Christian Character and Conduct – Page 27 – Bible Christian Resources – Audio, Video, Bible Studies, Christian Mobile Applications

John 20:23 says: "If you forgive anyone his sins they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven." If after you had sinned against a person and asked to be forgiven, have you received forgiveness even though the person in question did not forgive you?

This scripture needs to be looked at in context of the two preceding scriptures. After Jesus was resurrected, he appears to his apostles and tells them, "As the Father has sent me, I am sending you. And with that he breathed on them and [...]

Why does it seem that people who are blessed with spouses are often the ones that indulge in fornication, while those who abstain from fornication are not married?

Your question may be an over-generalization. Many married couples do not engage in sexual activities outside of marriage and many unmarried couples do engage in fornication. The usual reasons for fornication stem from selfish desires. Married couples may get bored with their spouses, fall [...]

How do you surrender fully to God?

Total submission to God requires sacrificing your self-will in every matter of life in order to do the will of God. When you surrender your will to God, you make a covenant of sacrifice. You sincerely endeavor to live a life that is pleasing to [...]

How can Matthew 18 be applied by the sinned against party (the parishioner) when the pastor and elders are the offending parties, having sinned against him?

We believe the scriptures teach that the administration of justice within the Church is a whole Church matter. Therefore, in the event that the pastor and elders are the offending parties, they would be subject to the same disciplinary process as any other Church [...]

Is a true Christian leader worthy of leadership if he is arrested? Why would a true Christian leader be arrested?

We assume from your inquiry that you are referring to Christian leaders who have either been falsely accused of crimes or who have been in violation of the laws of the land in which they were living that suppressed religious freedom. We know from [...]

What do you think about the term "born again Christians"?

We believe the term “born again” (Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #1080) is not necessarily a correct translation in every scripture. For example, in the context of John 3:1-13, verse 3, “born again” should be translated “begotten,” meaning conception, not birth, since one’s spirit birth (in heaven) will [...]

Should Christians work in occupations such as police officers and security guards, where carrying a gun is a requirement?

Your question regarding whether Christians should be involved in the military or the police force where they are required to carry weapons is one that has been debated for many years by sincere Christians.When our Lord Jesus walked the earth, he taught us by [...]

Of what practical advantage is a knowledge of the truth of the character of God and plan of salvation, to one in time of trouble, disappointment, sorrow, etc.?

The knowledge of God, the Creator, that He is wise and just, loving and all powerful, and that He is our loving Heavenly Father, one that we can draw nigh unto with confidence and trust in every time of need, through the merits of [...]

If a person has led a sinful life and has been instrumental in causing others to sin, would it be possible for such a one to be fully forgiven and all their past sins cancelled if they should repent and ask the Lord to forgive them?

There should be no question in the mind of any one on this point. The Scriptures abound with expressions in which the Divine love and compassion of God, the Heavenly Father, are declared. The great Creator of the Universe sacrificed His beloved son, the Lord Jesus [...]

What is the unpardonable sin?

The unpardonable sin is a sin which God declines to pardon or forgive--a sin, therefore, which must be punished, must be expiated by the sinner. There may be said to be different degrees of unpardonable sin, however. An unpardonable sin is one that is [...]

What does 1 Timothy 5:24 mean: "Some sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after."

The Scriptures point out two spiritual classes among the Lord's people, one class of which will be kings and priests unto God and will be seated upon the throne of divine authority and power. This is a comparatively small class referred to as the [...]

Is it right to follow the teachings of any one man, or should we expect to be individually taught through the study of the Bible?

The Scriptures answer, "One is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren" (Matthew 23:8). We should not follow man, nor manmade creeds or systems. God exercised the supervising care over His consecrated people. "Now hath God set the members, every one of [...]

If hatred is not a virtue, why does it say in Ecclesiastes 3:8 "There is a time to hate?" Why does Christ say in Luke 14:2: "If any man come to me and HATE not his father and mother, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple?"

Our Lord in all of his instructions to his followers continually admonished them to love one another, and not only this but that they were to love their enemies as well (John 13:35, Matthew 5:43,44-46, 1 Peter 2:23). Therefore, it would not be consistent [...]

We know what becomes of the obedient and disobedient, but there is another class, which really cannot be called obedient nor yet disobedient. I mean the irresponsible, and they who love this present world and have not even a desire to know what God requires of them, and which, in my opinion, form the vast majority of mankind even in this enlightened age (so-called). What becomes of them?

The answering of this question involves the consideration of the doctrines of "Election" and "Free Grace," both clearly taught in the scriptures, as all Bible Scholars recognize. It is only within recent years that the beautiful harmony existing between these two doctrines has been [...]

What is the "key of knowledge" referred to in Luke 11:52, where the Lord Jesus said to the scribes and Pharisees "Ye have taken away the key of knowledge; ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered?"

The “key of knowledge” was the scriptural truth of Jesus' Messiahship that would have allowed the Jewish people as a nation to be a part of the heavenly kingdom. In context, this was the first of seven “woes” Jesus pronounced on the Pharisees. The [...]

Did Ananias tell the first lie, and is that the reason why we often speak of an "Ananias Club" whose members are reported to be notorious liars?

The Lord Jesus declared that Satan told the fist lie, saying, "He was a murderer from the beginning and abode not in the truth because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own; for he is [...]

Is a lie ever justifiable?

The development of character is the main purpose of our present existence. The importance of this work is manifest when we reflect that our interests throughout eternity depend entirely upon the kind of character we develop in this life. It is by contending against [...]

One of the commandments of the Bible reads, “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” How may I know who is my neighbor?

Our Lord gives a clear answer to this question in `Luke 10:29-37`. He describes a man in distress and need. A priest came along and seeing the man passed by on the other side as if he were afraid he would be contaminated by [...]

Is it proper for a Christian to engage in physical exercises? I know of some people who seemingly think it a sin to devote any thought to the care of the body.

The mind or will is the master of the body. The condition of the mind is largely affected by the condition of the body. A sound mind in a sound body is the ideal condition. To keep the body and the mind healthy, it is [...]

Which day should be observed as the Sabbath Day, the first day or the seventh day of the week?

It would depend upon the religious belief of the person asking the question. To the Jew, the seventh day (Saturday) is the one to be observed. It was commanded in the Law given to the Israelites that they should keep the seventh day as [...]