Because I doubted, do I need to be baptized again?

Question: I’ve been having quite a lot of problems with doubt and worry lately.  The other night I was in quite a doubt-filled, depressed mood, and I think I slipped into a period of not believing in Christ.  Whether it was a minute, an hour, or five hours, I do not know for I soon…

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This has not been a good year for me. I need to regain my faith

Question: Please pray with me. This year has not been good for me. I’ve had a terrible fight with my manager. I put her in an awkward place at work. I’ve bad-mouthed her and now at work, I’ve misused the money. I might lose the job. I have a two-year-old baby girl. I’ve started using…

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Is it a lack of faith if your prayer isn’t answered?

Question: Dear Sir, Thank you so much for your hard work and dedication to your website. I have recently started attending a local church of Christ, in part because of the wonderful Scripture-based answers on your website and the freedom and new life promised by following God’s laws rather than man-made directives. My boyfriend attends…

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God Cannot Lie

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/GodCannotLie.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Kings 22:1-28   I.         Heathen men molded their concept of their gods into their own image – Romans 1:22-23             A.        We can read stories of the Greek gods and in their interaction with men they often lied and cheated to accomplish their goals.                         1.         The Greeks saw their gods as just…

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Should I convert to marry my Muslim boyfriend?

Question: I am in my later twenties. I have a problem. I was born a Christian. My boyfriend is a Muslim. we’ve dated for almost 4 years now. We are at the level that we should get married now. My parents don’t like him and they wanted us to break up. And his parents stated…

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What Is Your Faith?

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/WhatIsYourFaith.mp3 by PJ Anderson

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Should faith be based on what we see?

Question: Good day Sir, Someone once told me that her faith has grown more through the things she has witnessed (miraculous healing, prophecies, people delivered from demons, etc.). Can this be true since prophecy has ceased? Further, should faith be based on what we see? If not on what should it be based on? And…

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Does it matter what I believe?

Question: We have a problem here that involves the following questions. I sure would appreciate it if you would share your thoughts concerning these when you have time. Does it matter what I believe? Does it matter what I did to be saved? Does it matter what church I attend? Does it matter how I…

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Why did Joseph want his bones dug up and buried in the Promised Land?

Question: Why did Joseph want his bones dug up and buried in the Promised Land? Answer: Joseph prophesied that Israel would not remain in Egypt. To demonstrate his confidence in God’s promise, Joseph insisted that when they left, they would take his bones and bury them in Canaan — a land they would not possess…

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On Faith

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/OnFaith.mp3 by Andrew Long

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The Redemption in Christ: An Examination of Romans 3:19-5:21

by Sean P. Cavender Paul indicted all people, both Jew and Gentile, as guilty of sin before God (Romans 3:19). It is due to man’s ungodliness that the wrath of God is revealed, and He will judge all sin as worthy of death (Romans 1:18,32). The reality of sin is frightening and condemning. What is…

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Faith and Works (Sharp)

by Keith Sharp The doctrine of salvation by faith alone is fundamental to Protestant theology. The old Methodist Discipline stated, “Wherefore, that we are justified by faith only is a most wholesome doctrine, and very full of comfort.” The Standard Baptist Manual, by Edward T. Hiscox teaches, “… the great gospel blessing which Christ secures…

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How can I get faith?

Question: I really need some advice. You see, I’ve tried to follow the path of Christ so many times I don’t even think I can count. I have never been baptized, but I want to. I’m just scared “what if I get baptized and I backslide?” I want to follow the path, but I just…

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How can I know that what I am believing is the truth?

Question: Just last night I heard someone say that Lucifer was a human king and not Satan. I had thought that they were one and the same and now I am quite confused and discouraged because so many people view the Bible differently. How can I know that what I am believing is the truth?…

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Can a Christian believe in God and not believe in prayer?

Question: Can a Christian believe in God but not believe in prayer? I’m a member of the church but I don’t believe in prayer? How do I overcome that? Answer: Let’s work backward. You say you don’t believe in prayer, yet the Bible says that Jesus taught, “Then He spoke a parable to them, that…

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How can I be 100% sure?

Question: I am starting to build more faith but I am still not 100% sure that God exists.  I go to church and everything and I feel terrible to admit this.  How can I be 100% sure?  Are you 100% sure?  Will I ever get there?  I’m just scared that I never will be able…

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Do you have to believe in Jesus to be saved from your sins?

Question: Do you have to believe in Jesus to be saved from your sins? I mean, what if you were really trying to love your neighbor and do your best but you just kept looking at Christianity (very open-mindedly) and just kept thinking it must not be true? Could an all fair, all-loving God really…

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How can I strengthen my faith?

Question: My faith is really low, and I feel empty. I pray as often as I can but I haven’t been going to church for quite some time, but I’m going to start going this coming Sunday. My questions are: How do I strengthen my faith and form a strong relationship with God? I have…

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Good Faith Desire

by Sam Stinson “For, ‘Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay; but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.’ But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have…

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An Unconditional Faith

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/2012Fall4AnUnconditionalFaith.mp3 by Rob Speer God and I

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How does the Holy Spirit testify to people today?

Question: Hello, I was reading your page and I was wondering if you thought that the Holy Spirit testifies with people today. I can see what you mean by churches making a following off these emotional responses but are you saying that God doesn’t have a way of testifying with us to let us know…

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How can you distinguish between the real and the make-believe?

Question: Alright, how do we know that religion, in general, is not just our mind playing tricks on us? This has been bothering me badly now. I didn’t know if you had an answer or not. For example, I had terrible anxiety problems. I was convinced that my house was haunted. I started hearing things…

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How can I know that I’m serving God?

Question: OK, simple question: I want to know what I can do to just serve God and know it’s Him I’m serving. Answer: “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing,…

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Samson

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Samson.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton  Text: Hebrews 11:32-40 I.         Heb 11:32-34             A.        Many wonder why Samson is listed among these greats.             B.        True, his great strength was a wonder, but his life was not one many of us would want to imitate.             C.        How is it that Samson, with his many sins, has come to be listed with greats…

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Notes on the Message Preached

The Faith General References Acts 6:7 Acts 13:8 Acts 14:22 Acts 16:5 I Corinthians 16:13 Galatians 3:23 Ephesians 4:13 Colossians 1:23 Colossians 2:7 I Timothy 1:2 I Timothy 3:13 I Timothy 4:1 I Timothy 5:8 I Timothy 6:10,12 Titus 1:2, Titus 1:13 Titus 3:15 I Peter 5:9 Jude 3 Word of Faith Romans 10:8 One…

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How can I be sure that the Bible is fully correct?

Question: I’m a teenager wanting to know the truth, so please help me out. How can I be sure that the Bible is fully correct? I mean people must have added or taken out scriptures to try to confuse us. How can I know what religion is correct? I know I have to have faith,…

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Should it be “the faith” in Ephesians 2:8?

Question: Hi, I have been reading on your website and find it very informative. Just wanted to share a few things. I have been comparing various Bible translations. And of course, I see there are problems with many of them. I bought a very interesting Bible named the “The Everlasting Gospel” by Hugo McCord, Th.D.…

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How can righteousness be apart from works when faith is a work?

Question: “Just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works: “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin”” (Romans 4:6-8). “Then they said to him, “What must…

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Is faith a work that God does to a person?

Question: Recently someone told me that they believed that the work of God in John 6:29 means that God makes a person believe. I assume they think the Holy Spirit works in a person making them believe. I know that faith comes from hearing the Word of God but would like to know if there…

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Why can’t I have faith?

Question: I would like to ask you what you think is wrong with me. I know you’re handcuffed a bit by strictly email, but you seem to get a feel for people, so I’ll describe where I am in life and I’ll ask you why do you think I’m this way. It seems like no…

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What Saves a Person?

by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Since, “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (II Peter 3:9), it would be sensible to understand that in order to get people saved, God would tell them…

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What Must I Do to be Saved? (Hamilton)

by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Listening to preachers, pastors, and priests today, one wonders if they could answer the question, “What must I do to be saved?” in a manner similar to the apostles. What Must I Do to be Saved? In the very first sermon recorded, Peter convicted the Jews of participating in the death of…

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