I’ve made a couple of post talking about how I had a made a vow to the Lord that I would stop having sex/masturbating (most sinful thing I could think of that I do) if I wouldn’t be in a plane accident (I thought I was travelling at one point) I eventually ended up not going on the trip, yet still stuck with the vow. I tried like 4 times before I said “God make this my last chance to fulfill this vow”. Of course I failed. Now I’m stuck with this new fear of planes. This isn’t about that however. I know people will say “God won’t do this bla bla bla” but I can’t just believe God is merciful. This is the same God who killed people for lying, the same God who killed David’s kid, the same God killed a nation over a Golden Calf. I’m not saying I’m not Christian anymore but I can’t subscribe to the whole “God is so merciful and loving” when the Bible clearly paints another picture.
Well, I am more of the kind of believer here on the forums to preach the fear of the Lord (more than most). I will say: It is true, that we cannot justify sin. But I think in your case, you need to also realize that God also loves us, too. God lets scores of sinful people to live today and He is keeping them alive and desiring them to repent. Yes, we can be killed in an instant for a grievous sin, but we have to pray to God for protection against that. We have to pray to God for His grace and mercy so we can overcome the kind of sin you are being challenged with.
But be at peace, His grace is what gives us a fresh new start.
Also, there are ways to overcome sin by God's Word and with the help of Jesus:
#1.
Remove yourself from sinful environments.
Remove yourself from sinful environments (if possible) and or get rid of things that cause you to sin. In Genesis: Joseph had literally ran away from the temptation of sexual sin (Genesis 39:11-12). One of the commands in the New Testament is: "Flee fornication." (1 Corinthians 6:18) (Note: Paul says that what he had written should be regarded as the commandments of the Lord - 1 Corinthians 14:37) (KJV). Sometimes this running away is merely a means of escape. God provides a way of escape for us to run to so that we can bear the temptation and get through it. For 1 Corinthians 10:13 says, "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."
#2.
Pray to God so as not to be tempted.
Pray to God so as not to be tempted. It is part of the Lord’s prayer for you to pray so as not to be tempted into sin (Matthew 6:12). God will guide and protect you if you are serious in praying for this. "Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation" (Matthew 26:41). In fact, fasting will help you with this, as well. Being enslaved to sin is a demonic influence. While being enslaves to sin does not mean a Christian is possessed by a demon, we learn that certain demon possessions could not be driven out only by prayer and fasting (Matthew 17:21). So if demon possession at the most intense level can only be healed (by the casting out of the demon) by both prayer and fasting, then it is a sure bet that fasting and praying to overcome sin will also help a believer overcome sin (Which is a demonic influence).
#3.
Obey God’s righteous ways.
Obey God’s righteous ways. The more you love God and love others and obey His Word and stay in His Word and pray, the more you will not even have a chance to sin or do the wrong thing. But the more you walk in God's Word by the Spirit you will not fulfill the lusts of flesh. "Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh." (Galatians 5:16). "But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof." (Romans 13:14). "But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life." (Romans 6:22).
#4.
When you are tempted, quote Scripture.
When you are tempted, quote Scripture. When Jesus was tempted by the devil, He quoted Scripture to defeat the devil (Matthew 4:4) (Matthew 4:7) (Matthew 4:10). So when some specific sin is bothering you, find all the verses you can that are victory verses over that particular sin. A good general verse (Especially if you are tempted to look at women in lust if you find yourself in public around a lot of people) is, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.” (Psalms 23:1). You can say these verses to yourself silently under your breath (with nobody hearing).
#5.
Ask for prayer from other God fearing Christians.
Ask for prayer from other God fearing Christians or Godly Christians to help you to overcome certain sins. The Scriptures say, bear ye one another's burdens and thus fulfill the Law of Christ. So seek true fellowship and ask for their help. In 1 John 5, we see Christians praying for a believer who is struggling to overcome a sin (that they are confessing). "If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death." (1 John 5:16). A faithful Christian shall ask God to give their fellow Christian life (victory) in overcoming their sin that they are confessing (i.e. sin that is confessed is not a sin that leads unto death).
#6.
Hide God’s Word in your heart.
Hide God’s Word in your heart. Memorize Scripture. David said he hid God’s Word within his heart so that he may not sin against the Lord. "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee." (Psalms 119:11).
#7.
Confess of your sins.
Confess of your sins.
1 John 1:9 says if we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Once you learn to walk in God's good ways, you will perfect love (See 1 John 2:5-6); And perfect love casts out fear (1 John 4:18).
