Alan Lewis
Elon, North Carolina
September 2010
Tonight, we will look at an extremely important passage. It is found in I Corinthians 6:9-11. It answers the question, Who will not be in heaven? Jesus explained who WILL inherit the kingdom (Matthew 5:3, 10; Mark 10:14). Paul tells us who will NOT inherit the kingdom.
Many think that these people will be in heaven. Paul says that these people will be EXCLUDED from the kingdom. They won’t go to heaven. If you want to know who is NOT going to Heaven, all you have to do is to look at this list. Greek scholar A. T. Robertson calls this “a roll call of the damned.”
Some of these groups of people may be found on some church membership rolls but they will not be found in Heaven’s rolls. Their names will be absent from the Book of Life. There are ten groups of people that will not be in heaven.
What are the sins that made Paul’s list of top ten in I Corinthians 6? Are you on the list? I want to look at these ten sins and make some general observations about them. I am going to list the ten classes of sinners. Every Bible translates these words slightly different.
I Corinthians 6:9-10 says, “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God” (NKJV).
Ten Sinners Not in Heaven1) Sexually Immoral 2) Idolaters 3) Adulterers 4) Effiminate 5) Homosexuals 6) Thieves or Robbers 7) Greedy or Covetous 8) Drunkards (substance abusers) 9) Slanderers (verbal abusers) 10) Swindlers or Extortioners |
Facts about Paul’s Sin List
1) Many of these sins fall into different CATEGORIES
What are some of the categories mentioned in this list? Most of them (seven in particular) are either sex sins or money sins. You might call it sexual immorality or financial immorality.
One is a RELIGIOUS sin. Idolaters are people who worship a false god, people who have a false religion. They may actually be moral but they worship a false god. Their fate will be the lake of fire (Revelation 21:8).
One is a VERBAL sin. “Revilers” refers to people who say all kinds of hateful things out of their mouth and are verbally abusive. That made the top ten list. There are many people who wouldn’t think of committing some gross sexual sin but do this all the time. They insult and ridicule people. Some political commentators and people in the media are guilty of this. It is the Greek word for a slanderer (λοίδορος). Are you a reviler? Do you slander people? When Jesus was reviled and insulted, he did not revile people back (I Peter 2:23). We are not even supposed to associate with professing Christians who are revilers (I Corinthians 5:11).
One is a FOOD sin. Paul mentions drunkards. John Calvin thought this applies to over eating (gluttony) as well. I usually agree with John Calvin but I think he is wrong here. Getting drunk, getting completely stoned and wasted is not like eating one too many French Fries at MacDonald’s. Alcohol is not only a beverage, it is a drug.
Four are SEXUAL sins. Almost half of the sins on the list are sexual (two of the sins deal with heterosexuals and two deal with homosexuals). Paul mentions fornicators, adulterers, homosexuals, and sodomites. In fact, adulterers and homosexuals sound very similar in the Greek text. One is μοίχοί and one is μαλακοί. There is no getting around that fact the passage here condemns homosexuality. On the other hand, it is not the only sexual sin on the list. The passage also condemns many heterosexuals.
One sin is a GENDER sin. It mentions feminized men, men who act like women or try to become women. Many Bibles say that one group that will not make it into the kingdom are the “effiminate” (so KJV, ASV, NASB).
Three are FINANCIAL sins. They have to do with money. Paul mentions thieves, greedy, and swindlers. Two of those financial sins are actual crimes. One is not.
2) Some sins in the list are REPEATED
Paul gives two different words for stealing (robbers and extortioners or swindlers). Thieves will not be in heaven. The Greek word that Paul for thieves is κλέπτης (from which we get the word “kleptomaniac”). The Bible says that Judas was a thief (John 12:4-6). He was the treasurer for Jesus and the Apostles. Apparently, he did not just do it once, he did it continually.
Last week, we saw some in the Corinthian Church who were stealing from other people in the church. They were ripping them off. Paul reminds us that robbers will not be in heaven. When we think of a swindler, we think of someone like Bernie Maydoff who defrauded people of billions of dollars.
Paul gives two different words for homosexuality (effeminate, homosexuals), The first word (μαλακοί) is a little broader than just homosexuality but would include the passive homosexual partner.
3) This list of vices is NOT exhaustive
Are these the only people who will not be in heaven? No. How do we know this? This is not a complete list. It doesn’t even mention murderers. They are mentioned in Revelation 21:8. Paul says this three times in the NT and each time his list is slightly different (cf. Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians 5:3-7).
4) Many of these sins are perfectly LEGAL
Stealing and slander are not legal. Extortion is illegal. It is a crime but most of the sins on this list are perfectly legal. Greed is legal. In fact, some would say that it is part of the American Dream. Idolatry is legal. Our constitution says that you have the freedom to worship anyone or anything you want. You can worship one God, many gods or no God. Sexual immorality is legal today. What is legal is not necessarily moral. What you are allowed to do is not necessarily what you should do.
5) Many of these sins are COMMON in our day
Paul’s list is up-to-date, even though it was written two thousand years ago. These sins were common in Paul’s day and they are still common to this day. The lesson here is that what many are doing, what most people are doing (in some cases) is not what you should do. That is undemocratic. The majority is not always right. What is popular is not necessarily right. That is why Paul says in Romans that we are not to be conformed to the world (Romans 12).
6) Many of these sins are SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLE
They are not considered wrong (e.g., fornication, homosexuality, greed). Homosexuality was accepted and tolerated in Paul’s and our day is no different. The Bible looks on it as a sin, not an alternative lifestyle. It is a sin that keeps people out of heaven. Paul’s statement is completely counter-cultural.
Many of the things on his list are not regarded as wrong today. Homosexuality is socially acceptable. Gay marriage is legal in the US. Drunkenness is regarded as a sickness or a disease by the medical community. It is just an addiction that people have. You may have an addiction to coffee, while someone else has an addiction to alcohol and alcoholics can’t control their drinking. Is this a valid argument?
The Bible does not look on drunkenness as a sickness but as a sin. Interesting, none of the other things mentioned in Paul’s list are diseases. Adultery is NOT a disease. Idolatry is NOT a disease. Greed is NOT a disease. Theft is NOT a disease.
All of the other nine things mentioned are MORAL CHOICES. Why would God keep people out of heaven because of a disease? We can call drunkenness what the world calls it or what God calls it. The Bible calls drunkenness as a work of the flesh. It is a work of the sin nature. The Bible does NOT say that drinking keeps you out of the kingdom of heaven. The Bible does NOT say, “Don’t drink wine” but it does say “Don’t be DRUNK with wine” (Ephesians 5:18).
Jesus drank wine. Paul drank wine. They were Jews. It was part of their culture. The Corinthians drank wine. They were getting drunk at the communion table. What the Bible condemns is not the use but the abuse of alcohol. In the same way it does not condemn sex. God was the one who created it. There is nothing wrong with it (Hebrews 13:4). The Bible only condemns the abuse of sex.
Four Powerful Lessons for Today
1) Many people think they are saved when they are not.
There is a serious warning in this passage and it is addressed to professing Christians. It is addressed to the Church at Corinth and the warning is this: “Do not be deceived”. Many think that they are going to heaven but they are actually going to hell. Many people in the Corinthians Church thought they were saved. They thought they were going to heaven. Many church members today have the same problem (cf. Matthew 7:21-23).
Many people think that they are carnal Christians when they are not Christians at all. If you go to church on Sunday but live like the devil the rest of the week, you are probably not saved. Some have even been taught the lie that if you are saved, you have eternal security and if you have eternal security, then it doesn’t matter how you live, because you are going to go to heaven anyway.
You might was well live like the devil. Paul would say that you are just deceiving yourself. The wicked will not inherit the kingdom. Just going to church, even regularly, and getting baptized will not save you. You can’t live any way you want and go to heaven. That is not eternal security. It is antinomianism.
2) When you get saved, there is a change in your life.
After giving this long list of sins, Paul says “and such were some of you”. Some of the Corinthians lived like this before they became Christians. That is what some of them WERE (past tense) but they are no longer that. There are different because at salvation three things happened. They were washed (which you need because sin makes you dirty and salvation makes you clean), sanctified (set apart to God positionally) and justified.
There are some BIG BUTS in this passage. Notice three in this one passage alone. And such were some of you: BUT ye are washed, BUT ye are sanctified, BUT ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God (I Corinthians 6:11 KJV). The KJV follows the Greek text here. You can’t separate religion from morality. As James says, faith without works is DEAD. If you are genuinely saved, there is going to be a change in your life. If you are different on the inside and you have been genuinely saved, you will be different on the outside.
3) Not everyone will inherit the kingdom.
The Bible teaches that some will enter the kingdom and SOME WILL NOT. Some will possess the kingdom and some will be EXCLUDED. Some will inherit the kingdom and some will not. That refutes the doctrine of universalism. Universalism teaches that EVERYONE will one day be saved.
The Bible teaches that God loves everyone. God loves the world (John 3:16). The Bible also says that God does not want anyone to perish (I Timothy 2:3-4). It also teaches that many will perish. In fact, it says that MOST will perish (cf. Matthew 7:13-14). Paul says that many people will get in. Not all will enter the kingdom of God.
4) Even the worst sinners can be saved.
Paul said “such were some of you.” Some of the members of the Corinthians Church were former homosexuals. Some were adulterers. Some worshiped idols but then they got saved. Paul doesn’t say that all of the Corinthians lived like this before they were saved. He doesn’t even say that most of them did. He said that some of them used to live like that.
The lesson here is that God can save anyone – murderers, crack heads, prostitutes, and drunkards. This shows the power of the gospel. Real change is possible but it has nothing to do with Barack Obama or any other politician. This refutes the idea that “once gay always gay” or “once an alcoholic always an alcoholic”.
John Calvin pointed out over 500 years ago that even though Paul says that the wicked will NOT inherit the kingdom of God, technically the wicked CAN inherit the kingdom. People who do not know the Bible very well sometimes ask questions like, Can God saved murderers? Can God save homosexuals? Can God save prostitutes? The answer is that God can save everyone WHO REPENTS. Everyone one of the ten sins listed in I Corinthians 6:9 can be forgiven and has been forgiven.
Jesus said that all manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven (Matthew 12:31). Even the darkest sins that we can commit can be forgiven. The sin of sodomy can be forgiven.
That was a sin so wicked that God wiped out the entire city but even the wicked sodomites could have their sins forgiven by God if they repented and turned from their sins. The worst sin on the planet was crucifying Christ and the people who did this were told that if they repented, they would be saved.
Interesting Questions
1) Do you have to be sinless to go to heaven?
Paul does NOT say that you have to be sinless to go to heaven. Sinless perfection is not possible. You do have to have all of your sins forgiven to go to heaven but you do not have to live a sinless life to go to heaven. That is not even possible. Paul is not teaching a works salvation. The kingdom is not earned, it is inherited.
An inheritance is something that you get when you die as a gift. It is not something that you work for to receive. It is something that you get because you are part of the family. The Bible teaches that all believers are heirs (Ephesians 1: 14, 18; Colossians 1:12; 1 Peter 1:4; Acts 20:32); Romans 8:17 Titus 3:7)
2) Can a Christian commit any one of these sins?
He does NOT say that a Christian cannot commit one of these sins. Who is there who has never had a covetous thought? A true believer could commit any one of these sins.
There are examples in the Bible of believers committing some of these sins. David committed adultery. Solomon committed idolatry. He married all of those pagan wives and started building temples to pagan gods because he loved his wives so much.
Noah got drunk after the Flood. Samson committed sexual immorality. He was visiting prostitutes and he is the one who is listed in the great faith hall of fame in Hebrews 11. Ananias and Sapphira were guilty of greed. A Christian can commit any sin and still go to heaven but a Christian cannot habitually live like any of these sinful lifestyles and still go to heaven.
3) Does this teach that you can lose your salvation?
Some have used this passage to teach that you can lose your salvation. Does Paul teach that? He does NOT say that you will lose your salvation. He doesn’t say that if you commit these sins you will lose your inheritance and be disinherited.
He just says that if you commit these sins, you will not get an inheritance. An inheritance is only for members of the family. The implication is that you were never saved. He doesn’t say anything about losing an inheritance.
4) Can you be gay and be a Christian?
Entire books written on a topic on both sides. Some say you can be gay and be a Christian. We talk about gay evangelicals today. We have not only GAY CHRISTIANS today, we have GAY CHURCHES. We have GAY DENOMINATIONS. We have GAY MINISTERS. Others say you cannot be gay and be a Christian. The question is not, what do people think about this question but what does the Bible say? What does God say about this question?
What the Bible says is completely counter-cultural. It is different from what society says. It is different from what modern psychology says. It is different from what the news media and entertainment industry says. God’s thoughts are NOT our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9). Jesus says, “What is HIGHLY ESTEEMED among men is DETESTABLE in God’s sight” (Luke 16:15-16).
Paul says in this passage that homosexuals will NOT enter the kingdom. These are not my words. I did not write them. The Bible says that they will NOT go to heaven. Paul does not say if people do these things, they will not get any rewards in heaven. He says that they will not be there. He also says that a lot of heterosexuals will NOT be there either. Scripture does NOT just single out homosexuals.
That is not to say that Christians can fall into all types of sins, including sexual sins and even homosexual sins. Christians can fall into adultery and even murder. King David committed adultery and murder but he repented. He was not a serial adulterer.
This passage is not talking about people who struggle with and fall into a particular sin but continue in that sin and even justify it and claim it is not even a sin and reinterpret the Bible to justify their sin. They say that God made them that way and make the Bible to say what they want it to say.
It is one thing to reject the Bible and its clear teaching on a variety of topics. It is quite another matter to claim to be a Christian and accept the Bible as the inspired, authoritative Word of God but to live completely contrary to what it teaches and justify that behavior. The latter claim to believe the Bible but revise and reinterpret it, making it say something that it does not say. A gay Christian is biblically an oxymoron. A Christian adulterer or a Christian drunkard is also an oxymoron.
I dont want to ask this but I have to. What about those who never are taught who Jesus is? For instance in forign lands where lets say budism is the religion, if they are never told or taught who Christ is, what will happen to there soul when they die? Does the Bible say what will happen to these people.
Or would your answer be that if they were born in that situation then they must not be part of the elect? Cuz I know some people who would believe that, and while I lean more twords Arminiaism I gotta say its a preaty good answer if your calvanist.
Gladys:
There are two important points here to keep in mind.
Point one, those who have never heard are lost and that is why we need to preach the gospel to all the world and have been given the Great Commission. If they were already saved, it would be better not to preach to them, because then they might reject the message. I have a brief comment on this in one of my other posts. See http://www.elonsmallgroup.com/objections-to-hell/ It is easy to find if you scroll down the post.
Point two, if someone is open I believe God will send a missionary or a neighbor to speak to that person about Jesus. There is a biblical precedent for that in Acts 10-11. See http://www.elonsmallgroup.com/conversion-of-a-religious-man/ as well when you have time. It is worth looking at.
your entire article was great! however the response to this question is patently false. God doesnt need missionaries nor pastors to save people. We are born with the innate qualities of our creator. It is natural for us to know good from bad right from wrong. The world corrupts this natural inborn goodness from God. Therefore anyone who recognizes that God is the creator want to honor God and only God as the creator, and lives out the innate goodness inside them will be saved. I am not saying this in some sort of new age sense. But he bible makes it clear that it isnt our works that save us, but our intent. If we have the intent to truly know Jesus and we live out this inborn quality inside us. We are saved.
Speedy:
You are right about one thing and wrong about one thing. You are absolutely correct that salvation is not by works. I agree completely and did not say otherwise. Good works are NOT the basis of our salvation but are the evidence of our salvation.
However, you are wrong that we are born with innate goodness inside of us. The Bible nowhere says this. If that is the case, we could be saved by our works and there would be no reason for Jesus to come to earth to die for us.
The Bible teaches the exact opposite. It teaches that before salvation, “We are dead in trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1), not innately good.
In fact, the Apostle Paul said, “There is NO ONE righteous, not even one” (Romans 3:11). He said, “there is NO ONE who does good, not even one” (Romans 3:12).
This problem starts pretty early. David said, “Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.” (Psalm 51:5).
There is only one way into heaven and that’s accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. It’s pretty cut and dried.
Acts 4:12 “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
Absolutely correct. Thank you, Austin.
Because of this discussing I wonder then what Romans 2:14-15 means. I always thought that applied to those who had not heard of Jesus.
Also Romans 1:19-20 That from the beginning we instinctively know God from his creation. Just wondering.
Louisa:
I do not see a contradiction between what Paul said in Romans and what Paul said in I Corinthians. Both are true. In Romans, Paul said that Gentiles (who do not have the Law of Moses) will be judged differently than Jews (who do have the Law of Moses). He did not say that they were saved. If that was true, there would be no reason to go preach the gospel to pagans. They would already be saved and if you do so, they might just reject the message.
If you get saved when you are young, say 15 -25, go to church on Sunday every week for a couple years. Then later decide that give been a lukewarm Christian for too long, and leave the church. Turn to sex and alcohol. Are you still saved? I know I was saved for sure. I was on fire for Jesus. But that was a long time ago.
Emily,
Great question. Just to let you know I am redoing my series on I Corinthians on my website so eventually this post will be taken down.
Were you saved for sure at 19? I can’t say, because I am not God and do not know your heart. Only He searches the hearts.
There are some people like that who are genuinely saved. There are others who had some experience in church years ago, thought they were saved and never were.
The big issue is NOT what happened when you were 19. It is NOT what happened after that (immoral behavior). What is going on right now? Have you ever repented of those sins or is it your lifestyle right now? Do you attend church regularly now?
I will be talking about Carnal Christianity tomorrow in SS based on I Corinthians 3 and will put the notes up on my elonsamllgroup website probably tomorrow night.
If I may ask I know that we have forgive to be forgiven, at least I think that is the correct quote, but do we have to forgive ourselves? I mean I know I have had things I have repented of but I still feel unforgiven I know part of it could be beacause I dont really know i am forgiven but a big part of it is guilt for doing, saying, or thinking something in the first place, and while I do listen to religious radeo shows on the way to work. and I do not shy away a topic about the lord I even like talking about it and scripture I willingly start the conversation, and defend my faith when someone says something about it (when talking to people I know that is), but when I see people like the Duggards on 19 kids and counting, or when I see the 700 club I just feel horriabely about myself and turn the channel, Or when I think I believe I am saved I get this sick sinking feeling in my gut telling me I am not. wouldnt that be a sign of feeling guilty?
I am not sure how to answer all of this. Lets start with this question. You say, “when I see people like the Duggards on 19 kids and counting, or when I see the 700 club I just feel horriabely about myself and turn the channel”. Why do you do this? I wasn’t sure from your post? Do you feel convicted by watching these shows? If so, what convicts you? Or is something else going on?
Hello I have a question I felt the Holy Spirit has left me I didn’t feel right afterwards I let my son move in with some peopke and I am staying with someone I went to a mental hospital I heard your not my child I feel awful and scared I was spirit filled for 13 years and he tried to warn me it’s awful I had a gift of prayer but now I don’t know what to do my children was a gift from God and I didn’t appreciate I was complaining and didn’t realize it can you come back from it I can’t be at my church
Nora, Thanks for contacting me. I would encourage you to get some counseling in the area where you live from a local pastor who could give you good advice about your situation. I am sure that there are some godly people there who should be able to help you.
Well I guess I feel less deserving of salvation when I watch them. I dont know exactly what about them makes me feel that way, but yet I listen to religious radeo and I dont feel that way and I dont know why. I even sometimes have that same undersiving feeling when I listen to religious music, I feel as if I have done something that has put me past the point of forgiveness and I dont know why, I mean even when I strugled with the unforgivable sin, I had a sign I was forgiven even if I sometimes doubted the sign, so I dont think its that anymore, I mean it could be that I guess but I am wondering if I am so use to feeling that way that I just naturally do it now.
Sorry but I have more questions. You said that you listen to religious radio. What religious radio progframs do you listen to? Is it just music or sermons as well? I know you have given me your testimony before but I forgot it. Did you ever have a time in your life when you accepted Christ as Savior? What exactly did you do on that occasion (e.g., get bapotized, walk in the front of a church, say a prayer)? If so, what brought you to that point? Did you ever have any assurace of salvation afterwards? People who are unsaved feel uncomfortable in the presence of a group of Spirit-filled believers. They do not want to have anything to do with church. I do not know if this describes you or not. Again, I do not have all of the facts.
sermons on the way to work though I dont know what station I am usually channel surffing when I find it, I do listen to religious music but sometimes I get that bad feeling like that music wasnt meant for me or something, but I dont have a bad feelings when I hear the radeo sermos I even like them. I think I have accepted christ I mean I believe in him and know him, but I dont know if believing is the same a being saved, I do like samll groups of people or even one on one conversations about the lord, I even am usually the one to start the conversation. But as for being in a large group I dont know if I would like it or not, I would like to go to church but I am still working that out with my mother though.
I sometimes think people carry religion to far, and when I think that I feel bad about myself I wonder if its not that they are carrying it to far but that maby I am to worldly or not really a christian or something.
This sounds good. Keep doing what you are doing (listening to sermons, music and having contact with other believers). You are on the right track.
Sorry I skipped over your what exactly did you do on that ocastion question, Well I dont remember how I came to be saved if I am saved that is , I remember telling my mom someone died for me and not long after that I started with the Abeka homeschooling program, it was a christian program.
That is good. The only thing I would add is this. You have to not only KNOW that Jesus died for your sins and rose from the dead but you have to ASK him to save you like the tax collector did in Luke 18:13 when he said “God have mercy on me a sinner”. The Bible says that “whosoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13). Put another way, you not only have to believe in Christ, you have to RECEIVE him (John 1:12). Knowing about medicine will not help you unless you take it. You may have done these things. I just wanted to mention them.
Sorry for the 3rd reply but I realized that I had skipped over one of your other questions. Did I ever have assurance of salvation after. Well I dont know exactly what you mean when you say assurance. If you mean like a sign or something then I dont recall anything like that. I mean I know I have prayed for something and it dosent happen right away but a month or even a year later It does though in a different way than I entended.
Like when I was worrying over blasphamy of the holy spirit, I asked for a sign and when I went to arbys about a year and a half or two years after my worrying about it started I saw a little card on the table across from us. Thinkin it was a cupon I went to pick it up it was a picture of Jesus holding a man up and on the back was a quote about forgiveness.
Or like a couple of weeks ago when I was worried about it again because I said the words out loud in explaining blasphamy of the holy spirit to my mom, about a week later I got this little token from a customer about jesus.
I guess these could be signs but besides that I really couldnt say I have had any signs. At least none I noticed.
Once again sorry for 3 answers, I would wait till you responded again but I know I would forget to even go back to the questio by then,. I have a horrid memmory.
What I meant by assurance of salvation is this. Do you know for sure you are saved or do you just hope you are saved? Have you ever had an assurance of salvation? The reason I ask is that the Bible teaches that we can know this. Unfortunately, not all Christians have an assurance of salvation.
Wow took me so long to respnd,sorry well I have asked him to save my soul, and I have never had assurance of salvation, though as you said there are christans never have.
If you asked and genuinely meant it, you can have assurance based on God’s promise. God does not lie and cannot lie. It is impossible for Him to lie. Jesus said, “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will NEVER cast out” (John 6:37). “EVERYONE who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13).
Wow I am sorry I just relized I drifted off of my original topic. I had completly forgot like the goober I am, so do you believe that you have to forgive yourself in order to be saved?
No. Not to be saved. Forgiving yourself is not a condition of salvation but if God has forgiven you, you should forgive yourself.
Thank you :)
I struggle with sin alot, as I’m sure most Christians do. I’ve accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior, and tried to follow the Bible. Here’s my problem though. I keep repenting for sins, and then find myself doing them over and over. I know that Paul says in Romans that he too struggled with sin, and he even admitted that he sinned even though he knew it was wrong.
I have tried to have more self control, and move on from the guilt of sin. It just bothers me that I keep committing the same phyical sins, when I know in my heart that I want to change and overcome my weakness. I feel as though I may never enter the kingdom of heaven because of my mistakes. I pray for forgiveness from God, but then a day or week later. I’m right back where I started.
Good question, Duncan but it is hard to answer without more facts. Does your sin involve one of the ten mentioned in I Corinthians 6 or is this just a general question? Do you have an assurance of salvation but are just asking how to have victory over sin or are you unsure if you are saved?
If you are a genuine believer but just struggle with victory over sin, it is a complicated topic. One suggestion for victory is not just avoid the sin but the source of the sin. Whatever causes us to sin should be removed (any person, place or thing). Jesus said, “If your right hand offend you, cut it off,” although he did not mean literally. It was a figure of speech.
I knew a man once who was tempted every time he went by a certain video store on the way home from work, so he had to take a different route home to avoid the source of temptation. If the Internet becomes a source of temptation, it may need to have a filter with someone else who knows the password.
You may also need to find a group of men in a local church to confide in. The Bible says to “confess your sins one to another”. It involves becoming vulnerable to someone what you can trust who is also willing to become vulnerable to you. That is easier to women to do but much harder for men to do. An accountability partner might help. Another option is to see a biblical counselor. Not sure if this is any help. Let me know if you have any other questions.
Howdy again, I know we talked about people how never have a change to know Christ not being saved even if that isn’t there fault, still not sure how to feel about that but this question is just a tad different, I was watching CSI:Miami, and a thought occurred to me, what about babies? I mean there are babies that are aborted, miscarried, or just don’t survive after birth for some reason, and babies and toddlers that die in accidents like a car crash or house fire or something, what about there souls. I mean I guess its kind of the same as people who have never herd of Jesus, but different in the fact that babies and toddlers or even children of a young age don’t even have the mental capability to accept him as there savior, so would there souls be lost?
The Bible does not deal with this question directly but I happen to believe that all of those babies are saved. The Bible says, “Shall not the judge of all the earth do right?” Babies are incapable of exercising faith. II Samuel 12:22-23 is one passage used to support this idea. David lost a baby and believed that he would see that baby in the next life. Sorry. Do not know if this is much help.
It was helpful I had done some research on the topic since posting my question, and I don’t remember the passage, but something about children coming of age when they know good and evil or something like that. Plus David stating he would be with his son again and know he went to heaven was mentioned many times as well. Thank you for you’re response.
HI, nice to meet you and thanks for your article. I have a question, I’m engaged to a guy and we are living together, I got pregnant from him last June and now our baby is about 6 months.
Our relationship started to be troubled since I discovered he lied/lies on so many things, cos the things he did has been very painful to me. He ask for forgiveness and that he will not do anymore.
Even if he does, I always give the hope that he will change, and accept Gesùs TRULY in his life (he is a “Christian”. For me I accepted God as my only God and Gesùs as my saviour at the beginning of this year. The person that introduced me to this is a friend and a “prophet”(but I dunno how much he is)and he always had a big influence on my mind with his speech. He was animist before.
Anyway, when I met my actual boyfriend he said everything would have been fine. After I got pregnant he continued saying the same(my boyfriend asked to marry him,even if for burocracy for now we are not). He started to say everything will be fine only if accept Gesus then, and that he would have done. Eventually he did not do the way this my friend was saying.
There has even been a quarrel between them, where my boyfriend decided not to talk to him anymore. Anyway, now what he started to say that the will of God is that me and this guy do not stay together. And that if I continue stay with him I’m against the will of God. Since he said this I’m living in a constant sense of sin and started to doubt about my salvation.
Me and my boyfriend are working on our behavior and defects, we have a beautiful daughter, and we love each other anyway,and we would like to marry anyway. Is 3 months we stopped any sexual contact. I cannot understand how what this my friend says can be true. I’m very confused on everything, I feel I’m only a sinner.
Thanks
Thanks for the letter and sharing your situation. I understand why your friend would say that the two of you should not live together if you are not married. That is what the Bible clearly teaches but, if the two of you would like to get married, you should. Marriage is part of God’s plan. Did I answer your question or am I missing something?
What is blasphemeing the Holy Spirit? Because once I cussed at the HS and I even said that he was a female. Is there any hope left for me or am I doomed?
No you haven’t. Blaspheming the holy spirit is what the pharisees did when they said Jesus performed miracles with the power of satan! That is denying that Jesus Christ is the son of God. The only unforgivable sin!
This is answered in my post on the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit
http://www.elonsmallgroup.com/the-blasphemy-of-the-holy-spirit/
Hey everyone, Ok so I am just jumping in here but I don’t know how else to start. So a little background about myself. I am almost 30 I believed and accepted Christ as my savior when I was a child but to be honest I consider myself an agnostic that could either believe, or become an atheist now. I started doubting my faith when I started question hell and why it exists and I know there isn’t really an answer for why he created hell, I would have to ask him that so don’t worry I don’t expect anyone to be able to answer that, but I started to see him as cruel and to be honest I didn’t want to follow someone like that. But up till that point I was Baptist. Back when I was a kid I was baptized but I think I started having questions even then. I don’t know of that would affect the baptizm or not.
Now as I age I realize that it doesn’t matter if I think he is kind or not it only matters that I don’t go to this hell place that is so terrifying.
Some part of me must still have some kind of faith left over from my child hood or I wouldn’t believe enough to know I should fear hell. I even stop myself from doing things that I know by Christian standards I shouldn’t do. I am still a virgin,(strange for an agnostic right) I try not to lie since I know that’s a big no no, though I fail a lot at that. I don’t like Christian music to be honest, but there are certain songs I stay away from because I get a quezy feeling listening to them. Same love by Macklemore for example great song, not a great message.
But I get the same quezy feeling being around Christians to, that probably says something about me personally if so please let me know, I would rather have honesty.
I am stuck between people who think the bible is literal and people who think it is figurative. I will admit I find it hard to believe in it when unicorns are mentioned in it but I will assume they are referring to rhinos or other one horned animals that exist today.
I do not think the earth is only 5-10 thousand years old.
As for the Gay issue that seams to be running rampant in the world and every christian chat room google can find, I don’t think people who are gay go to hell just for being gay, I think if they go to hell its because they live a homosexual life. I know personally a couple of gays who just don’t have sex, they read scripture and draw strength from that to stay single, and do there best to live a christian life. They have more faith then me I can tell you that.
And I have always been confused on how we know we are saved. I have been told since I was a small child that we will see a change in our life, but if even the saved stumble into sin how do we know if the change is real or if we are not saved and are just kidding ourselves. As you and almost every pastor I have ever talked to, there are unsaved Christians.
Like I said I am a virgin but I wouldn’t say that’s a result of salvation as much as a left over from the faith I had as a kid. I cuss like a sailor, not very lady like but its the truth and I can make a sex joke out of anything almost. Don’t know if that’s relevant but there it is.
Um….I like game of thrones don’t know if that’s a bad thing or just personal tastes but I have been told that those changes in life we should see would even change the things we watch and listen to, I don’t know if that’s biblical or if that’s just how people interpret some scripture.
So…..thoughts?
Ashley:
Thanks for posting. You have a lot of comments on various issues. The only question that I could detect was, How do we know if we are saved? There is a lot to this topic but the simple answer is by a changed life. If you go from being a child of the devil to a child of God and get a new heart on the inside, there will be some changes on the outside.
If you go from darkness to light, there will be some radical transformations. Some changes take place over time and some take place immediately. The bottom line is this: If you make a profession of faith but there is no change, you are probably not saved. Faith without works is dead.
There is nothing wrong with having questions. We should have an intelligent faith and ask questions. On the other hand, you call yourself an agnostic. Salvation is only promised to those who believe.
John 3:16 SAYS, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever BELIEVES in him (not used to believe) shall not perish but have eternal life.” Not that I have all of the answers but, What can I do to help bring you out of the camp of agnosticism to the camp of faith?
I don’t know what I am, agnostic or a believer that is so caught up in the small things that she to dumb to realize shes a believer.
Can you be so afraid of getting it wrong that you don’t realize you believe?
Well Im not sure and you probably cant answer this question but here goes. Exactly what changes should I see. This is probably to specific of a question to answer but if even the saved stumble and sin then like I asked before, how do we know when we are really seeing a changed of someone who is saved vs when someone isn’t really saved? I only have my life as an example ok, so despite my doubts I stayed a virgin, and even now I will defend the Christian belief against someone who wants to just railroad it, I don’t do that great of a job but hey.
On the flip side, Like I said I like Game Of Thrones, is that a matter of personal taste? Or I like Harry Potter, I know some people that have had so many discussions with Christians as to why harry potter isn’t anti christian just because it has witchcraft in it. Why can’t something that is designed for entertainment just be entertainment?
What I can’t seam to figure out is are these Christians who hate GOT and Harry Potter and even hate women in jeans crazy or is there some merit to what they say? Cuz I look at the scripture and I see where they get these werd ideas from and I could see where I could become radical if I let myself.
Let me give you another example, I had this penpal of sorts years ago, serious christian. I would call him a little radical to be honest. And he quoted a part of the bible I think it was about Jezabel it may not have been, but it was something about woman not wearing her hair plated and not wearing makeup. I’m guessing you know which passage I am talking about. And he had this idea it would be better to go to work, school, anywhere with tattered clothes and a dirty face, uncombed hair, then it would for a woman to dress herself up to go out. And god forbid she wear any form of jewelry. He even considered a wedding band to much and to my knowledge still greatly disproves of his mother having pierced ears. And as crazy as it sounded I had no biblical support for my argument that he was just taking it to far.
Like I said you probably can not answer this, It isn’t possible to come up with a list that says get rid of this, this, this, this and this. But if living a perfect sinless life isnt even possible for the saved, then how do we know that the things we are doing now, or things we are no longer doing, are the right things? Would it be different person to person?
And how do we know when our faith is genuine and not just some unsaved fool going through the motions like the Christians who go to church that wind up in hell?
I am going to try to answer your question to the best of my ability but I wanted to first ask one question. Do you currently attend church regularly? If so, what kind is it?
No I haven’t been to church in years, when I did go it was either babtist or non denominational.
Ashley:
You are asking the right questions. Many people in the world never ask that question and do not seem to care if they are saved. You are concerned, which is good. As Jesus said to someone in his day, “You are not far from the Kingdom” (Mark 12:34).
What changes should you see? There are many. Let me mention two of them. If you have Jesus living inside you, you will have a greater conviction of sin than if you are unsaved. If your body if the Temple of the Holy Spirit you will have much more of a sensitivity to sin.
If you are saved, you will love other Christians. You will wasn’t to be with them. They are your brothers and sisters in Christ. If you are not saved, you will not want to spend any time with them or want to go to church.
11 For this is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. 12 Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous. 13 Do not be surprised, my brothers and sister] if the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death. 15 Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him. (I John 3:11-15 NIV)
The book of I John gives many evidences that a person is truly saved. I recommend you reading the whole book.
How do we know that the things we are doing now are the right things? Is it right or wrong to watch Game of Thrones? I do not know. I have never seen it. There is no verse in the Bible that says you cannot watch it but there are two ways you can find out from Scripture.
First, look for explicit commands or prohibitions. Some of those need to be interpreted in light of the context. All jewelry for example is not wrong but some might come to that conclusion by misinterpreting a few verses.
Second, look for biblical principles. There are many things that might be wrong, not because they violate a clear verse but because they violate a clear biblical principle. As you read the Word, God will convict you what is right or wrong. On debatable things, Paul says, “let everyone be fully persuaded in his or her own mind” (Romans 14:5).
Are you saved for sure? I cannot say because I do not know you. That is where the pastor of a good church in your area would be helpful. Find one which believes the Bible. Unfortunately, not all do. could help you more. You might get more help there, but this is a start.
Hello. My name is Chell.
I’m 21 years old and I’ve just finsihed binge reading all of this and it ALL is very intriguing and thought provoking.
I very much want to go to Heaven.
I do believe I am a Christian, a Child of GOD. I say that because I believe in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior.
Yet I doubt my Salvation because
1) Although I have been told I’ve been baptized by water at a professing Christian church when I was younger, I didn’t understand anything about Jesus until like age 19, was I able to fully grasp the truth for myself. I am unsure if I need another water baptism since that was my mother’s will to have me baptised, not me realizing I’m a sinner and absolutely NEED Jesus Christ in my life EVERY day.
2) I had been getting into The Bible against my mother’s advice not to because I had wanted to know GOD for myself and disobeyed although respectfully. I use to ride on big rigs with her at the time I really started my journey on reading scripture. I had went to church before much younger yet I didn’t know Jesus, my mom was gay and still has a mind that clesrly shows she’s not honestly saved by her thoughts and actions. SO ANYWAYS…. I am an only child. Single strongwilled Mama Bear has taken care of me my whole life. So as a child, I guess I although I didn’t always do what my mom said or got the best grades, she didn’t enforce and I never had any consequences and no rules other than not being outrageously disrespectful YET I was a decent child. Didn’t drink, smoke or have my mom worried about me getting pregnant as a teenager. I was okay. So I then go to school Job Corp at like 17 and finish like at 19 and move with family although I told her I wanted to movedl on my own with a friend. After two aunts, I got on the 18 wheeler big rig with my truck driver mom. I had been in school on campus before that for so submitting under her will was difficult. Not that I was ever unwilling just that she wasn’t clear like the other two people what she wanted and then say I talk too much for asking. So my mom gets off the truck and we get into a huge argument. I was SO tired of being the emotional one feeling like I’m trying to talk things out with effective communication but she instead shutting down when I politely respectfully tried ti work things out. She wanted me to leave it alone. I could and I should BUT I felt angry every time I tried to express my feeling she was telling me to shut up… my feelings to shut up. So for the last time as we were finally about to get off the bug rig and get a house in Alabama, we went back to Cali to get our stuff because we had lived with family friends there and my mom was moving there so I could go to college for free if she worked for them YET while in Cali, I rebelled the hardest I had ever done. I stole money and ran away while she was in the casino and I was suppose to be sittting waiting on her after we had just got done arguing about her taking with nothing else going on between them but still, taking a married old man that although she’d never be with him, she knew he was lusting after her and her getting mad at me for not agreeing with her because it was wrong. I had even asked her to stop telling me about it before I finally expressed my opposing opinion. That didn’t give me any right to steal from her or runaway although at 20 at the time, I had the right to do that just not take her money she and I were going to use to go to Alabama with. I got somewhere to stay and it was my Grandma’s friend that was going to let me stay there until I got on my feet ti pay rent. BUT desiring to make things right with my mother, I returned to her on the truck becuase she said we could talk and communicate and THAT’S all I had wanted in the first place.
SO I go back. My mom is going to suck it up and work for the college so I can go there for free.
YET I hate I propose the idea of going to the Navy. Because after that my mother wanted me to go to the military and I KEPT telling her that I didn’t want to go and that although I’m the one that told her about the interview for a meeting with a Navy recruiter, that it was ONLY an idea YET ever since then things HAD went down hill. She tried to force me to go after I came up with the idea for me to just go to the interview which I wouldn’t have told her about had I not needed the transportation. I then mistakingly got her arrested by calling 911 for us arguing in our new house making her lose her job. Even then she forgave me.
YET I never intended to be such a tyrant. really I’m not. I’ve been a “good girl”. I didn’t care about my grades but I didn’t skip school or get into an trouble durong high school. I thought I was okay. My mom and I got along well before that…
So now I still reject military although sometimes I question my faith also though.
I feel in the last few years I’ve screwed up so much that although I know I have a heart for GOD, that I’m not honoring her but if you could really see I have tried multiple times to reconcile positively before any if this ever happen over the last few years.
Another question: How do I witness to my mom who says she believes but she still cusses like a sailor and claims “Man, those are just man made words.” to justify her potty mouth. She thinks abortion is okay. I’m unsure if she is still gay or not because she’s been single for a long time but I know she has been in sexual immortality WITH the same sex and hasn’t repented or else if she had repented she wouldn’t deny that homosexuality IS a sin. I just typed in thr letter G when on her phone and saw the history suggestions and saw gay porn as a link. How I get through to her when I’m not in the position to be an influence on her because she’s still taking care of me because it’s so hard ti find a job.
And although she is a great mom in providing clothes and food, how do you honor someone who claims to believe in Jesus Christ but not The Bible itself when that is an oxymoron because The Bible is the only Book that speaks of HIM as The Son Of GOD?
SO MUCH more to ask. but I’ll let you answer.
Chelli:
Great questions. I only have a minute right now but a few quick comments. You do not have to doubt your salvation over water baptism but if you feel convicted about it, go ahead and get baptized again. Do whatever you believe God wants you to do and lays on your heart to do.
How do you witness to my mom who says she believes but she still cusses like a sailor and claims “Man, those are just man made words.” to justify her potty mouth. The best way to witness to a family member is by your life. If you live different than she does and do so consistently, she will see it and be convicted. You will not have to say a word. She will see that you are different. I Peter 3 speaks of the wife winning over her unsaved husband “without a word”
What about church? Do either one of you attend church regularly? If so, what kind is it? All I have time for now. God bless.
And my mother although she takes care of me, sometimes she just blows up and is meaner to me than when I was a kid, who at that time at a younger age, would’ve been more use to her way of being had she always been that way.
sheshad to be the mother and dad but she althougj defended me and all that… I just feel the bond of mother daughter relationship.
I love her and she loves me and we joke and have our ups and downs yet how am I act that does not celebrate Sabbath Day and tells me to buy or do something that “you” are not particularly suppose to do. Should you say no to your parent when they could be angry and kick you out or do it to honor them and just stick by that rule in your own house when you get your own place?
Chelli:
Good question. I have a whole lesson on the Fifth Commandment, which I did three years ago. You might want to read it (http://www.elonsmallgroup.com/5184-2/). I would try to honor your parents as much as possible in your situation. I would also try to get out and live on my own and be independent whenever you are old enough and financially able to do so. How old are you?
Thank you for this website. I am a Christian, who has been deeply hurt by another Christian friend. He borrowed a lot of money from me ($15,000) saying he’d repay me when he purchased his home. But he lied about having the down payment I remembered what Paul said about who won’t go to heaven. That’s when I searched for the scripture. I like your feedback, especially to young people. Keep up the good work. I am a senior citizen. Hurt but trusting God to make all things right ?
Hi.
I’ll try to keep this as short as possible. I’m almost 39, female. Come from a catholic background but became a Christian about 5 months ago. Like many others, I don’t feel like I have assurance of being saved. I’m constantly feeling guilty of almost everything that I do. I’ve cried out to God many times, asked for forgiveness and to be filled with the Holy Spirit. I feel like I’ve grieved the Holy Spirit by not stopping doing some things which Christians have split opinions on whether they are sin or not. Some of these things are makeup which I have cut down A LOT, dying hair (natural colours), wearing pants or jeans, spending money on things for the house or buying beauty products, freaking out when I have acne or dermatitis breakouts because I think I’m being too vain etc etc. I went through an extremely obsessive phase where I’d watch videos on youtube to do with who and why people are going to hell and almost all of them mentioned makeup and beauty things and the scary part is that they were able to back it up with scripture. My anxiety and fear got so bad that I could barely breathe sometimes. I had to stop myself from watching them which wasn’t easy but it still haunts me every single day. I feel bad for owning a home and car sometimes when I think of the less fortunate. I’m convinced that if I was truly saved I’d be doing more for the Lord. So I feel He has turned His face from me. I go to a non denominational church which is bible based. I’ve always struggled a lot with social anxiety and lack of confidence so I haven’t had the courage to attend their home group meetings etc but have met a lot of people and been out and stayed in contact with a couple of the girls. I had a private meeting with the pastor & his wife about 2 months after my journey began and the pastor insisted that I AM saved and to basically calm down. I do get anxious a lot and I feel like I’m living in fear or condemnation as some have described it to me. Others have said I’m being attacked by the enemy. And others say I lack faith or that I’m basing my salvation on works or being legalistic. I’ve only had glimpses of the peace and joy that many Christians talk about. I mostly feel doomed and destined for hell. I can’t seem to find any help. I don’t know if I’m being convicted of those above things or if I’ve completely lost my mind. I have read the NT and up to Judges in the OT. I intend to read and study the bible until I die. I was baptised as a baby in the Catholic Church and intend to be baptised again in the Christian church. There’s so much to say but I’ll leave it at that for now in hopes to get most of my questions answered.
Thank you and God bless
Joanne,
Thanks for writing. I have been out of town and just read your post. It sounds like you are on the right track. Sounds like you attend a bible-believing church. You struggle with the issue of assurance of salvation. What do you think you have to do to have assurance of salvation? Do you even think it is possible? I will get to your post but I want to first ask if there is any chance if you have read what I posted at http://www.elonsmallgroup.com/assurance-of-salvation/? You may have. I was just wondering. I will give you more feedback later.
Hello.
I’ve been struggling a lot in my walk with Christ because for the past 19 1/2+ Years , I’ve been living with a severe traumatic brain injury. They say that I died at the scene of a horrible car accident, I was in a 6 week coma, I had to stay in patient at a rehabilitation hospital for between 5-6 months and had to learn how to to just about everything again. That was in the year 2000. Thankfully, I can function “normally” again, but mainly have memory issues to deal with. I am somewhat being forced to take this medication, which I greatly oppose, but practically everyone says I must. Yet I believe in a greater God who can heal and bless. I know since my traumatic brain injury I have been fighting thoughts and lies from the enemy. And I also know that you said that life would get easier or better after you’re truly saved? I was baptized and didn’t notice a change. Please, please help me. I want to go to heaven so badly when I die, but don’t know what to do differently. Also, I ask for prayers since right now I am unable to drive, yet I really want to go to church. Please, please help me. Please pray for me. I’m sorry to God for all of my shortcomings and sins that I commit, and I ask for prayers so I can work again doing something that is doable for me. Please do pray for me since these medications make me a different person, and no one will take time to slow down and listen or try to understand me.
Thank you.
Jen:
Thanks for sharing your story. I apologize for the delayed response. Do you remember anything when you were in the coma for six months? Any near death experience? You mentioned that you were baptized but did you ever pray to receive Christ as Savior? I would strongly encourage you to find a good local church in your area, if you have not done so yet. If you cannot drive, you might be able to call and ask a church if they know anyone who lives in your area who might be able to give you a ride. Some churches may be able to help you. I will pray for your situation.
Why is this contradictory to the many scriptures that state if you believe in Jesus and that he died for our sins then you will go to heaven. So imagine someone is a homossexual and has a man on man relationship but yet he truly believes in Jesus and what Jesus did. The Bible clearly states that is the way to heaven.
Good question. My answer is that we have to take the whole counsel of God. You are absolutely right that we are saved by faith (although the Bible does also talk about repentance but that is another topic). What Paul teaches in I Corinthians 6:9 is also true. If we believe the Bible is the Word of God, we have to believe BOTH statements as inspired Scripture and we have to assume that they do NOT contradict themselves, because as Jesus said, “Thy Word is Truth.”
I have a question but your views on homosexuality. How do we know they are going to Hell, because I believe love is no matter what gender. If were all made in God’s image didn’t God make them gay, lesbian, or bisexual. Doesn’t God state ”Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. I feel that everyone is judging them because of who they love. Love is Love no matter what
Great question Chloe. The issue is not what do you or I think but what does the Bible teach. The issue is not what do people say but what does God say on the topic and God’s thoughts are not necessarily our thoughts on the subject (Isaiah 55).
This has nothing to do with judging people, so the point about not judging is not the issue. God is the One who will do the judging. He is the One who will decide eternal destinies, not us. On the other hand, simply stating what God says in His Word is not judging.
Saying a certain behavior is immoral is not judging. it is not judging to say that murder is wrong. it is not judging to say that stealing is wrong. It is not judging to say that adultery is wrong. It is simply saying what God says in the Bible. It is not saying what I think but what God thinks.
The answer to your question is found in I Corinthians 6:9. It says emphatically that such people will NOT be in the kingdom of God. That is not limited to homosexuals. According to Paul, many heterosexuals will not be there either. What Paul says is not politically correct. It is completely counter-cultural. It was in his day and is in our day. Preaching against sin in any form is never popular. That is why many never do it, even in many churches today.
i am agnostic but i always love how love is presented in christianity. the reason why i can’t get behind any religion is that they all seem dictatorial to me. eg. if you don’t believe in a god, you are lost. if you doubt god, you’re sinning etc. why is that? no one can prove god exist or not and for people to come up with these rules just seemed a bit ridiculous. i guess my question is where do non believers, agnostics or people with other religion go after they die if there’s an afterlife? and do you ever doubt your faith? or do you ever question what you’re told by your religion?
Lynn:
Thanks for the question. I agree with you one point. Some religions are dictatorial. Some churches are but there is a difference between what the Bible says and what religion teaches or even what some churches teach. I do not follow the teaching of religion. I follow the teaching of Christ as taught in Scripture. There is a difference.
I would disagree that you cannot prove that God exists. It is easy to prove that God exists. There is proof. That does not mean that everyone accepts the proof. difference between PROOF and PERSUASION, as John Calvin pointed out a long time ago.
You can prove something logically and use all kinds of evidence to back up your position and not convince someone, because not everyone is open minded. Not everyone is rational. Not everyone is open to reason. As Dale Carnegie said, “A man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still.” How much of the Bible have you actually read? Have you ever read the Gospel of John? It answers your other question.
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. (John 3:16-19 NIV)
Simply claiming such proof exists without providing any is not especially convincing.
Hi Um. What happens if we have done one of these things, will we automatically go to Hell or can we fix this ??
I answer that question in last section of the lesson. Let me know if you have additional questions.
I was raised Catholic and I really despised my religion. I went to Catholic school and it was awful. I went to Catholic church every week and hated it. Growing up, the Catholics I was surrounded by would preach God and the bible yet treat eachother awful. They all thought they were better than everyone else and I grew up thinking religion was evil. I left religion and honestly gave up any care of sin. I have lived years of sexual immorality. A couple of years ago I had a really strong calling to find God. I have been reading my bible and praying and trying to abstain from sin, yet I have still had a few instances of sexual immorality. Lately I have been falling asleep to Psalms and been kept awake at night desperately wanting to be saved and go to Heaven. I am not sure what has come over me but I know I do not deserve Heaven. I know I am a sinner and I do not deserve the Grace of God. But if I will not be saved due to my sins why do I have such a strong calling to God and such a desperate desire to be saved? If I am not going to Heaven should I just accept this fact and stop torturing myself?
Katie:
Bless you. Thank you for sharing your story. As Jesus said to one man in his day, “You are not far from the kingdom” (Mark 12:34).
You are absolutely correct. You do not deserve heaven. I do not either. None of us do. The Bible teaches that we are all sinners (Romans 3:23). Paul said that there are none righteous (Romans 3:11). There is none good, no not one (Romans 3:12). He also said that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). All of us deserve Hell. Everyone on the planet is in this camp.
That is why Jesus came and died on the cross FOR OUR SINS (I Corinthians 15:3; I Peter 3:18). He died in our place and took our penalty. The punishment you deserve for you sin was already taken by Jesus. He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29).
If you know the story from the OT of the Passover Lamb, blood was put on the door post of the house and the firstborn son lived. The only thing that saved them was the blood of the lamb. The only thing that can save us is the blood of Jesus.
All you have to do is to accept Him. You have to believe on Him as Savior. You have to personally receive Him. You have to ask Him to save your from your sins. If you do that, He will.
John 6:37 says, “All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.” Whoever comes to Jesus, He receives. He never rejects and says that they are too bad to be saved.
John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” You get eternal life by believing.
John 1:11-12 says, “He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.”
That says that you become a child of God by receiving Christ. Christ offers salvation to all but you have to receive the salvation. It is a free gift. All you have to do is to accept it.
You could be dying of COVID-19 and there is a vaccine for it or a pill to take but if you do not receive it, it will not do you any good.
The good news is that we are NOT saved by our works. We are saved by grace (Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 4:4-5). If we could be saved by our works, Jesus would not have needed to come and die for us. If you have any further questions, I would be glad to help. God bless you.
Hi I have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as my Lord and savior however I am not sure if I have been forgiven for my sins. I feel as though I am being punished for the bad things I have done I’m not perfect and still make mistakes. I have had an infestation of bluebottles and an infestation of moths also alot of spiders I am terrified of all bugs and insects and I do turn to God for help through prayer. Even the thought of them has me in tears. I trust in God and the Bible says not to give in to fear but they keep showing up and I feel as though I’m being punished for something. Is this possible? Thanks
Thanks for writing. Becoming a Christian does not make you perfect. There are no perfect Christians. Just ask my wife. A couple questions for you. First, how old are you? Do you attend a good church? What denomination? How did you accept Christ as Savior? What led you to this decision?
Hi I am in high school right now and I’ve always been a believer. I feel like in the past year I have started to become a much worse Christian in that I’ve gotten drunk with my friends a few times and I’ve grown addicted to masturbation, like pretty much every other kid at my Catholic School. I also have a girlfriend who is such a good person but I feel like I’m so tempted to take it a step further with her and have sex. I know that God forgives and that Samson committed sexual immorality, so if I do take it a step further, am I damned?
I appreciate your honesty. I would point a few things out. First, salvation has nothing to do with works. It you are worried that you will not make it to heaven because you do not measure up, none of us do. You will never be good enough to go to heaven. You cannot work your way to heaven. The Bible says salvation is NOT by works. It is by grace (Ephesians 2:8; Titus 3:5).
Second, if you have genuinely trusted Christ as Savior and are genuinely saved, there should be a difference in the way you live. You should not live like unbelievers live. Someone on the outside should be able to look at believers and nonbelievers and be able to tell a difference. If they can’t, the person is probably not saved. The fact that your conscience is bothered is a good sign. An unbeliever would not think twice about immorality.
If you are saved, you will want to make some changes in your life, like stop getting drunk. You may need to make some new friends. Works matter. Your testimony matters. Jesus told the woman taken in adultery, “I do not condemn you. Go and sin no more”. He did not encourage the woman to live a life of sin. Falling into sin does not mean that you have lost your salvation. King David committed adultery and murder and he was still a believer but he paid the rest of his life for those actions.
Don’t know if this helps. If you have more questions, let me know and I will try to help.
What if I repented from those of the above that I committed while I claimed to be a Christian. Some of the above sins went on for years. I still thought I was saved while these were going on. Now, I realize that a true believer does not do those things. Can I be forgiven or am I condemned without chance of forgiveness even with repentance? Does Hebrews 10, vs 26 answer my question such that I have no change for forgiveness any longer?
For YEARS had most of the same problems most of you had. Esp.not feeling saved. I didn’t have peace.I followed Christ as best as humanly possible.Im poor& disabled on S.S. retirement. I learned about spiritual Adultery I was under false religious teachings(under law). I was tormented 24/7 insanity hearing evil voices & seeing evil in my mind, heard evil chants seeing evil spirits, just Constant harrasment!Constant attacks from Satan. It’s when Christians trusts anything they do (works,money ECT.) over trusting Christ for their Salvation. I was browbeaten-Scared into thitheing. I was told God wouldn’t protect me unless I thithed. And that I was stealing from God if I didn’t thithe. So I believed I would go to Hell if I stopped.During the HEAVY Spiritual Warfare I heard Jesus say; I’d rather have your Faith than your money. I said prove that was you Jesus prove that you want me to stop thitheing because they told me the devil would say that to me. Suddenly I was surrounded by evil spirits poking me asking me to tell them what I knew about thitheing. I said all I had learned & the pokeing /harassment got worse. I yelled to God what am I doing wrong? Your word says you will protect me from the devil if I thither! Something’s WRONG! I BEGGEG GOD to stop the harassment or I was going to stop thitheing because it’s NOT WORKING! The harassment kept up so I yelled to God I SWEAR I WILL NEVER THITHE AGAIN! I WILL TRUST JESUS ONLY NOT MONEY!”INSTANTLY” I HEARD A SEVERAL TON WEIGHT ROCK LIKE DOOR CLOSING( I GOT A VISUAL IN MY MIND). IT BOOMBED WHEN IT SHUT! INSTANTLY ALL THE TORMENT WAS GONE! TOTAL SILENCE! PEACE! I KNEW FOR SURE IT WAS JESUS WHO TALKED TO ME!I stopped watching on TV the Christain Pastor who put me under LAW. I just read my Bible everyday. I’m a prayer warrior. I also give Bible to the Homeless & lead them to Christ’s Salvation. You don’t have to be babtzed in water to be Saved. Just BELIEVE & say out loud. Dear God; I believe Jesus is the son of God. I Believe he died on the cross for my sins. I’m a sinner. Jesus Please forgive me of my sins. Please come into my heart right now & I make you my LORD & SAVIOR. Thank you Jesus for clearing me of my sins & giving me your Free gift of eternal life. I will read your word, I will tell others about you& I will follow & obey you forever. Thank you Jesus NOW I KNOW IM SAVED! Hope this helps. HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS! & MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!-Love & Peace-tw
I have done these things. Are you saying that i cant receive jesus grace. I cant be forgiven??. I just cant believe Jesus would allow this to happen.bit if its in gods word. Then im truly lost. Not going li to live like that. If you can answer this in 24 hours. Ill not go through with it.
Christopher,
You misunderstood me. Any sin can be forgiven no matter how bad it is, even mass murder or rape. I am talking about people who continue to live in sin, do not repent, do not feel bad about it and even try to justify it and still claim to be a Christian. Those are two different situations.
Those are the type of people who are not saved but even they can get saved. There is hope for everyone until they take their last breath. God does not want anyone to perish. He wants everyone to be saved. Have you ever accepted Christ as your personal Savior?
i grew up Christian, however a few years ago i strayed incredibly far from God, going as far as to worship other gods. however i recently turned back and have been pursuing Christ more fervently than ever. however i am very scared that i have lost my salvation. i know the verse (i believe in hebrews) that says that people under my circumstances aren’t going to heaven, but i know there are some other verses that contradict that. am i doomed?
Bless you. No. You are not doomed. The Bible teaches that you cannot lose your salvation. Jesus said that of every person the Father gave him, he would lose NONE and raise that person up on the last day (John 6:39). Paul told people to turn from worshipping other gods to worship the true God (I Thessalonians 1:9). Hebrews is talking about people who totally and finally reject Christ after making a false profession of faith. They do not come back like you did. You are in a different situation. Sorry for the late response. I didn’t notice your letter until now.
Hi, very good article, it is also to my understanding that no sinner will enter heaven, but what happens if ,as a Christian, you continually sin unknowingly and die in the ignorance and unrepentance of that sin?
In one sense that describes every believer. None of us will die with every sinned confessed but that is not a condition of salvation. Once we accept Christ, Jesus forgives us of all of our sins (Colossians 2:13), not just some of them.
This treatise on who won’t go to heaven is very factual and informational. I appreciate the warnings. I have sinned, but I repented. Tho it is not possible to live a sinless life, I vow to nevermore sin willfully, knowingly, or to justify it using the bible, I now receive god’s forgiveness around this matter. I further vow to live my life specifically, carefully, cleanly, and lovingly, so that I may fulfill the law and “love my neighbor as myself” I ask God for the strength and commitment to fulfill all my promises and vows. Rendered this day in my hand.
Allen R. Banta
That sounds good but just remember that we do not save ourselves and we do not keep ourselves saved. We are kept by the power of God (I Peter 1:5). Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy (Jude 24). being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 1:6)
There are a lot of people who will not be going to the Kingdom of God. SODOMY is serious. It is a deal breaker on a major level. Satan created homosexuality and sodomy against God’s Order in the time before this world when he wanted God’s throne. God’s Order is male and female, procreation, life, love ie Holy Matrimony- the soulmate pairs that God made from the Beginning. Satan wanted to create something against God’s Order. That is why he created sodomy and homosexuality. When you truly have the Holy Spirit you know the Truth. There is lack of the Holy Spirit and the Truth and the Light on this forum. The unforgivable sin is satanism which is yoked to sodomy and homosexuality. You want to save people with the Truth not lead them to destruction. Unless you are doing Satan’s bidding. When you know it, you know it, when you don’t and you don’t and when you play a game that is satanic the people of God know it when we see it. What is happening in the world regarding all this at this time is 100% real and those judgment days are here. We are the Elect and Christ be with us.
Unpardonable sin – My heart feels incredibly hardened to God and my conscious feels completely seared. Am I completely doomed and unable to comeback to God?
Nope, you’re NOT doomed at all to be unable to come back to God.
All you need to do to come to God is:
1) Want to come to Him (& it sounds like you do, or you wouldn’t ask; no matter how hardened your heart is – you still want to)
2) Believe He exists (you do, or your heart wouldn’t be hardened toward Him)
3) Sincerely seek Him (you do this, & you believe He rewards that, or you wouldn’t be seeking Him)
(Also consider James 4:8 “Seek to get closer to God, & He’ll seek to get closer to you.”
All you need to do is seek Him regardless of the condition of your heart toward Him. But remember, really He chose you, & not you Him (John 15:16). And rejoice that you are not your own, but were bought at a price (1 Cor. 6:19-20).
Hebrews 11:6
And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to Him must believe that God exists and that He rewards those who sincerely seek Him.
This was amazing content wow
Thanks. I recently revised that post, which was written fourteen years ago. If you want to read the revision, you can find it at https://www.elonsmallgroup.com/do-not-be-deceived/
why is it also forgotten what Paul says after that when he continues on after the list of those who will not enter the kingdom of heaven… https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%206%3A11-13&version=KJV
For those who are interested, this post has been revised and rewritten. The updated post on the same passage of Scripture can be found at https://www.elonsmallgroup.com/do-not-be-deceived/
I agree with Calvin. In AA we learn that scientifically addiction is addiction. The human mind can be bound n tied to anything obsessively, to fill a void, numb a trauma (aka ..fill our cup). Things like FOOD (overeating, theres a whole anonymous group for that, overeaters anonymous because it’s such a big thing), one can be addicted to porn, sex, money, gambling, the way it would tear their family apart, make them lose their jobs, homes, go hungry, be dirty and sacrifice everything for any of these things, just as quickly as one may do the same for an actual street drug or alcohol. I personally believe the two issues with this would be 1) making any sacrifice necessary for ur dependency (drugs, sex, food, etc), meanwhile most cant make half the sacrifice for God that they easily make for their addiction naturally like breathing, without a single thought or doubt. 2) turning to one of these things to fill our voids/ numb a trauma (instead of healing these things thru God) when in fact God wants to be the only thing ur filling ur cup with and by doing so would literally heal these things. So yes, food if an addiction, not just eating to survive, can definitely be interchangeable in my opinion with sex, alcohol, porn, substances, gambling, codependency, etc. But I truly do believe that Jesus died for our sins. I believe this is the list of those not able to enter the kingdom, but then Jesus died on that cross n endured what he did, so that we could be forgiven…for anything. So long as we’re actually seeking forgiveness. I believe u must show ur sorry after. Try not to do this thing again. Nobody’s perfect, so like with drug addiction, if u relapse ask for forgiveness, we’re not expected to be perfect…just trying our best, n faithfully turning to God when we need help n celebrating Him even when we’re good!!!God bless everyone! 🙏🏼🫶🏼 (Sincerely 5.5 years sober by way of God dissolving my 30 year bondage/ obsession where I miraculously survived 38 flat lines).
Thanks for sharing your story and perspective. Check out my updated post on this passage found at https://www.elonsmallgroup.com/do-not-be-deceived/
Hi, I know it says Satan is the accuser of the brethren and I know God convicts and Satan condemns… I believed in Jesus has my saviour when I was nine years old but I have never felt the assurance of my salvation. I did have a very abusive childhood and I wonder if maybe that’s part of my problem but just wondering… How do I know I’m saved? I am 39 years old now so for 30 years I’ve been wrestling with this but I’ve never given up wanting God and wanting to be saved, but I just feel at this point I should have that feeling of assurance. Does that mean I was never actually saved? And if so, why and how do I change it?
I have a post that answers your question. It was done a long time ago. I would do a much better job today but here is the post. https://www.elonsmallgroup.com/assurance-of-salvation/