feeling pretty down

runningman · Sep 7, 2007

So heres my deal.I rededicated my life to Jesus last year.I was on fire for Him,and I lived every day of my life for Him.This year,I met a girl(she's a Christian too)and we started dating.Long story short,we ended up having sex.But the problem was,we didn't just do it once.We got caught up in one of the hardest spiritual struggles in my life.For about 4 to 5 months,I went through the sin-confess-sin-confess thing.But things kept happening every week. I recently thought about everything,and I believe the only time I may have really repented is this time,because we have actually stopped fooling around and have abstained for about 3 weeks.But it has destroyed me spiritually.I was so on fire for God,and now I am wondering,because I didn't just sin once and then ask for forgiveness from God,but I knowingly did wrong time after time after I had already knew the grace of God,I am wondering if I lost my salvation for a time,and if I did I wonder if God will take me back after knowing Him and then disregarding Him and willingly sinning?This has really been bothering me and I don't feel secure in my salvation.I have asked Jesus again to be the Lord of my life,but I'm not sure (because I had already been saved) that I can be taken back after falling away.Any feedback is much appreciated.

saki · Sep 7, 2007

You've made a mistake and now you realise that. Everyone make mistakes, but God does forgive everyone.

Gardener101 · Sep 7, 2007

runningman said:
So heres my deal.I rededicated my life to Jesus last year.I was on fire for Him,and I lived every day of my life for Him.This year,I met a girl(she's a Christian too)and we started dating.Long story short,we ended up having sex.But the problem was,we didn't just do it once.We got caught up in one of the hardest spiritual struggles in my life.For about 4 to 5 months,I went through the sin-confess-sin-confess thing.But things kept happening every week. I recently thought about everything,and I believe the only time I may have really repented is this time,because we have actually stopped fooling around and have abstained for about 3 weeks.But it has destroyed me spiritually.I was so on fire for God,and now I am wondering,because I didn't just sin once and then ask for forgiveness from God,but I knowingly did wrong time after time after I had already knew the grace of God,I am wondering if I lost my salvation for a time,and if I did I wonder if God will take me back after knowing Him and then disregarding Him and willingly sinning?This has really been bothering me and I don't feel secure in my salvation.I have asked Jesus again to be the Lord of my life,but I'm not sure (because I had already been saved) that I can be taken back after falling away.Any feedback is much appreciated.

Fear not. You don't lose your salvation by sinning, more likely by blasphemy and unbelief in Jesus/God.

Your repeated sinful acts is called an iniquity, but when you genuinely repent, God is just and gracious to give you forgiveness.

The guilt you feel is just the devil trying to make you feel bad and make you feel far from God, so you run away from God and totally backslide back into a life of sin...saying "What da heck! God hates me anyway".

Don't fall for the devils lies. God loves you and wants to help you resist sin/temptation. Please read my CF signature and say that prayer aloud. Invite the Holy Spirit into your life, as it is what gives you the strenght to carry on being a Christian in spite of all these tempations and trials.

God loves you. Never forget that.

x

G101

runningman · Sep 7, 2007

i've just been having trouble with some Bible verses as well,like the one about"no one sexually immoral will enter the kingdom of God"(paraphrased).Also Hebrews 6:4-6 and chapter 10 have discouraged me.I just want to know that God will still accept me into heaven.

Gardener101 · Sep 7, 2007

runningman said:
i've just been having trouble with some Bible verses as well,like the one about"no one sexually immoral will enter the kingdom of God"(paraphrased).Also Hebrews 6:4-6 and chapter 10 have discouraged me.I just want to know that God will still accept me into heaven.

I John 1:9 - "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify/cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

AWorkInProgress · Sep 7, 2007

runningman said:
i've just been having trouble with some Bible verses as well,like the one about"no one sexually immoral will enter the kingdom of God"(paraphrased).Also Hebrews 6:4-6 and chapter 10 have discouraged me.I just want to know that God will still accept me into heaven.

Dude,

Hebrews 6:4-6 is talking about those how betray intentionally against Jesus. Like Judas or the religious leaders who knew who he was yet still wanted him silenced.

Saki is right, it is about growth. You learn from your mistakes, you eventually have a change of heart from your sins.

Matthew 18:21-23
21 Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone[a] who sins against me? Seven times?”

22 “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven![b] 23 “Therefore, the Kingdom of Heaven can be compared to a king who decided to bring his accounts up to date with servants who had borrowed money from him.

Hardest thing to change is human behavior. Jesus and God knows that all too well. What is most important is that your know your sin and working on having a change of heart.

2 chronicles 7:14
Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.

Step Dad gave me this scripture months ago. Very out of the blue sorta speak. Used to to help solve many of my sins and dysfunctions. Hope it helps you too.

light_eclipseca · Sep 8, 2007

I recommend reading Bonhoeffer's Cost of Discipleship. This is a forum where no one truly knows you, and it is easy to take encouragement from a stranger. A true friend will be straight up with you, though. Do not take your sin lightly. Jesus will judge and repay you for every deed which you do, good or bad (2 Cor 5:10).

In saying this, I also understand the feeling of being stuck in that sin. God does forgive, and there is no condemnation for those in Christ who have repented. There is, however, no forgiveness without repentance. GOD'S GRACE induces FAITH which induces SALVATION and WORKS. We all rely on God's mercy, man. Your sins are no greater than my own, and I will be judged too. It will not be easy to stand before Christ at his judgement seat. We are to live in the fear of judgement, yet in the relief that God has saved us from eternal damnation. As proof of your salvation, you will see the evidence of the fruit of the Spirit in obedience to God. This is evidence as taught throughout the entire ministry of Jesus and his Apostles. I am not novel in my ideas, and I wish that we were not going to be judged for all the good and evil that we do in our bodies; but we remain true what the Lord and his Apostles taught, nonetheless. There will be judgement; yet there will be mercy.

There is always love, especially in the body of Christ. You are not alone.

runningman · Sep 8, 2007

thanks everyone for the replies.it has been a little while now since anything has happened with us.I am determined to stay on the pure path.I just despise the fact that my relationship with God was damaged in order to get to that point.I want to rebuild my relationship with Him and have been reading my Bible and praying a lot lately.It just seems like I have lost something along the way.

eclipseca I know I will be judged for my actions and cant believe I let myself fall into the same trap over and over again.I knew I would be tempted in my life very much,but I didnt see myself struggling with this sin,I figured it would be something else.I just want the closeness back with God.I feel like I betrayed my best friend,and its a very dirty,very hopeless feeling.

light_eclipseca · Sep 11, 2007

runningman said:
thanks everyone for the replies.it has been a little while now since anything has happened with us.I am determined to stay on the pure path.I just despise the fact that my relationship with God was damaged in order to get to that point.I want to rebuild my relationship with Him and have been reading my Bible and praying a lot lately.It just seems like I have lost something along the way.

eclipseca I know I will be judged for my actions and cant believe I let myself fall into the same trap over and over again.I knew I would be tempted in my life very much,but I didnt see myself struggling with this sin,I figured it would be something else.I just want the closeness back with God.I feel like I betrayed my best friend,and its a very dirty,very hopeless feeling.

It's okay, man. I know the feeling. I'm glad that you have repented. You are justified by God now. There is nothing that you can do to bring you closer to God in a relationship if you have been justified. The very fact that you want that relationship back should show you that the Father has drawn you towards repentance. Have faith that no one comes to Him except He draw them; and He will raise them up on the last day! Keep it real, dude. Keep believing and keep praying. You've been washed clean.

runningman · Sep 11, 2007

thanks for the words of encouragement.This whole deal has just really got me messed up in the head right now.This has been a really spiritually draining battle,to the point where I started questioning if we should stay together.I don't want to lose her,but if we can't stay pure together I'll have to.The only thing is,she has such a heart for God apart for this.We are actually planning on marriage eventually.I love her with all of my heart,but before we go in that direction I want to prove to myself and God that we can be pure together...but it seems like its a never ending struggle.Just a few days ago we were tempted again.Nothing actually happened,but it got closer than I wanted.I definitely understand Paul's writing about doing what he didn't want to do and not doing what he wanted to do.Like I said,we didn't actually cave in the other day,but we knew better than to be in the situation where we were at.

Anyhow,thanks for the responses.Any prayers are appreciated more than you know.

dobieman0488 · Sep 12, 2007

just pray about it, god will forgive you, yeah you really slipped up, but no worse than any of us

runningman · Sep 13, 2007

thanx for the excouragement.I wouldn't be so worried about it had we just slipped up,but we didn't just slip up once.we got caught in a repetitive cycle of sin for like 6 months

seangoh · Sep 16, 2007

hey runningman..i just have one advice for you. Believe in God that He can forgive your sins. But we gotta do our part to to get past those temptations. Read the passage when Jesus was tempted three times. What did he do? He quoted scripture? Apparantly he had memorized God's word in him already so he was able to say out word for word. But you must understand it's NOT the ability to counter a temptation with a verse that is powerful, it's the change a memorized verse can do in your mind that makes you powerful. Consider scripture memory. Memorize word for word 1 verse a day or 1 in 2 days for a month. Review those verses throughout the day. I guarantee you you will feel closer to God and your temptations will be more easily handled.

Gardener101 · Sep 16, 2007

runningman said:
thanks for the words of encouragement.This whole deal has just really got me messed up in the head right now.This has been a really spiritually draining battle,to the point where I started questioning if we should stay together.I don't want to lose her,but if we can't stay pure together I'll have to.The only thing is,she has such a heart for God apart for this.We are actually planning on marriage eventually.I love her with all of my heart,but before we go in that direction I want to prove to myself and God that we can be pure together...but it seems like its a never ending struggle.Just a few days ago we were tempted again.Nothing actually happened,but it got closer than I wanted.I definitely understand Paul's writing about doing what he didn't want to do and not doing what he wanted to do.Like I said,we didn't actually cave in the other day,but we knew better than to be in the situation where we were at.

Anyhow,thanks for the responses.Any prayers are appreciated more than you know.

I'll pray for you as requested. Please don't lose what you have. It is not everyday a man finds a girl like yours who has such a heart for God.

Sure, you are both struggling, but you can both overcome this if you diligently seek the Holy Spirit and read the word of God, as well as do some common sense things to reduce temptation. Please read this link: How to Resist Temptation

Don't throw in the towel hun

x

G101

pinkstars19 · Sep 24, 2007

I am in the exact same boat as you, friend! My boyfriend and I have always been Christian, but strayed from the right path during the first 8 months of our relationship. We have recently made a commitment to each other and to God to abstain from any kind of sexual actions until we are married. Granted it is very difficult at times, it will be worth it in the end. You will find it to be worth it too! I know the 'dirty' feeling of which you are speaking as well, but what's done is done. Just keep praying to find what you feel you have lost with God. Pray for strength for your girlfriend and yourself to stay strong during times of temptation. That's what we do anyways. It helps and it's building a nice solid Christian foundation for our relationship. It's so great to be able to grow with God together since we both consider ourselves 'born-again' even though we never denied Christ...we just strayed from the right path.

I'll pray for the two of you, trust me I know what you both are going through! Stay strong.

runningman · Sep 24, 2007

pinkstars19 said:
I am in the exact same boat as you, friend! My boyfriend and I have always been Christian, but strayed from the right path during the first 8 months of our relationship. We have recently made a commitment to each other and to God to abstain from any kind of sexual actions until we are married. Granted it is very difficult at times, it will be worth it in the end. You will find it to be worth it too! I know the 'dirty' feeling of which you are speaking as well, but what's done is done. Just keep praying to find what you feel you have lost with God. Pray for strength for your girlfriend and yourself to stay strong during times of temptation. That's what we do anyways. It helps and it's building a nice solid Christian foundation for our relationship. It's so great to be able to grow with God together since we both consider ourselves 'born-again' even though we never denied Christ...we just strayed from the right path.

I'll pray for the two of you, trust me I know what you both are going through! Stay strong.

thanks so much.We actually talked with a pastor about this situation and he helped very much.I now know I am forgiven but that doesnt mean I take our situation lightly.I realize what this sin did in my life,and am dead set on making sure it never happens again.Me and my gf have plans of marriage this spring,and we are both VERY commited to staying pure.God has pulled me through when I couldnt pull myself through and I was in a very very bad place.I just encourage anyone going through a similar situation to realize exactly how serious a thing it is,and I hope that someone reading this may turn away from their sin and just praise God for being God.Its really our choice whether we receive His Love or His Wrath.God Bless and keep a healthy fear of the Lord.

Gardener101 · Sep 24, 2007

runningman said:
thanks so much.We actually talked with a pastor about this situation and he helped very much.I now know I am forgiven but that doesnt mean I take our situation lightly.I realize what this sin did in my life,and am dead set on making sure it never happens again.Me and my gf have plans of marriage this spring,and we are both VERY commited to staying pure.God has pulled me through when I couldnt pull myself through and I was in a very very bad place.I just encourage anyone going through a similar situation to realize exactly how serious a thing it is,and I hope that someone reading this may turn away from their sin and just praise God for being God.Its really our choice whether we receive His Love or His Wrath.God Bless and keep a healthy fear of the Lord.

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