Posts Tagged ‘sin’
O Wretched Man that I Am
by Terry Wane Benton The law of God is like an X-ray machine that reveals the contamination and cancer of the soul, called sin. The law shows us that we have neglected our great salvation, failed to glorify God as we should, and have not even been thankful for all the daily gifts of life and…
Read MoreEvil Continually (Genesis 6)
by Chuck Richardson via Biblical Insights, Vol. 15 No. 1, January 2015 Genesis chapter 6 opens with the revelation that man was desperately evil, and God responded with a complete destruction of all living persons and things, save Noah and his household. The reason: Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord (Genesis 6:8). Shall…
Read MoreFrom Now on Sin No More
by Zeke Flores There she sat, crumpled on the ground and completely humiliated. She was plainly guilty of her adultery, but her only defender turned the legal quibble into a moral quandary. Who had the right to judge her? No one, it seems. One by one, they dropped their stones and shuffled away. Jesus chose…
Read MoreOpen My Eyes that I Might See
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton via Sentry Magazine, Vol. 15, No. 1, March 31, 1989 The writer of Hebrews, in Hebrews 5:11-14, tells us that those full of age have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Most of us can understand how young Christians (spiritually young, that is) can be so easily mistaken…
Read MoreConfession of Wrongdoing
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Confession-of-Wrongdoing.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalms 32 I. Each time we gather, we offer an invitation to those who desire to become Christians to do so without delay. We also offer an opportunity for those who desire the prayers of their brethren to make that desire known. A. At times brethren use that opportunity to…
Read MoreThis Generation
by David Gibson Bad News! Jesus assessed the Jews of His day as “this adulterous and sinful generation” (Mark 8:38), “this evil generation” (Matthew 12:45), and “O faithless and twisted generation” (Matthew 17:17). Note the pejoratives: adulterous, sinful, evil, faithless, twisted. The Great Physician has pointedly and accurately diagnosed the fatal malady of our fallen human condition,…
Read MoreDoes falling back into sin make a baptism invalid?
Question: This idea has come up many times in Bible studies. It concerns sin before baptism and the process of repentance. The Scriptures teach that one must repent before baptism and that Christians will sin after baptism. I don’t know of anyone who would think that a Christian can live sinless. I also believe that…
Read MoreChanging Their Glory for What Does Not Profit
by David Gibson Isn’t it sad? How people seek after what proves counterproductive, totally illogical, and ultimately defeating. “Has a nation changed its gods, even though they are no gods? But my people have changed their glory for that which does not profit. Be appalled, O heavens, at this; be shocked, be utterly desolate, declares…
Read MoreYou Sin Too!
by Terry Wane Benton The discussion may explore a particular sin, with some arguing that Jesus never called it a sin. However, when one points out that Jesus did condemn it by supporting the Law and then sending the Spirit to guide the apostles who condemned it, the argument goes in another direction. Taking all…
Read MoreThe Problem and Solution
by Doy Moyer Some people are particularly good at troubleshooting problems. Whether electronics, cars, or engaging in household fixes, some just have that knack for figuring out what is wrong and then finding the solution to fix it. We need people like this in service positions. We need them in businesses. We need them in…
Read MoreSin Is Always Wrong
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Sin-Is-Always-Wrong.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Proverbs 28:13 I. Satan’s goal has been to lead God’s children away from him. A. So how do you accomplish this? How do you get people to do those things that are harmful to their souls? B. One way is to minimize the result of sin. To say it is not…
Read MoreWell, Nobody’s Perfect
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Well-Nobodys-Perfect.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: I John 2:1-6 I. At times a person sins and is caught. He has no regrets about his particular sin, except the embarrassment of being caught. He offers the illogical argument, “Well, nobody’s perfect.” A. It is illogical because it insists that sinning can be acceptable since everyone…
Read MoreThe Body Is for the Lord
by Bob Hutto via Biblical Insights, Vol. 14, No. 9, September 2014 It appears that some Christians in Corinth were trying to justify their immoral behavior. Whether their arguments stemmed from former pagan practices, were the result of bad theology, or were simply an excuse to do what they wanted, Paul knew he had to deal…
Read MoreThey Call it Hate
by Terry Wane Benton Calling something “sin” that separates you from God and the righteous is the modern idea of “hate speech.” But the truth is that pointing out sin is love. It is like a doctor pointing out cancer. It may not be what we want to hear, but it is what we need…
Read MoreDid David Only Sin One Time?
“Because David did [that which was] right in the eyes of the LORD, and turned not aside from any [thing] that he commanded him all the days of his life, save only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite” (I Kings 15:5 KJV). First, in the matter of Uriah the Hittite, David thought about covering…
Read MoreAll Past, Present, and Future Sins?
by Terry Wane Benton I don’t know how many times I have heard preachers when talking about getting full forgiveness of sins, say, “That means all past, present, and future sins are forgiven at the cross.” Let us study the scriptures on this matter. The Bible does not say or imply that all past sins,…
Read MoreWas I truly born again?
Question: Hello, I had a question regarding baptism. I was baptized a few years ago when I was around 20 years old; however, I struggled with sexual immorality and lust with my girlfriend for a long time. Eventually, we got married. After this, I started to think baptism wasn’t necessary for the forgiveness of sins,…
Read MoreDo you have to figure out all your sins before becoming a Christian?
Question: I have a few questions. If you don’t mind. Do you have to figure out all your sins right away, or is this a lifelong process of seeing sin and repenting? I read What Repentance Is Not. It gave the example of someone who quit drinking because it was affecting their health. My question…
Read MoreSin and God’s Glory
by Doy Moyer The problem of sin is sometimes difficult to assess because of our perspective. We see what we consider a “small” sin and then react strongly when the punishment does not seem to fit the crime. Because we tend to minimize the sin, we may under-appreciate the consequences. Some will then think badly…
Read MoreUncleanness
Uncleanness (Part 1)Uncleanness – Part 2 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Ephesians 5:1-8 I. Under the Old Testament, there are a series of rules dealing with unclean things A. I am finding that people are condemning as unclean things that God never mentioned. B. The rules confuse people, mostly because they do not understand what uncleanness was…
Read MoreWhy Blood?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Why-Blood.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: Hebrews 9:15-22 I. Let’s look at Hebrews 9:22 A. Have you considered, “Why blood?” 1. If I wanted to clean something, blood is not the first thing that I would think of using. Blood stains are often difficult to remove. B. How is it that remission of sin requires the…
Read MoreI can’t grasp the concept of grace and that I don’t need to punish myself to be forgiven
Question: Hello sir, I have questions about sin, repentance, and the importance of confession and restitution. I love your website, and I admire your wisdom and helping others, which are completely backed up by Scripture. Your input would be greatly appreciated, sir. I also hope that by asking these questions, I will help others on…
Read MoreGod’s Remedy for Sin
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Gods-Remedy-for-Sin.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: Isaiah 58:1-11 I. In our Scripture reading, God has Isaiah loudly proclaim the sins of His people. A. A fact that surprises the Israelites. 1. They delight in knowing God. They consider themselves righteous and followers of God’s Word. 2. They delight in the nearest of God, but God doesn’t…
Read MoreWhy Israel Fell
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Why-Israel-Fell.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: Isaiah 9:1-7 I. The prophet Isaiah told the people that the Messiah was coming. A. He would bring righteousness to all the nations and remove the burdens of sin B. He would establish a new government, one that would last forever C. The people of Israel foolishly thought that the…
Read MoreLiving with the Consequences of Bad Decisions
by Zeke Flores How terrible it is to live with the consequences of terrible decisions. Israel was having to do just that. Though God warned them about their idolatry, they didn’t listen. Though God told them that their exploitation of the poor and needy was evil, they didn’t listen. Though God said to them that…
Read MoreFeeling Guilt
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Feeling-Guilt.mp3 by Raymond Warfel Download Audio
Read MoreTampering with Sin
by Jefferson David Tant The story is told of a man in Rockwood, Tennessee, many years ago. Wilkie was a bricklayer, and one day, he caught a black snake and tamed it so that it would coil about his neck as he walked up and down the streets of his town. He then became bolder…
Read MoreOut of This World
by Zeke Flores Getting ourselves out of the world is hard. Getting the world out of us is harder. “O Jacob My servant, do not fear,” declares Yahweh, “For I am with you. I will make a full end of all the nations where I have driven you, but I will not make a full…
Read MoreMy Sin Is Always Before Me
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/My-Sin-Is-Always-Before-Me.mp3 Download Audio by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Ezra 9 I. God is Holy, but we fall short A. Sin is a not a part of the nature of God – I John 1:5 B. To be in fellowship with God, we also must without sin – I John 1:6-7 1. But notice that God is not expecting…
Read MoreFreedom?
by Zeke Flores One problem with sin, and there are many, is that it promises a freedom it can never deliver. Sin paints submission to God as a form of bondage that hinders us, traps us, and keeps us down. In reality, it’s the false promise of independence from God that is the harsh slavery.…
Read MoreRedemption
by Terry Wane Benton To the common man, “redemption” is seldom used in his daily vocabulary. To someone captivated and addicted or held in slavery, it means someone is going to pay the price to get them out from under their miserable burden and give them a new start. To them, it is a word…
Read MoreThe Wrath of God
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/The-Wrath-of-God.mp3 Download Audio by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Hebrews 10:26-31 I. Romans 1:18 warn of the wrath of God being revealed. How is His wrath revealed? II. God directly takes action A. God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah in His wrath – Deuteronomy 29:23 B. When people grumbled against Moses, God sent a plague – Numbers 16:42-46 III. God allows…
Read MoreBroken Jars, Broken Lives
by Zeke Flores Jeremiah had been to the potter’s house. In Jeremiah 18, he saw the craftsmanship the potter exercised in creating and then reshaping his work. I’m sure he saw the pleasure in the artisan’s face as the vessel took the shape he intended. In chapter 19, the persecuted prophet is told to buy…
Read MoreReceiving the Grace of God in Vain
by Terry Wane Benton Have you thought about the fact that you could have received the grace of God in vain? That is a very real possibility. How can we receive it in vain? “We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain” (II…
Read MoreManasseh’s Mess
by Zeke Flores Manasseh has the dubious distinction of being Judah’s longest-reigning king, 55 years after assuming the throne at the tender age of 12, and its worst, most wicked king. His father, Hezekiah, instituted many religious reforms that ignited a spiritual revival throughout the kingdom. His son Manasseh undid it all. In fact, not…
Read MoreThe Solution for Sins
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Corinthians 6:9-11 Sin was a big problem in the church at Corinth. It is a big problem worldwide and throughout all time. But Jesus offers a solution to sin: Washed Sanctified Justified Cleansed Set apart for a holy purpose Made right before the law Justified When we sin,…
Read MoreConvict the World of Sin
by Terry Wane Benton The Holy Spirit used the revelation He gave to Peter to “convict the world of sin” (John 16:8; Acts 2:22-37). When they heard the convicting truth, they felt a need to be saved. Without telling the world of sin, no one feels a need to be saved. Everyone thinks they are…
Read MoreWrong Is Always Wrong
by Richard Thetford In a period of loose and sagging morals, Satan provides many rationalizations for improper behavior. Those who would live faithful Christian lives must not be ignorant of Satan’s devices. Paul said, “…Lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.” Wrong is always wrong despite our…
Read MoreThe Direction of Your Life
The Direction of Your Life – Part 1The Direction of Your Life by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Matthew 6:19-24 I. Whenever I taught someone to drive, I was reminded that people have a tendency to go in the direction they are looking. A. When a person first learns to drive, they tend to look at things…
Read MoreThey Weigh Too Much for Me
by Jefferson David Tant Have you ever heard of Samuel Plimsoll? He was a member of the British Parliament back in the 1860s and 1870s. During this time there were some serious problems in the shipping industry. Numerous ships carrying loads of cargo were sinking in the ocean when they encountered severe storms. Plimsoll took…
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