Public and Private Sins and Doing Wrong

Topic(s): Christian Life, Forgiveness, Sin

No man can live and die in sin and go to Heaven. Jesus warned those who die in their sins, “...whither I go, ye cannot come” (Jn. 8:21). If one wants to go to heaven, he or she must not die in sin. Sin separates one from God (Isa. 59:2). Therefore, it becomes necessary to rid oneself of any sin he has committed, before death, in order to go to heaven. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rm. 3:23). Each of us must study and learn the Scriptures and be diligent to be sure we confess our sins and repent of them lest we be lost in the devil’s hell. There are private sins and there are public sins.

PRIVATE SINS are sins and wrongdoings committed in private (i.e., only you and the Lord know about them). Such private sins should be kept private and can be confessed to God. One can pray to God in private concerning all such sins (Mt. 6:6).

PUBLIC SINS are sins committed in the presence of others. Sometimes, they are committed before the members of the congregation where you attend. Other times, several members of several congregations may be aware of your actions. Such sins must be confessed before all so that all may know that correction is being made, and the fruit of repentance (Lk. 3:8) will become evident. “Them that sin reprove in the sight of all, that the rest also may be in fear” (1 Tim. 5:20).

John wrote, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 Jn. 1:9).

God will forgive every sin which we are willing to repent and which we confess. Our brethren will likewise forgive us and rejoice with us as we strive together to go to heaven. —Windell R. Fikes

“Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee” — John 5:14

Top Ten Signs You're Not Reading Your Bible Enough

Topic(s): Bible Study, Humor

10.)The preacher announces the sermon is from Genesis and you check the table of contents.
9.)You think Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob may have had a few hit songs during the ‘60s.
8.)You open to Psalms and a WWII savings bond falls out.
7.)When asked, you say that your favorite Old Testament patriarch is Hercules.
6.)Your favorite Bible verse is, “Cleanliness is next to godliness.”
5.)You become frustrated because Charlton Heston isn’t listed in either the concordance or the table of contents.
4.)Catching the kids reading the Song of Solomon, you demand: “Who gave you this stuff?”
3.)You think the Minor Prophets worked in the quarries.
2.)You keep falling for it every time when the preacher tells you to turn to First Hezekiah.

And the number one sign you may not be reading your Bible enough:

1.)The kids keep asking too many questions about your usual bedtime story: “Jonah the Shepherd Boy and His Ark of Many Colors.”

“Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” —2 Timothy 2:15