Bible Questions with Andrew Farley

Jesus says “Well done, good and faithful servant” to the servants who faithfully put their master’s entrusted money to work in the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14–23). The phrase appears in verses 21 and 23.The parable encourages faithfulness, but it doesn’t teach that we earn salvation or God’s acceptance through our performance.Salvation and our inheritance are gifts of grace (Ephesians 2:8–10; Colossians 3:24). The passage doesn’t explicitly say whether Jesus will use that exact phrase for every believer; it does show the master welcoming his faithful servants into his joy.

No! God is not trying to crush you or make you suffer so you’ll become useful to Him. In Christ, you are already loved, accepted, and complete. Hardship can be real and overwhelming, but it doesn’t mean God is against you; He can comfort and strengthen you in it.

No—Revelation 3:16 isn’t saying Jesus will eject a believer from salvation. In Revelation 3:14–22, Jesus confronts the Laodicean church’s self-sufficiency and calls them to recognize their need of Him. “Spit you out” is a sharp image of His rejection of their complacency, not a statement that a person united to Christ can lose eternal life.Jesus promises that He will never cast out the one who comes to Him (John 6:37), and that His sheep will never perish or be snatched from His hand (John 10:28–29). Believers are secure in Christ; His correction is not condemnation (Romans 8:1). His finished work—not our spiritual “temperature”—is the basis of our acceptance.Want free grace-based encouragement in your inbox? I can send you short reminders that you are deeply loved, fully forgiven, and complete in Christ.

Yes—if you’re in Christ, God has forgiven all your sins: past, present, and future. Jesus’ sacrifice was complete, not something that needs to be repeated each time you sin. You don’t have to earn fresh forgiveness; you can thank God for the forgiveness you already have and trust Christ as you learn to walk in His life.

Yes. Being divorced does not automatically disqualify someone from serving in ministry. A person’s marital history does not cancel their place in Christ or their ability to love and serve others. In Jesus, believers are fully forgiven and made new (Ephesians 1:7; 2 Corinthians 5:17).