be the water of bitterness that brings a curse. The priest shall have her take an oath and shall say to the woman, “If no man has lain with you and if you have not gone astray into uncleanness, being under the authority of your husband, be immune to this water of bitterness that brings a curse; if you, however, have gone astray, being under the authority of your husband, and if you have defiled yourself and a man other than your husband has had intercourse with you” (then the priest shall have the woman swear with the oath of the curse, and the priest shall say to the woman), “the LORD make you a curse and an oath among your people by the LORD’S making your thigh waste away and your abdomen swell; and this water that brings a curse shall go into your stomach, and make your abdomen swell and your thigh waste away.” And the woman shall say, “Amen. Amen.” The priest shall then write these curses on a scroll, and he shall wash them off into the water of bitterness. Then he shall make the woman drink the water of bitterness that brings a curse, so that the water which brings a curse will go into her and cause bitterness. The priest shall take the grain offering of jealousy from the woman’s hand, and he shall wave the grain offering before the LORD and bring it to the altar; and the priest shall take a handful of the grain offering as its memorial offering and offer it up in smoke on the altar, and afterward he shall make the woman drink the water. When he has made her drink the water, then it shall come about, if she has defiled herself and has been unfaithful to her husband, that the water which brings a curse will go into her and cause bitterness, and her abdomen will swell and her thigh will waste away, and the woman will become a curse among her people. But if the woman has not defiled herself and is clean, she will then be free and conceive children. (Numbers 5:14-28)(NASB)

I mention that the above law was part of the Old Covenant, it was applied only to the people of Israel and it does not apply to Christians today.

Translated by Felicia Rotaru

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A friend of mine went to the cathedral and asked a priest what prayers should she read and what to do to be lucky in marriage? The priest said: “We, men, believe that we choose the woman, but in fact, women choose us.” I disagree, as if he has excluded God from the union of two people in marriage. What does the Bible say about this choice?

I do not know the context when the priest said that phrase and I can not say anything not knowing the context, but I will give an answer from the Bible about who chooses whom. To understand better, let’s see …

How was in the beginning?

The Bible tells us the following:

Then the LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.” Out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the sky, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called a living creature, that was its name. The man gave names to all the cattle, and to the birds of the sky, and to every beast of the field, but for Adam there was not found a helper suitable for him. So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh at that place. The LORD God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man. The man said, ”This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called woman, because she was taken out of Man.” ( Genesis 2:18-23)(NASB)

The text shows that it was not good for man to be alone, that he needed a suitable helper, but not even he knew his need and what could fulfill this need. God looked at his need and fulfilled it. Neither man nor woman were looking for each other and not theirs was the idea of marriage. God brought each other and united them in marriage, and they were happy. Do you see how the man exclaimed, when God brought the woman to him? He said: “This is now!”. So speaks the one who is happy and fulfilled.

Then, Lord Jesus emphasized once more that it is God who unites man and woman in marriage, when He answered the Pharisees who came to tempt Him:

And He answered and said, “Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE, and said, ‘FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH’? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.” (Matthew 19:4-6)(NASB)

God joins man and woman together in marriage, but …

God has left men and women the freedom of choosing whom to marry

When He approached the subject of marriage, the Apostle Paul wrote:

A wife is bound as long as her husband lives; but if her husband is dead, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord. (1 Corinthians 7:39)(NASB)

So, if a widow has the freedom, so much the more an unmarried girl has the freedom and this is well seen when Eleazar, Abraham’s servant, came to take Rebekah as a wife for Isaac. When Rebekah’s family gave consent:

Then they called Rebekah and said to her, “Will you go with this man?” And she said, “I will go.” (Genesis 24:58)(NASB)

See, the choice belonged to her. Thus everyone, whether man or woman, has all the freedom from God to choose whom to marry.

Some people, especially girls, desperate for marriage, give consent to the first offer without having the heart full of love or belief that is a good choice. In this case, they can not blame anyone, because the choice belongs to them.

It is true that among some peoples and religions, parents decide the marriage of their children without asking them. In this case, parents lack them forthe right to choose.

But you said that your friend who went to cathedral wanted to know …

How to have good luck in marriage?

I strongly advise her to seek ”Marriage without regret” course by Kay Arthur and study it well, because it is a profound study of the Bible that covers most important topics and teachings of the family life, that will bring a happy marriage to the one who knows them and applies them.

Translated by Felicia Rotaru

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Choose what is right and true

King David, inspired by the Holy Spirit asked himself the same question and received the answer:

How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word. (Psalm 119:9)(NASB)

The Word of God is the one that can guide us in this difficult world full of temptation in which we live. Psalm 119 is the longest psalm in the Bible and King David dedicated it to God’s Word. This Psalm contains important lessons for those who want to live a pure life in this ruined and perverted century.

Choose to study the Scriptures deeply 

David said about himself:

Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You. (Psalms 119:11)(NASB)

Accustom yourself to a discipline to study the Bible and not just to read it.

These days I talked to a young man who, being asked how he studied the Scriptures, told me that he daily read 2 chapters of the Old Testament, 2 from the Proverbs of Solomon and 2 of the New Testament, but, he himself mentioned that he did not do it every day. Then, talking to him I understood that he had recently married an unbelieving girl and said that “the Holy Spirit told him this”. How could he say that? How can the Holy Spirit, by whom the Bible was written, tell him something that is totally contrary to the Bible? Because they do not study the Scriptures, people commit sins and serious mistakes and they continue to think that they are pleasing God and do His will. To not be in their category, choose to study the Scriptures deeply and I strongly recommend you to get the inductive Bible study materials “Precept upon Precept”, that will help you enormously.

Keep your priorities in a right order

In the same Psalm 119 King David prays as follows:

Incline my heart to Your testimonies and not to dishonest gain. Turn away my eyes from looking at vanity, and revive me in Your ways. (Psalm 119:36-37)(NASB)

Dishonest gain and vanity make many young people leave the purity of walking with God. Moreover, the Apostle Paul wrote:

For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. (1 Timothy 6:10)(NASB)

Choose your friends well

The Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy, who was a young man too:

Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. (2 Timothy 2:22)(NASB)

Who are your friends? What interests and priorities do they have? What do they invest their lives in? How do they influence you? Make an analysis and see which are the things that can be danger for you and what do you have to do to remain pure in this century.

Translated by Felicia Rotaru

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I have heard different opinions: some say that Jesus had brothers and others say He did not. What does the Bible say in this regard?

Lord Jesus had brothers

Yes, Lord Jesus had brothers and the Bible mentions it many times. Evangelist Matthew writes:

While He was still speaking to the crowds, behold, His mother and brothers were standing outside, seeking to speak to Him. Someone said to Him, “Behold, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside seeking to speak to You.” (Matthew 12:46-47)(NASB)

The Book of Acts tells us that after Jesus’ ascension, the disciples

When they had entered the city, they went up to the upper room where they were staying; that is, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James. These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers. (Acts 1:13-14)(NASB)

We know the name of Jesus’ brothers

Evangelist Mark tells us even the name of Jesus’ brothers:

Jesus went out from there and came into His hometown; and His disciples followed Him. When the Sabbath came, He began to teach in the synagogue; and the many listeners were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things, and what is this wisdom given to Him, and such miracles as these performed by His hands? Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? Are not His sisters here with us?” And they took offense at Him. (Mark 6:1-3)(NASB)

So, Lord Jesus had both brothers and sisters.

Jesus was conceived from the Holy Spirit

All these brothers and sisters of the Lord Jesus were only through the maternal line, because the Father of the Lord Jesus is God, while Joseph is the father of the other brothers and sisters.

You can become the brother of Jesus

The evangelist Luke tells us the following:

And His mother and brothers came to Him, and they were unable to get to Him because of the crowd. And it was reported to Him, “Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, wishing to see You.” But He answered and said to them, “My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it.” (Luke 8 :19-21)(NASB)

If you hear the word of God and do it in your daily life, you also become a brother or sister of Christ. God help you to be so.

Translated by Felicia Rotaru

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I heard a statement at the Little Samaritan Radio that the Angel Gabriel is the guardian of children. Is this true? And if so, where is it written in Scripture?

Previously I wrote an article entitled “About the Archangels Michael and Gabriel” where you will find what the Bible says about these two Archangels.

In the New Testament there are two references to the Angel Gabriel, and they are in the Gospels. He is the one who announced the birth of Christ. In the Old Testament there are two references in the book of the prophet Daniel that present Gabriel as the one who gave the interpretation of the visions of Daniel.

I think you overlooked something when listening to the radio show. Archangel Michael is called in the book of Daniel “Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people”, that means he is the guardian of the sons of the people of Israel, to whom Daniel belonged. And when it says that, it does not want to say he stands guard over the children only, but over the entire people of Israel, that are called “children of Israel” many times in the Bible, meaning that they are descendants of Israel, that is Jacob, whose name was changed to “Israel”.

Translated by Felicia Rotaru

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What would be the 39 canonical books to know to read them?

The 39 canonical books of the Old Testament are listed below.

1. Genesis
2. Exodus
3. Leviticus
4. Numbers
5. Deuteronomy
6. Joshua
7. Judges
8. Ruth
9. First book of Samuel
10. Second book of Samuel
11. First book of Kings
12. Second book of Kings
13. First book of Chronicles
14. Second Book of Chronicles
15. Ezra
16. Nehemiah
17. Esther
18. Job
19. Psalms
20. Proverbs
21. Ecclesiastes
22. Song of Songs (Song of Solomon, Canticles)
23. Isaiah
24. Jeremiah
25. Lamentations
26. Ezekiel
27. Daniel
28. Hosea
29. Joel
30. Amos
31. Obadiah
32. Jonah
33. Micah
34. Nahum
35. Habakkuk
36. Zephaniah
37. Haggai
38. Zechariah
39. Malachi

These books were inspired by God and make up the Old Testament.

Translated by Felicia Rotaru

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Translated by Felicia Rotaru

Other posts:

• What is sexual immorality? (55)
• Moderator (13)
• Christians and Multi Level- Marketing (10)
• How to propose marriage to a girl? (8)
• Jesus Christ condemns the sin of sodomy and calls all homosexuals to repentance (8)

Why God sent Moses to drive out the people of Israel from the bondage of Egypt and He also hardened Pharaoh’s heart to send later the 10 plagues?

To make Himself known to the Egyptians

From the very beginning, when He sent Moses to drive out the people of Israel from the Egyptian slavery, God told Moses that He would harden Pharaoh’s heart and what was His reason for that:

Then the LORD said to Moses, “See, I make you as God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron shall be your prophet. You shall speak all that I command you, and your brother Aaron shall speak to Pharaoh that he let the sons of Israel go out of his land. But will harden Pharaoh’s heart that I may multiply My signs and My wonders in the land of Egypt. When Pharaoh does not listen to you, then I will lay My hand on Egypt and bring out My hosts, My people the sons of Israel, from the land of Egypt by great judgments. The Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I stretch out My hand on Egypt and bring out the sons of Israel from their midst.” (Exodus 7:1-5)(NASB)

So, the purpose for which God had to harden Pharaoh’s heart was just to make the 10 wonders in Egypt and the people of that country, who were overly idolatrous, may see the power of God and worship Him.

To be always honored by the people of Israel

This is another reason why God hardened Pharaoh’s heart, as it is said below:

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the heart of his servants, that I may perform these signs of Mine among them, and that you may tell in the hearing of your son, and of your grandson, how I made a mockery of the Egyptians and how I performed My signs among them, that you may know that I am the LORD.” (Exodus 10:1-2)(NASB)

That the glory of God may be revealed

When they were in front of the Red Sea, threatened by Pharaoh’s army, God said to Moses one more reason for which He had hardened Pharaoh’s heart:

As for you, lift up your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, and the sons of Israel shall go through the midst of the sea on dry land. As for Me, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them; and I will be honored through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen. Then the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD, when I am honored through Pharaoh, through his chariots and his horsemen. (Exodus 14:16-18)(NASB)

Translated by Felicia Rotaru

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• Moderator (13)
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• Jesus Christ condemns the sin of sodomy and calls all homosexuals to repentance (8)