Decided

[Docbrown1985]

So I decided I will not fulfill a promise that I made to God even though I will always be able to.

I am under the impression that asking God for forgiveness for making the promise is enough and that I am good going forward and that I do not have to fulfill it.

Am I correct or would this be dying in willful sin? Must the promise be fulfilled to avoid hell?

 

[timf]

Am I correct or would this be dying in willful sin? Must the promise be fulfilled to avoid hell?

The phrase "willful sin" indicates to me the influence of a doctrine that tells Christians that being a Christian means they are free from "willful" sin. The problem with this doctrine is that it can leave people trying to manage all or a portion of their salvation by trying to meet some criteria.

Rather than trying to find the right criteria to follow, you might want to examine your assumptions in light of the following verses.

1Jn 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
1Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Col 1:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

Paul does not cite that his faith in contingent upon his resisting "willful sin" when he declares his confidence in what Jesus will do.

2Ti 1:12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

 

[Tolworth John]

decided I will not fulfill a promise that I made to God even though I will always be able to.

Why?

If you cannot keep a promise, why make them and if you can keep them why not.

It is about your personal honour.

 

[Albion]

So I decided I will not fulfill a promise that I made to God even though I will always be able to.

I am under the impression that asking God for forgiveness for making the promise is enough and that I am good going forward and that I do not have to fulfill it.

Am I correct or would this be dying in willful sin? Must the promise be fulfilled to avoid hell?

The 'avoiding hell' part is between you and God, but as I read through the posts here it looks like you need to come forth with specifics if we are to know how to answer you. If you don't want to do that, I understand completely, but we're rather "shooting in the dark" trying to figure out exactly what the issue is. A generalized reply doesn't seem adequate, but the issue has been put to us in a very general way.

 

[Docbrown1985]

The 'avoiding hell' part is between you and God, but as I read through the posts here it looks like you need to come forth with specifics if we are to know how to answer you. If you don't want to do that, I understand completely, but we're rather "shooting in the dark" trying to figure out exactly what the issue is. A generalized reply doesn't seem adequate, but the issue has been put to us in a very general way.

the issue is that I don’t want to fulfill a promise made to God because I feel it’s overall unnecessary and harmful for me but I’m not sure if it’s a sin.

I understand the Bible says we must fulfill them so I am wondering if that means we are forced to keep promises and what are the consequences of deciding not to do so?

 

[Docbrown1985]

Why?

If you cannot keep a promise, why make them and if you can keep them why not.

It is about your personal honour.

what if the promise serves little purpose? But regardless, what are the consequences of not keeping it?

 

[Albion]

the issue is that I don’t want to fulfill a promise made to God because I feel it’s overall unnecessary and harmful for me but I’m not sure if it’s a sin.

That's what you told us before.

What would constitute "fulfilling" it?

Why is it that you now think it's "overall unnecessary?" Or "harmful?"

 

[eleos1954]

So I decided I will not fulfill a promise that I made to God even though I will always be able to.

I am under the impression that asking God for forgiveness for making the promise is enough and that I am good going forward and that I do not have to fulfill it.

Am I correct or would this be dying in willful sin? Must the promise be fulfilled to avoid hell?

Repentance is asking for forgiveness and turning away from sin ... and Jesus through the Holy Spirit helps us overcome sin .... we will indeed mess up here and there ... but every time we fall down ... Jesus is there to pick us back up and we begin again.

Better to not make any promises.

Ecclesiastes 5:5-15

5 It is better not to promise anything than to promise something and not do it. 6 Don't let your words cause you to sin, and don't say to the priest at the Temple, "I didn't mean what I promised."

If you do, God will become angry with your words and will destroy everything you have worked for. 7 Many useless promises are like so many dreams; they mean nothing. You should respect God.

 

[Docbrown1985]

That's what you told us before.

What would constitute "fulfilling" it?

Why is it that you now think it's "overall unnecessary?" Or "harmful?"

are you saying that it matters? As in there are promises that must be kept?

 

[Maria Billingsley]

So I decided I will not fulfill a promise that I made to God even though I will always be able to.

I am under the impression that asking God for forgiveness for making the promise is enough and that I am good going forward and that I do not have to fulfill it.

Am I correct or would this be dying in willful sin? Must the promise be fulfilled to avoid hell?

Welcome to CF. "Do not tempt the Lord your God." If you have repented then go forward in peace.

 

[Albion]

are you saying that it matters? As in there are promises that must be kept?

To me, it would, because if you want a good answer, it's necessary to know what you are actually referring to. But that's just me. Maybe other people will have great advice to give, based only on what you've already written.

 

[Docbrown1985]

To me, it would, because if you want a good answer, it's necessary to know what you are actually referring to. But that's just me. Maybe other people will have great advice to give, based only on what you've already written.

I am not sure if I even made the promise but I guess I did sort of impulsively. But I feel I likely knew what I was doing It was an irrational one to share intrusive/any thoughts with certain people I don’t want to. I might have ocd but I do not know. I feel it is only causing me stress and would do little good for the world for me to keep the promise

 

[BobRyan]

So I decided I will not fulfill a promise that I made to God even though I will always be able to.

I am under the impression that asking God for forgiveness for making the promise is enough and that I am good going forward and that I do not have to fulfill it.

Am I correct or would this be dying in willful sin? Must the promise be fulfilled to avoid hell?

Sometimes a person will promise God they will do something good like "pay tithe" or "read the Bible daily" -- if He will do something for them... that is the sort of promise that one can and should keep if that it was they said.

Someone else might make a foolish promise as in the case of Jeptha in the Old Testament book of Judges. They should ask for forgiveness in that case.

In general ask God to help you stick to a resolution or guide you to know that the resolution is foolish - never make the "I promise to never fail at ... in exchange for ..." form of promise because you do not know your own soul that well - it is better to commit your heart and soul to God without reservation rather than trying to predict your future flawless actions.

 

[Tolworth John]

what if the promise serves little purpose? But regardless, what are the consequences of not keeping it?

Why make pointless promises.

Having made one to deliberately not keep it is lying to God. Which would need to be repented of.