Posts Tagged ‘forgiveness’
Do I need to confess some sins to a Roman Catholic priest to be forgiven?
Question: Hello Jeffrey! I’ve been studying Christianity once again and found out that there are two kinds of sins at the Roman Catholic Church — ‘venial’ and ‘mortal’. I found out that if one commits a mortal sin then it must be confessed in front of a priest in order to be completely forgiven. That…
Read MoreI feel like I’m a fake Christian
Question: Good afternoon, I’m in my thirties. I have never been intimate with a man. Last month, for the first time I actually had a hard time setting boundaries and was fingered by the man I’m seeing. I’m so upset at myself because I’ve been so steadfast my entire life to do no more than…
Read MoreStacking the Deck Against Jesus
by Matthew W. Bassford If there is anything we should take away from reading through the gospels this year, it is a deeper understanding of the skill with which the Evangelists crafted their narratives. Nothing in any of the gospels is there just because Jesus did it. As John observes in John 21:25, all four…
Read MoreMake Me Know My End
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Make-Me-Know-My-End.mp3 Text: Psalms 39 I. Psalms 38-40 cover related themes regarding the problems caused by sin A. God has punished David because of his sin – Psalms 38:1-2 B. Between God’s punishment and the burden of the sin itself, David feels overwhelmed – Psalms 38:3-8 C. Even close friends and family avoid you when you are suffering because…
Read MoreMy husband doesn’t want me to confess all my sins to him
Question: I had multiple affairs with an ex-boyfriend over several years. My husband found out about the first one. I lied to him but continued to commit adultery. I came to the Lord in repentance and I was baptized for the remission of my sins. I confessed my adultery to my husband but in heat…
Read MoreI can’t accept God’s forgiveness
Question: Can God forgive me for my past sins of fornication? Can I meet a godly man to marry regardless of my past sins? Answer: Why do you think your own personal sins are so special or severe that the Almighty God is unable to forgive you? God is able to forgive all sins that…
Read MoreGod Who Makes the Broken Beautiful
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/God-Who-Makes-the-Broken-Beautiful.mp3 by Wayne Fancher I. The Earth from Without Form and Void to Beautiful Genesis 1:2 The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. Genesis 1:31 Then God saw everything that He had made,…
Read MoreThe Adulterous Woman
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/AdulterousWoman.mp3 Text: John 8:2-11 I. People rarely want their sins pointed out. A. It should be understandable. We want to think well of ourselves and have others think well of us also. B. The common response to rebuke is to attack the messenger – Proverbs 15:32 C. You’ll hear people inappropriately quote, “Judge not …” – Matthew 7:1…
Read MoreLove Is …
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Love-Is.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Corinthians 13:1-8 I. Many passages are used for needlepoint samplers. A popular choice is I Corinthians 13:1-8 A. Have you considered the meaning of the many phrases? B. We often associate this passage with weddings, but Paul was writing about what love between brethren is like C. However, it can be applied to…
Read MoreDoes the person who had sex with another person’s fiancee needs to apologize to the fiancee
Question: If a Christian sister falls into formication with a brother who is engaged, and both have sincerely repented, is it necessary for the sister to call the brother’s fiancée to apologize as a form of restitution? Does the brother need to tell his fiancée and show her the sister he fornicated with? Is it…
Read MoreHow many days after apologizing do we have to stop committing a sin for God to forgive us?
Question: How many days after apologizing do we have to stop committing a sin for God to forgive us? Answer: You seem to have a mistaken idea. When you realize that you are sinning, you should immediately stop. “For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading…
Read MoreA 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…
Read MoreDid sacrifices forgive sins?
Question: Good day, Recently the topic of “rolling forward” sins came up in a Sunday School class, and I decided to study the matter. This led me to the following web page: Were sins rolled forward under the Old Law? The compelling part of the argument given is Leviticus 4:20, which states that “the priest…
Read MoreWould God forgive incest?
Question: Greetings! I would like to ask for some advice about my unrighteousness. I hope you could reply. To get straight to it, I had sex with my brother. It was not really the kind of serious kind of sex because we were just playing around. At that time we were already in the church…
Read MoreI Don’t Feel Forgiven
by Whit Sasser Everyone keeps telling you that you need to learn to forgive yourself; but the truth is, you need to learn to trust God. If God says you are forgiven, then you are forgiven. “But, I don’t feel like I am forgiven.” My friend, forgiveness is a promise of God, not a feeling of…
Read MoreCan someone be forgiven if he purposely sins?
Question: My friend lost his virginity because he wanted to. The person he did it with had already done it a couple of times. He felt really bad because he is a Christian. Can God forgive him if he confesses to a priest? Answer: Confession to a priest is a Catholic practice. It is not…
Read MoreWas I wrong to forgive someone without rebuking them?
Question: Hello, A coworker asked for my forgiveness, but because the moment was awkward, I didn’t say “I forgive you.” There’s a good chance that I have a form of OCD, and I get stuck on little things like this. I went out of my way to be nice to him, and I never mentioned…
Read MoreHow could the Almighty God accept me?
Question: Mr. Jeffrey, I don’t admit this to many people, but I have an issue in my thinking when it comes to God. I have a fear that no matter what I do and no matter how I try to be righteous and help others get to heaven, that at Judgment Day God will hold…
Read MoreIs there a point when it is too late to leave sin and be forgiven?
Question: I grew up in a church of Christ. I was baptized in middle school. I have struggled with sexual immorality beginning from a young age for a long time, along with other sins including taking plan B. I think as a teenager I did not take sin as seriously as I should. I have…
Read MoreWhen I confess and repent, will my relationship with God be restored?
Question: If I pray to God and tell Him I know what I did was wrong, and I know I did it a few times, but I will never do it again, then will my relationship with God be good as long as I repent? Answer: When you accept that you are no longer that…
Read MoreI’m too impure and unworthy to come to God
Question: I’m truly scared about this, but I thought I would give it a go. I’m 15 years old and I’ve done stuff most adults haven’t dreamed of doing, such as smoking weed, giving hand jobs, and receiving masturbation. The problem is anytime I try to change and move forward something pulls me back. It’s…
Read MoreI found pornography on my fiance’s flash drives. What should I do?
Question: I found flash drives in my fiancé’s stuff: one had a hidden folder of photos of family, wallpapers, and a folder named “Girls” with half-naked pictures of women — both anime and movie star. Another flash drive had a New Folder with mixed pictures both half-naked anime photos plus photos of us. I confronted…
Read MoreIs it possible to have sinned so much that I won’t be saved?
Question: I am a baptized believer. I try my best to be obedient. I try to pick up my cross and follow Christ daily. I fail a lot! Is it possible to have sinned so much that I won’t be saved? Thanks. Answer: God isn’t looking for perfect people because there are none. He is…
Read MoreI was pressured into adultery and gave in. Can I be forgiven?
Question: I have a few questions. I am a Christian and committed adultery. Although there was an element of consent, this occurred in a high-pressure situation where there was intense coercion. My Christian therapist (psychologist) believes my past, with its complex trauma, and mental health condition has put me in a position where I was…
Read MoreDoes Jesus forgive all our sins: past, present, and future?
Question: Dear Brother in Christ, Greetings in the precious name of our Lord Jesus Christ. I went through your website and especially the questions and answers, I want to say that by God’s grace and His enabling you have done a good job. The answers to most of the questions are apt and scripture based. …
Read MoreHow much obedience does the Lord demand of me?
Question: Hey Jeffrey, I have a problem understanding the nature of obedience to God’s laws. I read and hear that obedience is required for salvation, but no man (besides Jesus) has obeyed perfectly, so please help me understand the nature of the obedience required to please God and enter His eternal abode. Is part of…
Read MoreI recently slept with a guy. Is there any hope for me?
Question: Hello Sir, I’ve sinned against God. I am gay. I slept with a guy just recently. Please, is there any hope for me to inherit God’s kingdom? I’m really confused. Please help me. Answer: The same passage that says that homosexuals cannot inherit the kingdom of God also says that fornicators, adulterers, and drunkards…
Read MoreDoes Jesus’ blood continually cleanse us from all sin?
Question: The Bible says we will give an account of our life and sin, but God washes away our sins at baptism and the blood of Christ continually cleanses. He forgives us and remembers no more, so is there judgment where our sin is remembered, or are we as white as snow because of Jesus’…
Read MoreDoes Jesus’ blood continually cleanse us from all sin?
Question: The Bible says we will give an account of our life and sin, but God washes away our sins at baptism and the blood of Christ continually cleanses. He forgives us and remembers no more, so is there judgment where our sin is remembered, or are we as white as snow because of Jesus’…
Read MoreIs baptism for the remission of future sins?
Question: When one is baptized into Christ by water baptism, is it for the remission of past sins only? Or is baptism for all sins (past, present, and future sins)? Answer: “Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and…
Read MoreMuddy Times
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/MuddyTimes.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalms 40 I. Psalms 38-40 cover related themes on the problems caused by sin A. Sin is an overwhelming burden and they cause problems in life – Psalms 38:3-8 B. Sin can cause anxiety – Psalms 38:18 C. Even close friends and family tend to avoid you when you are in sin…
Read MoreDoes marriage bring forgiveness for fornication?
Question: I have read a number of things that you have written, and I find you to be very well-spoken, and you explain points very well in an understanding way. However, I’m still a little lost. I’m trying to find out if, when two people who have committed premarital sex are married, whether or not…
Read MoreHas God forgiven my friend who is living with a married man?
Question: Hello, I have a close relative who is in an illegal relationship. He was married, but he knew that the marriage was already broken. He was trying to fix the situation when he realized there was no more love in his heart for his wife. He then reunited with a long-time friend via social…
Read MoreCan I remove sin by myself?
Question: Hi, I want to know if I can remove the sin by myself or do I have to trust Jesus in order for this to work? Answer: When you sin, you put yourself into debt and into slavery. “Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that…
Read MoreJesus is not going to give our sins back to us once they are taken away
Question: Good works are not part of the Gospel (Ephesians 2:8-9), they’re not requirements for salvation, rather they’re the fruits of salvation. Paul calls the Philippians to work out their salvation in Philippians 2:12. However, this is not a call to do works in order to be saved, rather it is a call for them…
Read MoreCould you explain “continual cleansing?”
Question: Could you explain “continual cleansing?” Answer: Continual cleansing is the concept that Christians are Teflon-coated, so sins don’t stick them; instead, the blood of Christ continually cleanses them of all sins, even if they don’t ask for forgiveness. It is based on a misunderstanding of I John 1. “This is the message which we…
Read MoreCan 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.…
Read MoreCan I be forgiven of the sins that I committed after saying the sinner’s prayer?
Question: I got saved by saying a sinner’s prayers at 19. I spent most of my twenties high-handedly sinning and being agnostic or universalist – I believed all religions were partially true. I read the Bible and Quran occasionally for inspiration. Three years ago I started going to a Baptist church and had true faith…
Read MoreWhat is the penance for adultery?
Question: Hello, I would like to know what is the penance for adultery. If forgiveness is possible, does the “forgive and you shall be forgiven” apply? Answer: The idea that there are acts of penance done for sins is not taught in the Bible. It is merely a Roman Catholic tradition. See: Do we have to…
Read MoreBlasphemy Against the Holy Ghost
by Charles G. Caldwell, Jr. Via Truth Magazine XXI: 49, pp. 781-782, December 15, 1977 In Matthew 12:31-32, Jesus said, “Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son…
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