I have a dear friend who had an abortion many years ago. She has become a Christian but still carries around so much guilt and pain from having this abortion. I told her tha Jesus died for her sins but she says she is going to hell. What can I say to her to help her?
2006-10-19 13:20:46 · 23 answers · asked by Olivia 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Thanks so much everyone, you all are truly very special people. I am going to SHOW her your answers.
XOXOXOXOXOX
2006-10-19 13:33:42 · update #1
YES!
1Corinthians 6:9 Don’t you know that evil people will not receive God’s kingdom? Don’t be fooled. Those who commit sexual sins will not receive the kingdom. Neither will those who worship statues of gods or commit adultery. Neither will men who are prostitutes or who commit homosexual acts. 10 Neither will thieves or those who always want more and more. Neither will those who are often drunk or tell lies or cheat. People who live like that will not receive God’s kingdom. 11 Some of you used to do those things. But your sins were washed away. You were made holy. You were made right with God. All of that was done in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
Re-read verse 11, "Some of you used to do those things…"
2006-10-19 13:28:34 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
Rachel's Vineyard is a safe place to renew, rebuild and redeem hearts broken by abortion. Weekend retreats offer you a supportive, confidential and non-judgmental environment where women and men can express, release and reconcile painful post-abortive emotions to begin the process of restoration, renewal and healing.
Rachel's Vineyard can help you find your inner voice. It can help you experience God's love and compassion on a profound level. It creates a place where men and women can share, often for the first time, their deepest feelings about abortion. You are allowed to dismantle troubling secrets in an environment of emotional and spiritual safety.
Rachel's Vineyard is therapy for the soul. Participants, who have been trapped in anger toward themselves or others, experience forgiveness. Peace is found. Lives are restored. A sense of hope and meaning for the future is finally re-discovered.
http://www.rachelsvineyard.org/
Other resources for help after abortion
http://www.rachelsvineyard.org/postabortion/morehelp.htm
(also features a list of books)
http://www.hopeafterabortion.com/rachel/
http://www.afterabortion.info/healing/index.htm
2006-10-19 20:35:44 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
i had an abortion and carried guilt of this around until i confessed the sins of murder, and trying to be God and forgave myself so that Jesus could forgive me...my un-forgiveness of myself blocked the forgiveness He gave me before i had even made this choice...it has also helped me to pray for woman facing this decision to choose the life of the child and not to play God in that situation as well as for women struggling with the pain after abortion...i have seen him answer my prayers greatly and even seen some of the children born (some of them God chose to take home after all) and these women were set free from the guilt by not having to go through it (as for the ones who have had an abortion receiving healing)...this is an area of ministry on to the Lord but she must let Him heal her from this pain(remember healing can hurt)stand by her and keep her in prayer as will i...God bless both you and your friend
2006-10-19 21:04:10 · answer #3 · answered by zionikministries 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
That is why she came to Jesus - for forgiveness of ALL sins (except for the sin of Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit).
It makes little sense for someone to condemn themselves to hell after coming to Christ when that Judgment is Christ's alone. She needs to be made fully aware - that she is free from that deed and her child is in the loving hands of God.
She needs to quit beating herself up. As long as she is remorseful and not proud of the act of abortion - she now needs to let go of that guilt.
2006-10-19 20:26:45 · answer #4 · answered by Victor ious 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
She needs to read about Paul in the Bible. He persecuted and killed many Christian people. But then Jesus himself spoke to Paul, redeemed him of his sin and used him to bring others to the Lord. Paul became a great servant of God and he certainly did not go to hell. God sees sin not the type of sin it is. He is repulsed by all sin, it is humans that put sin into categories and make judgements of whose sin is worse. Those without sin cast the first stone- he did not say those without certain sins. Remind her that Jesus died to redeem her of her sins and doubting that is doubting the power of the blood of Christ.
2006-10-19 20:38:42 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
She can go to heaven as much as any other sinner on earth and whoever can say they do not sin is a outright liar. Everyone has done things that they regret. Is the man who commits adultery ahead of her on the heaven line? How about those pedophile priests? Are they in front of her?
2006-10-19 20:25:50 · answer #6 · answered by DeeDee 3 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Tell her if she believes that Jesus Christ died was buried and rose again on the third day then she is definitely going to heaven.
David committed murder and adultery in the eyes of God. And God took his first born son from this adulterous union. But David repented and begged God's forgiveness and God gave it to him. And God blessed him and from this union of Bathsheba (that started out as adultery and then murder of her husband) Solomon was born. The wisest man ever and ever to be.
God forgave David and Bethsheba and blessed them. God will forgive your freind if she asks for it.
Many times it is ourselves that we have a hard time forgiving because in the bible God tells us to repent and he will forgive. Repentting is truly saying you are sorry and honestly not intending to do it again.
2006-10-19 20:31:46 · answer #7 · answered by carlamcgrath 1 · 3⤊ 0⤋
All united to Christ by faith have their sins forgiven (already).
Have her read about the women Jesus helped and healed. The women at the well was no saint in the eyes of the world.
2006-10-19 20:29:23 · answer #8 · answered by beek 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Please tell her that when we become Christians God gives us forgiveness. We forgive others. But we also must forgive ourselves. God does not want us carrying around all that guilt.
Carrying around anger and unforgiveness toward our self is just as destructive, perhaps more so than carrying around those feelings toward others. God has forgiven her. Now she must forgive herself.
2006-10-19 20:34:04 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
You can let her know that Jesus already suffered for her and her unborn child....
once you are saved, it is done...you are going to Heaven...nothing you did in the past, are doing in the present or what you might do in the future will change this....
It is one thing to be ashamed and feel guilt and pain....it's another to pick up the pieces, move on, and learn form it....
she one day, might very well help someone else JUST LIKE her in need....God is awesome that way...
Best of luck to your friend, and what a wonderful firend she has in you for caring! :)
2006-10-19 20:25:22 · answer #10 · answered by ninetynine4one 2 · 3⤊ 3⤋