Ask Father Paul

Answers to your questions about life, religion and the Bible

Pastors get some of the most interesting questions from people they meet and people in their congregations. Here are a few that I’ve gotten during my years of ministry and via email for this column.

Dear Father Paul: If God created the universe, then who created God ... and when was he created? — Robert.

Dear Robert: Believers rely and trust in the truths of the Bible to answer this question.

According to the Bible, God is not a “created” being. He has always existed, and he will always exist. So God, literally, had no beginning and he will have no end. After you think about that for a few minutes, your brain will hurt.

The universe, on the other hand, created by God, had a definite beginning. Scientists tell us that the universe is approximately 13 billion years old. At the moment that the universe was created space and matter came into existence. Einstein’s theory of general relativity shows that time is linked to space and matter so time itself did not exist before the birth of the universe. Hence, God, who created the universe, lives outside of time and is not subject to time’s limitations. The Bible tells us that time (days, weeks, years etc.) was created for man’s convenience, not God’s. II Timothy tells us that “God’s grace was given to us before the beginning of time.” That is before the universe itself began. Wow! Think about that. He knew me and provided his grace (favor) for me and every one else more than 13 billion years ago.

At some point in the future known only to God, time will cease to exist and eternity will begin according to Titus 1:2.

Because we humans live in the dimension of time, we are limited and it is next to impossible for us to fully comprehend the concept of God’s eternal nature ... anything that does not have a beginning and an end.

Perhaps a way for us to somehow understand that God is above creation and time is in the answer God gave to Moses in Exodus, Chapter 2, when Moses asked God, “what do I tell Pharaoh when he asks me, who sent you to free the Hebrew slaves from bondage?” God answered, “Tell Pharaoh that ‘I AM’ sent you.”

Dear Father Paul: What is the difference between an archangel and the cherubim? — Tim

Dear Tim: Both are spirit beings with tremendous power who serve God. They are considered a higher form of the multitude of angels who also serve God and do his bidding.

Cherubim are described in Ezekiel 10 as having four faces and four wings. They have proximity to the very throne of God according to Ezekiel 1 and 10. Lucifer (now called Satan) was a cherubim according to Ezekiel 28.

Archangels are involved in major events on the earth and no doubt throughout the universe. Only two are named in the Bible ... Gabriel and Michael. Gabriel announces the coming birth of Jesus, the Messiah. Michael is mentioned in Daniel 10 as doing battle with Satan who was preventing God’s messenger from coming to Daniel and answering his prayer. Michael is also mentioned in Revelation 12 also in a warlike vein on behalf of God.

Dear Father Paul: It is often said by preachers that God is not mad at us, but loves us. Is this true even for those who reject Jesus as their Savior? Show me from the Bible. — Kate.

Dear Kate: What you are asking in essence is this: “Will God really reject people who don’t accept Christ as their Savior?”

The answer is yes, but he earnestly wants all people to believe in, love and trust him. II Peter 3:9 says that “God is patient, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance.”

Heaven was made for every single person and it is God’s heartfelt desire that every person ever born go there ... not to hell which God made only for the Devil and his followers. See Matthew 25:34 and 41. Essentially, we “choose” eternity in hell instead of the heaven which is prepared and waiting for us when we “choose” to reject Christ.

John 3:16 - 20 says it best: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son (Jesus) that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only son. This is the verdict, Light has come into the world, but men loved (chose) darkness instead of (choosing) the light because their deeds were evil.”

Choose The Light, Kate.

Do you have a question for the column? Email it to me at paulmassey@earthlink.net or call me at 678-457-3050.

Do you need prayer for an issue or need that you are dealing with and have no one to pray for you? Email me and I will pray for your need. I do not need to know your identity.

Paul Massey is pastor of Church of the Holy Cross Charismatic Episcopal Church in Fayetteville, Georgia. Information on the church, worship times and directions are available at www.holycrosschurch.wordpress.com

Ask Father Paul...

Submitted by Main Stream on Wed, 12/03/2008 - 9:50am.

"So God, literally, had no beginning and he will have no end. After you think about that for a few minutes, your brain will hurt."

That pain in your brain that you are experiencing is called exercise, or thinking rationally. Attempting to apply logic and reason to religion will always exercise your brain and will usually cause brain cramping.

"Cherubim are described in Ezekiel 10 as having four faces and four wings. They have proximity to the very throne of God according to Ezekiel 1 and 10. Lucifer (now called Satan) was a cherubim according to Ezekiel 28. Archangels are involved in major events on the earth and no doubt throughout the universe."

And these supernatural cherubim's and archangels are actually floating around us and are involved in major world events? Kind of like the tooth fairy and Santa, right? At least they bring money and gifts.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son (Jesus) that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

So... God supernaturally created his son Jesus, who is also God, and then God killed himself, or he killed his son (is that murder or suicide?), because he is a "loving" God, and Jesus forgave himself, or God, for killing himself..... this is where MY brain begins to hurt.

Father Paul, I have a question: Do you think this Prayer Max 5000 could possibly work to increase our prayer output?

PRAYER MAX 5000

(sorry, but the older I get, the less I tend to believe what I can't see or explain with science and logic...I guess I'm doomed to hell...I just hope they serve Martini's)

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