a lot of things I don't understand.
Ok in Isaiah ch 55 vs 7. The Bible mentions that when you are saved that you should put away all your wickedness, right?
So does that mean, to do it right away? For example those that hooked on cigarettes can't just up and quit overnight because of withdrawl symptoms. and the same with people hooked on perscription drugs ect.
So here's where I'm stuck. When God saves you he does it immediatley right? So when you change your ways, does the Bible say you are to do it right away - all at once?
I know many of you are way more knowledeable and way more studied than I am.
2006-10-29 04:01:58 · 33 answers · asked by helpme1 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I think God understands that we can't do it all over night. Perfection is a process that won't be completed until we're safely dead. Does that mean that we should all rush to our graves? no. It just means that we must contuinually repent. Daily we screw up. The Lord understands that we're just human, but we have to try our best and keep repenting. It's after all that we can do that Christ makes up the difference.
2006-10-29 04:04:59 · answer #1 · answered by turdl38 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Comning to the saving knowledge of Christ means trusting Him, that He can deliver us from whatever oppression, addictions, sins, etc we have been practicing. We are not going to be instantly perfect, but we have a choice to make. Saying I cannot stop smoking overnight is just an excuse to "practice" sin and it is not putting away the wickedness. If you come to the saving knowledge of Christ and you are convicted of smoking or some other addiction, then trust God to help you get over it- make a decision- I will not do this any more and though the addiction feels strong and I am tempted, God will not allow me to be tempted beyond what I can handle and He will take those cravings away from me. This does not mean we won't fall the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. The attitude of the heart is what is important- as long as there are excuses as to why you can't quit, then you are not putting away the wickedness- but when you are willing to quit, willing to do what it takes, to do what you need to to please God because you love Him and trust Him, when you are willing to die to self and not feed the flesh for your own comfort- then you have overcome and will find victory.
2006-10-29 04:16:06 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have been of The True Christian Faith for only 6 1/2 yrs... I got a long way to go in the Bible study area... But I can say that there is understanding of the weakness of mortal flesh... what you cite is an ideal... but it can not be compleatly acchieved by mortal flesh... We all still have the sin nature as every one else...we just have a bit more help in resisting is all... btw. I quit the cigs, a 4+ pack a day 30yr habit... cold turky in Nov. 96... I was not of The Faith Then... If I could do it any one can...
Do you notice that you are "concerned" about that difficulty... one not of the faith would not even think on it... you are being worked on by The Holy Spirit... open yourself more to The Spirit andyou will have greater success in what ever you are trying to overcome.
2006-10-29 04:13:59 · answer #3 · answered by IdahoMike 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
As humans, we are never perfect and will most likely sin the rest of our lives whether we follow and accept Christ or not. There is a saying "A just man sins seven times a day." Meaning, even the holiest person will have a sinful thought or action several times a day. A lot of times we sin and aren't even aware that we have sinned. But, when we ask God for help, for all our temptations, God equally and moreso sends us Graces to help us conquer sin.
God knows we are weak and He isn't expecting us to be perfect, what He is wanting is for people to "try," and when we fail, to keep "trying" harder.
Think of it like running a marathon. When you first start training, you don't run the 23 miles on the first day. You may start out with a mile, then two, then three... Each day you train to get a little bit farther and you build up your endurance. You might try and analyze your technique, get better shoes, eat better, drink more water, all in order to help you reach your goal of the 23 mile marathon.
Following Christ is similar. You do little things each day to try and follow Christ more. Even the apostles made mistakes and sinned and they had the source right there! But God didn't love them any less or abandon them.
2006-10-29 04:28:01 · answer #4 · answered by AutumnLilly 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Very Good Question, take a long time to Answer Too.
Short Answer:
when you get Saved, your Spirit is Recreated Instantly.
But your Soul (second mind) and Body will take Longer to come out of Bad Habits and Addictions and Sin etc..
That is why the Bible Tells us to RENEW our MINDs after we are Born-Again. Renewing your Mind to what GOD says about you after you are Saved (New Testament) will Wash out all of the Bad Stuff.
Some bad habits, Sins, addictions take a LONG TIME, some, not so Long and Some you Lose Right after your Saved.
Either Way, Walk Towards Jesus, and Those Chains of Bondage will Keep Falling Off over Time, no matter how long it Takes.
2006-10-29 04:09:08 · answer #5 · answered by maguyver727 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It is about repentance. From Luther's view we are saved by Grace alone...that means there is no need to do good works or be perfect...that is what Grace does for us. However, we are also connected to the crucified and living Christ. It is through Christ's mortification, death and ressurection that we are able to be born new (born again) as new and forgiven creatures.
Here is why we repent our sins and should, even though we all mess up, give daily devotional (sabbath) to God. when we repent --which literally means to turn around, when we give time to God...we die the death of Christ and are risen again as a new person. Though we foul it up daily we are given every opportunity to make change.
When we are truly sorry for our trespasses and we ask forgiveness (our mortification), our old person becomes part of the past --it passes away, (this is the death), and, because Christ died for all people and the forgiveness of sin ("forgive them, they know not what they do" spoken to all not just the robbers), we then are born as new beings --clean, forgiven, and new.
So... it is not about being perfect and free of sin. It s about working constantly to be a new being..always trying to be better, but also knowing we cannot we must remember to bend our knees, to humble ourselves, and ask forgiveness of God...so we may become new...for a little while.
We do this even though good works is not the key to salvation...we do this because we are made in the image of God...meaning we were made inthe image of love.
2006-10-29 04:19:25 · answer #6 · answered by silverback487 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, the bible means to do it immediately. In order for a person (born again believer), to not suffer any withdrawls or symptoms from these addictive habits, that person would first have to truely desire in their heart to want to give up this habit.
If then you truely have that total need to let go then you can approach the Lord in prayer. You can make a vow to the Lord, telling the Lord that you are totally willing to give up your habit, and do it no more that day forward, and ask the Lord to totally take away any desires, cravings and side effects.
Now, when you make a vow to the Lord God, please make a mental note that God is no one to play around with, so if you are going to make this vow, you must keep it totally.
For if you make a vow and dont keep your end of it, that will be a very serious consequence to pay. The Lord DO NOT take delight in a person that makes a vow to him and then dont keep it.
Look in your Bible at Ecclesiastes chapter 5, verses 4 through 6:
It reads; When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it. Do not let your mouth lead you into sin. And do not protest to the temple, messenger,
"My vow was a mistake." Why should God be angry at what you say and destroy the work of your hands?
I do hope that I have helped you in your quest to understand how to do and get rid of committing sinful acts. Please remember God is faithful he won't let you down.
The rest is up to you to truely want the wrong to stop and to do all in your power to make it stop.
But, I can guarantee you that God will do his part and truely take your habit away if you are truely willing and totally want to give it all to him.
How do I know that this is true? I made a vow 26 years ago.
I told the Lord that I would totally give up cigarettes, and I asked him to take away the desire and the need that I had for smoking.
I told the Lord that I would no longer buy anymore cigarettes, nor would I put anymore to my lips and smoke them.
Within 3 days, I no longer had the desire or need to smoke, Praise the Lord! Because God knew my heart and that I was totally sincere and truely meant want I said. From that day, July 12, 1980, to this day, October 29, 2006, I have not bought nor used cigarettes. I totally dont have any desire to smoke, none at all. I've kept my end of the vow to God, and the Lord did the rest.
Praise the mighty name of Jesus!
God Bless you and keep you!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2006-10-29 05:49:17 · answer #7 · answered by JOSEPH M 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
When you decide to have God in your life you start by learning about Him and his requirements and when you get to the point where you have a heart felt love for God then you are compelled to make the changes that are needed.
It takes a little time to change from your old habits that were not in conjunction with his standards. What you must do is identify those habits and or life styles that are not the standards that the bible out lines for Christians and once you recognize them then it is up to you to do your very best to change them as quickly as passable. God knows your dilemmas but he also know when you are using excuses not to change also. Some things require more effort on your behalf to change but God knows your efforts and rewards you .
So yes some people have habits or life styles that require tuff and hard changes but really putting every effort towards those changes is a requirement that you can get help with by praying earnestly to Jehovah (God) to help you to have the will power and strength and he will help you.
To love God you must know him and obey him.
2006-10-29 04:24:18 · answer #8 · answered by ~♥ L ♥~ 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it does mean that. You are born again and a different person so your attitudes and actions should reflect that.
However, keep in mind that God knows that you are a imperfect person prone to make mistakes. That is what his forgiveness is for.
It’s similar to what the Ten Commandments represent. The Ten Commandments are the minimum laws of God that God would have you follow. However, due to the sinning nature of man he knows that even with a pared down list as the Ten Commandments, we still need his forgiveness for breaking those laws.
2006-10-29 05:31:47 · answer #9 · answered by jake y 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
As a Christian I recognize that God has saved me spiritually. I am positionally saved but still subject to the propensity to sin as long as I am in this body. Sometimes it is up to us to appropriate ourselves what the scripture declares to be truth. Even after a saving faith is had by the grace of God He does not violate our free will. I did not become abbra cadabra free of the things that plagued me before I was saved but it is the ongoing work of God in our lives that is a process of sanctification resulting from the disciplines that I am obedient to perform that gives me strength to overcome by the power of His Spirit that helps me in the here and now until He comes again to redeem our bodies from the full effects of sin.
If I decide to become a weightlifter today I don't expect to compete
on a professional level this afternoon, so why should I expect this idea to be any different in regards to my spiritual abilities.
We are told to confess our sins daily, if we became perfect Christians at the point of conversion this scripture would be meaningless.
2006-10-29 04:25:28 · answer #10 · answered by messenger 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋