Tobacco
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That is simply your opinion, certainly NOT based upon the Scriptures!
The vast majority of people who commit suicide do so because life has become to much for them and they are overwhelmed by their circumstances and they see suicide as the only way out!
To suggest that a person suffering from Clinical Depression (or any other mental illness), who commits suicide that God will automatically send them to Hades, to me frankly is highly offensive and really shows your complete ignorance of God's loving and merciful character (Who's first Name is "Merciful," Exodus 34v5,6), who desires ALL to be saved! Indeed, the character of the person you seem to be referring to (who sends those who commit suicide straight to Hell) is more like that of Satan, who is a murderer and who comes to kill and destroy, NOT the God of Love Who gave His Only Beloved Son to die upon the cross! Psalm 136, John 3v16, 10v10, Rom 5v8, 1Tim 2v4, 2Peter 3v9, 1John 4v8,16
The vast majority of people who commit suicide do so because life has become to much for them and they are overwhelmed by their circumstances and they see suicide as the only way out!
To suggest that a person suffering from Clinical Depression (or any other mental illness), who commits suicide that God will automatically send them to Hades, to me frankly is highly offensive and really shows your complete ignorance of God's loving and merciful character (Who's first Name is "Merciful," Exodus 34v5,6), who desires ALL to be saved! Indeed, the character of the person you seem to be referring to (who sends those who commit suicide straight to Hell) is more like that of Satan, who is a murderer and who comes to kill and destroy, NOT the God of Love Who gave His Only Beloved Son to die upon the cross! Psalm 136, John 3v16, 10v10, Rom 5v8, 1Tim 2v4, 2Peter 3v9, 1John 4v8,16
We are in hell while we sin, and not in hell while we don't:
[17] "Yet your people say, `The way of the Lord is not just'; when it is their own way that is not just.
[18] When the righteous turns from his righteousness, and commits iniquity, he shall die for it.
[19] And when the wicked turns from his wickedness, and does what is lawful and right, he shall live by it.
[20] Yet you say, `The way of the Lord is not just.' O house of Israel, I will judge each of you according to his ways." Ezekiel 33:17-20 RSV
[17] "Yet your people say, `The way of the Lord is not just'; when it is their own way that is not just.
[18] When the righteous turns from his righteousness, and commits iniquity, he shall die for it.
[19] And when the wicked turns from his wickedness, and does what is lawful and right, he shall live by it.
[20] Yet you say, `The way of the Lord is not just.' O house of Israel, I will judge each of you according to his ways." Ezekiel 33:17-20 RSV
I don't think there is any question about if it is a sin. Scripture talks about a pleasing odor to the Lord. I don't think that means that the Lord smells us!! but that we don't send stinks to the Lord. It stinks!
The Lord says we are the temple. The ark was a symbol of that temple, we can look to how God wanted the ark kept to know how we are to act. Tobacco stinks, it is dirty, it harms. That is not the way to treat a temple.
I smoked for 20 years. For years of that my last conversations with God before I slept was about my quitting, and each night I vowed to quit. Yet each morning, after pacing the floor, I looked for a cigarette. One morning I walked 4 blocks in 20 below zero weather to buy one because I couldn't find one at home, tears running all the way. For me the addiction was that powerful.
A group of powerful prayer warriors went to work on me. I landed in the hospital with nicotine poisoning, and yes, there is such a thing. Even gall came up. I was cured.
The Lord says we are the temple. The ark was a symbol of that temple, we can look to how God wanted the ark kept to know how we are to act. Tobacco stinks, it is dirty, it harms. That is not the way to treat a temple.
I smoked for 20 years. For years of that my last conversations with God before I slept was about my quitting, and each night I vowed to quit. Yet each morning, after pacing the floor, I looked for a cigarette. One morning I walked 4 blocks in 20 below zero weather to buy one because I couldn't find one at home, tears running all the way. For me the addiction was that powerful.
A group of powerful prayer warriors went to work on me. I landed in the hospital with nicotine poisoning, and yes, there is such a thing. Even gall came up. I was cured.
I don't believe that it is a sin. Is it the "best" thing to be doing? No. But a sin? . . .
Thou shalt have no other gods before me, thou shalt not make any graven image, thou shalt not bow down unto them or serve them, thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain, Keep the sabbath (a day of rest), Honor thy father and thy mother, thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not bear false witness, thou shalt not kill, - now to break any of these is a sin. . . God is pretty specific about what is a sin.
Smoking is not good for us as far as our health goes and it is best to quit. Drinking is not a sin but the abuse of drugs or alcohol is. . . . all things are lawful but all things are not expedient; all things are lawful for me, but we are not be brought under the power of any. . . . (1 Corinthians 6:12) so all things are lawful but there are some things that aren't profitable for us.
Thou shalt have no other gods before me, thou shalt not make any graven image, thou shalt not bow down unto them or serve them, thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain, Keep the sabbath (a day of rest), Honor thy father and thy mother, thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not bear false witness, thou shalt not kill, - now to break any of these is a sin. . . God is pretty specific about what is a sin.
Smoking is not good for us as far as our health goes and it is best to quit. Drinking is not a sin but the abuse of drugs or alcohol is. . . . all things are lawful but all things are not expedient; all things are lawful for me, but we are not be brought under the power of any. . . . (1 Corinthians 6:12) so all things are lawful but there are some things that aren't profitable for us.
I don't think the ten commandments are the only and final definition of sin. Sin can be summed up in the commandment to love the Lord and others as yourself. The commandments were just instructions on how to carry out the basic law, you will find love and the Lord wanting us to live a fruitful and abundant life is at the basis of all of them.
I think the commandment to respect our bodies as the temple of God, and all the other ways scripture tells us of ways to carry out the basic commandment are just as valid as the ten.
I think the commandment to respect our bodies as the temple of God, and all the other ways scripture tells us of ways to carry out the basic commandment are just as valid as the ten.
you sure have a funny way of looking at things.
Christ said:
If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them.
Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.
(Luke 17:3-4)
and He also said, in the parable of Lazarus and the rich man:
between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
(Luke 16:26)
thus He taught that our brothers and sisters - i.e. fellow believers - could sin, and He also taught that those in Hell cannot reach those without.
now if He instructs us to forgive them, when they come to us - though no one can come up out of the pit to converse with us - how can all who sin be in Hell?
i notice in other posts that you think one can come to true knowledge of Christ without reading the scriptures. that may be so; i won't argue it here -- but perhaps you would benefit from reading the scriptures, notwithstanding your belief that they are not necessary.
I have now 4 days since I no longer smoke, but I am struggling, it is not easy at all!
And it`s not my first attempt to stop smoking. My longest period without cigarettes was 8 months. I just hope this time is for real!
And it`s not my first attempt to stop smoking. My longest period without cigarettes was 8 months. I just hope this time is for real!
happily i read it
have you also read this?
Again, when I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if he turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right; if the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die.
(Ezekiel 33:14-15)
and this?
it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment
(Hebrews 9:27)
how then, if the wicked repent, and do not die, have they already passed through judgment, if judgement comes after death?
sorry to thread-hijack, but i also read this:
But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand.
(Ezekiel 33:6)
and i perceive that what you quoted from the prophet does not support the idea that we are "in hell" already when we sin. no, we stand in danger of hell while we walk in sin, but the hour of judgement will be at hand when the King returns.