Johanan Ministries

Frequently

Asked Questions

Photo credit: fromthegrapevine.com

A lot of people are saying that Covid-19 is God’s punishment upon humankind for all the bad things that they are doing/have done. Is this true?

No. Covid-19 is not God dishing out His punishment upon humankind for their sins. Believe it or not, this ‘dishing out of punishment’ has already occurred a long time ago! It occurred around 2000 years ago at the cross. When Jesus died on the cross, He took ALL of humankind’s punishment upon Himself.

So, why Covid-19? It is either man-made or it is naturally occurring (due to the earth being in its currently fallen state). Fear not, a time will come when this fallen earth will pass away and God will make a new earth.

(1 John 2:2, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Galatians 3:13-14, Revelation 21:1)

God is the Creator of heaven and earth. He is Triune, which means that He is one eternal God who exists as three separate persons: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ) and God the Holy Spirit. (Genesis 1:1, Romans 8:10-11, John 1:32-34)

The Bible tells the story of how much God loves us all. (John 3:16)

God created human in a sinless state. When human sinned against God, they became separated from God (= died spiritually). Ever since then, God has been wanting to restore the relationship between human and Himself. Human’s self-effort to atone for their own sin through the ages could not bring them back to a restored relationship with God. 

Jesus (Son of God) came to earth to atone for human’s sin by dying on the cross for us. Jesus rose from the dead three days later and is now seated at the right hand of God. Everyone can now come to a restored relationship with God through Jesus’ atonement and His finished work on the cross for us all.

(Genesis 1:27, Genesis 2:16-17, Isaiah 64:6, 1 Corinthians 15:3-5, Colossians 3:1, 2 Corinthians 5:17-19, 2 Corinthians 5:21)

No.

When God created human, He gave human the dominion / authority over the earth. When humans (Adam and Eve) chose to sin around 6000 years ago,: (1) Spiritual death occurred, which means that humankind is spiritually separated from God. (2) Humans delivered the dominion of the earth over to Satan. (3) Physical death entered the world (affecting humans, animals, literally the whole earth). All of these factors are at the root of the bad things that are happening in the world.

But, don’t despair. All is not lost. When Jesus died on the cross as a man (to atone for humankind’s sin) around 2000 years ago,: (1) Spiritual life is restored, which means that those who believes in Jesus’ atoning work has now been born again spiritually (no longer separated from God). (2) Jesus took back the authority of the earth from Satan. Those who are in Jesus Christ now has the authority and dominion over the earth through Him. (3) Although the effects of humankind’s fall into sin is still being felt today (e.g. diseases, cyclones, etc), those who are in Jesus Christ can now use their authority to speak against those elements.

(Genesis 1:26-28, Psalm 115:16, Genesis 3:1-6, Romans 6:23, Luke 4:6, Revelations 1:18, Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:17-18)

Let’s have a look at the sequence of God’s creation. 🙂

At the very beginning, before God created human, God created everything else first (e.g. earth, light, plants, sun, animals, etc) and said that they were good. 🙂 After that, as the crown of His creation, He then created human in His image. After this, He had a look at all that He had made, and He said that it was VERY good. 🙂

God used to walk with human in the cool breezes of the evening. What does this mean? This means that God used to have a very close relationship and fellowship with human.

So, we can see that God had provided everything that human needed (e.g. light, water, food, shelter, human companionship, etc). With all of human’s needs already provided for, human’s purpose of life was to enjoy being in relationship and fellowship with God.

But after that, man fell into sin (decided to go their own way). This means that human became separated from God. Their self-effort to atone for their own sin through the ages could not bring them back to a restored close relationship and fellowship with God.

But, fear not. 🙂 Jesus (Son of God) has died on the cross for us, around 2000 years ago. Why did He die on the cross? Well, He did that to atone for our sin, so that we can now fulfil the purpose of our lives, that is to have a very close relationship and fellowship with God. 🙂

(Genesis 1:1, Genesis 1:3, Genesis 1:11, Genesis 1:16, Genesis 1:25, Genesis 1:26-27, Genesis 1:31, Genesis 2:21-23, Genesis 3:1-10, Isaiah 64:6, Romans 5:8, 2 Corinthians 5:21)

When Jesus died on the cross, He atoned for the sins of the WHOLE world. It is not just for believers’ sins, but for unbelievers’ sins too! This means that ALL the punishments for EVERYONE’s sins (believers AND unbelievers) have been borne by Jesus. The only issue now is whether a person believes / accepts Jesus’ atonement for them or not.

(1 John 2:2, Acts 13:38, 2 Corinthians 5:19-21)

God created human. God created human in His image / likeness. Human is created with a spirit, a soul and a body. (Genesis 1:26-27, 1 Thessalonians 5:23)

Believe it or not, not only can a person live forever, EVERYONE lives forever! It does NOT depend on a potion that’s to be searched out, or a place / fountain yet to be discovered. 

We are all created by God to live FOREVER! It is just a matter of whether we choose to live forever with our loving God, or live forever in hell (lake of fire).

(Daniel 12:2, Matthew 25:44-46, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Revelation 20:11-15)

Yes, it is. In fact, it is foundational to the existence of the Physical Realm (what we can currently see, smell, taste, hear and touch).

EVERYONE has probably experienced moments in their lives where they can ‘sense’ the Spiritual Realm. Not being able to physically see, smell, taste, hear or touch it doesn’t mean that the Spiritual Realm isn’t there.

Analogy wise, it’s kind of like the relationship between ‘electricity’ (what we can’t see) and ‘the lightbulb’ (what we can see). We can’t literally see electricity, but electricity (Spiritual Realm) is actually the foundational element that powers up the lightbulb (Physical Realm).

(Romans 1:20, Hebrews 11:1-3, Colossians 1:16-17, 2 Corinthians 4:18)

No.

As mentioned in Romans 5:8 and 1 John 2:2, ALL the punishments for ALL of humankind’s sins have been put on Jesus when He died on the cross for us.

God is NOT angry at humankind. Let’s feel free to get to know Him personally in our lives, because He seriously really really really does love us. 🙂