Question #1:
I get intrusive images in my head of the most vile and abominable things possible, and feel a tangible rage towards me for them, telling me I need to abandon my search for God, and abandon my salvation if I have it so I can go to Hell. I also feel like I can't forgive myself for letting these images even exist in mind, and that I deserve to be literally tormented because I can't stop thinking them...I need prayers
Response #1:
All sins are forgiven when we confess (1Jn.1:9; Ps.32:5). So to the
extent that this is your fault, that is forgivable so please do keep
confessing.
However, if you have been reading Ichthys, you know that this problem is
a very common one among believers who are trying to make some spiritual
headway
(see
the link). This problem starts to abate once 1) we get
consistent with our spiritual growth; 2) we start trusting the Holy
Spirit to help us.
We really DO have to believe that we have the Spirit (we do), that He is
willing to help us (He is), and that He is far more powerful than
whatever opposition is plaguing us like this (of course He is).
You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
1st John 4:4 NKJV
I am praying for you and you can pray for yourself as well
(Lk.18:1-8).
See the link: in
Peter #17:
Basic orientation to Christian thinking.
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #2:
Doc what should I do? I've done things almost no one who's not Christian would consider redeemable in the slightest, and even some professing Christians would, and repeatedly done them...I may have told you this before. I do realize God forgives us when we confess, but I fear this may prove I'm not saved...I still want a relationship with God and want to continue seeking redemption, even if I never find it. How am I even supposed to repent for the things I've done though? Please pray for me...
Response #2:
If you believe in Jesus Christ, then you are a believer, and all
believers are saved (Jn.3:16-18).
Having said that, believers are called to move forward spiritually, to
deny themselves, pick up their crosses, and follow Jesus Christ
(Matt.16:24). Bouncing around, as most Laodicean Christians are doing,
will never be spiritually satisfying and is, in fact, spiritually
dangerous.
What should you do? You may have heard this from me before.
Repent/confess. Turn your back to the past. Move forward spiritually.
That won't happen one email at a time. You'll have to commit to reading
into Ichthys deeply and consistently or engaging with some other good
Bible ministry (like Bible
Academy). You'll have to hear the truth, believe the truth, and
apply the truth to make progress and get to the point of peace and
happiness in the Lord. That is our heritage as sons and daughters of the
Father through our Lord Jesus Christ.
"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."
John 14:27 NKJV
For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, Abba, Father.
Romans 8:15 NKJV
And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, Abba, Father!
Galatians 4:6 NKJV
In Him,
Bob L.
Question #3:
Thank you so much for this update Bob!
It is so encouraging for me to read as I am in the middle of what feels
like more than one trial at the moment.
I will write back soon with a more detailed email (to be honest I am
really exhausted at the moment and having a physical and mental rest)
but I just wanted to write back to you quickly to say this is very
important for me to hear too as I have started to flag a bit in my own
fight. It has been a real privilege to help you and lift you up in
prayer over this and again thank you for letting me know and the faith
filled encouragement it has brought to me.
As you often say to me Bob, this ministers to me too!
So thrilled for you my friend!
When you rejoice, I do so too!
In Him, our all in all,
Response #3:
Thank you! Your prayer support was needful, effective . . . and
very much appreciated!
Hoping to hear some good news from you soon as well and praying for it
daily.
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #4:
Doc when the Bible says God will never allow to come upon us that we
can't truly bear, does that include the natural consequences of sin?
Doc I don't know how to stop this...You know I have impulsive spurts of
anger towards people for the tiniest things...as you know also my now
this causes me to get angry at God for no good reason, instead of
trusting He'll show me some explanation as to why it's right as He
always does, I get angry at Him for how He does some things because I
don't understand it at the moment. Like how I thought Natural Revelation
to not make any sense, even thinking it to contradict clear human
nature...but then it all made sense to me once I actually sought out to
understand it. A recent example would be how Jesus will judge our works
at the Judgement seat, I misunderstood this to mean literally every
single thought, word and deed will be gone over and shamed or rewarded.
I was extremely stressed over my past actions being judged and
preventing any more shaming, which made me very upset with Him, although
like the precious case I should have trusted Him to reveal what this
really means. How do I stop being irrationally angry towards God and
start trusting Him properly?
Response #4:
No one will get off scot-free at the judgment seat of Christ. We'll all have a bonfire of sorts, I'm guessing. Our job as believers is NOT to worry about the past but to concentrate on the present, for that is the way to have the best possible eternal future (see the link). But however embarrassed we are for that brief moment, and however that goes it will be similar for us all, we will have no regrets for all eternity for the good things we have done in this life, the best being having put our faith in Jesus Christ for life eternal.
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Romans 8:18 NKJV
As to discipline in this life, I read this in Hebrews:
No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
Hebrews 12:11 NIV
Discipline after confession is bearable; but that doesn't mean it's
pleasant; but being restored to fellowship with the Lord we are able to
feel His love again, even if we are still hurting from the "spanking".
As to "How do I stop being irrationally angry towards God and start
trusting Him properly?", the answer is the answer I always give:
spiritual growth. You seem to me to be making progress. The more
determined you are to grow through a broad-based approach of taking in
ALL the materials at Ichthys consistently and believing what you are
being taught then applying it to your life, the better things will get
and the faster too.
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.
2nd Corinthians 9:6 NIV
We can't expect great results from small investments. As with all other
things in life, the more you put in to it, the more you are likely to
get out of it.
Keeping you in my daily prayers, my friend.
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #5:
Thanks Bob!
It's really good to get that task out of the way. The new cycle starts
again next month but at least I can have a bit of a breather now. You'll
get there with your research too, Bob.
Hope you've recovered from your work in the yards yesterday. I've got
some weeding to do too. All the rain we've had has been too good for
them. I'll hopefully get to it at the weekend - if it doesn't rain
again. Your cranky mower sounds like my car! Only joking - well, sort
of! At least she still works so that's a bonus.
I had a lovely time with my grandson today and then I got a good chunk
of CT study in which I
was really pleased about.
So thankful the Lord. Our reason for living, our very life and I love
Him so much.
Thanks so much for your prayers for me and my family. Keeping you and
your family in mine too.
Back to work tomorrow!
In Jesus
Response #5:
I'm delighted to hear that you had a good time with your grandson and
also got to some serious Bible study too. God is good!
The "heat dome" has moved our way and it's blistering today. Having to
water lest the zinnias droop. One hummingbird was feeling it today too
apparently. He just sat down on top of one to take a break. Meanwhile a
giant rabbit was up on his hind legs trying to pull a big zinnia down to
have a snack (we have so many we don't mind sharing).
I appreciate your love for the Lord, my friend. Your solid walk with Him
is encouraging and inspiring. This is how we help each other through.
Thanks for those prayers. I'm confident that they are in the process of
being answered.
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #6:
Dear Professor,
Thank you very much for the notification about the email posting and the
Ichthys anniversary. The email postings have always been a must read for
me every Sunday. Its reading the Bible in a relatable format. If you
were here in this country, we would have slaughtered a cow and several
goats to celebrate (LOL). I can never ever be able to adequately convey
my gratitude to God for you (except by growing as I learn from you and
not ignoring what I learn). Thank you so much Sir.
[omitted] Ill be sending all my reports to you.
Thank you for you Sir.
Response #6:
Thanks! It's my pleasure.
LOL, barbecue is a big deal here especially in the southern part of the
US too hopefully you guys will be able to find that out first hand
soon enough.
I appreciate all the good words, my friend, and will be looking for
those reports. Keeping you two and your families in my daily prayers
thanks so much for yours!
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #7:
Doc, can I ask something? How do I spend my money in a way pleasing to
the Lord? I planned for the longest time to just spend any excess money
on charity or donating to any legitimate churches I can find (not as a
tithe or anything of course), but your site seems to say that's not
necessarily the best way to spend it.
Read my last email top please. How do I overcome lust? ..as you know
[omitted] It never makes me happy at all though, even with the momentary
empty pleasure. I need help with this...
Response #7:
If you feel moved to support the Church financially, I always recommend
Bible Academy as
worthy of contributions (at the link).
On the other issue, we are all tempted, different people to different
things, of course. We should do what we can to avoid having anything to
do with anything of an illicit sexual nature always (1Cor.6:18). I.e.,
"don't even think about it" and stay far away from anything and
everything that leads in that direction as much as is possible in this
culture where it is ubiquitous.
No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
1st Corinthians 10:13 NKJV
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #8:
Thanks Doc. On money spending, when I save up money outside of what's going to be donated to Bible Academy, the first thing I was gonna save up for [omitted]. It wouldn't be a sinful to do this, would it?
Response #8:
Spending money is a funny thing. It's the rare person who is so in control of his/her emotions, so tuned in to the value and necessity of what is being bought, so clear about the future, that money is always spent to good, not even to say the best, purposes. If I could sell back about 90% of the books I've bought in my life at half price, I would jump at the opportunity (especially Bible commentaries, most of which have not turned out to be worth the paper they are printed on).
We live in a time of surplus relative to other cultures in the history
of the world. If we are focused on the Lord, things will tend to work
out on the finance front as well as all the others. So don't be overly
anxious about money (1Tim.6:10; Heb.13:5-6). Remember: there is no
money in New Jerusalem (and no need for it)!
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #9:
So are you saying it's bad? Is it bad to use money for anything like
entertainment?
Doc I hear that God hates partying/festivals. Apparently the most common
interpretation of this is that it means orgies and pagan celebrations
dedicated to false gods. What do you think?
Read my last 2 emails please, this one is just clarification on the
last. I do think even if all parties and celebrations by the worldly
definitions are bad, there is one thing we should always celebrate in
our hearts-The work of and redemption through the sacrifice of our Lord
Jesus.
Response #9:
Re: "we should always celebrate in our hearts-The work of and
redemption through the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus": That's the
spirit! . . . and the Spirit.
As to your question, the Lord does not begrudge us "having some fun"
(cf. Lk.15:23-24), just as long as there is nothing immoral or illegal
in the way we go about it. Clearly, drunkenness, drug abuse, obscenity,
sexual promiscuity, idolatry of any kind "and things of this sort"
(Gal.5:21) are WAY out of bounds.
As to spending some money on something that is not necessary but falls
into the "clean fun" category, it is certainly not my business to weigh
in on the lives of others and tell them what to do and what not to do in
terms of things which the Bible doesn't call sinful on the one hand or
tell us we should be doing on the other. The latter two areas are the
province of a Bible teacher. Areas of application are what we are here
in this life to engage with through personal choice. Clearly also, the
more choices we make for spiritual growth, progress and production, the
more we will please the Lord and the greater will be our ultimate
reward. But nobody is 100% perfect in their applications, even if we all
really ought to consider the benefits of moving in that direction to the
best of our ability as the absolute top priority at all times. There are
degrees of zeal for the Lord. We definitely want to avoid being
lukewarm.
"I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth."
Revelation 3:15-16 NKJV
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #10:
Dear Brother Bob, hope you had a good Christmas.
It is interesting that you mention testing and temptation from James 1.
The source of tests is God and if it is from the world it is satan.
Later on James says submit ourselves to God, resist the devil and he
will flee. Practically speaking what does it mean to "submit" to God,
and "resist" the devil?
Jesus encountered satan in Luke 4 and Matthew 4. Each time satan tempted
Jesus, He quoted Scripture. Most Christians today do not directly
encounter satan. In the prayer ministry I have heard a lot of men
struggle with viewing pornography (while this has not been a problem for
me since I am visually impaired).
Brother Bob, what is the key in overcoming temptation?
Love in Christ,
Response #10:
As our Lord says,
"Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin."
John 8:34b NKJV
If we give into sin, the sin nature, the world, the flesh, the devil, it's all
one and the same thing: not following God but selfishly following ourselves and
the negative influences around us instead.
On the other hand, if we obey God, His truth, His Word, His witness, His Holy
Spirit, the good norms and standards He has placed in our consciences through
the process of spiritual growth, then we are doing what Jesus told us to do
(Matt.16:24; Mk.8:34; Lk.9:23) in denying ourselves (resisting that
selfishness), picking up our crosses (committing to the mission = submitting),
and following Him (moving forward in spiritual growth, progress and production).
We do not directly encounter Satan or his followers visibly as our Lord did, but
we are fighting an unseen spiritual warfare with them at all times. There are a
lot of ins and outs to this (here's
one link in a series which will lead to more). It's very important to beware
here because there is a great deal of abuse and misinformation of a dangerous
nature abroad today here today in the late innings of Laodicea, often called
also called "spiritual warfare" but conducted by putative believes and
"teachers" and in truth bordering on Gnosticism (see
the link). Another good place to study this at Ichthys is
SR 4: Satan's World System (at the link).
No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
1st Corinthians 10:13 NKJV
I wouldn't say there is one key to overcoming temptation. As we grow, we get
better at resisting it (or at least we can and we should), but we will always
have the potential of failing as long as we are in these bodies of sin.
Therefore we can never afford to assume that we have "arrived" on this point.
Scripture says a great deal about the need for alertness for just this reason (see
the link). I will say that no one ever got anywhere in the battle against
sin and temptation by trying to sit on the defensive. We do need to "pursue
sanctification" (i.e., learning to stay away from sin and evil), but pursuing
spiritual growth is absolutely necessary if we are ever going to get anywhere
with this. A good offense and a good defense go hand in hand and neither can do
well without the other. However, there is little enough of the latter and
precious little of the former in our present state of the church-visible (mostly
instead just a lot of noise and showmanship).
Please see BB 6A: Peripateology: the study of the
Christian walk (at the link) for details on how to apply the truth in regard
to issues such as this.
Wishing you a happy and blessed 2023!
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #11:
Speaking of that game, should I even be playing it? It has a lot of fantasy
elements, including magic that as far as I can tell, doesn't really resemble
anything occult, but yet again with me supposed to be a follower of Christ I
have little interest in learning what all the specifics of what's occult and
what's not, so I may be wrong (it's pretty much spells in game that control the
elements to attack, deflect attacks or heal your characters).
I did have problems with occult temptations in the past (and sadly still do from
time to time, with varying degrees of severity), but I feel like I've gotten
better at resisting them. I do tend get very distracted from thinking about
Christ and other good things when playing video games though. I've been trying
to work on thinking on good things and praying for others while playing, and
limiting how much I play (I can often spend most of the day playing video
games). The goal is to make prayer and other godly things more important in my
life while also hopefully making entertainment less, maybe I'll even find it
easier to resist temptation when it's said and done. What do you think Doc?
Response #11:
Certain things are more of a temptation for one person than they are for
another. I would probably need to be paid a lot to spend even a half
an hour on such a game. We are all tempted to different things; what
tempts me may not tempt you, etc. If I had a world-class HO model
railroad layout in the basement, I might be tempted to miss this week's
posting to work on it. Some things are definitely bad, some partially,
some for all the world seemingly innocuous . . . but if engagement with
them leads us to ignore our responsibilities, temporal or spiritual,
then for us they are bad.
One thing I can say for certain is that if there is something that
tempts you personally to do what your conscience in the Spirit rejects
and so much so that you end up yielding to temptation to your later
disgust and regret then it is wise to consider "not doing that",
whatever "that" is. Lots of people can imbibe alcohol and not sin, never
get drunk, never go past the point where there is a problem, not be led
into temptation by it. But some people have a terrible time with alcohol
and find their resistance and inhibitions easily washed away after
taking just one drink. Such people are much better off being
teetotalers, especially if they are believers.
Everyone finds out, often by experimentation, what things they need to
avoid to live a happy, peaceful life. And for believers, avoiding
problematic things that give us trouble personally is a key element in
our spiritual defense or sanctification. But these are all personal
decisions. If we give something up for the WRONG reasons like someone
else telling us to do it (as so many legalistic churches which are into
"discipleship" and "accountability" heresies are wont to do) it not
only never works but it also never has positive spiritual effects. The
opposite, actually. So trust the Lord, fight the fight, and trust the
Lord to show you the right way to go as you do so.
(12) [It is] not that I have already gotten [what I am striving for], nor that I have already completed [my course]. Rather, I am continuing to pursue [the prize] in hopes of fully acquiring it [this prize for whose acquisition] I was myself acquired by Christ Jesus. (13) Brethren, I do not consider that I have already acquired it. This one thing only [do I keep in mind]. Forgetting what lies behind me [on the course] and straining towards the [course] ahead, (14) I continue to drive straight for the tape, towards the prize to which God has called us from the beginning [of our race] in Christ Jesus. (15) So as many as are [spiritually] mature, let us have this attitude (i.e., of focusing on our spiritual advance and reward and not getting hung up on what lies behind: vv.13-14), and if in any matter your attitude is off-center, God will reveal that to you (i.e., assuming you are mature and are advancing as you should). (16) But with respect to the progress you have made, keep on advancing in the same way!
Philippians 3:12-16
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #12:
Captain Luginbill,
I trust that youre well. Happy Memorial Day, and thank you for your
faithful service to our country, and thank you for your ongoing service
to the LORD as a humble, passionate soldier in His army.
May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make his face to shine
upon you, and be gracious to you. May the Lord lift up his countenance
upon you, and give you peace.
Response #12:
Thank you!
Much appreciated, my friend.
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #13:
Hi Robert. Please pray. I just lost my job of 25 years. I am crushed
under these burdens. I also wonder if all this might be God's judgement
or severe discipline on me. Just crosses my mind.
Thanks
Response #13:
I'm terribly sorry to hear this!
Yes, I will be praying for you about the job situation.
As to discipline, however, the December before last you wrote to me
indicating that you were committing to getting closer to the Lord
through close attention to the Ichthys materials, I gathered. After
that, you've had a string of difficult trials. Please remember that
testing is part of serious spiritual growth. None of us likes it but
we all get it. The evil one opposes any and all who are really bearing
down in growth, progress and production . . . for a while. The Lord
allows it . . . for a while . . . to see if we are really going to hang
in there with what is important. But there is always deliverance.
(7) . . . cast all your care on Him, for He cares for you. (8) Stay sober and stay awake [on guard]. Your adversary the devil roams about like a roaring lion, looking for someone he can devour. (9) Resist him, solid in your faith, remembering that your fellow believers in this world are undergoing the exact same sort of suffering [that you are]. (10) And the God of all grace, the One who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, though you have had to suffer for a short time, will Himself equip you, solidify you, strengthen you, establish you.
1st Peter 5:7-10
If we resist the devil, our suffering and trials will come to an end.
The Lord will bring us safely through the impenetrable sea to the dry
land on the other side even if we are burdened and hurting at the
moment.
It is also important to remember that guilt is the devil's ace trump.
None of us are without "skeletons in the closet", things we regret from
time long gone by. The devil would like to suggest to our troubled
hearts that any trouble we have is for such reasons, that God is
vindictive, that He was just waiting for the right moment to undo us. Is
that how our loving God and Father comports Himself to those who belong
to Him, to those who belong to His dear Son? Not at all! If we are
receiving discipline, it is for current issues AND it is given by a
loving Father to correct us, for our good, and, after we confess, for
our blessing in every way. But no believer who is advancing is without
testing, trial and opposition: that is the "load" that builds the muscle
of faith . . . when we deal with it and confront it in faith.
(12) Beloved, don't be alarmed at the fiery ordeal which has befallen you and is putting you to the test as if something out of the ordinary were happening to you. (13) But to the degree that you are [truly] participating in Christ's sufferings, be joyful about it, so that at His glorious revelation, you may also rejoice with great gladness.
1st Peter 4:12-13
(2) Brothers, when you are being beset with all manner of trials, take pains to be joyful. (3) For you should keep in mind that this testing of your faith develops perseverance. (4) So let your perseverance develop fully, that you may become fully mature and entitled to a full reward, having been found lacking in no respect.
James 1:2-4
We may not always be able to be ecstatically joyful in the midst of pain, but we can embrace the peace that our Lord has given us in the Holy Spirit, and look forward to the joys that await us in the resurrection in New Jerusalem.
"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."
John 14:27 NKJV
There's a lot about this in the
Peter series in particular.
I will be doing battle with you in prayer until the Lord gives you
victory in difficult tests, my friend.
We will shout for joy when you are victorious and lift up our banner in the Name of our God!
Psalm 20:5
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #14:
Thanks Robert. I just wonder because of still falling back into sin over the last year (I have repented since) whether all this could be serious judgement or discipline from the Lord. I just wonder if the Lord has left me or is unwilling to forgive me after falling back to the same sins so often. Or if maybe He is not allowing me to believe He is willing to forgive me, you know. And I know you've written to me on this before. My failings are worse than Peter's. I feel more like a Judas.
Response #14:
The Lord has NOT left you. You are being tested. Faith is the way to
pass all such tests.
The Bible says He forgives everyone when they confess (1Jn.1:9; cf.
Ps.32:5).
You are not more important or better . . . or worse or less important .
. . than any of your brothers and sisters in Christ. If you are
struggling to believe the truth, that is something you have to work out
. . . by believing the truth. That is a choice.
Look, unless you robbed a bank or something, I can't imagine (and don't
want to know) what you think you may have done to put yourself "beyond
the pale", but please remember that even the prodigal son was forgiven
when he finally came back. So confess/repent and trust the Lord and His
words of truth not your guilt feelings, stirred up by the evil one.
Consider:
The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;
Psalm 103:8-13 NIV
That is what our God is really like. Be pleased to walk in godly,
reverent fear of Him then you have nothing whatsoever to fear from
this world.
Keeping you in my prayers, my friend.
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #15:
Hi Robert, my sin is not nearly as "long past" as you think. More like
recent past. My continuing to sin with ___ and other transgressions
continued and I was in the process of seeking repentance for several
months when these things started to unfold so I thought, maybe, this
judgement/discipline (might) be God giving me a good swift kick to get
me there.
Or, alternatively, I have sinned beyond grace and this is divine
judgement and God will not hear me anymore as in Proverbs 1:28-30. Hence
the email I sent you prior to this. The email I sent you yesterday on
why I was repenting and where I'm really stuck is the truth. Maybe I
have done too much spiritual damage to my relationship with Him that He
will no longer accept my repentance and forgive me.
I am really afraid these verses (e.g., Heb.10:26) describe me and this
last one SERIOUSLY causes me angst.
I know you're probably thinking that this has been a problem for a long
time and it has, but my previous email was honest and sincere. I truly
am committed to never going near any of those sins or unbroken sinful
patterns again. I very much want the Lord and His forgiveness but I am
really truly afraid that too much spiritual damage has been done as you
have said and it is 'too late' for me. I don't know, or have any way to
tell.
When you say about 1st John 1:9, "Simply returning to God in our
hearts and then admitting our sins to Him in a prayer of confession
brings forgiveness and cleansing based upon the saving work of our Lord
Jesus Christ who bore all of our sins on the cross", even after the
number of times I went back to the same pattern of repeated sin and for
long periods?
When you talk about "inappropriate and spiritually dangerous to
conceive a disproportionate and morbid fixation upon God's judgment for
sin to the exclusion of His mercy and goodness", I have this,
unfortunately.
When you say, "Rest in the peace and comfort of His divine mercy
(i.e., be confident of His forgiveness)... Secure in the knowledge that
God Himself has paid for our sins, that He accepts our confession, and
that He has cleansed us from our sins, we need to have confidence that,
regardless of whatever discipline may come our way to teach us as sons
and daughters to stay away from all that is spiritually harmful, we have
nonetheless been truly restored to full fellowship with Him and our Lord
Jesus Christ", I do not have this, unfortunately and I do understand
that you say this is wrong.
I do not know how to possibly reconcile this statement by you:
"3) Failing to appreciate that we have indeed been forgiven. True forgiveness is ours upon genuine repentance and appropriate confession of our sins. It is a fact regardless of how we may feel. God is faithful and just to forgive us when we properly confess our sins (1Jn.1:9; cf. Ps.32:5; 51; Prov.28:13). Giving in to excessive feelings of guilt after the fact is to fail to appreciate the integrity of God and to doubt His promise of forgiveness."
With this:
"For if we willfully continue in the life of sin after accepting and recognizing the truth [of the gospel], there remains no further sacrifice we can make for our sins, but only a terrible expectation of judgment, and a burning fire, ready to devour those who oppose [His will]."
Hebrews 10:26
Doesn't it matter the volume of sin or length of time sinning or the
number of times one has gone back to the same patterns? Doesn't that
negate the possibility of forgiveness at some point? When is the 'line
crossed' where God is no longer willing to hear or forgive you? I am not
lying to you when I say that I TRULY FROM MY HEART want God and His
forgiveness and NOT go near in any way, any of the sins that entangled
me so much, so many times.
I know I frustrate you. I frustrate myself as well.
Response #15:
It's posting day, so apologies in advance for the brevity.
First, that verse in Hebrews (Heb.10:26) is frequently misunderstood
(along with Heb.6:4-6) and one of the reasons why I chose to tackle
the book as my next major project after the Peter series (i.e., because
so many are wrongly plagued by the false teaching and incorrect
understanding regarding these passages;
see the link). In a nutshell, these believers were publically
putting Jesus Christ to disgrace by participating in a ritual which
proclaimed, by its very nature, that the cross had not yet happened.
That is more than "just a sin". And yet the Lord was gracious enough NOT
to immediately take them out of this life, but to bear with them long
enough for Paul to write that marvelous letter wooing them to
repentance. The principle is that, no, of course we are not going to be
forgiven WHILE we are in the process of sinning with no intention of
stopping. Confession requires repentance which at the very least is an
acknowledgment of error and a determination not to repeat it.
So I don't agree with your analysis at all. There is no "sinning beyond
grace" unless you have rejected Jesus Christ and are no longer a
believer, and that is clearly not the case at all. You love the Lord . .
. and the Lord loves you, more than you have any idea. He died for all
of your sins on the cross, every single one, the ones that bother you,
the ones you're fretting about, and the ones that don't concern you or
you never noticed. Any one of these was sufficient to cast you into
hell, absent the redemption you have in Christ but yo HAVE been
redeemed (Eph.1:7; Col.1:14)! This is not about sin. We are here to live
for Christ. We are disciplined to help us get back on track, not to
punitively afflict us (Heb.12:3-11).
Here is my advice.
What not to do.
1) Do not advocate against yourself. Jesus Christ is the One advocating
for you before the Father (Rom.8:34; 1Jn.2:1; cf. Job 16:19; 1Tim.2:5;
see the link).
2) Do not be Job. Job, when under pressure, alternatively blamed God and
himself (subtly). Instead, he should have continued to trust the Lord.
Job was wrong in his analysis of the situation. I believe you are as
well. My God is loving and merciful beyond all understanding, slow to
anger, quick to forgive, never treating us as our sins deserve, but
healing our wounds and restoring us in all loving kindness (cf.
Ps.103:1-22). I believe He is your God too.
3) Do not use how you are feeling as an excuse. It doesn't matter how
you feel. What matters is the truth. If God has forgiven you, that
should make you "feel good", but human emotions don't work that way
automatically. They have to be led by our will, by our feeding them the
truth. If we let our emotions feed us instead, we'll never get anywhere
in the Christian life (see
the link).
What you should do:
1) If you are doing something wrong, stop it. Determine resolutely to
stop it. And stop it. If you stumble then get back up again and stop it,
willfully and determinedly. That is what biblical repentance is. It
doesn't matter how you feel about it. Just stop it.
2) If you have done something wrong, confess it. Do so in the complete
assurance that the scriptures do not lie and that you have been forgiven
what you have confessed and will be forgiven what you will confess. God
is not an accountant, vindictively slamming us without mercy. He is our
Father and He treats us like sons and daughters He loves. How much does
He love us? He sacrificed the One He loves the most to pay for these
very sins and they have been paid for already. If we foolishly assume
that WE are "paying for them", we dishonor the cross.
3) If you have repented and confessed, then start moving forward in
faith. No team ever won a football game without playing any offense
whatsoever. Defense is necessary, but you have to score to win the game.
No one every mounted a successful campaign against "the sin that easily
besets" without the ammunition that the truth gained through spiritual
growth provides. If you are in a hole, you need to stop digging but
you also have to climb out of the hole. Start climbing consistently
upward.
4) Please remember why we are here. We belong to Jesus Christ. He loves
us and gave His life for us. He is looking to help us, not hurt us. If
we have trials and tribulations (as we all do), He is not the problem or
the One causing the problems He is the solution, the only One who can
really help us. So commit yourself and your troubles to Him. He WILL
help you.
For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews 4:15-16 NKJV
That's in Hebrews too.
I am praying for you. Trust the Lord, and get back into the fight.
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #16:
Thank you Robert, your counsel is always valued and heavily weighed. I
do not "blow off" what you say by any means. I have so many other things
running through my mind... the following occurred to me before you
replied:
It's not that I have unbelief in God's ability or willingness to
forgive, I just don't know where the cutoff point for that is. I know
there is one.
***Does the ability to believe in God's willingness to forgive come from
us (our this choice) or from God the Holy Spirit enabling us. Because I
seem to have a mental block with this area. ***
If this isn't discipline that I'm enduring then I'm not being
disciplined and therefore not a son. I'm telling you Robert, there are a
million things that confront you when you've messed up as bad as I have.
How do I possibly get back to a place of spiritual growth with these
condemning thoughts?
See what I mean?? But I DO listen to you and you HAVE faithfully been
there for me. Thank you. You are one of two prayer warriors that I
contact whenever things go South for me because I believe the prayers of
a righteous man are effective.
Response #16:
David, endowed with the heavy responsibility of king over God's people and prophet for their spiritual welfare, committed adultery with a trusted associate and then murdered him to cover it up. Nothing you have done rises to that level. If David had taken your approach and doubted the Lord's mercy, no doubt he would have hung himself as Judas did. But what does David say?
Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven,
Whose sin is covered.
Blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity,
And in whose spirit there is no deceit.
When I kept silent, my bones grew old
Through my groaning all the day long.
For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me;
My vitality was turned into the drought of summer. Selah
I acknowledged my sin to You,
And my iniquity I have not hidden.
I said, I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,
And You forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah
Psalm 32:1b-5 NKJV (cf. Ps.51:1-19)
God tells you that you are a son (e.g., Rom.8:14; Gal.4:6). You do have
to believe it. God tells you that you are forgiven (e.g., 1Jn.1:9). You
do have to believe it. Discipline and/or the consequences of our actions
do not necessarily end when we confess. What does end is our
estrangement from the Lord. We are restored to fellowship with Jesus
Christ just as David was above. David's discipline and natural
consequences for his actions continued but so did God's mercy, God's
grace, God's love and David focused on the latter to ride out the
former. Thus should we all always do in such situations.
Keeping you in my prayers, my friend.
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #17:
Thank you, I know you are very busy. Could I ask one more question in
regards to David?
Wasn't his sin more the type of snowballing to cover up as opposed to my
willful, presumptuous sins of ___, etc.? Isn't mine more fitted to
Hebrews 10:26, so way worse and no sacrifice for it? Basically the
unpardonable type of consistent sinning against light?
Thank you Robert
Response #17:
If you think ___ is anywhere akin to murder, I don't know what to say
further.
There is NO SUCH THING as an "unpardonable sin" . . . except for
rejecting Jesus Christ. He died for all the others (see
the link).
Please stop advocating against yourself. Let Jesus advocate for you.
Confess and rest in Him (that's in Hebrews too;
see the link).
My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
1st John 2:1 NKJV
Then start moving forward.
As long as you are looking backwards, you can't even see where you are
supposed to be going.
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #18:
Well please don't stop giving me counsel, lol. No of course I don't
think ___ too much is worse. I meant the consistent, unrepentant
presumptuous sin is a type of sin, THE type of sin that Hebrews is
saying has no sacrifice remaining for it. David's was not that type and
he felt the heavy hand of the Lord on him, I did not when I was in that
state. Don't know why I didn't experience that but that can't be
promising either.
So many things like that that I don't understand or know how to wrap my
head around it. And I'm not trying to advocate against myself but I have
so many things in my mind like that. That passage seems to be
specifically talking about what I did with continuing to wilfully sin
after knowledge.
Response #18:
If you are hung up on Hebrews 10:26 then I think you need to read more
at Ichthys (as mentioned, this is the new series; chapter ten is next
up; link). This verse about "willful
sinning" is speaking about Jewish believers sacrificing under the Law
when "Christ our Passover has [already] been sacrificed for us"
(1Cor.5:7). In other words, they were denigrating the cross by returning
to the shadows which taught the cross, and by doing so they were
essentially saying that Christ died in vain and doing so publically.
From that posture, there is no further animal sacrifice to take away sin
since indeed it is the animal sacrifice that was the problem.
In other words, that passage has nothing whatsoever to do with your
situation. Here are a few links (please DO read them BEFORE writing
back):
No, Hebrews does not teach that you lost your salvation.
Hebrews 10:26 again
Does Hebrews 10:26 teach loss of salvation?
You do believe in Jesus Christ, correct? All believers are saved
(Jn.3:18).
You don't think that your errors are greater than God's mercy, do you?
You don't think that it is impossible for God to forgive you, do you, as
if He were not able?
You are taking yourself too seriously, in my humble opinion, and NOT
taking the cross of Jesus Christ whereby all of your sins were paid for
seriously enough. This is a very common posture for those who are
unnecessarily wracked with guilt because the devil has got them hopping
usually for lack of proper spiritual growth so as to lack the armor to
defend themselves (you need to take up the "shield of faith", e.g.:
Eph.6:10-20).
I would also strongly urge you to read tonight's posting on marriage and
guilt (at the
link), not because it has to do with your situation directly,
because, with a bit more objectivity, you will be able to see how people
turn themselves inside out with guilt when there is no biblical basis
for it.
I'm praying for your peace, my friend along with your situation.
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #19:
I just finished reading 'Have I committed the Unpardonable Sin' on
Ichthys. Much of what you wrote me is contained there as well in the 1
John 5 section. Thanks for praying for us. If you need any specific
prayers let me know instead of just general prayer.
I wonder why is it so many people can see what you see in Hebrews - that
it doesn't mean I have no hope of forgiveness - but I don't see it? I
mean, I see it but I wonder why I couldn't see it. I also read your new
post on marriage and guilt. Still reading Ichthys
Response #19:
When it comes to guilt feelings, good people tend to assume the worst.
Also, in addition to the devil stoking this guilt for all he's worth, he
has also planted plenty of human "ministries" which are essentially
doing his will. So if a person looks on the internet regarding any
biblical passage they are worried about, they will easily find the
"worst case scenario" presented as unassailable truth. That is one
reason why net surfing is no way to get to spiritual growth (usually
just the opposite).
On the other hand, I know that if you commit to reading into Ichthys
broadly and do so consistently, doing your best to believe what is
presented (and putting aside the "bones", i.e., things you have a hard
time accepting, for later), you will find your peace and confidence and
joy in the Lord increasing day by day. It doesn't happen overnight
necessarily, but you'll get out of it at least what you put into it.
Keeping you and your family and your situation in my daily prayers, my
friend.
In Jesus,
Bob L.
[n.b., our friend did get another job]
Question #20:
Hi Mr. Luginbill,
I hope you are doing well. I apologize for writing again on the same
topic, I have struggled with it for such a long time.
Fear and guilt are running my life. I want eternity with Jesus.
Sometimes I pray and say, "I believe in You Jesus", yet there is always
a nagging fear that I have sinned/rejected Jesus and won't be saved, and
I never rest completely in Him. I never feel like I know for sure where
I am going when I die.
Should I pay any attention to this fear? I know the Bible says God does
not give believers a spirit of fear, not sure if that applies to this
situation.
I am afraid to die. I am a terrible person, and I know how sinful I am.
Jesus died for the sins of the whole world, it's just so much easier to
believe that for everyone else and not me (which I know is not correct).
I read where you had sent an email to someone else saying, "No one who
wants to be saved - and is thus willing to come to Jesus to be saved -
has ever been condemned." Are you absolutely sure of this without any
doubt? That is what I need from God. Mercy and salvation. I feel almost
like I am becoming hardened and like God is distant.
I have struggled with this "am I saved" thing since I was __ years old,
due in part to my sin I know, since sin opposes faith. I am now __. It
has changed over the years, but still it is here. I do want to be
forgiven and then to really really get close to Jesus (which I know
takes dedication to grow Spiritually).
Thank you again for reading my emails.
Respectfully,
Response #20:
I'm sorry to hear that this is still plaguing you. I have been keeping you in daily prayer.
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
1st John 4:18 NIV
Believers are supposed to fear/revere/respect/have awe for God but no one and
nothing else (Lk.12:4-5). If we fear the Lord with a godly fear of respect and
reverence, then we truly don't have anything at all to fear in this life, not
even death and especially not death, since that will be the beginning of all
the most wonderful things for us.
Yes, I am absolutely sure, to answer your question. But the thing is, YOU need
to be absolutely sure. And you can be. Faith is a muscle that gets stronger with
use. But if it isn't used, it atrophies like any other muscle. Since you are in
fact a believer, someone who accepts the deity and humanity of Christ and His
work in dying for our sins, there is no doubt about your eternal future as long
as you hold onto that faith. What I am concerned about is the unnecessary
self-torture you are putting yourself through.
How to end that?
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Hebrews 11:6 NIV
It always comes back to trusting God, to believing what He tells us, to
accepting as true what we KNOW to be true from the Bible and have had confirmed
in our hearts by the Holy Spirit when we first believed it. The more truth we
take into our hearts, the more aggressively we believe it and apply it in faith,
the more our faith will grow . . . and the less we will about our "feelings" to
dominate our lives.
We are all sinners. But we have all been forgiven, washed clean by the blood of
Christ. And if we sin, as believers, we confess and are forgiven, with Jesus
Himself advocating for us (1Jn.1:9; 2:1-2).
The only way things like this get better is with disciplined, determined,
consistent spiritual growth. I'm sure I've urged you before to adopt a program
of daily Bible study. I usually suggest starting with the
Peter series (at the link) and
supplementing with the weekly email postings at Ichthys (link).
A smoker who goes out to do a Marathon, having never gotten into shape, may well
collapse after a mile or two. Said person can be distressed about the situation,
but the same approach will yield the same result next time. Or the person could
stop smoking, start walking, begin slowly jogging, then running, and build up to
the goal. Spiritual growth likewise starts out small, but if it is pursued with
consistency has all manner of positive results which are amazing
(Matt.13:31-32).
I'll keep praying for you.
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #21:
Robert,
One more question. Is the fact that I have struggled with this in my life, even
after being saved a proof that I had rejected the truth? I remember my mom and
dad confronting me about it as a young boy and I denied it because I was so
embarrassed and ashamed. Maybe that was my opportunity to get it right with God
and I blew it? And if thats true I have humbled myself and asked God several
times to forgive me and have repented of it to the best of my ability.
Thank you.
Response #21:
We all struggle. We all stumble from time to time too (Jas.3:2). We just have different areas of strengths and weaknesses. Being tempted is not a sin. Learning to listen to and to follow the Holy Spirit is the only way to get victory over sin and temptation, and that is a life-long challenge for every believer down here on planet earth. But if we persevere in trusting the Lord, we will be completely victorious in the end.
For everyone who is born of God overcomes [= nikao's] the world. This is the victory [= nike] that overcomes [= nikao's] the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes [= nikao's] the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
1st John 5:4-5 NIV
Keep moving forward and don't look back and you too in company with us
all in the presence of our dear Lord and Savior will eventually should,
"Nike!", victory!
In Jesus,
Bob L.