A Soul Set Free

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/A-Soul-Set-Free.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalms 32   I.         Every person is guilty of sin – Romans 3:10-23             A.        Therefore, we all need forgiveness from God                         1.         It is found in Jesus Christ – I John 2:1; Ephesians 1:7             B.        Only with forgiveness can we enter into God’s presence – Revelation 21:27 II.        How blessed is a forgiven man…

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How to Become a Christian

by W. Frank Walton “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come” (II Corinthians 5:17). The Bible says salvation from sin is only in Christ (Acts 4:12). The most important commitment you’ll ever make is deciding to become a true Christian. What “steps”…

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Notes on Examples of Conversion

Where Hear Believe Repent Confess Be Baptized Result At Pentecost Acts 2:14-41 Acts 2:38 Acts 2:38, 41 Forgiveness of sins Acts 2:38 Added Acts 2:41 Acts 3:12-26; 4:2,4 Acts 4:4 Increase in number Acts 5:14 Added to number Acts 5:42 Increasing in number Samaria Acts 8:4-8, 12 Acts 8:12-13 Acts 8:12-13 Ethiopian Eunuch Acts 8:30-35…

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Notes on Things that Accompany Salvation

Hear Believe Repent Confess Be Baptized Obey Commanded Acts 16:31; Hebrews 11:6 Commanded Acts 2:38; 17:30; 26:20 Commanded Acts 10:48 Commanded Philippians 2:12 To come to God John 6:45 To please God Hebrews 11:6 To gain times of refreshing Acts 3:19 Brings joy in heaven Luke 15:7 To be confessed before God Matthew 10:32-33 To…

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Should a man confess that he helped someone steal?

Question: Ten years ago a friend of mine committed a crime. He helped a homeless man carry a computer screen to sell it for drugs, even though he himself never broke in but helped carry it from the outside. No harm to anyone was done as it was empty and just after midnight. Anyway, he…

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Does a confession need to be taken before baptism?

Question: We are having a problem with words in our congregation. When you baptize someone should you say the words “I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit for the remission of your sins?” Or should you just immerse them and say nothing? Also, our preacher does not…

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Can I be forgiven for denying Christ?

Question: I’m currently 13 years old, but when I was 12. I would tell my grandmother “I don’t believe in God” deliberately because I wanted to make her angry, since I was angry. I didn’t know it was bad to say that. I actually regret it so much that I’m about to cry writing this.…

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What must I confess before I am baptized?

Question: Let me start off by thanking you for all that you do in the name of Jesus Christ. A few weeks ago I prayed to God asking for guidance in finding the true church of which I can become a part of so that I may further my understanding of the gospel. I firmly…

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What must I confess before I am baptized?

Question: Let me start off by thanking you for all that you do in the name of Jesus Christ. A few weeks ago I had prayed to God asking for guidance in finding the true church of which I can become a part so that I may further my understanding of the gospel. I firmly…

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Must we be condemned before the church for sins we have repented of?

Question: I am writing to seek for your advice on a situation I find myself in. I have been in a relationship for several months and shortly before we could inform our pastor of our planned wedding, we made a grievous error and fell into sexual sins. A child was conceived because of these sins.…

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What does it mean to confess Christ before men?

Question: Hey Jeffrey, I hope all is well with you. Thank you for always answering my questions with sound Bible doctrine. It has helped me a lot. I have a question about confessing Jesus before men. I was reading Matthew 10:32-33 and I would like to know exactly what Jesus means? I confessed Jesus before…

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When I confessed my adultery, I lost my marriage

Question: This isn’t a question. It is in answer to something you wrote to someone about adultery. Sadly, I went to a mature Christian and was told to confess. I have wrecked a 25+ year marriage and my kids are devastated. Answer: I’m sorry to hear this. Sadly, I can’t undo the damage already done.

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Throwing Away the Key

by Dan Shipley via Gospel Power, Vol. 15, No. 8, Feb. 24, 2008. “Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (James 5:16). Sin is bad, but concealed sin is even worse. If deliberate sin is like…

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Was Achan punished because he did not confess his sin to Joshua?

Question: Can somebody be punished for not telling their leaders about the sin they have committed, like how Achan was punished for not telling Moses about his sin until God found him out? Answer: “But the children of Israel committed a trespass regarding the accursed things, for Achan the son of Carmi, the son of…

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The Good Confession

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/GoodConfession.mp3 Text: I Timothy 6:6-16   I.         We all have heard of the five steps of salvation, even though there are really more than five steps. Five just makes it easier to remember.             A.        Today we are going to focus on confession.             B.        Exactly what is to be confessed? How is it to be confessed? When are we…

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What should be said to make the good confession?

Question: Before I was baptized, I confessed that I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and I still do. If you look at I Timothy 6:12-13, Paul says Timothy made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses and then says that Jesus made the good confession in the presence of Pilate. If…

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Recognizing Our Sin

by Dennis Stackhouse How important is it for a Christian individuals to recognize sin in their lives?  It is of extreme importance because without that recognition a person will never take the necessary steps to remove the sin and get their life moving in a righteous direction once more.  With that in mind, let’s notice…

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Must each person I sinned against be contacted before I can be forgiven?

Question: How should a Christian handle sins that have been committed in the past as far as contacting each person whom he has sinned against? Must each person be contacted before the Christian is forgiven? Answer: A similar question was asked a few years ago. See: “In order to repent, do you need to find…

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Should I not go to church if I have not confessed my sins to others?

Question: Does Matthew 5:23-24 mean I should not go to church if I have not confessed to men my sins against men? Answer: “Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled…

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I lied to my wife about my adultery. Do I have to tell her?

Question: Hi, I am writing this email to ask a serious question about my life. I’m a Christian. I have been married for three years. But I had a problem with sex “addiction” (I’m not that sure if it’s or not). I am highly drawn to girls since I was young just to have sex…

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Did the eunuch have witnesses to his confession?

Question: Dear Jeffrey, I have read some of the answers on your website related to the requirements of a valid baptism. You have mentioned a confession of your belief that Jesus Christ is the Son of God is required, and in accordance with I Timothy 6:12, that confession should be made before “many witnesses”. My…

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If I didn’t say “Jesus is Lord,” do I need to be baptized again?

Question: Hello there, Thank you for the articles and answers on your website.  I believe they stand on good biblical ground and are a blessing to Christians and the world. I have a question about Romans 10:9.  Many years ago, I was immersed in water for the remission of my sins.  Before this baptism, I…

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I don’t know why I hide what I’m doing from my older brother

Question: Have you ever felt uncomfortable with someone who isn’t a devoted Christian or not a believer at all? This happens to me many times with my brother. Whenever someone tries to correct him, he immediately gets mad and defensive. He says he believes in God, but really he’s not convinced. He’s involved in fornication,…

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Do belief and confession mean that baptism is unnecessary?

Question: Hi, Thanks for your web site. It has been a God-send to folks like me who are relatively new in our walk with God through the Lord Jesus Christ. I have been trying to find a Bible-believing church to attend, but there are so many false teachings and divisions in the body of Christ today that…

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Can I baptize myself?

Question: Hi, Thanks for a good website I have learned a lot from reading questions and answers! Is it possible to support your website financially? I want to ask if you would pray for me so I can get out of my sin. As a person, I used to be confident, but I’m not that…

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Do I need to tell my husband about my sinful past?

Question: Hi, I am married, and I wanted to know if I need to tell my husband all my past sexual sins before we met. I was baptized this year and I’m realizing a lot of things I used to do were very sinful. I’m feeling overwhelmed. I didn’t grow up in a Christian home.…

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Do I need to “like” everything mentioning God on Facebook?

Question: I liked a page on Facebook that puts a lot of Christian-related pictures in my news feed. A lot of them say things like: share this if you love God, or like if you love God, etc. I know Matthew 10:33 says “But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before…

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Do I need to confess my use of pornography to my preacher?

Question: God bless. I have been a Christian for many years, but I was addicted to porn and I committed fornication against myself (my body). I never had sex with anybody, just myself. I have repented from that sin, and I recognize my sin, so do I need to confess my sin to God only…

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My problem is that I grumble too much at work. What should I do?

Question: Sir, I have been looking through the previous answers on public sin. But I could not find anything that was quite like my question. This is the best website I have found and I think it has helped me a ton. I think my biggest problem is when at work, usually, I will talk…

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When a person doesn’t know the wrong you did, is confession required?

Question: I have committed adultery many times during the past 30 years of my marriage and in many instances lied to cover up my absence. During the last year or two, I have earnestly started to read the bible and now feel extremely guilty about my past poor behaviors. Since I have become more familiar…

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