Say that someone has a sinful addiction, like inappropriate content, for example. He is trying everything he could to stop. He has accepted Jesus as his Lord and Saviour, but he is having a hard time taking control over this one problem. He keeps pleading and asking God's forgiveness and mercy. But he feels like God won't forgive him. He even confesses it to other believers. And he hates his sin. But his sin is like a drug.
Where would he go if he died before he gains victory of his sin?
The real problem here is...he feels like God won't forgive him. I would tell him, he may believe in Christ, he may think of Christ as his Lord. Yet he doesn't believe in God's grace and mercy. He has placed himself back under the law, attempting to earn his own righteousness. He hasn't entered into the rest of Jesus our Lord.
When I came to Christ, He forgave me for my sins. The sins I had committed, the sins I commit and the sins I will commit. He died for each and every sin, no exceptions. We know that a sinner cannot enter the kingdom of heaven. John says that if a man says he has no sin, he is a liar and Christ is not in him. John also says that a Christian cannot sin. We cannot sin because we are not under the law, we are under Grace. So, even though we do sin the bible says...blessed is the man whom the Lord does not impute sin upon.
As Paul says, God forbid that we do sin. Praise the Lord, when we do we have Christ. Each time we do, we are to get back up and turn to Christ, ask for forgiveness and believe it is already there. I would tell him, it is Christ that we have put on. We live in His righteousness, not our own. There is no condemnation to those that are in Christ Jesus. Trust in the promises of God.
Read your bible daily, pray constantly. Turn this sin, turn all of your sins over to God. Admit you cannot defeat it, it is in his hands. Stand back up, ask for forgiveness...believe you have been forgiven. Walk with the Lord and when you sin again and we all do. Stand back up, turn to the Lord. Ask for forgiveness, believing his promises. He took your sins to the cross, you are forgiven.
The more you lean on Christ, the easier it gets. You will than understand the comfort the Holy Spirit brings. Recite scripture to yourself, especially that there is no condemnation in those that are in Christ Jesus. When you doubt the forgiveness you have already received.
In Christ
Daniel
Forgive me, I'm writing this on my phone...
