Is it a sin to smoke Marijuana?

Acts2:38 · Jul 2, 2018

genez said:
You cited yourself as having an immediate change.

If I love Christ, and I wish to be His friend, then yes. I will obey the word and stop that sin once I know it is a sin (another reason we are told to search the scriptures daily aka study).

To not stop in that sin once I know it is a sin, then yes, I am no longer going to be in a saved state should I die or Christ comes.

2 Thessalonians 1:8-9
Hebrews 6:4-6
Hebrews 10:26-27

genez said:
That could mislead some to thinking they did not become saved. So, I jumped in. It can make them feel they are not saved for wrong reasons,..... The saved all believe in Jesus Christ. Those who fail to eventually repent end up dying the sin unto death.

Never said that anyone was not saved before. However, I will say that according to scripture, one can fall away and not be saved due to their own actions.

Demas is a good example. So are these people in this story here Hebrews 6:4-6. And all those who "obey not the gospel" 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9

People are accountable for what they do and they cannot blame anyone else.
1 Corinthians 10:13

genez said:
Any one born of the Spirit does not continue to sin.

Exactly! That's what Paul was trying to say to the Romans in Romans 6:1-5.

Your friend has claimed he is a Christian and therefore should not continue in said sins. However, he chooses worldly things instead of the spiritual. He is choosing weed over Christ.

This WILL lead to loss of salvation by disobeying what the scriptures have laid out for us by God. Not my judgement. It is in the scripture. I am merely pointing it out.

genez said:
God will make sure they do not continue, and will take them home to be with Him before their time

If you are indirectly implying OSAS in any small way, this is wrong.

God has given us free will/choice. Therefore we are accountable for our own actions, being responsible for ourselves. God gives us a way out, but we have to choose to take this way out (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Your friend has been told it is a sin, with scriptural evidence. He said that he is not addicted and would therefore be able to quit at will.

Now that he has been told it is a sin, and that he can lose salvation by continuing in that sin, what will be his choice?

God or weed?

There is no trial of hardship here. He can quit at will. Obey or disobey. Salvation DOES depend on that fact.

genez said:
The only abhorrence he may feel is when someone keeps tempting him to enter back into that particular sin.

We are responsible for our own decisions in life (Acts 17:30-31). We will not be able to point the finger at anyone when its our turn to be judged.

genez said:
Metanoeo .. simply means to change your mind on a matter. It does not hold the religious emotionally pious overtones that some commentators like to interject into giving a definition.

Margaret was all set (and determined) to wait to be marring Jeffrey. No one could talk her out of it. But, once she found out he was engaged to Sally? She repented and let it go. (that's all metanoeo means)

I am a little confused here since you proved the point I mentioned, yet, tried to refute it at the same time. :scratch:

I agree though, it is just that simple. A complete 180 change of mind. That is what it means to repent. To have "Godly sorrow" and turn away from whatever sin it is you are repenting of.

GenemZ · Jul 2, 2018

Acts2:38 said:
If I love Christ, and I wish to be His friend, then yes. I will obey the word and stop that sin once I know it is a sin (another reason we are told to search the scriptures daily aka study).

To not stop in that sin once I know it is a sin, then yes, I am no longer going to be in a saved state should I die or Christ comes.

2 Thessalonians 1:8-9
Hebrews 6:4-6
Hebrews 10:26-27

Let's take a moment to figure something out,please.

Are you saying that one can be saved?

And, if you sin and fail to repent as you are dying, you will not get to heaven?

GenemZ · Jul 2, 2018

Acts2:38 said:
I am a little confused here since you proved the point I mentioned, yet, tried to refute it at the same time.

Because you went beyond its meaning as well.

I agree though, it is just that simple. A complete 180 change of mind. That is what it means to repent. To have "Godly sorrow" and turn away from whatever sin it is you are repenting of.

There is no "godly sorrow" to be found in the Greek. Much closer... "Sorrow as God would have it." There is nothing godly about sorrow. Its because of being ungodly that God will bring (those He can) to a point of sorrow... they will kick themselves for being such idiots... That is more like how we would say it today. There is no such thing as godly sorrow as its found in the Greek of the Bible... though some English translators took the liberty to translate it that way.

Here is an example of happy repentance.... A Jew finds Christ.. He learns that the Bible teaches that all foods as God has created them are good for you. And, that we are no longer under the Law. He rejoices because now he wants to eat bacon! Up until then he thought it was wrong to eat bacon.. Now he REPENTS and rejoices! Yummmmmmmy!

GenemZ · Jul 3, 2018

Acts2:38 said:
If I love Christ, and I wish to be His friend, then yes. I will obey the word and stop that sin once I know it is a sin (another reason we are told to search the scriptures daily aka study).

To not stop in that sin once I know it is a sin, then yes, I am no longer going to be in a saved state should I die or Christ comes.

2 Thessalonians 1:8-9
Hebrews 6:4-6
Hebrews 10:26-27

Stop... Lets discuss Hebrews 6:4-6, please.

Its been so distorted and used to abuse God's integrity. Ignorance is our ONLY enemy at present.

GenemZ · Jul 3, 2018

Acts2:38 said:
If I love Christ, and I wish to be His friend, then yes. I will obey the word and stop that sin once I know it is a sin (another reason we are told to search the scriptures daily aka study).

To not stop in that sin once I know it is a sin, then yes, I am no longer going to be in a saved state should I die or Christ comes.

2 Thessalonians 1:8-9
Hebrews 6:4-6
Hebrews 10:26-27

To whom was Hebrews 6:4-6 written to? All the churches?

Acts2:38 · Jul 3, 2018

genez said:
Let's take a moment to figure something out,please.

Are you saying that one can be saved?

And, if you sin and fail to repent as you are dying, you will not get to heaven?

1. Anyone that obeys the gospel and continues in obedience to the gospel until death or Christs coming, is saved

2. If you "willfully sin", what do you think? Hebrews 10:26-27; 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9. What does scripture say?

I am not saying you are lost forever should you actually come back to repentance, because we can be restored should we actually repent ie Galatians 6:1; James 5:16; 1 John 1

To willfully sin though and not repent, leaves one without their salvation intact.

genez said:
Because you went beyond its meaning as well.

I am curious. Do you study from all material that follows "Critical Text" or "Received Text"?

This would help me understand where you are coming from.

As of right now, how you cling to the "fluffed up" versions of words, I am assuming you lean on the Critical Text. Which is twisted to fluff up the scriptures to man made ideas.

Thanks to Westcott and Hort (Nestle-Aland) from the Anglican churches in the late 1800's, they decided to switch around things in the Textus Receptus in well over 5,000 places involving more than 10,000 words.

This is why you see the fluffy versions of the bible like NIV and NASB running around. They have changed multiple concept/ideas to something they were not originally. They follow the Critical Text.

genez said:
Here is an example of happy repentance.... A Jew finds Christ.. He learns that the Bible teaches that all foods as God has created them are good for you. And, that we are no longer under the Law. He rejoices because now he wants to eat bacon! Up until then he thought it was wrong to eat bacon.. Now he REPENTS and rejoices! Yummmmmmmy!

This is quite fluffy. And the wrong idea.

I suggest reading 2 Corinthians 7 (preferably in a non fluffy version like KJV).

This should give you a perfect example. If you are rusty on 1 Cor., maybe read that too so you know where Paul is coming from.

"Repentance (metanoia, 'change of mind') involves a turning with contrition from sin to God; the repentant sinner is in the proper condition to accept the divine forgiveness." (F. F. Bruce. The Acts of the Apostles [Greek Text Commentary], London: Tyndale, 1952, p. 97.)

Strongs
μετανοέω metanoéō, met-an-o-eh'-o; from G3326 and G3539; to think differently or afterwards, i.e. reconsider (morally, feel compunction):—repent; to change one's mind for better, heartily to amend with abhorrence of one's past sins; to change one's mind, i.e. to repent

Thayer's
μετανοέω, μετάνω; future μετανοήσω; 1 aorist μετενόησα; from (Antiphon), Xenophon down; the Sept. several times for נִחַם; to change one's mind, i. e. to repent (to feel sorry that one has done this or that, Jonah 3:9), of having offended someone, Luke 17:3f; with ἐπί τίνι added (the dative of the wrong, Hebrew עַל, Amos 7:3; Joel 2:13; Jonah 3:10; Jonah 4:2), of (on account of) something (so Latinme paenitet alicujus rei), 2 Corinthians 12:21; used especially of those who, conscious of their sins and with manifest tokens of sorrow, are intent; on obtaining God's pardon; to repent (Latinpaenitentiam agere): μετανοῶ ἐν σάκκῳ καί σποδῷ, clothed in sackcloth and besprinkled with ashes, Matthew 11:21; Luke 10:13. to change one's mind for the better, heartily to amend with abhorrence of one's past sins: Matthew 3:2; Matthew 4:17; Mark 1:15 (cf. Matthew 3:6 ἐξομολογούμενοι τάς ἁμαρτίας αὐτῶν; Matthew 3:8 and Luke 3:8 καρπούς ἀξίους τῆς μετανοίας, i. e. conduct worthy of a heart changed and abhorring sin); (Matthew 11:20; Mark 6:12); Luke 13:3, 5; Luke 15:7, 10; Luke 16:30; Acts 2:38; Acts 3:19; Acts 17:30; Revelation 2:5, 16; Revelation 3:3, 19; on the phrase μετανοεῖν εἰς τό κήρυγμα τίνος, Matthew 12:41 and Luke 11:32, see εἰς, B. II. 2 d.; (Winer's Grammar, 397 (371)). Since τό μετανοεῖν expresses mental direction, the termini from which and to which may be specified: ἀπό τῆς κακίας, to withdraw or turn one's soul from, etc. (cf. Winers Grammar, 622 (577); especially Buttmann, 322 (277)), Acts 8:22; ἐκ τίνος, Revelation 2:21; Revelation 9:20; Revelation 16:11 (see ἐκ, I. 6; (cf. Buttmann, 327 (281), and Winer's Grammar, as above)); μετανοεῖν καί ἐπιστρέφειν ἐπί τόν Θεόν, Acts 26:20; followed by an infinitive indicating purpose (Winer's Grammar, 318 (298)), Revelation 16:9. (Synonym: see μεταμέλομαι.)

The example you gave is completely wrong for what we are talking about.

Acts2:38 · Jul 3, 2018

genez said:
Stop... Lets discuss Hebrews 6:4-6, please.

Its been so distorted and used to abuse God's integrity. Ignorance is our ONLY enemy at present.

Okay, let us discuss. How do you think I distorted this scripture? I read it quite clearly for what it says/is.

What are your thoughts on it?

genez said:
To whom was Hebrews 6:4-6 written to? All the churches?

Hebrews is written to Christians. All Christians. It still applies to all as it did then when it was being taught.

What did you think?

Traveling teacher · Jul 3, 2018

Shadowprophet said:
My thing is this. Some people say it's a gateway drug. But I'm 41 years old. I know what other drugs do and I don't want those. I like pot. I don't drink. I don't do other drugs. At all. But for me. When I smoke pot, It's a calming relieving feeling. And to be honest. Even if people told me it was wrong to do, I'd probably still smoke it. Even knowing it could be a sin. I don't think I would give it up. It's not that I don't Love God, I do. But. Weed is something that has gotten me through a lot of hardship. It's something that makes me calm and happy. It's not like i couldn't give it up. I simply like it so much. I don't want to.

The Bible doesn't really speak about Weed at any length. And yeah. in the state that I live in. it's still illegal. I rationalize this by telling myself that nobody is perfect. and even if it's wrong, Maybe God will forgive me.

My problem is. I know that without it. I would be terribly depressed all the time, and honestly, I'd just give up on life and being happy at all. I really think that for me. I need it. I would like peoples thoughts and opinions about this.

But I'm also not being naive about this. I know that three out of every ten people on planet earth smoke it or use it in some way. But I also want to know, What I'm supposed to think as a Christian? I don't smoke it just because I like getting high. I smoke it because when I do. I have the energy and charisma to actually get up out of bed and socialize with my family. Depression is a weird thing. But I do know without weed. I would get up to shower. Eat breakfast. Turn the tv on something and go back to bed. I honestly feel like it's a good thing for me.

bro if God is convicting you have some other brothers at church pray for you andget free from this addiction and habit or stronghold.....

i was a daily pot smoker for a few years in my early 20s
after I came to Christ it took me a few weeks to fall under conviction to throw it out

I believe I threw it out about 2-3 weeks after salvation
only digressed maybe 1 time after getting rid of it

havent missed it since
one of my christian brothers told me
to just get high on Jesus and you wont need drugs....

he was right

GenemZ · Jul 3, 2018

GenemZ · Jul 3, 2018

Acts2:38 said:
Okay, let us discuss. How do you think I distorted this scripture? I read it quite clearly for what it says/is.

What are your thoughts on it?

Hebrews is written to Christians. All Christians. It still applies to all as it did then when it was being taught.

What did you think?

It was written specifically to Hebrew Christians. For the sin they were committing could only be performed by Jewish believers. This factor is why so many gentile believers have failed to see what the warning was about. Yet, we can all glean principles of doctrine from this example with other applications involving the same kind of misdirected zeal.

"Hebrews" 6 was a warning to the apostate Church in Jerusalem. It circulated Jerusalem about three years before Titus trampled down the city in 70AD as God's judgment for their apostasy..

Hebrews was written to Jews. For it was written in a manner indicating it was to those who intimately acquainted with the requirements of the Law and the Temple sacrifices. It was foreign thinking to the Gentile believers around the world at that time. Today through study we can glean great principles of doctrine from it. But, its original target audience was specifically the Jewish believer living around Jerusalem, or traveling to Jerusalem.

What was their sin?

"It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened,
who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the
Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God
and the powers of the coming age and who have fallen away,
to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are
crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him
to public disgrace." Heb 6:4-6

The Jews in the church in Jerusalem had believed in Jesus Christ. They were saved. Yet, many of them stubbornly rejected the teachings of grace they were shown (who have once been enlightened) and remained legalistically attached to following the mandates of the Law.

"When they heard this, they praised God. Then they said to Paul:
“You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews have believed,
and all of them are zealous for the law." Ac 21:20

For these Jewish believers were insisting upon going back into the Temple to offer blood sacrifices for their sins! Its what trapped Paul when he agreed to go back into the Temple with a time consuming ritual that was to end weeks later with a very expensive blood sacrifice involving an oxen.

But, God did not allow Paul to get that far along, and a riot in the Temple after Jews seeing Paul, put an end to it. Yes.. Paul too was being sucked into their apostasy.

That is why it says ...

"To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again
and subjecting him to public disgrace."

Their offering of animal sacrifices was like crucifying Jesus all over again and subjecting Him to public disgrace by saying that the blood of Jesus was of none effect, and that the animal sacrifices were still needed!

The animal sacrifices before the Cross of Christ were used as representative teaching tools for the Jews to learn principles of truth as revealed with the animal sacrifices. They rejected the truth that the blood atonement found its fulfillment in Christ on the Cross!

What these Jewish believers were doing was a public display and disgrace pointing to the work of Jesus on the Cross!

They had gone wildly apostate. Yet? We find today in certain denominations an equally disgraceful denial of the efficacy of the Cross of Jesus when some claim one must do works in order to keep their salvation. With some? They are so stubborn about it? The following applies to them...

"It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened,
who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the
Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God
and the powers of the coming age and who have fallen away,
to be brought back to repentance.

Some will never "change their mind." That is why it said its impossible to bring them back. They will not repent.

Its like telling certain people that they should not pray to Mary. Again! Its impossible to bring them to changing their minds (repentance) on the subject. They get locked in, and they see you as the apostate. That is the warning (in principle) that we find in Heb 6:4-6 that applies to all.

Acts2:38 · Jul 3, 2018

genez said:
It was written specifically to Hebrew Christians. For the sin they were committing could only be performed by Jewish believers. This factor is why so many gentile believers have failed to see what the warning was about. Yet, we can all glean principles of doctrine from this example with other applications involving the same kind of misdirected zeal.

"Hebrews" 6 was a warning to the apostate Church in Jerusalem. It circulated Jerusalem about three years before Titus trampled down the city in 70AD as God's judgment for their apostasy..

Hebrews was written to Jews. For it was written in a manner indicating it was to those who intimately acquainted with the requirements of the Law and the Temple sacrifices. It was foreign thinking to the Gentile believers around the world at that time. Today through study we can glean great principles of doctrine from it. But, its original target audience was specifically the Jewish believer living around Jerusalem, or traveling to Jerusalem.

What was their sin?

"It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened,
who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the
Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God
and the powers of the coming age and who have fallen away,
to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are
crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him
to public disgrace." Heb 6:4-6

The Jews in the church in Jerusalem had believed in Jesus Christ. They were saved. Yet, many of them stubbornly rejected the teachings of grace they were shown (who have once been enlightened) and remained legalistically attached to following the mandates of the Law.

"When they heard this, they praised God. Then they said to Paul:
“You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews have believed,
and all of them are zealous for the law." Ac 21:20

For these Jewish believers were insisting upon going back into the Temple to offer blood sacrifices for their sins! Its what trapped Paul when he agreed to go back into the Temple with a time consuming ritual that was to end weeks later with a very expensive blood sacrifice involving an oxen.

But, God did not allow Paul to get that far along, and a riot in the Temple after Jews seeing Paul put an end to it. Yes.. Paul too was being sucked into their apostasy.

That is why it says ...

"To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again
and subjecting him to public disgrace."

Their offering of animal sacrifices was like crucifying Jesus all over again and subjecting Him to public disgrace by saying that the blood of Jesus was of none effect, and that the animal sacrifices were still needed!

The animal sacrifices before the Cross of Christ were used as representative teaching tools for the Jews to learn principles of truth as revealed with the animal sacrifices. They rejected the truth that the blood atonement found its fulfillment in Christ on the Cross!

What these Jewish believers were doing was a public display and disgrace pointing to the work of Jesus on the Cross!

They had gone wildly apostate. Yet? We find today in certain denominations an equally disgraceful denial of the efficacy of the Cross of Jesus when some claim one must do works in order to keep their salvation. With some? They are so stubborn about it? The following applies to them...

"It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened,
who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the
Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God
and the powers of the coming age and who have fallen away,
to be brought back to repentance.

Some will never "change their mind." That is why it said its impossible to bring them back. They will not repent.

Its like telling certain people that they should not pray to Mary. Again! Its impossible to bring them to changing their minds (repentance) on the subject. They get locked in, and they see you as the apostate. That is the warning (in principle) that we find in Heb 6:4-6 that applies to all.

Jewish Christians?

Galatians 3
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Friend,

The group that the Hebrews writer directed at may have been Hebrew in nature, but it is directed at Christians in general.

Therefore, all Christians heed what the writer of Hebrews is saying lest we also stumble and mess up as they were doing when the letter was written.

Besides, what you say doesn't make sense at all.

What you are trying to say is that there are different laws/practices per type of people within the Christian ranks. That is a faulty belief. All Christians everywhere heed the same gospel commands. There is no different set commands per culture of people in the gospel. Christians everywhere obey the same commands.

Acts2:38 · Jul 3, 2018

genez said:
Because you went beyond its meaning as well.

There is no "godly sorrow" to be found in the Greek. Much closer... "Sorrow as God would have it." There is nothing godly about sorrow. Its because of being ungodly that God will bring (those He can) to a point of sorrow... they will kick themselves for being such idiots... That is more like how we would say it today. There is no such thing as godly sorrow as its found in the Greek of the Bible... though some English translators took the liberty to translate it that way.

Here is an example of happy repentance.... A Jew finds Christ.. He learns that the Bible teaches that all foods as God has created them are good for you. And, that we are no longer under the Law. He rejoices because now he wants to eat bacon! Up until then he thought it was wrong to eat bacon.. Now he REPENTS and rejoices! Yummmmmmmy!

Acts2:38 said:
1. Anyone that obeys the gospel and continues in obedience to the gospel until death or Christs coming, is saved

2. If you "willfully sin", what do you think? Hebrews 10:26-27; 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9. What does scripture say?

I am not saying you are lost forever should you actually come back to repentance, because we can be restored should we actually repent ie Galatians 6:1; James 5:16; 1 John 1

To willfully sin though and not repent, leaves one without their salvation intact.

I am assuming you understand what I am saying here.

Acts2:38 said:
This is quite fluffy. And the wrong idea.

I suggest reading 2 Corinthians 7 (preferably in a non fluffy version like KJV).

This should give you a perfect example. If you are rusty on 1 Cor., maybe read that too so you know where Paul is coming from.

"Repentance (metanoia, 'change of mind') involves a turning with contrition from sin to God; the repentant sinner is in the proper condition to accept the divine forgiveness." (F. F. Bruce. The Acts of the Apostles [Greek Text Commentary], London: Tyndale, 1952, p. 97.)

Strongs
μετανοέω metanoéō, met-an-o-eh'-o; from G3326 and G3539; to think differently or afterwards, i.e. reconsider (morally, feel compunction):—repent; to change one's mind for better, heartily to amend with abhorrence of one's past sins; to change one's mind, i.e. to repent

Thayer's
μετανοέω, μετάνω; future μετανοήσω; 1 aorist μετενόησα; from (Antiphon), Xenophon down; the Sept. several times for נִחַם; to change one's mind, i. e. to repent (to feel sorry that one has done this or that, Jonah 3:9), of having offended someone, Luke 17:3f; with ἐπί τίνι added (the dative of the wrong, Hebrew עַל, Amos 7:3; Joel 2:13; Jonah 3:10; Jonah 4:2), of (on account of) something (so Latinme paenitet alicujus rei), 2 Corinthians 12:21; used especially of those who, conscious of their sins and with manifest tokens of sorrow, are intent; on obtaining God's pardon; to repent (Latinpaenitentiam agere): μετανοῶ ἐν σάκκῳ καί σποδῷ, clothed in sackcloth and besprinkled with ashes, Matthew 11:21; Luke 10:13. to change one's mind for the better, heartily to amend with abhorrence of one's past sins: Matthew 3:2; Matthew 4:17; Mark 1:15 (cf. Matthew 3:6 ἐξομολογούμενοι τάς ἁμαρτίας αὐτῶν; Matthew 3:8 and Luke 3:8 καρπούς ἀξίους τῆς μετανοίας, i. e. conduct worthy of a heart changed and abhorring sin); (Matthew 11:20; Mark 6:12); Luke 13:3, 5; Luke 15:7, 10; Luke 16:30; Acts 2:38; Acts 3:19; Acts 17:30; Revelation 2:5, 16; Revelation 3:3, 19; on the phrase μετανοεῖν εἰς τό κήρυγμα τίνος, Matthew 12:41 and Luke 11:32, see εἰς, B. II. 2 d.; (Winer's Grammar, 397 (371)). Since τό μετανοεῖν expresses mental direction, the termini from which and to which may be specified: ἀπό τῆς κακίας, to withdraw or turn one's soul from, etc. (cf. Winers Grammar, 622 (577); especially Buttmann, 322 (277)), Acts 8:22; ἐκ τίνος, Revelation 2:21; Revelation 9:20; Revelation 16:11 (see ἐκ, I. 6; (cf. Buttmann, 327 (281), and Winer's Grammar, as above)); μετανοεῖν καί ἐπιστρέφειν ἐπί τόν Θεόν, Acts 26:20; followed by an infinitive indicating purpose (Winer's Grammar, 318 (298)), Revelation 16:9. (Synonym: see μεταμέλομαι.)

The example you gave is completely wrong for what we are talking about.

genez said:
...

I am assuming you now agree with the true meaning of repentance as intended in scripture with the evidence I provided.

GenemZ · Jul 4, 2018

Acts2:38 said:
Jewish Christians?

Galatians 3
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Friend,

The group that the Hebrews writer directed at may have been Hebrew in nature, but it is directed at Christians in general.

Yes, every book of the Bible is for the Christian. Yet? The OT was originally written for the Jews. Right? But, we now can learn from the Divine principles that were presented in the Torah...

You seem to be missing the point.. that in the very early Church? There were two sets of believers. Jews and Gentiles. That is why Peter was sent to the Jews, and Paul was sent to the Gentiles.

Later on when the Church began to grow in understanding, insights were given to show that the Jew no longer had special privilege with God as he had before the Church age began.. In that sense there is no longer Jew nor Gentile... and neither male nor female, which is speaking of males once having special privilege. Either that? Or, churches all have unisex bathrooms.

The book of Hebrews was written to the church in Jerusalem... which consisted of Jewish believers in Christ. They did not shed their Jewishness over night as you presume. They had deeply embedded religious thinking that they were not letting go of too quickly. Read here and please learn something you did not know before... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epistle_to_the_Hebrews

Dan1988 · Jul 9, 2018

Shadowprophet said:
My thing is this. Some people say it's a gateway drug. But I'm 41 years old. I know what other drugs do and I don't want those. I like pot. I don't drink. I don't do other drugs. At all. But for me. When I smoke pot, It's a calming relieving feeling. And to be honest. Even if people told me it was wrong to do, I'd probably still smoke it. Even knowing it could be a sin. I don't think I would give it up. It's not that I don't Love God, I do. But. Weed is something that has gotten me through a lot of hardship. It's something that makes me calm and happy. It's not like i couldn't give it up. I simply like it so much. I don't want to.

The Bible doesn't really speak about Weed at any length. And yeah. in the state that I live in. it's still illegal. I rationalize this by telling myself that nobody is perfect. and even if it's wrong, Maybe God will forgive me.

My problem is. I know that without it. I would be terribly depressed all the time, and honestly, I'd just give up on life and being happy at all. I really think that for me. I need it. I would like peoples thoughts and opinions about this.

But I'm also not being naive about this. I know that three out of every ten people on planet earth smoke it or use it in some way. But I also want to know, What I'm supposed to think as a Christian? I don't smoke it just because I like getting high. I smoke it because when I do. I have the energy and charisma to actually get up out of bed and socialize with my family. Depression is a weird thing. But I do know without weed. I would get up to shower. Eat breakfast. Turn the tv on something and go back to bed. I honestly feel like it's a good thing for me.

The Bible calls the use of drugs "Pharmakia" and "Sorcery", those who dabble in black magic and making potions to alter the state of consciousness have always been around.

Cannabis is a hallucinogenic, it opens your mind up and makes you vulnerable to fall prey to evil spirits. You wouldn't even know that you are being influenced by these spirits, they work to deceive you on the spiritual level. Their influence is very subtle, so a person isn't even aware that they are being influenced.

I smoked it for many years and ended up using heroin, Jesus liberated me from the bondage of drug addiction. He gave me a new heart and changed my desires, so now I want to have a clear mind so I can serve Him in the most fruitful way.

Before I was saved, I felt absolutely enslaved to heroin. I was convinced that there was no possible way to break the addiction. I didn't even believe that God could until I got on my knees, repented and asked him to take my life. I reached the point where I knew that I had ruined my life and hurt many people around me.

I felt the Holy Spirit enter my heart and start doing the work of regeneration. It took around three months for the Holy Spirit to bring me to my senses and then I started to really improve in every way. I stopped smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol and all other medications as well.

The Holy Spirit transforms a believer into the image of Jesus Christ, it takes time but we become more like Christ every day and we will finally receive our glorified sinless bodies when we die.

I would urge you to surrender your will to God, He will give you enough strength to overcome any addiction or sinful habit. We can't serve God while we are enslaved by sorcery.

The unclean spirits are whispering in your ear telling you it's no so bad and God knows everyone sins in some way and you're not hurting anyone and so forth. God has called us to surrender our will and our lives to Him. He commands us to surrender 100% of our will, 99.9% is not enough. The enemy will use that 0.01% to get a foothold and enslave us again.

So I would encourage you to obey God's call to repent and believe in His Son and He will send His Holy Spirit to transform you into the image of His Son.
He will give you a brand new appreciation for the things of God, which are far more beautiful and interesting that anything that drugs can offer.

The longer you remain in bondage, the harder it will be to surrender your will to the Lord. So the sooner you do the better off you will be, we shouldn't gamble with our soul. We could die in an accident, while we are living a life of sin and professing to be Christians.

We can't have one foot in the world and the other in Gods Kingdom, so we must decide. God said, today is the day of salvation. None of us know if we have tomorrow.

GenemZ · Jul 10, 2018

Dan1988 said:
The Bible calls the use of drugs "Pharmakia" and "Sorcery", those who dabble in black magic and making potions to alter the state of consciousness have always been around.

"Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity,
sensuality, idolatry, sorcery (pharmakeia), enmities, strife, jealousy,
outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness,
carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have
forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the
kingdom of God. Gal 5:19-21

Dan1988 · Jul 10, 2018

genez said:
"Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity,
sensuality, idolatry, sorcery (pharmakeia), enmities, strife, jealousy,
outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness,
carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have
forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the
kingdom of God. Gal 5:19-21

That's a sobering portion of scripture, it warns us not to give ourselves to those sinful activities or we will not inherit the kingdom of heaven.

Having said that, we should also consider that some of us committed all of those sins yet God saved us. Now we no longer give ourselves over to sin, but we fight temptation all day every day.

God gives His people the final victory over all sin, when we receive our glorified bodies after we leave this corrupt body of sin.

God can save anyone, no matter how sinful or depraved they've become. We have many examples in the Bible, where God chose to save murderers, adulterers and all kinds of sinful people.

I think we are told not to judge, because we don't know who God has chosen to save before He laid the foundations of the earth. We must allow Him to be the judge, while we love everyone as if they are all the elect of God.

GenemZ · Jul 10, 2018

Dan1988 said:
That's a sobering portion of scripture, it warns us not to give ourselves to those sinful activities or we will not inherit the kingdom of heaven.

Having said that, we should also consider that some of us committed all of those sins yet God saved us. Now we no longer give ourselves over to sin, but we fight temptation all day every day.

God gives His people the final victory over all sin, when we receive our glorified bodies after we leave this corrupt body of sin.

God can save anyone, no matter how sinful or depraved they've become. We have many examples in the Bible, where God chose to save murderers, adulterers and all kinds of sinful people.

I think we are told not to judge, because we don't know who God has chosen to save before He laid the foundations of the earth. We must allow Him to be the judge, while we love everyone as if they are all the elect of God.

To "inherit the kingdom" speaks of reigning with Christ.... not about going to the Lake of Fire. It does not say that those who do those things will burn in Hell. Not all believers will qualify to be involved in helping run the Lord's Kingdom with Him!

He who overcomes (is victorious), I will grant him to sit beside Me
on My throne, as I Myself overcame (was victorious) and sat down
beside My Father on His throne. Rev 3:21

Those who remain faithful to keep on growing in grace and knowledge of Christ (sound doctrinal teachings), will be honored to be the co-ruling Bride of the King! Just like we have examples of earthly kings and queens ruling a kingdom. Many believers will refuse the need to endure suffering and will seek out mainstream solutions to satisfy their desire for churchianity..

Only those who out of their love for Christ. Those who "overcome" - will become winners by the means of the supplied power of God's grace and truth. Only these ones will reign with Christ. Other believers will not inherit kingdom authority to reign in the Kingdom with Christ.

Many others will instead take what Jesus called the "broad and wide road." That wide open road offers a smorgasbord many empty alternatives that will destroy the believer's ability to function as God desires. To walk in His power of grace and to have his thoughts transformed by learning sound doctrine. God desires this of all believers. But, Jesus also said only a few will accept this responsibility demanded for God's plan.

"Enter through the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and spacious
and broad is the way that leads away to destruction, and many are
those who are entering through it.

But the gate is narrow (contracted by pressure) and the way is strait (strict)
and compressed (having pressures) that leads away to life, and few are those
who find it." (Mat 7:13-14)

Jesus was speaking of winners and loser believers when he spoke those words. For, He was telling us that not everyone saved from the Lake of Fire will qualify to receive honor and serve with Christ in His Kingdom. Instead, Jesus said that many who believe in Him will pick and choose from amongst the vast number of 'cheap substitute" churches (its why we see thousands of denominations) "BROAD AND WIDE" as they will seek for a type of church that will sit well with their own natural feelings of self pride. There are many variations in that realm when believers walk after their flesh and desire to find a religion that speaks highly of the name of Jesus... but deny the Lord to His right to demand they take up their crosses and deny themselves in a season for suffering, so He can get them to a place of great happiness and joy.

Shempster · Jul 10, 2018

genez said:
"Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: sorcery (pharmakeia),

That word suggests the making of potions. Weeds are not potions. They were MADE by God and reproduce naturally. Most herbs require warming to activate them, but that is the same thing as cooking food. That is not making a potion.
Pharmekia is the making of a potion as in pharmaceutical drugs. AKA, the pills most everyone takes. I suppose that would include food additives, eh? Of course, everyone thinks if a doctor says its ok then its ok morally. Well that makes no sense. I mean who trains them to do this? God? No, its phamakeia corporations.

GenemZ · Jul 10, 2018

Shempster said:
That word suggests the making of potions. Weeds are not potions. They were MADE by God and reproduce naturally.

Black Widow spiders reproduce naturally... God made them. Why not keep some as a house pet?

Shempster · Jul 10, 2018

genez said:
Black Widow spiders reproduce naturally... God made them. Why not keep some as a house pet?

Right and poison ivy gives you rashes and Belladonna can kill you. I didn't say everything natural is safe to touch or consume. You brought up pharmekeia which the bible warns us against sorcery which is referring to man made potions we call drugs. That's what pharmekeia is. But nobody ever brings that up.

Is it a sin to smoke Marijuana?

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