Posts Tagged ‘sin’
By Any Other Name
by Glenn Hamilton Dr. J. Wilbur Chapman told of a distinguished minister, Dr. Howard from Australia, who preached very strongly on the subject of sin. After the meeting, someone remarked “Dr. Howard, you shouldn’t talk as openly as you do about man’s guilt and corruption as it may offend someone. And if our boys and…
Read MoreShould we separate a man from his deeds, hating his sins while loving his soul?
Question: Regarding the love of God for man: I believe that God can separate the man from sin. Therefore, God can love the man, but hate the sin. Do you agree with this? Are there scriptures that indicate this? Where Jesus tells us to love your enemies in Matthew 5, I believe the only way we can…
Read MoreWhy create humans if God knew most would live sinfully?
Question: So, God controls everything that will ultimately happen, but not the choices we make in order to get to that final event, correct? I’m almost positive that that’s what all of those articles were pointing to. So then, does that mean that He meant for humans to ultimately be sentenced to live in a world of…
Read MoreAm I loving God and giving Him glory?
Question: A few days ago, I was reading I Corinthians 10:31, the passage about “do all to the glory of God.” Although I’m still not 100% clear on the exact meaning, the passage really made me think hard about myself in relation to God. The entire time I have been a Christian (or so I…
Read MoreWhat happens if I know God, but I sin?
Question: I was doing a little research on sin to try and understand it a little better. I have just read through the New Testament and I’m still unclear on some things. I read your article online about sin, it was very informative and helped me greatly, however, I have a question. It says in your…
Read MoreHow can I be certain I am doing what is right?
Question: Ever since I became a Christian again, I have always felt very uncertain about everything. For example, I would worry about whether a particular action was sinful. Consulting commentaries only provided me with conflicting information and made me feel less at ease. Some of these, such as using crass language, I found out were sinful,…
Read MoreWhy Is It? (Taylor)
by Gene Taylor Some things are difficult for me to understand. I am not referring to the sciences or mathematics, even though I could for they gave me a lot of trouble when I was in school—I am talking about some things that, on the surface, seem simple enough but yet often have me asking…
Read MoreWill just one sin, such as adultery, keep you out of heaven?
Question: A lady with a Baptist background asked me if I thought one sin would keep her from Heaven. She said “suppose a person was living in an adulterous marriage, but done everything else right such as attending church, studying the Bible, etc. Would this person go to Heaven?” Could you direct me to a…
Read MoreThe Works of the Flesh
by Sunday Ayandare via Words Of Life, Vol. 16, No. 1, Jan-Mar. 2009. We live in perilous times. Morals have degenerated to an abysmally low level. One could be tempted to say that the situation has reached its nadir. Reminiscent of the days of old, men are today calling evil good and good evil (Isaiah…
Read MoreDoes the person with more sins love God greater?
Question: Hi. I have a question for you. Actually, a couple. I think this will be some pretty good ones to have on the site, but mainly I am writing for some clarification for my own personal understanding. Concerning the parable of the two debtors that Jesus told Simon Peter about. Simon Peter concluded that…
Read MoreIf Adam and Eve did not sin, would it have been only a matter of time before someone else sinned?
Question: What would the world be like if Adam and Eve had not sinned? Would it only be a matter of time before someone else after them would have sinned? Answer: It would be impossible to speculate because we don’t have sufficient information. We know that God planned on the fact that men would sin…
Read MoreThere’s More to It Than That
by Dee Bowman via Gospel Power, Vol. 15, No. 13, Mar. 30, 2008. It’s interesting to me how an illustration can sometimes become so powerful that it supplants the thing it is illustrating. For instance, the illustration for salvation is many times cited by the use of a man’s five fingers. Here, believe, repent, confess,…
Read MoreAchan’s Sin
by Edward O. Bragwell, Sr. Fresh on the heels of an astounding victory at Jericho, the young Israelite nation, under Joshua’s leadership, focused on the next objective in their campaign to capture Canaan – the land promised by Jehovah. Ai, a small town, was next on the list. Upon their return, the men sent to…
Read MoreAre We Killing the “Old Man?”
by Robert F. Turner via Guardian of Truth XXX: 18, pp. 551, 567, September 18, 1986 The Roman letter has at least five propositions, affirmed and proven by the apostle Paul: Man stands justly condemned for his sins; Grace, not law, is the remedy; This grace is expressed in the crucified Christ; It is available on…
Read MoreWere sins rolled forward under the Old Law?
Question: In a Wednesday night lesson recently, our minister stated that under the Old Law sins were not rolled back when sacrifices were made. He said there was no Scripture that says that and that it has just been repeated until people think that. He said since God knew from the beginning of time that…
Read MoreWhat happens if we sin just before we die?
Question: For a faithful child of God, one who has put on Christ in baptism, and has lived a faithful life in Christ, but in a moment of weakness commits a sin, which the Scriptures tells us we all do, and he dies in that moment of weakness – do you believe that the blood…
Read MoreWho Is Lost?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/WhoIsLost.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: II Thessalonians 1:3-10 I. Whenever I’ve published material which is read by people who claim to be Christians but are not living by God’s word, I’ve received complaints. A. “Why are you bothering with this issue? You should be seeking the lost instead. All you are doing is causing division…
Read MoreIs sin causing God to be sad because we turned away from Jesus?
Question: Something that I was told recently really makes sense to me, and I really want your input. When I used to repent of my sins, I would repent for the sin, such as masturbating, lust, lying, or whatever it was. I felt like I was talking to a wall because I knew that tomorrow…
Read MoreOnce you are saved, can you live a sin-free life?
Question: Do you believe that once you’re truly saved that you can live a “sin-free” life? Answer: John stated, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse…
Read MoreIsn’t the one and only unpardonable sin the denial of Christ?
Question: Concerning your outline, “A Sin Leading to Death”: Jesus Christ died for our sins. He was God in the flesh; the only person who ever lived that was without sin. So, he died and was resurrected so that we may be free from sin. When we accept him as our Lord and Savior we are forgiven. There…
Read MoreWhere does it say that a person who approves of homosexuality is also condemned?
Question: I’m certain that the Bible tells us that he who approves of homosexuality is condemned also, I just can’t seem to find it anywhere. Can you help me with that? Answer: The passage you are looking for is in the last half of Romans 1 where Paul details the decay of the Gentile societies…
Read MoreCan I tell you a bit about my past?
Question: You have given me insight into my life and that I appreciate it a lot. I would like to tell you more about my life’s story now that you know some things about me. I want to show how great God is — not me or how good I am, but God’s love for…
Read MoreIf God knew men would sin, why did He create the world?
Question: I am wondering why God made everything: creation, mankind, and allowed everything to happen as it did in the Bible, especially since He knew what would eventually happen — sin, unfaithfulness, redemption, etc. I guess this also relates to why God even created us? Answer: When I was walking to the building today I…
Read MoreWhat are “sins of thought”?
Question: What are sins made by thinking? You know, mental sins. I know God can read all of our thoughts. Answer: The simplest definition of sin is that sin is breaking God’s law. “Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness” (I John 3:4). Sins of the heart (an older way of talking…
Read MoreDogs Don’t Go to Heaven
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2006/08/DogsDontGoToHeaven.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Revelation 22:12-17 I. When we want to illustrate a point, we often will search through life around us to find something similar. It is especially good if the audience understands the example A. Those points make a lasting impression on us because we are familiar with the illustration B. Thus Jesus’…
Read MoreGod Overthrows the Wicked
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/GodOverthrowsTheWicked.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I. Do not trust in men – Psalm 146 A. Even a high ranking man is not trustworthy B. Men die. Even with good intentions, they cannot always accomplish what they desire. C. God, however, can do all things. D. It is important to remember that men are very limited in power II. David is opposed…
Read MoreWhat Goes Around …
David Thurman via Gospel Minutes, Vol. 56, No. 8, Feb. 23, 2007 While preparing for a cookout on July 3, 2006, a Delaware man decided to use gunpowder rather than charcoal lighter fluid to get the coals glowing in his grill. This “unorthodox” fire preparation method blew up on him, and he suffered burns on…
Read MoreWhy did God put the tree in the garden if He knew man would sin?
Question: “Why Does God Allow Evil?” was a great explanation about why sin exists in the world, I enjoyed reading it and it has been a helpful tool when people ask me about sin and why God allows it to happen. I would like to ask you a question about the tree of knowledge that…
Read MoreOne Sinner Destroys Much Good
by Ron Daly Wisdom is better than weapons of war; but one sinner destroys much good. Ecclesiates 9:18 The title of this article comes from a statement of the writer of the book of Ecclesiastes in chapter 9, verse 18. It conveys a thought that each of us must consider. It tells us that a…
Read MoreIt Can be Done!
Tony Mauck via Biblical Insights, Vol. 7, No. 3, March 2007 Some people will not change. At times, we feel like we are running against a brick wall as we attempt to encourage folks to reject falsehood, embrace the gospel, and turn from sin. Many continue on their merry way, not realizing or even caring that…
Read MoreAre we sinning whenever we don’t think about God?
Question: Hi, Whenever I get free time I like to imagine random things. It has been kind of a hobby every since I was a child. I feel like writing a story sometimes with the ideas I get in my mind. However, my friend recently told me that whenever we don’t think about God we…
Read MoreThe Consequence of Sin Can Outlive Us
by Kent Heaton The apostle Paul declared in Galatians 6:7, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.” There has always been consequences to sin from the moment Adam and Eve disobeyed God in the garden (Genesis 2,3). A man should not think that he…
Read MoreCould someone who was abusing drugs and died of an overdose be in heaven?
Question: My pastor’s son recently died of a drug overdose. He was always in and out of jail and had a drug problem that ultimately ended his life. At the son’s funeral, my pastor said that he was confident that his son was in heaven because he witnessed his son praising God. He went on…
Read MoreWhat is meant when Paul said we are by nature children of wrath?
Question: In Ephesians 2:3 it talks about by nature we are children of wrath, My own opinion is that it’s referring not to children, which is plain and clear, but to people who have already sinned. I’m trying to get this point across to my friend, but he believes in a sin nature and says…
Read MoreDoesn’t Matthew 5:27-28 only apply to married people?
Question: With the Scripture: “You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:27-28). Only married people can commit adultery, so as I see it, this Scripture is not meant for the unmarried. Answer: What…
Read MoreWhat happens if you disobey the Bible?
Question: What do Christians believe will happen, if they disobey or go against the teachings of the Bible? Answer: “Since it is a righteous thing with God to repay affliction to those who afflict you, and to give relief to you who are afflicted with us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with…
Read MoreGod won’t send someone to hell just for pre-marital sex, will He?
Question: As I explored your web site, I noticed it wasn’t a medical web site, it as a religious site. Well, I have another question for you then, if you don’t mind me asking too many questions. This one is actually coming from my fiance and me. We are working with a long distant relationship.…
Read MoreThe Truth Shall Make You Free
by Carey Scott “So now we call the proud blessed, for those who do wickedness are raised up; they even tempt God and go free” (Malachi 3:15). The sad situation in Malachi presents an attitude that many people today hang on to. The people were tired of being restrained in their behavior by the dictates…
Read MoreIf your sin is also a crime, should you turn yourself in when you repent?
Question: In the example of the murderer, would God expect him to turn himself into the authorities if his crime was not known or found out? Answer: One aspect of repenting of sin is demonstrating a complete change in life. “For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow…
Read MoreWhat Our Desires Produce Within Us
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Galatians 5:19-23 Context: Paul has severely chastised the Galatians for attempting to bind the Old Law upon Christians. As he wraps up his arguments as to why this is wrong, Paul points out that those who desire to bind the Old Law are worldly-minded. They want things to be done…
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