One sin and your done?

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Dai3234

Senior Member
Sep 6, 2016
524
4
0
#1
I was wondering, many people say you cannot lose salvation except from apostasy. So does that definitely mean a cigarette, a drink, or other, after becoming a Christian, is still forgiven? Definitely. Is this agreed? As some say obedience is key and others do not?

Facts? Thanks.
 
D

Depleted

Guest
#2
First question: What does salvation mean to you? (I'm not being snooty, but so many throw that word around to mean so many things, that I have given up thinking anyone means the same thing when they say that word. So, I'm really asking, albeit with purpose. I can't answer your question without figuring out what your question is.)
 
Jan 21, 2017
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#3
I suggest you read Romans 6, it answers this question of under grace, not under the law, and its relation to sin, i'll quote you a part of it here:

Romans 6:15-23
[FONT=&quot]15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.[/FONT]

Dont sin, make the determined decision to flee from wickedness and you'll be good no matter WHO or WHAT people teach and say.
I think ALL christians agree that sin is wicked and we should stop, and we CAN stop by the GRACE OF GOD.

And before someone quotes the good ole if we say we have no sin verse, take a deep breath, im not talkign about being 100% sinless, im talking about willfull sin, willful disobedience.
 

Dai3234

Senior Member
Sep 6, 2016
524
4
0
#4
I suggest you read Romans 6, it answers this question of under grace, not under the law, and its relation to sin, i'll quote you a part of it here:

Romans 6:15-23
[FONT=&quot]15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.[/FONT]

Dont sin, make the determined decision to flee from wickedness and you'll be good no matter WHO or WHAT people teach and say.
I think ALL christians agree that sin is wicked and we should stop, and we CAN stop by the GRACE OF GOD.

And before someone quotes the good ole if we say we have no sin verse, take a deep breath, im not talkign about being 100% sinless, im talking about willfull sin, willful disobedience.
I get a little confused. Is willful sin continuing to smoke when your body tells you to or mind wants to, even though you don't really want to. You just feel you do. I feel bad smoking but i also have a feeling that drags me to it. But smoking or drinking is always a choice? Right. Am i willing, by choosing to satisfy the want or what? Am i damned already because i had a cigarette willingly? You see people's issue? Some say you cannot lose salvation as it is done. Others say obedience, make the body a sacrifice and don't sin. Then your ok. I feel guilty for smoking etc, knowing i shouldn't.
 
Aug 16, 2016
2,184
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0
#5
Obedience to God is key however he knows we are not perfect. Great people of God we read about also dealt with temptations and refraining from sin. Notice how the Lord said 2 Chronicles 'If my people would humble themselves and turn from their wicked ways". God acknowledges his people struggles with sin but if they obey him by turning away from it and seeking his face he will bless them. The road to God isn't easy, in fact it can be difficult at times but it is worth it in the end.
 
Jan 21, 2017
647
28
0
#6
I get a little confused. Is willful sin continuing to smoke when your body tells you to or mind wants to, even though you don't really want to. You just feel you do. I feel bad smoking but i also have a feeling that drags me to it. But smoking or drinking is always a choice? Right. Am i willing, by choosing to satisfy the want or what? Am i damned already because i had a cigarette willingly? You see people's issue? Some say you cannot lose salvation as it is done. Others say obedience, make the body a sacrifice and don't sin. Then your ok. I feel guilty for smoking etc, knowing i shouldn't.
What you are experiencing is the struggle between the flesh and the spirit.
Im not gonna say anything about smoking other than it surely is unhealthy for the temple of God /which is our body/ and a bad testimony, BUT the bible is completely silent on it, but im quite confident that having a cigarette after saved has nothing to do with your salvation whatsoever.
And as to are you damned, i'd say not, you have faith in Christ do you? You are being convicted for your sins you say, so therefore I urge you to repent and trust in Christ, that HE WILL complete the good work He has started in you! :)
You CAN do it, by God's grace. I was also delivered from smoking, drinking and other intoxicants
 
F

FreeNChrist

Guest
#7
"For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous." Romans 5:19
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
36,530
13,098
113
#8
how can you call something "salvation" if it can be lost?
if i don't even have assurance that 3 hours from now i will still be "
saved" do i have "salvation" or do i have only an illusion of it?
an illusion of life is still death.
do we have life?

what have we been "
saved" from?
have we been "
saved" at all, or has our condemnation only been provisionally & temporarily postponed?
 
Jan 21, 2017
647
28
0
#9
how can you call something "salvation" if it can be lost?
if i don't even have assurance that 3 hours from now i will still be "
saved" do i have "salvation" or do i have only an illusion of it?
an illusion of life is still death.
do we have life?

what have we been "
saved" from?
have we been "
saved" at all, or has our condemnation only been provisionally & temporarily postponed?
Romans 13:11
Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed.
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
36,530
13,098
113
#10

who was saved by what they ate, drank or smoked, or by what they did not chew, swallow or inhale?
 
Jan 21, 2017
647
28
0
#11

who was saved by what they ate, drank or smoked, or by what they did not chew, swallow or inhale?
NObody, but certainly someone who proclaims to be a christian and is stuck in alcoholism for 50 years has something very dire going on????? Where is the fruit, the deliverance, the sanctification promised by God to His people?
Come on now
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
36,530
13,098
113
#12
Romans 13:11
Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed.
11 Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed.

do what?

8 Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.
9 For this, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
 

thisgirl

Senior Member
Mar 2, 2015
153
5
0
#13
So the Holy Spirit is convicting you that you should quit smoking. Make steps towards that end. I quit 9 months after being saved in 1990. It was the hardest thing I've ever done I started at 8 years old. You can do this. His grace is not dependent on a single thing you do but your relationship with Jesus will grow as you are obedient to the prompting of the Holy Spirit.
 
Last edited:
Jan 21, 2017
647
28
0
#14
So the Holy Spirit is convicting you that you should quit smoking. Make steps towards that end. I quit 9 months after being saved in 1990. It was the hardest thing ive ever done i started at 8 years old. You can do this. His grace is not dependent on a single thing you do but your relationship with Jesus will grow as you are obedient to the prompting of the Holy Spirit.
Amen sister, great advice God bless you. Wonderful testimony.
 

blessedjohn80

Senior Member
Mar 6, 2016
183
22
18
#15
Just believe that Jesus has released you from smoking instead of beating yourself up with condemnation and fear. How many times did Jesus tell you to not fear? Jesus said "I am the alpha and the omega" meaning He is there with you in the beginning till the end. You will get through smoking, just believe it already.

God bless.
 

Dai3234

Senior Member
Sep 6, 2016
524
4
0
#16
What you are experiencing is the struggle between the flesh and the spirit.
Im not gonna say anything about smoking other than it surely is unhealthy for the temple of God /which is our body/ and a bad testimony, BUT the bible is completely silent on it, but im quite confident that having a cigarette after saved has nothing to do with your salvation whatsoever.
And as to are you damned, i'd say not, you have faith in Christ do you? You are being convicted for your sins you say, so therefore I urge you to repent and trust in Christ, that HE WILL complete the good work He has started in you! :)
You CAN do it, by God's grace. I was also delivered from smoking, drinking and other intoxicants
Yeah, there not easy to give up because even though I know their addictive and bad, i still like smoking. An annoying yes no, why am i giving up, we die anyway. Oh no it's a sin, I'm awful, i want another cigarette, but i look like garbage, darn you cigarettes, but i enjoy you, i repent, put puff. Awwwww. Madness and sadness.
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
36,530
13,098
113
#17
NObody, but certainly someone who proclaims to be a christian and is stuck in alcoholism for 50 years has something very dire going on????? Where is the fruit, the deliverance, the sanctification promised by God to His people?
Come on now

i don't believe that becoming despondent or overcome by doubt is a path to having victory over vices -- except in that through humility we hand these things to God and allow Him to work in and through us, and that seeing our own will and effort revealed as insufficient to restrain or transform the flesh teaches us humility, and should move us toward Him to lay ourselves at His feet. but this is not done doubting, but through faith, believing and continuing to trust that He is redeeming us even while we watch our own efforts fail.

primarily my concern is stuff like this in our lives generating doubt - which is far more damaging a stumble than than physical addiction IMHO

faith saves, by His grace. to preserve faith then, is more important than preserving appearances, and works grow out of strong, living faith. keep the root that is faith, and won't the branches grow? but pruning the branches while the root dies is useless.

((hopefully that makes sense))
 

Dai3234

Senior Member
Sep 6, 2016
524
4
0
#18

i don't believe that becoming despondent or overcome by doubt is a path to having victory over vices -- except in that through humility we hand these things to God and allow Him to work in and through us, and that seeing our own will and effort revealed as insufficient to restrain or transform the flesh teaches us humility, and should move us toward Him to lay ourselves at His feet. but this is not done doubting, but through faith, believing and continuing to trust that He is redeeming us even while we watch our own efforts fail.

primarily my concern is stuff like this in our lives generating doubt - which is far more damaging a stumble than than physical addiction IMHO

faith saves, by His grace. to preserve faith then, is more important than preserving appearances, and works grow out of strong, living faith. keep the root that is faith, and won't the branches grow? but pruning the branches while the root dies is useless.

((hopefully that makes sense))
Hmm, i believe salvation is through Jesus Christ alone. But why even mention willful sin if we're saved anyway?
 

trofimus

Senior Member
Aug 17, 2015
10,684
794
113
#19
I get a little confused. Is willful sin continuing to smoke when your body tells you to or mind wants to, even though you don't really want to. .
Smoking is not a sin. It a stupid and unhealthy lifestyle like eating hamburgers, pizza, drinking coca-cola or using sugar.

Your body, your choice.
 

Demi777

Senior Member
Oct 13, 2014
6,877
1,949
113
Germany
#20
There is a difference between doing something because you want to do it, or because your body pushes you to do it and you dont find the strength to stop for whatever reason. If you arent a smoker of drinker or have any other addiction, you cant understand the nature of it.
We arent perfect. We are under grace and if we truly dont want to smoke but we cant stop, I believe God will not condemn us for that weekness.
Look at David and his woman. Hes the best example in the bible for someone who had weaknesses but still loved God and did his best and still made it by the grace of God.
Dont condemn the addicts as hellbound here. They battle more than you think