3. • What about the thief on the cross?
– Does his pardon show that baptism isn’t
necessary for salvation?
– Both thieves originally reviled Christ
(Matt. 27:44; Mark 15:32)
– One had a change of heart
(Luke 23:39-43)
Questions That Need Answering
4. • What about the thief on the cross?
– Jesus, while on earth, had the authority to
forgive sins (Mark 2:1-12)
• Repentance isn’t mentioned in regards to
the paralytic. Does this mean
we don’t have to repent
today?
Questions That Need Answering
5. • What about the thief on the cross?
– Jesus, while on earth, had the authority to
forgive sins (Mark 2:1-12)
• The atoning power of Christ’s sacrifice
was retroactive (Heb. 9:15)
Questions That Need Answering
6. • What about the thief on the cross?
– Baptism was not required for salvation until
the establishment of the New Covenant
(Heb. 9:15-17)
– The New Law states that baptism
is a condition of pardon
(Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16;
1 Pet. 3:21)
Questions That Need Answering
7. • Was Phoebe a deacon?
– Rom. 16:1 (NIV) - 1I commend to you our
sister Phoebe, a deacon of the church in
Cenchreae.
– “deacon” is “diakonos” which
means “servant.”
Questions That Need Answering
8. • Was Phoebe a deacon?
– Renderings of “diakonos”
• Col. 1:25; Rom. 13:4 – “minister”
• Rom. 15:25 – “serving”
• Acts 6:2 – “serve”
• John 2:5 – “servants”
• Rom. 15:8 – “servant”
• 1 Tim. 3:8; Phil. 1:1 – “deacons”
Questions That Need Answering
9. • Was Phoebe a deacon?
– The majority of translations render
“diakonos” as “servant” in Rom. 16:1
• Rom. 16:1 (NKJV) - 1I commend to you
Phoebe our sister, who is a
servant of the church in
Cenchrea…
Questions That Need Answering
10. • Was Phoebe a deacon?
– The majority of translations render
“diakonos” as “servant” in Rom. 16:1
• Rom. 16:1 (ASV) - 1I commend unto you
Phoebe our sister, who is a
servant of the church that is
at Cenchreae:
Questions That Need Answering
11. • Was Phoebe a deacon?
– The office of a deacon can only be held by a
man (1 Tim. 3:8-13)
• The example in Acts 6:1-7
– Both men and women serve the
church in various capacities, as
Phoebe did, but only men can
hold the office of deacon
(Gal. 5:13; 1 Pet. 4:10)
Questions That Need Answering
12. • Is euthanasia wrong?
– The word literally means “good death”
– Mercy killing
– Life is a gift from God (Acts 17:25;
Rev. 21:8; Rom. 14:7-8)
– Humans are not animals
(Gen. 1:26; Zech. 12:1)
Questions That Need Answering
13. • Is euthanasia wrong?
– There is a difference between producing
death and allowing death
– We are all terminal (Rom. 5:12;
Heb. 9:27; 1 Thess. 4:15)
– Allowing a loved one to “go
home” may be the greatest
mercy (2 Cor. 5:8)
Questions That Need Answering
14. • Is euthanasia wrong?
– Suffering is temporary
(Rom. 8:18)
– The example of Hezekiah
(Isa. 38:1-5; Jas. 5:13-16)
– The example of Paul
(2 Cor. 12:7-10)
Questions That Need Answering
16. 1 Pet. 4:17-18 - 17For the time has come for
judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it
begins with us first, what will be the end of those
who do not obey the gospel of God? 18Now “If the
righteous one is scarcely saved, where will the
ungodly and the sinner appear?”
