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[from my 2013 book, pictured above (see\u00a0purchase & general information<\/a>); available in\u00a0Spanish<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0French<\/a>\u00a0as well); passages are KJV unless otherwise indicated (RSV)]<\/p>\n The purpose of this book was described in the Introduction:<\/p>\n The notion that arose in my mind was to simply provide\u00a0 Bible passages<\/em> (usually one verse; sometimes a few together) that would be (in my humble opinion, anyway) the very best <\/em>\u201canswers\u201d to a large number of one-sentence questions.<\/p>\n The format might remind one of the popular TV game show Jeopardy<\/em>, where the contestants are given a piece of information and have to come up with a question that it is the \u201canswer\u201d to. While compiling it, I looked at Bible passages and devised questions that the passages \u201canswered\u201d. . . .<\/p>\n I think somewhere in the back of my mind, I was also perhaps vaguely recalling, particularly, The Question and Answer Catholic Catechism<\/em> (New York: Doubleday Image, 1981), by my mentor, the late great Fr. John A. Hardon, S. J. He divided his book into major categories, then subcategories, and finally into 1,701 individual questions. His answers were relatively simple \u201ccatechetical\u201d replies that present the basic Catholic teachings or \u201canswers.\u201d<\/p>\n Likewise, my book consists of 18 broad categories (Roman numerals), and 200 numbered subcategories, under which the 1,001 particular questions are found, with each answer being a Bible passage.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n ***<\/p>\n 36-1. Are works (performed by justified persons) made a central criterion in the final judgment?<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Romans 2:6-8<\/strong> Who will render to every man according to his deeds: [7] To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: 36-2. Are good fruits required for final salvation?<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Matthew 7:18-20<\/strong> A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. [19] Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. [20] Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.<\/p>\n 36-3. Are the saved and damned chosen based on those who do good vs. those who do evil?<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n John 5:28-29<\/strong> Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, [29] And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.<\/p>\n 36-4. Are people damned for not obeying the gospel?<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n 2 Thessalonians 1:7-8<\/strong> And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, [8] In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:<\/p>\n 36-5. Is judgment according to deeds?<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n 1 Peter 1:17<\/strong> (RSV) And if you invoke as Father him who judges each one impartially according to his deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile.<\/p>\n 36-6. Are we judged primarily by how much faith we have or by what we have done?<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Revelation 20:12-13<\/strong> And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. [13] And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.<\/p>\n ***<\/p>\n 39-1. Are we \u201crepaid\u201d for good works after death?<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Luke 14:13-14<\/strong> But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: [14] And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.<\/p>\n 39-2. Do we receive differential rewards at the judgment seat of Christ?<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n 2 Corinthians 5:10<\/strong> For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.<\/p>\n 39-3. Can we purify ourselves in order to be more approved by God?<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n 2 Timothy 2:15, 21<\/strong> (RSV) Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. . . . [21] If any one purifies himself from what is ignoble, then he will be a vessel for noble use, consecrated and useful to the master of the house, ready for any good work.<\/p>\n 39-4. Can we \u201cbuild ourselves up\u201d in the faith?<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Jude 20-21<\/strong> But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, [21] Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.<\/p>\n 39-5. Are we rewarded for righteousness?<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n 2 Samuel 22:21<\/strong> The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness: according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.<\/p>\n 39-6. Are we rewarded for good fruits of our works?<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Jeremiah 32:19<\/strong> Great in counsel, and mighty in work: for thine eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men: to give every one according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings:<\/p>\n 39-7. Are secret alms meritorious?<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Matthew 6:4 <\/strong>That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.<\/p>\n 39-8. Are those who leave their families to serve Jesus especially rewarded?<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Matthew 19:29<\/strong> And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name\u2019s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.<\/p>\n 39-9. Are good works meritorious?<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Ephesians 6:8<\/strong> Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, . . .<\/p>\n 40-1. Where is it taught that we are God\u2019s \u201cco-laborers\u201d?<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n 1 Corinthians 3:6-9<\/strong> I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. [7] So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.[8] Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. [9] For we are labourers together with God: ye are God\u2019s husbandry, ye are God\u2019s building.<\/p>\n 40-2. Is there a sense in which God works in us, and we work, too?<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n 1 Corinthians 15:10<\/strong> But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.<\/p>\n 40-3. Do we work together with God?<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n 2 Corinthians 6:1<\/strong> We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.<\/p>\n 40-4. Does God work in and with us when we do His will?<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Philippians 2:13<\/strong> For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.<\/p>\n 40-5. Do we participate in the \u201cwork of the Lord\u201d?<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n 1 Corinthians 15:58<\/strong> Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.<\/p>\n 41-1. Can one Christian help \u201csave\u201d another?<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n 1 Corinthians 9:22<\/strong> To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.<\/p>\n 41-2. Can preaching help save souls?<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n 1 Corinthians 1:21<\/strong> For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.<\/p>\n 41-3. Can wives help save their husbands, and vice versa?<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n 1 Corinthians 7:16<\/strong> (RSV) Wife, how do you know whether you will save your husband? Husband, how do you know whether you will save your wife?<\/p>\n 41-4. Can we \u201csave ourselves\u201d in any secondary sense?<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n 1 Timothy 4:16<\/strong> (RSV) Take heed to yourself and to your teaching; hold to that, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.<\/p>\n 41-5. Can we help convert sinners and prevent them from being lost?<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n James 5:19-20<\/strong> Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; [20] Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.<\/p>\n 41-6. Can we help save people by being a good example to them?<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n 1 Peter 3:1<\/strong> . . . some, though they do not obey the word, may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives,<\/p>\n 41-7. Can prayer help save souls and extend God\u2019s forgiveness?<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n James 5:15<\/strong> And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.<\/p>\n 42-1. Does God help make men righteous?<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Psalm 23:3<\/strong> He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name\u2019s sake.<\/p>\n 42-2. Does God purge and wash us?<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Psalm 51:7<\/strong> Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.<\/p>\n 42-3. Does God give us a clean heart?<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Psalm 51:10<\/strong> Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.<\/p>\n 42-4. Does God give us grace and all good things?<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Psalm 84:11<\/strong> For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.<\/p>\n 43-1. Do human beings have righteousness \u201cin\u201d them?<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Psalm 7:8 <\/strong>The LORD shall judge the people: judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness, and according to mine integrity that is in me.<\/p>\n 43-2. Does God reward according to human righteousness?<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Psalm 18:20-23<\/strong> The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me. [21] For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God. [22] For all his judgments were before me, and I did not put away his statutes from me. [23] I was also upright before him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity.<\/p>\n 43-3. Is there such a thing as an \u201cupright\u201d person?<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Psalm 32:11<\/strong> Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.<\/p>\n 43-4. Is there such a thing as a \u201crighteous person\u201d?<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Psalm 118:20 <\/strong>This gate of the LORD, into which the righteous shall enter.<\/p>\n 43-5. Are there \u201cundefiled\u201d persons?<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Psalm 119:1 <\/strong>Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.<\/p>\n 43-6. Are there people who keep God\u2019s precepts?<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Psalm 119:166-168<\/strong> LORD, I have hoped for thy salvation, and done thy commandments. [167] My soul hath kept thy testimonies; and I love them exceedingly. [168] I have kept thy precepts and thy testimonies: for all my ways are before thee.<\/p>\n ***<\/p>\n 45-1. Is faith ever associated directly with increased righteousness, in conjunction with salvation?<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Romans 1:17<\/strong> (RSV) For in it the righteousness of God is revealed through faith for faith; as it is written, \u201cHe who through faith is righteous shall live.\u201d<\/p>\n 45-2. Is the absence of sin tied to salvation?<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Romans 8:13<\/strong> For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.<\/p>\n 45-3. Is total sanctification possible to attain?<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n 1 Thessalonians 5:23<\/strong> And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.<\/p>\n 45-4. Are we sanctified by faith?<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Acts 26:18<\/strong> To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.<\/p>\n 45-5. Are we cleansed or purified by faith?<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Acts 15:9<\/strong> And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.<\/p>\n 45-6. Are we purified and sanctified by the blood of Christ?<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Hebrews 9:13-14 <\/strong>For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: [14] How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?<\/p>\n\n
\n[8] But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,<\/p>\n\n
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