What am I missing?

[Guest]

I know and know of so many people who are genuine Christians, they obviously love The Lord,yet are living with and having children and are not married. Why is it that they don't seem to think this is a problem? I know we all have sin, daily we struggle. With tears and intense desire to overcome, sometimes succeeding other times not. But there seems to be an atmosphere of thinking that as long as you are faithful and committed you don't nesseccarily need to rush to the alter if at all? Trust me I don't sit in judgement. Just last night I dealt with a besetting sin. But believe me it was a tortured night. All is well today, but I felt so bad, very much aware of disappointing Him and fully aware I did. I know how insidious sin is and how very easy it is for us to fall. But it also makes me so aware of how very much Jesus needed to do what He did to save us. I know we are near the end and as we get closer the battle is more fierce, I pray our desire for living for Him gets all the more greater.

[Guest]

Re: What am I missing?

I have the same issue with my step daughter. She was brought up in a Lutheran church, says she prays every night, but lives with her boyfriend. "It's the only sin I'm doing" she says. "I never knew you" comes to mind, as she pleads her case before God's throne. She may pray, but does God listen to her? Probably not.

She's a work in progress, as we all are.

wlnf

[Guest]

Re: What am I missing?

I think this is just another sign of the times we live in. Years ago when a teen got pregnant they were sent away to have the baby in secret. As a society we don't do that anymore. The next step in this "evolution" was to have the grandparents help take responsibility in housing and raising this child. Now we've evolved to the point of aborting the child. Marriage has gone the same way, not necessary any more in the eyes of society.

Having said all this..., I understand ALL sin to be on the same level. Is that correct? Sin is sin. There is sin in my life that I struggle with on a daily, if not even hourly basis. Am I going to hear the words: "I never know you?"

[Glorify Him]

Re: What am I missing?

I think this is just another sign of the times we live in. Years ago when a teen got pregnant they were sent away to have the baby in secret. As a society we don't do that anymore. The next step in this "evolution" was to have the grandparents help take responsibility in housing and raising this child. Now we've evolved to the point of aborting the child. Marriage has gone the same way, not necessary any more in the eyes of society.

Having said all this..., I understand ALL sin to be on the same level. Is that correct? Sin is sin. There is sin in my life that I struggle with on a daily, if not even hourly basis. Am I going to hear the words: "I never know you?"

Well said Denise. The devil's greatest tool is to keep us in fear of losing our salvation. The death of Christ on the cross, his resurrection, finished it all once and for all. My sins are under his blood. He took every sin I would ever commit. Hard to believe but true. And while I am still appalled at my condition and continue to sin after all these years of walking with him, I know that I know that He finished the work.

The Apostle Paul was very clear in that he continued to struggle with "that which I would do, I do not do. That which I do not want to do, I do." Praise God to know that this icon of the church struggled as we all do.

Insofar as the decisions young people make about lifestyle these days, well they aren't the only ones. There are plenty of elderly people who live together without getting married due to the loss of a pension or other financial penalty that will happen to them.

If I have learned nothing else it is that I do not judge. Sin is sin. Doesn't matter if it is self righteousness, pride, or sexual sin. They are all the same in the eyes of a Holy God. But when Abba looks at us, he sees us as the Righteous of Christ because of the precious blood of Jesus.

In this I rest. The enemy works hard to steal that rest but it is my decision as to whether to let him or not.

[Issachar]

Re: What am I missing?

"It's the only sin I'm doing" she says. "I never knew you" comes to mind, as she pleads her case before God's throne. She may pray, but does God listen to her? Probably not.

It is a very dangerous thing to sin ... and excuse it so one can continue in it. Self justification doesn't and indeed, cannot, work. The only justification that matters is the justification offered freely by Jesus Christ.

There are cases where God will not hear our prayers .. or our cries to Him:

Psalms 66:
16 Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul.
17 I cried unto him with my mouth, and he was extolled with my tongue.
18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:

Jeremiah 11:
10 They are turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers, which refused to hear my words; and they went after other gods to serve them: the house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken my covenant which I made with their fathers.
11 Therefore thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will bring evil upon them, which they shall not be able to escape; and though they shall cry unto me, I will not hearken unto them.
12 Then shall the cities of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem go, and cry unto the gods unto whom they offer incense: but they shall not save them at all in the time of their trouble.
13 For according to the number of thy cities were thy gods, O Judah; and according to the number of the streets of Jerusalem have ye set up altars to that shameful thing, even altars to burn incense unto Baal.
14 Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up a cry or prayer for them: for I will not hear them in the time that they cry unto me for their trouble.

Isaiah 1:
15 And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.
16 Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;

James 4:
3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

Isaiah 59:
2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

Jeremiah 14:
11 Then said the LORD unto me, Pray not for this people for their good.
12 When they fast, I will not hear their cry;

Needless to say .. it's not a good idea to keep iniquity in the heart ...

I'll pray for her WLNF, that she too can be Once Lost Now Found.

Sin is sin. Doesn't matter if it is self righteousness, pride, or sexual sin. They are all the same in the eyes of a Holy God.

Amen. Break one point of the law .. the whole is broken. Praise God for extending His forgiveness towards us if we repent.

I love this verse:

Jeremiah 3:
13 Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the LORD thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed my voice, saith the LORD.

There we have it ... God is stating that we merely need to acknowledge our iniquity. He knows we aren't perfect and He can do MUCH when we simply acknowlege.

She's a work in progress, as we all are.

yep.

Issachar

[Guest]

Re: What am I missing?

It is a very dangerous thing to sin ... and excuse it so one can continue in it. Self justification doesn't and indeed, cannot, work. The only justification that matters is the justification offered freely by Jesus Christ.

There are cases where God will not hear our prayers .. or our cries to Him:

Psalms 66:
16 Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul.
17 I cried unto him with my mouth, and he was extolled with my tongue.
18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:

Jeremiah 11:
10 They are turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers, which refused to hear my words; and they went after other gods to serve them: the house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken my covenant which I made with their fathers.
11 Therefore thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will bring evil upon them, which they shall not be able to escape; and though they shall cry unto me, I will not hearken unto them.
12 Then shall the cities of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem go, and cry unto the gods unto whom they offer incense: but they shall not save them at all in the time of their trouble.
13 For according to the number of thy cities were thy gods, O Judah; and according to the number of the streets of Jerusalem have ye set up altars to that shameful thing, even altars to burn incense unto Baal.
14 Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up a cry or prayer for them: for I will not hear them in the time that they cry unto me for their trouble.

Isaiah 1:
15 And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.
16 Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;

James 4:
3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

Isaiah 59:
2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

Jeremiah 14:
11 Then said the LORD unto me, Pray not for this people for their good.
12 When they fast, I will not hear their cry;

Needless to say .. it's not a good idea to keep iniquity in the heart ...

I'll pray for her WLNF, that she too can be Once Lost Now Found.



Amen. Break one point of the law .. the whole is broken. Praise God for extending His forgiveness towards us if we repent.

I love this verse:

Jeremiah 3:
13 Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the LORD thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed my voice, saith the LORD.

There we have it ... God is stating that we merely need to acknowledge our iniquity. He knows we aren't perfect and He can do MUCH when we simply acknowlege.



yep.

Issachar

Yes your last sentence sums it up. I love the Scripture reference. I know it is the Holy Spirit who convicts and we who need to acknowledge our sin when He does. Thanking Jesus for His boundless grace.

[cornerstone33]

Re: What am I missing?

Yes, we all come short of the Glory of God, that's why Jesus had to die for us. I am so glad for His saving grace in our lives, each and every day. If it wasn't for Jesus, I know that I would truly go to hell. I do try to keep myself in check every single day, I watch what I do, and where I go. When the trumpet sounds, I want to be doing the LORD's will, that's what I know. I want to be forgiving towards all, as the LORD is forgiving towards me.

[Guest]

Re: What am I missing?

Maybe I was feeling sorry for myself with this question. Like the brother of the prodigal son. I feel guilty over the least little thing and then you have those in obvious sin and have no problem with it. Don't know but leaning heavily that way. It still is an issue but not all of us are at the same place. Indeed a work in progress.