When Christians wrong someone, they should confess the sin, repent, and ask for forgiveness. Although “apology” is not the Bible’s usual term, a truthful apology is part of taking responsibility and seeking reconciliation. Scripture calls believers to confess sins to one another and make an honest effort to repair broken relationships. The injured person should …
Yes. Jesus teaches that when someone has something against us, we should seek reconciliation, and James 5 tells believers to confess sins to one another. When we have wronged another person, confession and reconciliation normally require an apology. A genuine apology owns the specific wrong: “I did this, it was wrong, and I am sorry.” …
When a professing Christian is openly continuing in conduct Scripture clearly calls sinful, church members should not simply ignore it. The concern should be brought to the church’s pastors or elders so the person can receive biblical counsel and an opportunity to repent. The issue is not an unchangeable event from the past but present, …
Pastor Mike encourages pursuing carefully supervised reconciliation rather than moving directly toward divorce when a separated spouse professes conversion, is baptized, participates faithfully in church, respects boundaries, and appears to be changing. Marriage is a covenant, and genuine repentance can produce real transformation. Begin pastor-led counseling now and involve mature believers who can provide accountability …
Messages received through Ouija boards, divination, spiritism, or similar occult practices should never be trusted. Scripture describes Satan as a liar, so claims that a repentant person is beyond forgiveness or uniquely destined for hell must be rejected rather than treated as spiritual authority. The biblical response is decisive repentance: stop every occult practice, discard …
Someone may study Scripture, participate in a sound church, and show early signs of interest without possessing genuine saving faith. Jesus’ parable of the soils and the disciples who departed in John 6 show that difficult teaching can expose an unconverted heart. First make sure the person has understood God’s character and judgment accurately. If …
Confessing sin to God is essential, but it is not always the only step repentance requires. When sin damages another person, biblical repentance also seeks reconciliation, restitution, and whatever can reasonably be done to repair the relationship. Instead of approaching the person combatively, make a gracious appeal: express gratitude that they have sought God’s forgiveness, …
Repentance does not require recounting every past sexual sin to a future spouse. Scripture commends wise restraint, warns that repeating a matter can separate close friends, and calls believers to speak what builds others up and gives grace. Full disclosure can sometimes cause needless harm, especially when it merely revisits forgiven details or identifies someone …
In its Gospel setting, the unpardonable sin was committed by religious leaders who personally witnessed Jesus’ unmistakable miracles and knowingly attributed the Holy Spirit’s work to Satan. Their jealousy led them to tell others that Christ’s divine works were demonic. Jesus called this blasphemy against the Holy Spirit and told those particular leaders that they …
Repentance and faith are distinguishable, but they are inseparable in the response God commands in the gospel. They are not synonyms, yet they belong together as two sides of one coin—a penitent faith. Some teachers associated with dispensationalism argued that repentance could be a condition of salvation only if it were defined as another word …