Question #1:
Hello Dr. Luginbill,
I have a question on the second part of 1 Corinthians chapter 5 and
verse 5b. I am persuaded by what Paul writes that this person will
undergo "Excommunication" from the Body of the church, and that is their
penalty. But, I am not quite sure about the following: "to deliver such
a one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh". I am not aware that
the authority for doing this has been given to any of the apostles or
even the church body?
Questions:
1. What is the meaning of delivering this person to Satan, for the
destruction of their flesh? What is involved in this procedure?
2. What does Satan do to this person other than bringing condemnation on
this individual along with torment? Most likely, he tries to convince
this person that they have gone too far, and that God has rejected him,
and other things in line with that action.
Always grateful for your help and opinion.
Blessings to you always,
Your friend,
Response #1:
The "sin unto death" is the way the Lord deals with Christians who, on the one
hand, refuse to give up scurrilous conduct and sinful behavior that brings
reproach on His Church, but on the other hand will also not relinquish their
faith. In cases of apostasy, there is no such opening up of the person unto this
unusual form of attack from the devil – from which believers are normally
protected – because the apostate is now no longer a believer. But for believers,
little can be worse than being essentially "handed over to the devil" for
horrible discipline that results in physical death. The only good thing one can
say about this process is that the believer avoids being condemned eternally as
a result . . . "that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus"
(1Cor.5:5).
What is unique about the situation in 1st Corinthians chapter five, is that
Paul, being an apostle, had the power to personally invoke this "sin unto death"
himself (1Tim.1:20). No one has that authority nowadays – it is entirely left to
the Lord to bring about this horrible end to those who are abusing grace in the
extreme and sullying their witness to a scandalous degree without being willing
to change in spite of progressive divine discipline.
In this particular case, the person did repent (as we see from the next epistle:
cf. 2Cor.2:6-8); and it is also the case now that if a Christian finds
him/herself in this dire strait, genuine repentance may result in a merciful
reversal. But I wouldn't recommend tempting the Lord – in anything, ever (e.g.,
Heb.3:7-19)
Here's the main link at Ichthys on this:
Apostasy and the Sin unto Death
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #2:
Should I really be coming to you with all my questions? I mean, you certainly can't answer ALL of my spiritual and Christian questions, right? I mean stuff like asking if a certain video game is ok to play, whether I should be doing this or that, I'm asking these because my conscience is weak and I don't know how to hear it. Could you give me some advice on this? The truth is...I used to be....a ____. I didn't actually ____. Is there any hope for me? I don't feel like I truly feel regret over this. I'm scared doc. I'm scared God has left me to a reprobate mind, especially since I'm still tempted by it.
Response #2:
Here is what I read in scripture:
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. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.
1st Corinthians 6:9-11 NKJV
Paul addresses this to the backsliding Corinthians for comfort and for warning. They should take comfort in the fact that as born again, born from above believers they have been forgiven even the most heinous things in their unbelieving past; they should take warning, because if they go back to that vomit, they can expect things to be worse than before.
For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: “A dog returns to his own vomit,” and, “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.”
2nd Peter 2:20-22 NKJV
As to questions of application, I try never to answer those. We have free will, so if something is potentially bad but not a sin (like playing a video game), I've got no business telling someone not to do it; and if something is potentially good (like physical exercise), but not commanded in the Bible, I've got no business telling someone to do it. Growing spiritually is what gives us the necessary discernment to make better and better decisions – and hopefully also shores up our willpower to do what is right as we respond more and more to the truth.
(9) And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in full-knowledge (epignosis: truth believed) and in all discernment, (10) so that you may be able to evaluate the things that are good and appropriate [for you to do] to be sincere and without offense in regard to the day of Christ (i.e., to gain a maximum reward at Christ's judgment seat), (11) full of the righteous production Jesus Christ [commends] to the glory and praise of God.
Philippians 1:9-11
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #3:
It IS my experience that when I go back to sin I used to do as an unbeliever, it tends to become worse than ever before. I'm sorry I was ever in such lust. Also, are we to forgive ourselves for our past sins that we repented of, since God forgives us?
Response #3:
I suppose it depends on what you mean by "forgive ourselves". Guilt is
the devil's trump. It makes no sense for believers to wallow in guilt
after confessing and repenting of sin – as long as they leave it behind
(whatever the "it" was); on the other hand, just because we have been
forgiven doesn't mean we should be lackadaisical in our defense going
forward.
But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,
because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”
1st Peter 1:15-16 NKJV
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #4:
Doc...I'll admit I've been fighting my sin and temptations with my own power, rather than relying on the Lord. I've learned the hard way such a path only leads to misery and despair. It eventually got to the point where I said to myself, defeated by the enemy, "I can't lose! Not now! My salvation is at stake!" When I was most resolved to keep fighting by myself, despite being utterly defeated, God humbled me, reminding me that only through Him can we stand any chance against the forces of darkness. I still don't feel like I want to rely solely on someone else in my struggles, even though I know it would be foolish to not, and that continuing down my current path will only lead to further destruction. How do I overcome this pride?
Response #4:
As with all things, we can't expect to cure symptoms. Any sort of fear or worry or continued spiritual failure is a symptom of lack of growth. "Whitewashing the tomb" is no solution. So what's the solution? Spiritual growth. That's what Ichthys exist for. It's not a "quick fix". It takes a long-term commitment – but that is why we believers are all here on earth.
God opposes the arrogant, but gives grace to the humble.
James 4:6
So in true humility submit yourself to the taking in God's Word of truth. In time, if you believe and obey, that will sand off the rough edges and you will begin making the progress you crave in all things spiritual.
Please see in BB 6A: Peripateology: "Spiritual Growth"
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #5:
Bob, can you tell me what Paul means when he says, turn these guys over to Satan?
. . . having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck, of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.
1st Timothy 1:19-20 NKJV
Response #5:
Always great to hear from you, my friend.
"Handing over to Satan" was a power that only the apostles possessed.
This was an accelerated "sin unto death" (as in the case of the
incestuous Corinthian man in 1Cor.5:1ff.), designed to show intolerance
for gross sin and opposition to the truth.
There is, of course, still a "sin unto death" ever since as well (and
before too), but that is administered by God Himself, leveled upon
believers who refuse to repent of gross sin and rebellion – but who also
decline to descend into apostasy. If a believer stops being a believer,
God's oversight ends (apostasy). But for believers who insist on
rebelling from Him while not rejecting their faith in Him, His tolerance
is not everlasting. Eventually, such a one will be placed under "the sin
unto death" – and will leave life in a horrible manner (unless this most
intense divine discipline is responded to with appropriate repentance).
It's still better than becoming an unbeliever, but horrific to
contemplate (Saul, e.g.,, suffered the sin unto death and its hard to
imagine a worse end).
You can find out more about his at the link: in
BB 3B: "Apostasy and the Sin unto Death"
Keeping you in my prayers, my friend!
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #6:
Bob,
I've sinned twice in a major way that really hurts my witness and I don't know
what to do about it. I have confessed these sins but they remain a stumbling
block to my parents so I need advise on what to do about it.
They are both under the header of "trying to please my parents". I realise
though that when even a parent asks us to do something sinful then we are to say
no even if this refusal upsets them.
[omitted]
What can I do now? I'm really kicking myself over this. Should I talk to them
about both things?
I have felt I was making progress but I can't believe I did these awful sins
that really hurt my witness. Please advise me what best to do now?
Thank you my friend,
In Jesus,
Response #6:
Good people like yourself always have trouble saying "no!", it seems.
And especially where those near and dear are concerned.
In the broad view, this is a little bump in the road. We all stumble (Jas.3:2);
we all need to confess when we do so (1Jn.1:5-10); then ride out whatever divine
discipline our loving heavenly Father metes out for our good
(Heb.12:3-11). Then we "get back on the horse", moving forward with
spiritual growth, progress and production. The last thing we need to do
is to allow misplaced guilt, the devil's ace trump, to keep us from
pursuing our heavenly objective. After all, Jesus died for our sins, and
the Bible tells us that we have been forgiven when we confess them and
that the Father disciplines us with whatever is needed. Where is any
further action on our part called for? Nowhere in scripture. But Satan
would like to keep us hopping as long as possible.
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.
Psalm 32:1-5 NKJV
I have noticed, however, that SOME things really rankle us personally, and thus can have an out-sized effect on how we are feeling about ourselves spiritually. "Little sins" which we may not even notice – and which might not even cause us to feel bad at all if we did notice and confess them – required the same sacrifice by our Lord to deliver us from the lake of fire. So we confess . . . and move on, whether or not we feel very bad or are very mad at ourselves or feel next to nothing at all. This is a fight. We have to keep fighting and moving forward, regardless of failures, large or small – and regardless of how we feel.
(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 our dear Savior,
Bob L.
Question #7:
There are so many moments as I read Bible and Bible study that I realize
there are so many little things I should/could be practicing faith on
now. And I am going to try to do better on that.
Anyway I am sorry for monopolizing your time.
Response #7:
There is always room for improvement for any believer, but we don't need
to neurose about that. In my experience and reading of the Bible, it's
better to concentrate on Bible study (reading Ichthys, in your case),
letting these improvements happen naturally (actually, super-naturally)
through careful attention to the Spirit, rather than trying to force
things too soon. While it's true that we don't want to lag His
directions, it's also good not to get out in front.
Write any time, my friend!
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #8:
Dr. Luginbill,
I have a small group of family and friends that I try to help with
spiritual growth. I want to help them understand why the Bible
constantly instructs us to hate sin and to flee from it. I have come up
with a couple of paragraphs that might serve as an outline and wonder if
you could read it over and offer some advice for improvement (or
correction). The paragraph goes as follows:
Why the Bible instructs us to flee from sin: Matthew 6:22,23 - Sin darkens our eyes (blinds us from being able to see God clearly) and hardens our heart (makes it more difficult to believe God). This is true for unbelievers and believers both. Gross sin is obviously worse because of the damage it does to us and those around us, but small sins are still effective in darkening our eyes and hardening our hearts. Satan tempts us in the hopes that we will give in to sin which, as one unconfessed sin piles on top of another , will keep us from believing God and/or reducing our belief in God and His Word (fracturing our relationship with God) which could potentially lead to a believers faith getting choked out by the "weeds of the world" and leading to apostasy. It's not the sins we commit that condemn us to hell (the payment for all sin has already been paid), it's the lack of faith (unbelief) that condemns us to hell - but it is sin (the desire to run our own life) that causes unbelief. Therefore any believer that desires a closer relationship with God should learn to hate sin for the same reason God does - the darkness it brings in the form of a broken, more distant relationship with God and the hardness of heart it inevitably brings. The temptation to sin oftentimes comes during the trials and tests we encounter. But we need to learn to resist those temptations and be glad for the tests because they reveal the strength of our faith. Giving in to temptation (failing the test) reveals the areas where our faith in God is weakest. That is why we should never resent trials and temptations. (James 1:2,3) Passing those tests, though painful at times, strengthens our faith and our endurance to persevere in future trials. Flunking those tests reveal to us the areas where we need to repent and learn God's perspective rather than operating under the world's perspective.
The above paragraph may be too verbose and should be made more succinct, or they might need some correction. Could you please offer your advice? Thank you so much. Yours in Christ....
Response #8:
One very good reason to stay away from sin: divine discipline (link)!
No one likes to be "spanked" – and it can really hurt if the spanking is
a "good one" because the offense is serious.
Sin has consequences (link):
1) from God directly; 2) natural consequences (i.e., if we do wrong to a
friend or loved one, this will have consequences beyond divine
discipline); 3) instead of making us "feel good", it makes us "feel
bad". Just ask Adam and Eve. The devil dresses sin up in gaudy colors
and we imagine in our hearts from seeing in our eyes and lusting in our
flesh that eating that fruit will delight us – but it disappoints us
always . . . and has the consequences mentioned above.
You are correct that piling sin upon sin also has aggregate consequences
which can lead to apostasy or the sin unto death – not because of the
sin per se (which is important to understand) but because sin degrades
our faith (see
the link).
Everyone is tempted by his own lust, being dragged away [by it] and enticed [by it]. Then, should lust conceive (i.e., should the person give in to it), it gives birth to sin. And sin, should it be fully carried out to the end (i.e., should the person give in to a life of sin), produces death (i.e., spiritual death, the death of faith).
James 1:14-15
Sin is such an important topic that I've devoted an entire installment
of the Bible
Basics series to it:
BB 3B: Hamartiology (all of the links above come from that study).
Keep up the good work for Jesus Christ, my friend!
In Him,
Bob L.
Question #9:
Greetings, my dear friend, and brother, IN MESSIAH JESUS OUR FAITHFUL
HIGH PRIEST!
I'm not sure if you'll remember me or not? I used to write emails to you
regarding various theological, historical, and textual matters related
to the Christian Faith. I kept in touch with various scholars,
theologians, teachers, etc. we had various mutual acquaintances. How
have you been my brother? Long time no speak huh?
Forgive me for my long silence... I've gone through a very tough time in
my life since we last spoke. About 5 years ago I experienced a
“spiritual/emotional/physical "breakdown.” Up until about early 2020 I
was unable to pursue my studies, via the weakness of my nerves. The
"breakdown" occurred in early 2018, later that year I was involved in a
traumatic car wreck, I died briefly on the way to the ER. The doctors
weren't sure if I'd fully recover, having suffered major head trauma.
They expected me to be in the hospital for months recovering, not sure
in my brain my never fully recover! After that I suffered immense
emotional trauma that nearly cost me my life in multiple ways. in early
2020 I had a brief period of relative peace, then in June 2020 the
experienced another trauma... Lastly, in August 2021 I was involved in
another serious car wreck that shattered my right femur, crushing my
knee, and splitting the knee like an apple. I had emergency surgery,
metal plate, and screws to hold my leg together. I was not able to walk
for nearly two months, and even now continue to recover.
YAHOVAH, our Merciful GOD, has been immensely Patient with me in ways
that I can't describe right now in this email. However, I am eternally
indebted to YAHOVAH, His Wonderful Son - Messiah JESUS, and His Holy
Spirit of Grace, for every good thing I've have ever experienced in my
whole life!
I continue to "FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH", though I battle intensely
in the mind, emotions, and to a degree my body. I continue to wrestle
with fears related to my relationship with YHWH, JESUS, and THE HOLY
SPIRIT. I keep holding on to His Promise in HIS WORD, praying fervently
and intensely, every day, for Messiah Jesus to have pity upon me, to
rescue me in my weakness, to remember me in HIS Mercy, Grace, Love, and
Kindness. Please pray for me my brother? I have continued to Pray, and
seek The LORD YHWH fervently for nearly 2 years. I have requested, in
utter brokenness of heart, that my Merciful, Good, and Loving GOD Will
please intervene on my account, to please "remember" me, recalling my
prayers to YHWH offered in the Hope of Jesus Miracle Touch in every way!
Like David in Psalm 40 I'm overwhelmed in so many ways that "my heart
fails in me... I cannot see." Like Hezekiah in Isaiah 38 I have offered
my plea for YHWH's Mercy, in tears and brokenness. Like the widow in
Luke 18 I continue to humbly approach KING JESUS Throne of GRACE and
MERCY, in persistent Prayer hoping for His Kind Reply.
Thank you very much for your taking the time to read and reply to my
inquiry, honestly… I'm truly grateful for the investment you made in me,
looking to help me along the journey in my personal faith, based upon
'The Faith', - FAITH IN YHWH, THE BLESSED GOD AND FATHER OF OUR MESSIAH,
KING JESUS, THE WORD MADE FLESH, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT OF PROMISE THAT
RAISED UP FROM THE DEAD OUR LORD JESUS - THE BELOVED SON OF YHWH!!!!!!!
Your taking time to interact, and the immense help and kindness you've
shown me over the years, have truly impacted my life and the lives of
others through your investment in my life, though what I've offered in
return is much less. I believe that Messiah JESUS used your life to
touch my own. I trust that KING JESUS had our paths cross in time past,
for HIS Providential Plan.
Your fellow brother in, fellow servant of/to, and fellow disciple of,
KING, MESSIAH, ATONEMENT, - AWESOME JESUS our BELOVED LORD AND
GOD!!!!!!!
your friend in the FAITH,
Response #9:
It's good to hear from you, my friend – although I am distressed to hear
of all the trials and tribulations you've gone through!
I have been praying for you all this time. I will be adding a prayer for
your physical recovery (I'm also going to put a request up on the
Ichthys list for you).
I know that you were set on entering ministry in some capacity. I
realize that recent events have made any progress in that direction
difficult, but I'm wondering about your current plans.
*Importantly, please use the email address this message is originating
from to contact me (questions2@ichthys.com), not my work address. I keep
the two separate for good reasons; also, your message landed in junk on
the university server and I almost missed it as a result.
Yours in Jesus Christ our dear Lord and Savior,
Bob L.
Question #10:
I think I just proved I'm not saved. I lost it completely and...prayed to Satan. I fear I'll never be able to recover from this, even if God can still technically forgive me. Please pray for my recovery and that I'll be free from whatever this vile "prayer" may have brought upon me.
Response #10:
Why would you do something like that?
Why not rather pray to Jesus Christ?
If you are a believer in Christ, you are saved – even if you do something very
stupid.
Also, I have to tell you, that I cannot have contact with anyone involving him
or herself in demon activities. So if you want to continue this correspondence,
you’re going have to knock stuff like that off.
Question #11:
I don't mean to or want to have contact with demonic stuff. I don't know what's gotten into me...I'm badly mentally ill you know. Sure, that might not excuse what I did, but it's not like I can completely help these things.
Response #11:
"I don't mean to or want to have contact with demonic stuff"
Then don't.
"I'm badly mentally ill you know"
With all due respect, everyone seems to have mental problems these days. When I
was young, I don't think I ever knew of anyone personally who had "mental
problems". Now it seems that nearly all of my students at the university have
some sort of alphabet soup condition – many more than one.
As a very wise person once said to me, "Snap out of it!"
"it's not like I can completely help these things"
If YOU can't, then who can? God gave you free will. That means you most
definitely are the one who controls what you do, what you say, and what you
think. Because you have a sin nature as the rest of us do, of course that
control is compromised. We all sin in what we do sometimes, even more in what we
say sometimes, even more in what we think sometimes. But if we can't be held
responsible for what we think, say and do, then who can? In fact, God does hold
us responsible.
The good news is that Christ died for our sins so that as believers in Him we
have been completely forgiven, and we are also forgiven every sin we commit from
here on in when we confess it (1Jn.1:9).
We have been given the Holy Spirit. He is God. He is in us. He is more powerful
than the evil one and all of his minions put together to an infinite degree. If
we are willing to listen to His "still, small voice" (1Ki.19:12), He will help
us "to will and to do" whatever our Master Jesus Christ wants from us
(Phil.2:13).
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
Please read these links:
Who Controls our Thoughts and Emotions
The Battlefield Within: Fighting the inner spiritual Struggle
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #12:
I must look so pathetic. I'm sorry.
Response #12:
I wouldn't worry about me. I'm nobody.
But Jesus loves you. And that is quite something.
So do your best to love Him back – and do what He wants you to do.
"Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me."
John 12:26 NIV
Question #13:
Hi Bob and family,
Reading through the posts this morning and I couldn’t help but wonder at
that first person going on and on.
He was refusing good advice but blind – perhaps deaf is more
appropriate, and it is so clear that reading or listening to conspiracy
theories, is the work of the devil and until he realises that, he/she
probably won’t change.
As you rightly said, This is not about sin. Jesus died already for all
your sin. This is about faith.
Sin does not end salvation. Only apostasy ends salvation. If only he/she
would understand that.
You said, The unforgivable sin is refusing the Holy Spirit all the way
until death. As long as a person is alive, they can accept Christ so as
to be saved.
Short of taking the mark of the beast (which does not yet even exist),
or remaining an unbeliever, - as long as a person is still alive, that
person has an opportunity to be saved.
He/she said, I would repent if I could. I don’t have the Holy Spirit.
He got tired of striving with me.
And then you also said, The unforgivable sin is CONTINUED refusal to
respond to the Holy Spirit until death takes away the option of any
further choice. So please, do not CONTINUE to refuse God's mercy and
God's grace. If only he/she would realise that the word continue can be
taken two ways as you point out – either to continue in FAITH, or
continue in disbelief listening to the devil.
None of this works for me because I committed the unforgivable sin, so I will have to go to hell. I was a terrible fool to do this. God had given me everything and I threw it all away and chose the world instead of God. I was going over to Satan’s side without even realizing it.
Bob, there are so many in this perishing world that simply don’t understand scripture because it means nothing to them. And this person is non-stop talking him/herself out of salvation.
I wonder if he/she has read 1st Timothy 1: 12 – 16, which says: And I
thank Christ Jesus our Lord who hath enabled me, for that He counted me
faithful, putting me into the ministry; Who was before a blasphemer, and
a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it
ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant
with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. This is a faithful saying,
and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ came into the world to save
sinners; of whom I am chief. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy,
that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all long suffering, for a
pattern to them which should hereafter believe on Him to life
everlasting.
I sincerely hope the attitude this person is showing will change as it
is only leading him/her further away.
Again as always dear Bob,
Response #13:
Thanks!
In this particular instance, it seems to be a case of perversely holding
fast to a false idea regardless of all scripture and all argument to the
contrary (I actually get that a lot in this ministry). When I got around
to taking it scripture by scripture, it became clear that outright
rejection of its clear meaning was what I was dealing with. Haven't
heard from this person since. I'm sure ___ could used your prayers.
Keeping you and your family in mine daily, my friend.
In Jesus our dear Savior,
Bob L.
Question #14:
Hi Mr. Luginbill,
I wrote to you a few months ago or so. I am still struggling with my
salvation.
Sometimes I am afraid that Jesus won't take me because of my sin. And
then sometimes I think, surely Jesus wouldn't deny someone salvation if
they truly wanted it, right? Only people who aren't willing to be saved
are not saved, right? Jesus doesn't reject someone if they want
salvation, right?
Sorry to bother you again. I hope you are doing well. Thank you.
Response #14:
It's good to hear from you, but I am sorry to hear that you are still
struggling with this issue.
David will rule Israel during the Millennium (e.g., Jer.30:9) – so he is
most definitely saved. And yet, he murdered Uriah the Hittite after
committing adultery with his wife. Hard to think of too much worse than
that. But David confessed, and David was forgiven:
Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge.
Psalm 51:4 NIV
Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” Nathan replied, “The LORD has taken away your sin. You are not going to die."
2nd Samuel 12:13 NIV
We have to remember that Jesus Christ died for ALL of our sins, the sins of the entire world. Sin was an issue – for Him – since He had to pay the penalty for them all. But since He did so, we who belong to Him are forgiven if we confess:
Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin.
Psalm 32:5 NIV
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
1st John 1:9 NIV
So of course, you are correct.
"He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."
John 3:18 NKJV
All believers are saved; only people who refuse to believe are not saved
(which, sadly, is the vast majority of the human race).
So as a believer, you are saved!
We all have sins in our past of which we are ashamed. The devil is an
expert at using this guilt against us, and that he will do . . . if we
are not being careful to walk closely with Jesus Christ.
In every situation take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
Ephesians 6:16 CSB
I probably mentioned this to you last time. Spiritual recovery is not
immediate and automatic, just because we confess, are forgiven, and
don't go back to our prior sinful ways. Spiritual recovery takes
spiritual growth, and without that growth it will only be a matter of
time before we start feeling guilty again and/or all other manner of
unhelpful things that always accompany spiritual drifting. It's not
enough in this world to have just a good defense. We all need to be
advancing spiritually every day. That is the purpose of the Ichthys
ministry. So by all means keep praying and reading your Bible – but also
keep accessing, reading, believing and applying the things you learn at
Ichthys (or at some other good Bible study ministry: I also recommend
Bible Academy at the
link).
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #15:
Thank you for your reply.
What if it is too late for me? How can I be sure Jesus will still save
me?
Response #15:
If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, then you ARE saved.
"He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."
John 3:18 NKJV
For anyone who is not a believer, if they put their trust in Christ, then they are saved. The only "too late" for any human being is physical death. At that point it really is "too late" for unbelievers. But for all who are on this earth, salvation is near at hand, since it is a matter of faith:
But what does it say? "The word is near you: [it is] in your mouth and in your heart." That is the word of faith that we proclaim.
Romans 10:8
For we who DO believe as you do, as mentioned before, God is not keeping an account of our sins and weighing who will be saved and who will not. That is RC thinking and not the grace of God.
If you, LORD, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand?
Psalm 130:3 NIV
The answer to the question above, clearly, is "no one". We are all sinners, and we are all in need of forgiveness – which God freely gives to all who believe, trust, have faith in His Son, our Savior Jesus Christ. He died for our sins and took them out of the way; we are considered "righteous", therefore, when we have faith in Him and what He did for us.
What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness".
Romans 4:3 NIV
There is much more about all this at the link:
BB 4B: Soteriology (the biblical study of salvation).
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #16:
Hello Bob,
I have been introduced to your site very recently and it's really amazing. I
don't even know where to start these studies from, please help.
Secondly, before I delve much into your great work please help me to understand
what it means to be saved by grace according to Ephesians 2:8. I'm confused here
due to many different teachings where some pastors are even teaching us that we
are free to sin in any way, we can not be held accountable for our sins since
Christ Jesus has already carried away our deemed punishment for yesterday, today
and tomorrow's.
Please, I don't want to be deceived by wrong teachings, help me with what really
the scripture teaches about this grace. I'm really confused, please help! They
are saying if a Christian sins and repents then such a one is crucifying the
Lord again and trying to gain salvation by works.
Yours in the Lord Jesus.
Response #16:
Very good to make your acquaintance, my friend, and thanks for the
encouraging words.
Ichthys is a large site, and even though I have done my best to make it
friendly for navigation, it does take some getting used to. Most of the
major studies are listed on the main entry page and also have their own
organizational pages. Here's
the link to the sub-links
on the main page (the subject index is
also helpful for finding topics). There are other ways around too, but
I'll leave you with these for now – please do write me if you're ever
having trouble finding something in particular.
In terms of salvation, there is the short answer (see the link:
Salvation: God's free gift), and the long
answer (see the link: BB 4B: Soteriology: the
biblical study of Salvation). On the one hand, all a person has to
do to be "saved" is to put their faith, belief, trust in Jesus Christ
for that salvation, accepting who He is, the God-man, and what He did
for us in dying for our sins. On the other hand, there is also "being
saved" (1Cor.15:2;
see the link), by which scripture means that we are saved, brought
safely through this life to the other side "through faith" – but if that
faith dies in the interim, then the person in question is no longer a
believer, and only believers are saved (e.g., Jn.3:18; cf. Lk.8:13).
There are two extremes to avoid here. First, the idea that no matter
what a Christian does or says or thinks, nothing can ever separate him
or her from salvation no matter what. That is not biblical because
faith, if it is not growing, can decline and even die out (Lk.8:13). The
Bible is filled with warnings for us to stay away from anything that
even looks evil so that we might not endanger our faith as a result
(e.g., 1Thes.5:22).
Second, it is also true that believers do not have to be paralyzing
themselves with worry over losing salvation. Some wrongly teach that
believers do not sin so that any sin makes a person no longer a
believer. That is madness. To believe that, a person would have to fail
to understand what sin actually is – because anything we think or say
may be sinful. Suffice it to say that aside from our Lord, probably no
believer ever got through an entire day without thinking something that
was sinful (unless he or she was in a coma). Sin is an issue, of course.
If a believer gives him or herself over to a life of indulgent and gross
sin, that will undermine, corrupt and corrode their faith. That is the
mechanism and faith is the key. When a person stops believing, he or she
is no longer a believer and only believers are saved.
What about believers who keep believing but don't stop engaging in
behavior that is highly offensive to the Lord? For that person, the one
who avoids apostasy (the death of faith), the Lord has reserved the "sin
unto death" (cf. 1Cor.5:5). Being taken out of this life in a horrible
way with no reward but still being saved is better than losing faith and
going to hell – but neither one is what the Lord wants and no believers
should allow themselves to get anywhere near either eventuality (here's
the main link on that:
Apostasy and the sin unto death).
Although we are called to be holy (e.g., 2Cor.7:1; Heb.12:14;
1Pet.1:15-16), because we live in these bodies which contain a sinful
nature, all Christians sin.
" there is no man that sinneth not."
1st Kings 8:46b KJV
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
1st John 1:8 NKJV
Therefore all Christians need to repent and confess their sins – daily at least. That is why it is in the Lord's prayer:
And forgive us what we owe you just as we also forgive those who owe us.
Matthew 6:12
And forgive us our sins just as we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us.
Luke 11:4
And remember, when we confess said sins that we are forgiven (cf. Ps.32:5):
If we confess our sins [i.e., to the Lord], He is faithful and just so as to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1st John 1:9
Feel free to write me any time, my friend.
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #17:
Doc, are YOU ok? I keep worrying about myself, but never the teacher who's trying to get me to recovery. You're not having any spiritual struggles, are you?
Response #17:
Kind of you to ask, my friend! [n.b.: an extra prayer or two at
time of posting would be greatly appreciated]
In terms of "spiritual struggles", I like to think that I am pretty
solid in my faith. Naturally, whenever we have troubles – and we all
have troubles in this life – whether physical pains or problems on the
job or in relationships or whatever, these do weigh on us and then we
are challenged to respond in a godly way based on the spiritual
resources we have. So in that sense, the Christian way of life is always
a "spiritual struggle" from start to finish. But it is one we can and
must win.
For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.
1st John 5:4 NKJV
Wishing you a good week ahead!
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #18:
[omitted]
Response #18:
You are clearly struggling with wanting / not wanting to do certain things, and that is something we all struggle with. The flesh wants one thing, the heart of hearts, our spirit, wants another (Matt.26:41).
For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?
Romans 7:19-24 NKJV
The answer to Paul's question above is found in the next chapter: if we
walk by the Spirit, we can have victory over what the flesh wants. That
takes commitment, however. It takes a spiritual fight, being willing
more and more to reject the bad and embrace the good in the power of the
Spirit with the resources of truth in our heart put there through
spiritual growth. Every time you win a battle it will help you win
another one; but every victory will be challenged too.
It's definitely not too late. But time does march on. When it comes to
getting right with the Lord and redeeming this short time we have down
here, there's no time like the present to get cracking with doing God's
will and turning away from our own when it conflicts with God's plan for
our lives.
And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me."
Luke 9:23 NKJV
I am praying for you.
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #19:
Incredible...I'm not angry or even dumbfounded...just in pure awe...you still somehow not only forgive me every time, but insist I'm actually saved with how I behave. I actually don't understand...I know you say as long as we believe we're saved...but the things I do I was certain was an act of total denial or Christ...yet again, Peter was forgiven for such...I was looking in the wrong place, in myself rather than Christ for hope. I hope you can forgive me again.
Response #19:
I don't see anything for me to forgive, but I certainly do forgive
anything and everything needful of forgiveness from me – we are required
to have that attitude, after all, if we want God to forgive us (e.g.,
Matt.6:15).
The important thing is that GOD forgives us whenever we repent and
confess. Jesus already died for all of our sins; we are only hurting
ourselves when, like the prodigal son, we dawdle and don't "come back"
immediately into fellowship with Him.
Indeed, Jesus is our hope – and "hope" in the Bible is the absolute
assurance of things not seen, the counterpart of the faith we have,
focused on the one tomorrow that no one can stop from arriving, the
tomorrow of Christ's return and our resurrection.
In anticipation of that great day in Him,
Bob L.
Question #20:
I am still reading Ichthys. I don't have a lot of time (working two
jobs) and reading scripture every night.
I am still struggling with God's forgiveness (or willingness to)
regarding my many falls back into careless sin. I read passages like 1
Corinthians where Paul talks about being disqualified and Jude 1 where
he mentions false teachers who used grace for lasciviousness and are
'twice dead' and feel absolutely condemned and hopeless. I do believe in
Jesus wholeheartedly and believe his sacrifice was infinitely able to
cover any sin but I can't seem to gain any confidence that God hasn't
put my lot in with those talked about in those passages. I have faith
but it wavers when I think about the many hopeless and condemning
passages in scripture.
Sorry that I'm such a drag on you Robert but I would really like to get
this settled for good. I read but I don't know how to quiet those
thoughts and get a real settled sense of being forgiven for those
periods of bad Sinning.
Some of the stuff you've written me has been very helpful and I re-read
it
Your friend
Response #20:
Proud of you that you are hanging in there even though you are stretched so
thin, my friend!
On forgiveness, at 1st Corinthians 9:27, Paul says he is striving so as NOT to
become disqualified – by which he means falling away into apostasy. As often
stated, believers are saved, unbelievers are not, and believers do fall away by
abandoning their faith (Lk.8:13; Jn.3:18). On the Jude passage, this refers to
unbelievers. As I say where this is covered in Peter #39
. . .
False teachers and their teaching may present an attractive front, but in fact they bear no edible fruit – only poison fruit. They are inveterate unbelievers with no thought of repentance. Unlike a good tree which, even if cut down, at the scent of water may spring up again, "bud and put out branches like a young plant" (Job 14:9 ESV), they are "doubly dead", uprooted from the soil of the truth, with no chance – and no intention – of ever producing anything good.
With all due respect, it seems to me that you have guilt about the past and that
as a result you are letting that guilt be manipulated by the evil one. If you
read scripture through a lens of fear and guilt, of course you will make
yourself feel bad. Read instead through the proper lens of God's great love and
mercy and do so in the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ died for ALL of
your sins. They are already paid in full. Is there some part of that you don't
understand? If so, we can talk about it. The Father loves you – it says so in
the Bible. He wants all to be saved (1Tim.2:4). So He wants YOU to be saved! And
how are you saved? Through faith in His Son Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior!
So if you are a believer – and you are a believer – then you are saved. Period.
Doesn't matter that you have struggled and have not been perfect. If you needed
any divine discipline God has and will provide it . . . as a loving Father, not
a vengeful bookkeeper (Heb.12:3-11).
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1st John 1:9 NKJV
Have you sinned? Then confess and you are forgiven. It says so in the Bible
(just above). If there is any part of that you don't understand I'm willing to
discuss it and point you to many verses and discussions. Bottom line: you do NOT
need to feel guilty about sins which Christ has paid for (which is all sins) and
which you have confessed (since you have been forgiven).
Our wonderful God, our Father and our Savior and the Holy Spirit, is many great
things, and one of those things we always need to keep in mind is that He is
merciful – forgiving us always and always taking back His prodigal children when
we return to Him.
This I recall to my mind,
Therefore I have hope.
Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not.
They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.
“The LORD is my portion,” says my soul,
“Therefore I hope in Him!”
The LORD is good to those who wait for Him,
To the soul who seeks Him.
Lamentations 3:21-25 NKJV
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
Take heart, my friend. Jesus loves you, this I know, "for the Bible tells me
so". You belong to Him . . . and you have a right, actually a duty, to rejoice
in that wonderful truth.
Keeping you and your family in my daily prayers.
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #21:
Like to ask you have a teaching on once saved always saved. Reason I'm
asking I do Jail Ministry met a young man there he explained to me his
father is a Baptist pastor and what he seems to believe what he was
taught no matter what he's doing he's saved and he will go to heaven. I
explained to him I'm not here to divide I'm here to unify through the
Gospel of Jesus Christ I know some of their teaching if I put my time
and effort into their doctrine I could learn a lot more. But my focus
continue salvation.
God Bless
PS. I'm going to go over Revelation chapter 2 what Jesus Christ says the
churches must repent
Response #21:
While it is very true that believers are secure in the Lord, ONLY believers – those who do believe / have faith – are secure in the Lord:
"He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."
John 3:18 NKJV
The problem for people like this individual you mention is that faith is never static. It is either growing and strengthening or weakening and eroding. Sin erodes faith, especially gross sin, especially unconfessed, unrepented, chronic and "presumptuous" sin (e.g., Ps.19:13). Or as James puts it:
Everyone is tempted by his own lust, being dragged away [by it] and enticed [by it]. Then, should lust conceive (i.e., should the person give in to it), it gives birth to sin. And sin, should it be fully carried out to the end (i.e., should the person give in to a life of sin), produces death (i.e., spiritual death, the death of faith).
James 1:14-15
In other words, sin alienates us from God and God from us. So that if a believer
foolishly goes down that false and dangerous road long enough and far enough and
keeps refusing to turn around, one of two things will happen: 1) either said
person's faith will die off completely (this can happen; as Jesus said of some
who had believed: "They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they
fall away [lit., "apostatize"]" [Lk.8:13 NIV]); or else 2) for believers who
grow worse and worse and yet still refuse to let go of their faith, these types
present such a bad witness that the Lord removes them from the earth in an
extremely painful way, the "sin unto death" (e.g., 1Cor.5:4-5; 1Jn.5:16-17).
Either way, it's a horrible end. In the latter case, the believer has squandered
any chance for earning a heavenly reward (although he/she is saved); but in the
former case, salvation is lost.
This is covered at the link in
BB 3B: "Apostasy and the Sin unto Death".
Saying a prayer for your ministry, my friend!
In Jesus,
Bob L.