Editorial Staff

Question: In Genesis 4, Cain committed the first murder ever recorded. What prompted Cain to murder his brother Abel?

Question: What did Jesus mean when He said, "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him" (John 6:44)? Does this mean there are some whom God is not drawing to Him?

Question: When I read your magazine, I realize how deeply Jesus Christ wanted His followers to obey Him. But after years of prayer and Bible study, I find that I am not able to obey Him and grow spiritually as much as I would like to. There are some who say all I need to do is "believe"—and I do believe—so why do I find it so hard to obey Jesus' commands?

Question: Jesus' death and resurrection lifted the veil between human beings and God the Father (Matthew 27:51; 2 Corinthians 3:14-16). Since we now have direct contact with the Father, unlike the ancients who only knew the God of the Old Testament—Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 10:4)—why do we need to pray to Jesus? In fact, should we be praying to Christ at all, since He came to reveal the Father (John 14:7)?

Question: If God is all-powerful, why does He allow Satan to be the "god of this age" (2 Corinthians 4:4)?

Answer: Scripture makes it clear that the devil—Satan—is currently in charge of planet Earth. Even Jesus Christ Himself, shortly before His arrest and crucifixion, acknowledged Satan's authority: "I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me" (John 14:30).