On this episode, Pastor Blake answers seven more questions with youth pastor, Ashton Wright.

In the first episode of season two, Pastor Blake answers questions concerning the unpardonable sin and the presence of red heifers in Israel in context to the returning of Jesus.

Enjoy these questions. You can submit your questions for Pastor Blake at FBCedmond.org/askpastor. 1. When trying to explain scripture to someone, or when studying the text, how do you study it to know what it means and not take it out of context? Please give example. Thank you 2. Does 2 Chronicles 7:14 apply to us believers today? And if we repent God will heal our lands (America)? 3. Do you believe the” sinners’ prayer”, if spoken, will save someone not many how times you say it? Or is it just “believing” in Jesus Christ?

Pastor Gideon gives an insight into what will be taking place at the 2022 annual SBC meetings. If you have a question you want to Ask the Pastor, you can submit it at fbcedmond.org/askpastor

Enjoy these questions. You can submit your questions for Pastor Blake at FBCedmond.org/askpastor. 1. In regard to all the gun control (issues) today…are there any scriptures that pertain to defending yourself, family, or property? 2. I have a friend whom I have been talking to that has been married three times. His current wife is a Christian and within the past few years, he has become a Christian. He left his first wife years ago and regretted it. Eventually, he got remarried then divorced from his second wife and remarried to his current wife. He recited to me the scripture of the man who divorces his wife and causes her to commit adultery. Did he cause his first wife to commit adultery by divorcing her? If he left his third wife to go back to his first, would he be causing his third wife to commit adultery? Is he bound by the first covenant he made or the current covenant he is in? He is seeking God through prayer, but he has not heard anything yet.

Pastor Blake responds to the SBC report that was released on May 21, 2022. If you have a question for Pastor Blake you can submit it at www.fbcedmond.org/askpastor

Enjoy this question. You can submit your questions for Pastor Blake at FBCedmond.org/askpastor. 1. I have a question about a situation I am struggling with and how I apply scripture to it. My sister's wedding and bridal shower are coming up and I am unsure if I should attend. She has already gotten married (due to current issues such as covid) but is choosing to do the whole wedding ordeal at a later time, which I completely understand and have no issue with. What I am struggling with is that she has chosen to deceive some of the people, making them think she is unmarried and getting married on her wedding date. I know it's a "white lie", but the Bible doesn't make a distinction between types of deception, and she has a history of being a pathological liar sadly. I love my sister and want to be there but am not sure if I would be condoning deception. Ephesians 5 has been leaving me feeling convicted where it speaks of not partaking with those who speak deception and instead of exposing them. I would like to know if attending/helping is "partaking".

In a special edition of Ask the Pastor, Pastor Blake addresses an article written on Pro-life legislation and Abolitionists.

Enjoy these questions this week. You can submit your questions for Pastor Blake at FBCedmond.org/askpastor. 1. Can you explain Matthew 7:6? I read in one commentary that you shouldn't waste time on persons who are not open to hearing God's Word. Does that mean we are to just give up on them? That somehow doesn't seem right. Maybe the next time we talk to them, they will be more open. I'd hate to give up on anyone. 2. Biblically, can women be ordained? Can women be pastors just not senior pastors? 3. What is the purpose of ordination? Is it a biblical requirement for a pastor to be ordained?

Enjoy these questions this week. You can submit your questions for Pastor Blake at FBCedmond.org/askpastor. 1. In Revelation 20:2 the Scriptures teach that Satan was bound for 1,000 years, which I believe to be a representation of the church age. How would you explain 2 Corinthians 4:4 when Rev 20:3 seems to indicate Satan's inability to deceive the nations while he is bound? 2. Please explain Proverbs 16:4. Also, I recently went to an 80th birthday party, when the person got up to make a speech, he said the greatest thing a person should know is how to forgive people. I agree with the statement that we should forgive others, but shouldn’t the greatest thing a person should know is to have Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and savior? 3. My husband and I have been coming to First Baptist for a few weeks and we are really enjoying it. We are both born-again Christians and have been looking for a new church home. We are both divorced and have been married to each other for almost two years. Neither of us initiated the divorce from our former spouses. We got into a pretty heated discussion last night about Romans 7. He believes 100% everything in the Bible to be true, as do I, but, I believe things change and the time period in which it was written has to be considered. So, I asked the question, "do you think I am an adulteress even though my ex-husband left me? He is still alive and I am remarried." The KJV clearly states that makes me an adulteress." He would only say "if it is in the Bible I believe it." This was very hurtful to me that he would 1. think that of me and 2. think that I would feel that way about him. Please shed some light on this for us both.

Enjoy these questions this week. You can submit your questions for Pastor Blake at FBCedmond.org/askpastor. 1. Why were goats used on the Day of Atonement? Why not lambs? 2. Why is information on Neanderthals and Dinosaurs not included in the Bible? We have physical evidence of both but no mention in the bible.

Enjoy these questions this week. You can submit your questions for Pastor Blake at FBCedmond.org/askpastor. 1. Why do believers worry that they can lose their salvation? If the scriptures are so clear that we can’t, why are so many concerned about it? 2. Do Jewish People & Christians Worship the Same God?

Enjoy these questions this week. You can submit your questions for Pastor Blake at FBCedmond.org/askpastor. 1. Do you recommend any podcast that speaks biblical truths? 2. I do not understand why Essau was hated by God. I know Essau did a foolish thing but did God simply hate his works. Also, you mention John Knox about a quote he made. I am a direct descendant of him, could you repeat the quote to me?

Enjoy these questions this week. You can submit your questions for Pastor Blake at FBCedmond.org/askpastor. 1. I was reading a blog post from a lady that teaches biblical womanhood, and while I normally agree with her on most things, a recent post from her seemed to border on legalism. She was saying that because of the following verse out of 1 Timothy, wives are to be silent in Sunday school (unless the class is women only) and if wives do have any questions, should ask their husbands at home. While I know there’s a battle to maintain scriptural teaching, my concern is this is leaning towards legalism. “Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet.” 1 Timothy 2:11-12 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/1ti.2.11-12.ESV 2. I read a book by Douglas Cobb titled “And Then the End Will Come”. Have you read it and if so what do you think about it? I found it encouraging that we are getting very close to reaching all of the unreached people groups and that Jesus' return may be closer than we think. 3. Pastor Blake, I am reading a book titled Understanding End Times Prophecy by Paul N. Benware suggested by my dad. It refers to Revelation 3:21 ESV "The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne." My question is how this relates to the "Trinity". I remember your sermon where you gave many scripture references to Jesus as God. If this is the case and I believe this, then why do God and Jesus have separate thrones?

Enjoy these questions this week. You can submit your questions for Pastor Blake at FBCedmond.org/askpastor. 1. I was raised in the non-denomination church in my younger years but at around 23 I stopped calling myself a particular church name and just believed what the word spoke to me and studied diligently to get an understanding of what the word said. In the last 3years, before my son started believing in Calvinism, I was studying it as well. And I will admit that it is something that goes against my beliefs but I’m not an old dog that can’t learn new tricks. The discussion that I try and have with my son always goes south, so the question that I have asked him, I will ask you. In Romans 5: 18-19 if all were affected by Adam’s sin and all were affected by Christ’s righteousness, verse 18; verse 19 says basically the same thing using disobedience and obedience, and instead of all it uses many. 2. As with Job, does Satan need permission from God to cause harm, destruction, and illness that is not brought upon by our sin?

Enjoy these questions this week. You can submit your questions for Pastor Blake at FBCedmond.org/askpastor. 1. My wife has been separated for over 7 years. neither has had another person during that time. I love her dearly. also, I do not believe in divorce for non-biblical reasons. is it wrong to continue to pray for the resurrection of our marriage? I sometimes feel so guilty for this constantly being on my heart. she always calls me when she needs me for something, and I can’t help but answer that call. I am a Christian and try to live as such. it’s been said that God allows for but does not approve of divorce. I cannot get her to go to counseling and continue to pray for God to touch her heart. please give me your biblical perspective. 2. In 1 Corinthians 14:14-19, Paul writes about tongues, praying, and blessing in the spirit. What does he mean by "in the spirit?" 3. Where in the Bible is the marriage ceremony/celebration/reception mentioned? There are many scriptures to reference the importance of the marriage covenant, and the roles of a husband and wife. We understand this and are only referring to the marriage CEREMONY. Through discussion, we were unable to come up with a scripture that gives reference to an actual ceremony or wedding celebration. We were curious if the big to-do of inviting friends and family, extravagant decorations, and a reception to follow came from any scriptural basis, or if the celebration was brought about by pagans, or even slowly added by humans over the years. Thank you for your help!

Enjoy these questions this week. You can submit your questions for Pastor Blake at FBCedmond.org/askpastor. 1. What are your thoughts on 1 Corinthians 11:2-16 on head covering? It’s been something that has been stirring in my heart. I’ve heard various views on it. Particularly vs 10 about the angels. And the physical act of wearing something on your head. 2. I’m a teacher at a local high school. I’ve been working hard in providing students opportunities to prepare them for life after high school. Lately, though, the leader of the high school has been putting much pressure on myself and my team saying we are not doing our job when in sense we are doing what is right and what I believe God has led us to do which is providing these students with skills and opportunities that will enrich their lives after graduation. What am I supposed to do with the negativity from the high school leader? What do I do when all the leader wants to do is bring my team and me down?

Enjoy these questions this week. You can submit your questions for Pastor Blake at FBCedmond.org/askpastor. 1. Pastor, in studying Exodus in Bible study, we are on the part of Moses explaining the firstborn being redeemed, both animal & man. How is this done with the male child? In Numbers 3:46 & 18:16, it appears this is done by paying a monetary amount. However, my Bible also refers me to Rev. 14:4 where it talks of the firstborn being virgins, being firstfruits to God. Can you please explain this further? If a male was the firstborn, was he dedicated to being a virgin, never marrying? Luke 2:23 also speaks of Jesus being the firstborn male & holy to the Lord. 2. In Matthew 8, why did the demons ask to be sent into the herd of pigs? 3. How do we respond to someone that says you cannot believe the bible because it has been altered?

Enjoy these questions this week. You can submit your questions for Pastor Blake at FBCedmond.org/askpastor. 1. Does a Christian have to be ordained to baptize? 2. Do babies that die go to Heaven? 3. How Can the Church go into debt to secular institutions when the scripture demands against it?

Enjoy these questions this week. You can submit your questions for Pastor Blake at FBCedmond.org/askpastor. 1. In Mark 9:38-41 the context of this passage indicates that the individuals “casting out demons” in Jesus' name were hindered because of “not following us”. The disciples were told to not hinder them [v39], but what I want to know is, would this passage of scripture pertain to those claiming to be Christian but teach an obscured “gospel”? If not, what constitutes “casting out demons” and what does that look like in our society? 2. I am 37 years old female and have developed feelings for a man much older than me. He is 60 years old (we are 23 years apart). I have been praying for God to bring a man into my life, but I wasn't expecting him to be much older. I am worried about what my family and friends might think about our age gap. I'm not sure if I should give this relationship a chance or end it and find someone younger. I'm kinda at a loss for what to do? I have no one to ask because they would probably not take my question seriously. 3. As a teacher of a Connection Group, one of the members asked me, Don't all people have a conscience? The scripture from Ephesians 2:1 came to mind, "As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins. . . , which I repeated. I did then tell her that I would study this issue and ask for your response.