Both Sides of the “Forgiveness” Coin

In Matthew 6:12, when the disciples had asked Jesus how to pray, among other things, He told them, “And forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors.”  This clearly teaches us that, in order to be forgiven, we must first be ready to forgive.  If we are not willing to forgive others [...]

The Pope Excuses the Jews

So the Pope has exonerated the Jews for the death of Jesus.  Yes, I do have something to say about that. In the first place, not being Catholic, I doubt the ability of the Pope to speak for the Lord.  I respect the Pope, but I do not consider him to be the ultimate representative [...]

Forgive One Another

Bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. (Colossians 3:13 *NKJV ) Now I know that forgiving another is hard for us to do at times, but when we remember how very much God has forgiven us; it [...]

Forgiveness of Sins

A friend of mine writes a short devotional three or four times a week. Recently, he had one that caught my eye. I enjoy the Book of Proverbs, because Solomon had a way of cutting to the heart of the matter that appeals to me. Anyway, Henry did a short devotional on Proverbs 28:13: He [...]

41 things married people ought to know

My longtime friend Jim Martin is a minister of the gospel in Waco TX, and writes what is, according to recent stats, the #9 “Church of Christ blog”. Jim began a series of articles yesterday titled 41 Things Married People Ought to Know. In part 1 he lists the first 10, including these 5: Married [...]

I Forgive You

If you are anything like me, you have been taught that you must always forgive everyone everything.  No exceptions.  No qualifications.  Is that a correct teaching?  I have come to believe that it is NOT.  Let me present my thoughts on this subject. I was studying the Bible recently when I noticed a few verses [...]

Humility is seeing ourselves as God sees us

I saw that quote on a church sign recently. You know the ones — these are the signs that have quippy sayings that are intended to make you think, and sometimes make you groan. Like most quotes, some are better than others. This one got my attention though, because I wasn’t sure if I agreed [...]

Living without sin — it IS possible!

8If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.…10If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives. 1 John 1:8, 10 That seems pretty clear — we all sin. That’s exactly what [...]

Will God always honor man’s repentance?

30Ahab son of Omri did more evil in the eyes of the LORD than any of those before him. 31He not only considered it trivial to commit the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, but he also married Jezebel daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and began to serve Baal and worship him. 32He [...]

So what about the sins of the Israelites? When were they forgiven?

At the cross? Allow me to suggest that’s only partially true. Ask many Christians about the sins of the Israelites, and they’ll explain that the sins were “rolled forward”, and forgiven at the cross, as if each Israelite kept adding sins to his account until the day he died. I’d like to also suggest this [...]