repentance

How do I deal with the fear that my dad may never change?

June 26, 2021

Question: Hello Bro. Hamilton, I just need some clarification about a situation. My parents are not members of the church of Christ, but I am. We went off and on when I was growing up but stopped because my dad didn’t take us anymore. However, we went back, and I was baptized when I was…

Renewed

March 28, 2021

by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Colossians 3:1-11 I. At times we stop and sigh. Wouldn’t it be nice to return to the days of childhood, when we didn’t have a care in the world? When we were ignorant of all the problems in the world and unacquainted with sin? – Matthew 18:3 A. In our reading,…

How do I know that a slip was not due to a lack of repentance?

March 27, 2021

Question: Since repentance doesn’t necessarily mean that we won’t commit the same mistakes after becoming a Christian, how does one know when their slip-ups are due to weakness and struggling with old sins or habits? If they really are trying to overcome those sins and then repeat mistakes, how do they really know they haven’t…

Love and Repentance

March 16, 2021

by Terry Wane Benton It is common these days to hear people use scriptures that say that God “loves” everyone and commands us to love everyone. But they use this to mean that God “accepts” everyone regardless of their sin and attitude toward sin. They often call this “unconditional love.” Often we are told that…

Seeking the Things Above

January 3, 2021

by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Colossians 3:1-4 I. So often we focus on winning souls for Christ that we lose sight that conversion is not the goal but the first step in a life long process of change – Colossians 2:6-7 A. To stay with Christ, to live with him, is to walk after him -…

When Ahab Humbled Himself

December 27, 2020

by Jeffrey W. Hamilton It might seem odd, but I love it when a student in a Bible class asks a deep question — you know, a question that shows the student was thinking far beyond the immediate lesson. This morning, a student was working on a lesson about greed and he planned to use…

Is the Christian Obligated to Forgive the Sinner Who Will Not Repent?

December 11, 2020

by Curtis A. Cates The above question has often been asked of this scribe. Every accountable being at times sins against others; some sin publicly, even against the church. Clearly, those who repent and ask for forgiveness are to be fully forgiven. But, not everyone repents and asks for forgiveness. Does God require us to…

December 10, 2020

by J. W. McGarvey (1828-1911) There are certain considerations in regard to repentance, which is exceedingly important for us to keep in mind. Among all the conditions of pardon and eternal life, it is the most difficult to bring about. When you look through the record of the Savior’s earthly ministry, you find that he…

Even after being baptized, my sister refused to leave her lesbian relationship

August 24, 2020

Question: Good afternoon, I need help. My sister in Christ was baptized. She has started a relationship with another woman. I’ve taken her over to Leviticus chapter 18 and studied with her about this. But she refuses to end the relationship. She’s married to this woman and needs a place to stay. I’ve prayed about…

Do we forgive even though the elders refuse to change?

July 24, 2020

Question: “Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him” (Luke 17:3-4). After reading this passage, it causes me…