Q. I don’t know where to begin. I came across your web site and thought to give it a try.  I, believe it or not, am ashamed and a minister as well. I have committed adultery and have repented of it. I have also been counseled by my previous pastor and prayed with him as well (confess your faults one to another). The day I called him I had a breakdown and he said the Lord put in his spirit the previous night to call me so the Lord opened the door for us.

My question is since I repented (1 John 1:9) and counseled with my pastor should I move on or tell my wife? I don’t feel led to tell her. I understand the nature of the sin I committed against a Holy God. I was not caught and I confessed as humbly as I know how to. I am curious on your thought. Read Post »

Q. In a recent answer you said, “Freedom means all the sins of our life have been covered, that we don’t ever have to worry about measuring up. If we slip, as we all do, we’re guaranteed forgiveness each time we ask.”

What if the person slips up and does not ask for forgiveness or does not desire forgiveness and keeps on sinning? Read Post »

A Bible Study by Jack Kelley

(At sunset on Sept. 29, 2008 we began year 5769 on the Hebrew Calendar. As I often do with articles that commemorate annual events, I have updated this study on the Fall Feasts and added new information for your review.)

The fall is arguably the most important time of the year in Judaism. Three of Israel’s holiest days are celebrated then, and all in the space of 15 days. They are Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, followed 10 days later by Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, and 5 days after that the Feast of Tabernacles. On our calendar they usually fall (no pun intended) some time between mid September and early October due to the differences between the Jewish (lunar) calendar and the western (solar) one.

Each of these holy days has both historical and prophetic significance, the prophetic fulfillment to occur on the day itself. Therefore Christians study them for glimpses into the future as well as to gain a better understanding of Jewish culture. Read Post »

Sing for joy to God our strength; shout aloud to the God of Jacob! Begin the music, strike the tambourine, play the melodious harp and lyre. Sound the ram’s horn at the New Moon, and when the moon is full, on the day of our Feast; this is a decree for Israel, an ordinance of the God of Jacob.

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O God, the nations have invaded your inheritance; they have defiled your holy temple, they have reduced Jerusalem to rubble. They have given the dead bodies of your servants as food to the birds of the air, the flesh of your saints to the beasts of the earth. They have poured out blood like water all around Jerusalem, and there is no one to bury the dead. We are objects of reproach to our neighbors, of scorn and derision to those around us. Read Post »

I have never asked this question before or told anyone about this, but it haunts me daily. Do we know how or about what we will be judged? I cannot imagine that I would be forgiven for this sin.

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Q. My wife is fighting a constant battle in her mind thinking that she has committed the unpardonable sin and that she has become reprobate as mentioned in the book of Hebrews (crucifying Christ a new).

There was a point in her life a few years ago that “something” happened in her life at which time she told God she did not want anything more to do with him and even questioned his existence, in a time of anger. She feels somehow that this would cause our God to remove His grace from her. Could you please reply to this so I can SHOW her that this is not so!

A. Many people have been seriously angry with God at some point during their lifetimes. Some have denied knowing Him or even concluded that He doesn’t exist.

But here’s the truth. If your wife sincerely asked the Lord to forgive her, and invited Him into her heart, then He not only came to stay, but also accepted responsibility for keeping her saved and guaranteeing her position in heaven. (2 Cor. 1:21-22) He did so already knowing that she would do whatever it is that she’s done, and forgave all of the sins of her life (Col. 2:13-15). No one can take her out of His hands (John 10:27-30) and nothing can ever separate her from His love (Romans 8:38-39) regardless of how she feels about Him.

As soon as she’s ready, the Lord is waiting to restore her, just as He did Peter, who also denied Him.

By the way, the passage in Hebrews refers to Jewish Christians who wanted to continue sacrificing lambs for their sins, instead of simply asking for forgiveness. If she’s not like that, it doesn’t apply to her.

Q. I have confessed my sins to God and repent and grieve over committing sins I fully knew were sins. I’ll admit He already knew them anyway. I can certainly understand confessing adultery to a spouse because he/she is the one sinned against. But what about other sins like abortion or pornography? Do you publicly tell your family members in order to confess?

A. After stealing Uriah’s wife (Bathsheba) and arranging for his death, David said to the Lord, “Against you and you only have I sinned.” (Psalm 51:4)

We may wrong other people, and if we do apologizing may help to reconcile us to them, but we only sin against God. James told us to confess our sins to each other in the context of a group prayer for healing. (James 5:16) I believe he was talking about a general confession to God before witnesses to purify us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9) so that our prayer won’t be hindered.

Someone once said that public sin requires public confession. I think he meant that if we sin in a way that becomes known and embarrasses our loved ones, or if a public official sins in a way that erodes the public trust, then a public apology is in order. But as David wrote, the sin is against the Lord.

Q. In the gospels Jesus is often quoted as saying that if you do not do something, you will not reach the kingdom of God, or see it or attain it.

Recently our pastor pointed this out and said he didn’t want to “upset our evangelical upbringing” but that it’s true. I think he was talking about forgiveness specifically, though there are other instances where Jesus says similar things (such as Matthew 7:21, Mark 10:15, etc). Read Post »

A Featured Article by Jack Kelley

There was such peace and harmony in The Garden. Every need was met, every desire of the heart fulfilled. Scholars speculate on the length of time Adam and Eve enjoyed Life in the Garden, but no one really knows. I believe it was long enough to give them a very clear perspective on the differences they experienced after the fall. Read Post »