The Slavery, Bondage and Controlling Power of Sin
My question to you is, 'What can I do to 'break' as it were, this addiction that so severly holds me in bondage to sin?'
Yesterday, I asked Christ to cleanse me again, but the 'urge' is still present with me, much like Paul mentioned in Romans 7 in the NT.
Another question: Now does the Bible teach that EVERY TIME WE SIN, we lose our salvation and are in danger of Hell fire or is it 'practicing' SIN which places us in this danger, for we all sin, if we're honest with God and ourselves???
When I was 14, I believed that every time I broke one of the 10 commandments or sined, even in thought, I had to be born again all over and frankly, I thought, 'What kinda of 'great salvation' is this if I can lose it everytime I sin?' Didn't sound too 'great' to me, you???
Sincerely soul-searching,
[name withheld]
Dear [Name]:
Greetings in Jesus' name.
We praise the Lord that you recognize OSAS is not Scriptural. You are at a tremendous advantage to know this basic, Biblical truth, which is often denied in our dark hour. You mentioned that you are currently addicted to "Porn." Please examine our article on lust and the various letters written into our ministry in the past on this subject and our answers. http://www.evangelicaloutreach.org/lust.htm
Though your mother thought she was helping you and your brother, she did not know what she was doing. Neither to you two nor herself. According to Mt. 5:28,29 a person can go to hell fire just over mental adultery, which is just another way of describing what pornography does. Furthermore, for one to be the cause of a little one who believes in Jesus to sin, it would be better for him/her to have a large millstone hung around their neck and drown in the depths of the sea. (Mt. 18:6; Lk. 17:1-3 cf. Mt. 13:41,42). This does not mean that your mother cannot be forgiven, for she can, nor does it mean that you and your brother cannot be miraculously delivered from your "addiction."
Please recognize that you are in an intense, spiritual battle against sin. This battle must not be taken lightly as many do. Your eternal destiny beyond the grave hinges on being an overcomer in this area! The following are our recommendations for you to get very serious about:
1) Gather up every piece of pornographic literature, videos, calendars, etc. that you have and burn them publicly. This is also the time for you to repent, asking God to forgive you for your sinful abominations that were dragging you to Hell. Sincerely ask the Lord Jesus to have mercy on you.
2) Stop watching all television and listening to all secular radio. TV is a lust generator and radio oftentimes through its music would entice people to sin.
3) Avoid all places and people that may lead you into this type of temptation. This does not mean that you are to avoid being around your co-workers, for there's nothing you can do in that case.
4) Now you need to renew your mind unto wholesome thinking, which can be done by spending quality time in the Bible. You should spend the bulk of your time in the New Testament and get a reliable, easy to read translation whereby you can meditate and even memorize the teachings of the Lord Jesus and His apostles on various topics.
5) Godly, gospel music will also greatly help you as you keep such a tune in your mind and heart throughout the day. Over the course of time the Word of God and godly music based on the Word of God will build you up spiritually, and the mental images that your sinful nature and the devil have been using to damn your soul will become less and less powerful.
6) Christian fellowship is also very important, but you must be careful with such so that the devil doesn't use even them, who may be straying, to lead you also away.
... Keep praying to God, asking him to lead you from temptation and to deliver you from the evil one. This should be prayed every single day of your life.
You also asked in your email, do we lose our salvation every time we sin. The answer is no. But remember there are different types of sin. There is sin that does not lead to death, while there is also sin that does lead to death (1 Jn. 5:16,17). Mental adultery or lusting in your heart is a sin that will damn your soul. You need to fight this as you would a rattlesnake that would be trying to get into your house!
You also mentioned about a person who teaches that if you don't speak in tongues you are not saved. This is not true. That is the teaching of the Apostolics, also known as the United Pentecostals or the Jesus Only people. Many Scriptures could be cited to prove one is saved before and without speaking in tongues. You will encounter many of these as you read through the book of Acts on your own ....
Following Jesus,
Dan and Cheryl
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