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In regards to Judas, I have heard it said that his repentance was that of sorrow for his actions, not a turning to Jesus Christ. If he had truly repented, would he not have believed in Jesus Christ to resurrect on the third day and received the grace for his sin? I mean, its been said that Judas' suicide is actually a picture of self-righteousness, he took matters into his own hands and killed himself. He paid the penalty for his own sin, rather than trusting in Jesus.
I was reading on one site that we have a conscience for when we sin, and that is what was happening with Judas. He felt remorse for his actions, but had he repented wouldn't he have repented towards Christ, and even so, try and get him out of being hung on the cross? Did he even try to save Jesus? It seems he wanted his conscience clear by giving back the silver, but even so, the magnitude of innocent blood on his hands brought him to the point of not wanting to feel that guilt. So, he killed himself. He punished himself unable to receive the Lord forgiveness, apparently, in his own eyes.
It makes you wonder... could Judas have received forgiveness had he not committed suicide and instead, believed in Jesus? Waiting the three days and then seeing Him. Would Jesus have extended grace to His enemy? Unfortunately for Judas his actions were too much to bare, and he decided to clear his conscience by taking matters into his own hands. He took the penalty of his sin upon himself, as religions would have you beat yourself with a whip... its an image of self-righteousness.
I am open to another perspective if anyone has one to offer... I've also read that the greek word used for repentance could or could not be actual repentance but rather regret for actions taken. Not a repentance to the Lord, but a repentance to self.
I was reading on one site that we have a conscience for when we sin, and that is what was happening with Judas. He felt remorse for his actions, but had he repented wouldn't he have repented towards Christ, and even so, try and get him out of being hung on the cross? Did he even try to save Jesus? It seems he wanted his conscience clear by giving back the silver, but even so, the magnitude of innocent blood on his hands brought him to the point of not wanting to feel that guilt. So, he killed himself. He punished himself unable to receive the Lord forgiveness, apparently, in his own eyes.
It makes you wonder... could Judas have received forgiveness had he not committed suicide and instead, believed in Jesus? Waiting the three days and then seeing Him. Would Jesus have extended grace to His enemy? Unfortunately for Judas his actions were too much to bare, and he decided to clear his conscience by taking matters into his own hands. He took the penalty of his sin upon himself, as religions would have you beat yourself with a whip... its an image of self-righteousness.
I am open to another perspective if anyone has one to offer... I've also read that the greek word used for repentance could or could not be actual repentance but rather regret for actions taken. Not a repentance to the Lord, but a repentance to self.
C
Well I would think it depends on that person when the possession started. I think it would start off like any other time the enemy deceives us. By lies. He would tell us nobody loves you, everyone's better off without you, you can't deal with this pain, or loss. Whatever lies a person's believing to make them get to that point. Even a Christian can be oppressed by demons. I'm not saying all medication is bad. Sometimes it's needed to help a person think clearly. But every person I've talked to that has had suicidal thoughts has believed a lie from the enemy. I think the answer to everything is Jesus, suicidal thoughts included.
C
And I would add that you say you didn't feel different but you thought different. The enemy attacks our minds. I don't know your exact situation and I hope I'm not speaking out of place. Like now if all of sudden you're medication didn't help as much would you start thinking about ending your life? Or would you know that God doesn't give us anything we can't handle. Would you use your sound mind God gave you to find a doctor to help you. Would you pray for relief and strength. I would think if you started thinking about suicide again you would recognize it as lies from the enemy and tell Satan get behind me. And you would know God is always faithful. He has the answer.
C
It's going to hard to answer this by typing words but I will try. Keep in mind I'm not saying I know everything and am right. This is my opinion. I'm still learning just like all of us. Ok. Well have you heard of generational curses? Or let's say I smoke cigarettes then get lung cancer. Would I say God gave me cancer. No. I made the choice to sin, harm my body, so by not following God's word the choice I made to sin resulted in cancer. There's a lot of reasons a person might be dealing with some ailment.
Just wrong! First, there is NO verse in the Bible that says God won't give you anything you can't handle. In fact, he says you won't be tempted beyond what you can handle. This refers to sin, not bad things that happen in our lives, through no fault of our own...
"No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." 1 Cor. 1:13
As far as your theory about demons being the cause of mental illness, you show complete ignorance of this disease. And if your medication isn't helping you like it should, that is the time to see your doctor and switch medications.
I pray you don't get depressed one day, and spend all your time seeking help from supposed healers, instead of getting the medical help you need. Oh, and that applies to physical illness, too.
I do believe God helps us when we are depressed, I know he did for me. But it was not demonic, and God healed me as I dug into the Word of God and prayer. It was the Holy Spirit leading and guiding me and helping me, not any kind of rebuking demons nonsense.
I find it very offensive that you are pointing to Satan as the cause of mental illness instead of a brain dysfunction, caused usually by bad life circumstances. You are insulting me, and many others on this site, to say nothing of millions of people out there in the world.
"No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." 1 Cor. 1:13
As far as your theory about demons being the cause of mental illness, you show complete ignorance of this disease. And if your medication isn't helping you like it should, that is the time to see your doctor and switch medications.
I pray you don't get depressed one day, and spend all your time seeking help from supposed healers, instead of getting the medical help you need. Oh, and that applies to physical illness, too.
I do believe God helps us when we are depressed, I know he did for me. But it was not demonic, and God healed me as I dug into the Word of God and prayer. It was the Holy Spirit leading and guiding me and helping me, not any kind of rebuking demons nonsense.
I find it very offensive that you are pointing to Satan as the cause of mental illness instead of a brain dysfunction, caused usually by bad life circumstances. You are insulting me, and many others on this site, to say nothing of millions of people out there in the world.
I got news for you, the Devil would RATHER have a "DO NOTHING CHRISTIAN" to discredit Christianity, than a Martyred Christian to Inspire Christianity. You Blame the Devil and his demons for WAY TOO MUCH, when it is the Weakness of the Flesh, the Sin Nature, and down right stupid decisions that are to blame for most suicides. The Flesh wants a quick fix, when it is HURTING PHYSICALLY or EMOTIONALLY. Our flesh does not like struggle thru pain.
Matthew 26:41 (ASV)
[SUP]41 [/SUP] Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Romans 8:3-4 (ESV)
[SUP]3 [/SUP] For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh,
[SUP]4 [/SUP] in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
2 Corinthians 10:3 (ASV)
[SUP]3 [/SUP] For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh
Galatians 5:16-17 (YLT)
[SUP]16 [/SUP] And I say: In the Spirit walk ye, and the desire of the flesh ye may not complete;
[SUP]17 [/SUP] for the flesh doth desire contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit contrary to the flesh, and these are opposed one to another, that the things that ye may will--these ye may not do;
ARE YOU NOT FAMILIAR with this INTERNAL struggle of Walking in the Flesh vs. Walking in the Spirit? PAUL WAS:
Romans 7:14-25 (HCSB)
[SUP]14 [/SUP] For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am made out of flesh, sold into sin’s power.
[SUP]15 [/SUP] For I do not understand what I am doing, because I do not practice what I want to do, but I do what I hate.
[SUP]16 [/SUP] And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree with the law that it is good.
[SUP]17 [/SUP] So now I am no longer the one doing it, but it is sin living in me.
[SUP]18 [/SUP] For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh. For the desire to do what is good is with me, but there is no ability to do it.
[SUP]19 [/SUP] For I do not do the good that I want to do, but I practice the evil that I do not want to do.
[SUP]20 [/SUP] Now if I do what I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but it is the sin that lives in me.
[SUP]21 [/SUP] So I discover this principle: When I want to do what is good, evil is with me.
[SUP]22 [/SUP] For in my inner self I joyfully agree with God’s law.
[SUP]23 [/SUP] But I see a different law in the parts of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and taking me prisoner to the law of sin in the parts of my body.
[SUP]24 [/SUP] What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this dying body?
[SUP]25 [/SUP] I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with my mind I myself am a slave to the law of God, but with my flesh, to the law of sin.
We struggle with this our whole lives, because of the sin nature that we inherited from ADAM. Yes, like Dr. John MacArthur has put it on several occasions, "A Christian is not Sinless; however as he or she matures spiritually, they will sin less, and less, and less." Sin will raise it's ugly head occasionally, even in the most spiritually mature Christian. ANY ONE who thinks they QUIT SINNING, needs to study a whole lot more about what GOD considers sin.
Romans 14:23 (YLT)
[SUP]23 [/SUP] and he who is making a difference, if he may eat, hath been condemned,
it is not of faith; and all that is not of faith is sin.
James 2:10 (NIV)
[SUP]10 [/SUP] For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.
SO my question is, since it is OBVIOUS that at times we are walking in the flesh, instead of the spirit; WHY is it that you doubt that it would possible for even a Christian in that moment of weakness, to commit suicide without a demon being involved? Picture a severely wounded G.I., or car accident victim laying there in AGONIZING PAIN, crying out for help, over and over and over again, and nobody comes; and then he or she looks at their weapon and ends the pain. HOW is a demon involved in that? NO I AM NOT trying to ever Justify Suicide, but I certainly do not think a demon is involved in every case. In fact I cry every time that I hear of a suicide victim, because I think I could have talked them out of it.
C
Well I disagree that the bible doesn't say God doesn't give us what we can't handle. Isn't that one of the main points in the bible? Put ALL your faith in God. Not man or doctors. I think sure if a person needs medication to help them think clearly that's great. But if you rely on doctors and medication only you're missing the point. And I'm not insulting you unless you are implying you are immune to Satan's devices. I know I'm not. It's a spiritual war we are in. Spiritual warfare is needed to defeat the enemy. I do appreciate you praying for me to not come across an illness. I hope that was sincere.
C
VCO. I also cry whenever I hear of someone that has ended their life. I'm not going to judge anybody situations. That's for our Maker. But really you answered your own question. You say you feel like you could've talked them out of it. Why do you think that. Because you know that there is another solution for their situation. You are thinking with a sound mind. If you could reach them and find out why they are wanting to commit suicide I bet you could find the lie they are believing. I'm not saying medication isn't the answer. Perhaps it is. But suicide, never.
It is easy to see from that you have never been in so much emotional hurt that you wanted to end it all; NOR have you ever seen genuine, demonic possession. Many times Non-Christian Doctors mis-diagnose demonic possession as Multiple Personality Disorder. One time long after I was saved my wife and I were taking clothing donations to the Nebraska Mental Health Hospital. As I was carrying the box of clothes to the hospital inside corridor Thrift Shop, a Patient came out the thrift shop, walked past the man walking ahead of me, BUT stopped suddenly a few feet from me, SHREEKED, screaming like she was being murdered, and started yelling NO, NO, you stay away from me, you stay away from me; as she back away from me, and then turned and ran down the hall and turned the corner. I had an intense feeling that it was NOT me, whom she was screaming at, but the Holy Spirit in me. No I still think you are labeling too many things demon possession that truly are not.
C
You are right in that I have never wanted to commit suicide. I have been hurt before of course. But I have been around a person that was. My mother. She struggled with this for many years and self meditated with drugs and alcohol. I have seen people being delivered of evil spirits. My mom being one of them. An incident called her to go to a church on a Wednesday night. The pastor was doing an alter call for people dealing with demonic thoughts. My mom said she knew he was talking to her. She ran up there. I won't get into the details it's probably only interesting to us that know her but she felt something happening and got delivered of her demons and baptised in The Holy Spirit that night. Her old man is dead. She has a new heart and mind. She's not on medication. I also have been oppressed by demons before. Once I repented and gave my whole heart to Jesus I changed. I still have to battle in the spirit but because of Jesus I am able to overcome it.
A
If my medication stopped working (and I stopped keeping a list of meds they tried on me after the 24th different medication, so it's no small thing that a medication does help), I'd go back to trying others again. If none of them worked? I see no other way out but suicide. That much pain.
BUT there is another way out. This medication I'm on is a narcotic. I was told by quite a few doctors that I would need to increase it to keep masking the pain. I was also told if I took more than six pills a day over a long period of time (it's been 15 years), that the medication itself would destroy my liver. Weird thing has happened, (I consider it a miracle.) God told me to cut back. I have. The dosage is half what I used to take to begin with. (5 mg., when I used t take 10 mg. per pill.) And then I cut how many I take per day. (2-3 per day, instead of 5 like I used to.) It still works just as well.
But, do you know the one thing I fear for why I may well have to lose this medication? It's not God. It's American propaganda being listened to by Congress. I used to be able to get it from my doctor. Now that the Hollywood and the news media have been teaching, "Marijuana good. Oxycodone bad," no one wants me as a patient. My old doctor kicked me out. I actually now have to spend 2.5 times what I used to pay for my copay to see a pain specialist, and after he had me try stuff I learned long ago doesn't work (with disastrous effects), I have to spend four hours getting to and from his office and walk two miles just to get a prescription, and then get it filled.
And why? Because "Marijuana good. Oxycodone bad. "Medication bad." Even you've bought that hype. Most people worry what damage any particular President will do to our country. I worry about what all of them have already done to people in pain. We're now the druggies, simply because we have severe pain.
BUT there is another way out. This medication I'm on is a narcotic. I was told by quite a few doctors that I would need to increase it to keep masking the pain. I was also told if I took more than six pills a day over a long period of time (it's been 15 years), that the medication itself would destroy my liver. Weird thing has happened, (I consider it a miracle.) God told me to cut back. I have. The dosage is half what I used to take to begin with. (5 mg., when I used t take 10 mg. per pill.) And then I cut how many I take per day. (2-3 per day, instead of 5 like I used to.) It still works just as well.
But, do you know the one thing I fear for why I may well have to lose this medication? It's not God. It's American propaganda being listened to by Congress. I used to be able to get it from my doctor. Now that the Hollywood and the news media have been teaching, "Marijuana good. Oxycodone bad," no one wants me as a patient. My old doctor kicked me out. I actually now have to spend 2.5 times what I used to pay for my copay to see a pain specialist, and after he had me try stuff I learned long ago doesn't work (with disastrous effects), I have to spend four hours getting to and from his office and walk two miles just to get a prescription, and then get it filled.
And why? Because "Marijuana good. Oxycodone bad. "Medication bad." Even you've bought that hype. Most people worry what damage any particular President will do to our country. I worry about what all of them have already done to people in pain. We're now the druggies, simply because we have severe pain.
K
Those who automatically fall under the false teaching of the original Catholic doctrine that states suicide automatically sends one to hell denies what the Lord said;
Matthew 12:31
Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.
The Lord Jesus only makes one exception that is not forgivable not many, and if it is not blasphemy of the Holy Spirit then it can be forgiven. We can not go and just place other sins under that category of the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit that do not belong there. If we are going to do that then we can place all sins as unforgivable then, which is unbiblical !!!
Matthew 12:31
Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.
The Lord Jesus only makes one exception that is not forgivable not many, and if it is not blasphemy of the Holy Spirit then it can be forgiven. We can not go and just place other sins under that category of the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit that do not belong there. If we are going to do that then we can place all sins as unforgivable then, which is unbiblical !!!
A
Wow! Do me a favor... and yourself a favor. Copy-paste those words onto a blank .doc. Then print them out. And then fold the paper and put it in your favorite Bible. (You'll also want to enlarge the size of the font, but you'll figure out why in a minute.)
Some day -- could be 20 years from now. Could be 40 years from now -- you'll have to get a new Bible because you've used that Bible so much it falls apart. (I'm on my third, and have been a believer for 43 years, but I'm a bit rough on Bibles. lol) When you get that new Bible, you'll shake out your old one, because you'll have some important papers you keep in it. (I find old good sermons and Bible Study notes in mine, and then, sometimes I have to rip out the blank pages that I wrote something on, so this really does happen.) And, then you'll figure out, you actually have to read those pieces of paper to figure out if they're "new Bible worthy." When you do. When you're old and gray. When you can hear your bones creak and crack when you stand up and wake up with a wrenched back even though you didn't do anything the day before that should cause that. When you have to decide between reading glasses, bifocals, trifocals (or quite possibly quadfocals, since I still can't get over they actually make trifocals now. lol) Read that note. And then do what comes natural when you read it. (I'm not sure if I'd wince before throwing it away or slap my forehead, but I'm not you.)
Because... wow! Seriously? You really think if you eat just right, exercise just right, and look both ways when you cross the street, you force God's hand to keep you healthy forever? Wow! You give too little credit to God and way too much credit for your healthy living life style. Got to tell you, it wasn't crossing the street wrong or eating wrong that made me this way. It was God. It was also some orderlies (or interns, wasn't awake at the time to know lol), who pulled me off the operating table after having my gall bladder removed that made me this way.
Some day -- could be 20 years from now. Could be 40 years from now -- you'll have to get a new Bible because you've used that Bible so much it falls apart. (I'm on my third, and have been a believer for 43 years, but I'm a bit rough on Bibles. lol) When you get that new Bible, you'll shake out your old one, because you'll have some important papers you keep in it. (I find old good sermons and Bible Study notes in mine, and then, sometimes I have to rip out the blank pages that I wrote something on, so this really does happen.) And, then you'll figure out, you actually have to read those pieces of paper to figure out if they're "new Bible worthy." When you do. When you're old and gray. When you can hear your bones creak and crack when you stand up and wake up with a wrenched back even though you didn't do anything the day before that should cause that. When you have to decide between reading glasses, bifocals, trifocals (or quite possibly quadfocals, since I still can't get over they actually make trifocals now. lol) Read that note. And then do what comes natural when you read it. (I'm not sure if I'd wince before throwing it away or slap my forehead, but I'm not you.)
Because... wow! Seriously? You really think if you eat just right, exercise just right, and look both ways when you cross the street, you force God's hand to keep you healthy forever? Wow! You give too little credit to God and way too much credit for your healthy living life style. Got to tell you, it wasn't crossing the street wrong or eating wrong that made me this way. It was God. It was also some orderlies (or interns, wasn't awake at the time to know lol), who pulled me off the operating table after having my gall bladder removed that made me this way.
So far all you have given me is opinions and bad theology. No Scripture! You might learn a lot by actually reading the Bible, instead of listen to false teachers!
It there is a verse in the Bible that says God doesn't give us what we can't handle, post it here. Otherwise, I will totally discount that false statement.
I also believe that when we are walking close to Christ, we don't need to spend all our time worrying about the devil. I believe Jesus defeated Satan at the cross. True, we are to "stand" firm, using the Word, prayer, the gospel to stand. That again, means walking close to Christ and obeying the Holy Spirit.(Eph. 6)
Focusing on the demonic takes you away from focusing on Christ, which is what we should be doing as Christians. So you are missing the point that being a Christian means walking towards Christ, and keeping our eyes on him, not spending all our time looking back at Satan.
"Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:1-2
It there is a verse in the Bible that says God doesn't give us what we can't handle, post it here. Otherwise, I will totally discount that false statement.
I also believe that when we are walking close to Christ, we don't need to spend all our time worrying about the devil. I believe Jesus defeated Satan at the cross. True, we are to "stand" firm, using the Word, prayer, the gospel to stand. That again, means walking close to Christ and obeying the Holy Spirit.(Eph. 6)
Focusing on the demonic takes you away from focusing on Christ, which is what we should be doing as Christians. So you are missing the point that being a Christian means walking towards Christ, and keeping our eyes on him, not spending all our time looking back at Satan.
"Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:1-2
First, this nonsense about a "sound mind" comes out of a bad translation from the Greek in the KJV. What the verse actually says is "self-control."
"for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control." 2 Tim. 1:7 ESV
"οὐ γὰρ ἔδωκεν ἡμῖν ὁ θεὸς πνεῦμα δειλίας, ἀλλὰ δυνάμεως καὶ ἀγάπης καὶ σωφρονισμοῦ." 2 Tim. 1:7 Greek
The word σωφρονισμοῦ or sophravismou means self discipline, the power to keep oneself in hand, free from all excitement or hesitation. It has to do with character and conduct and is the general virtue or knowledge of what to do and what to avoid.*
It has absolutely nothing to do with mental illness, but rather that the Holy Spirit is transforming us as we grow in Christ.
You really need to get a good modern version of the Bible and start reading it, instead of relying on these "passed on" opinions, which have absolutely nothing to do with the teachings of Christ.
* Cleon Rogers Jr, and Cleon Rogers III, The New Linguistic and Exegetical Key to the Greek New Testament.
I do not want to discourage you, so Amen that she and you were set free. I saw my wife healed of a nearly 20 year pain pill drug addiction, without any withdrawal symptoms. IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH CHASING DEMONS AWAY, NOR a Charismatic Faith Healer; it was Purely GOD answering our prayers to heal her of the addiction.
You need to know that we do not believe in the modern day Charismatic Experience of tongues, no offense intended. We believe it is a counterfeit of what the Apostles themselves did; where they spoke to Unbelieving Jews and they heard every word in their own native dialect. We do not use the term "Baptized IN the Holy Spirit", because that is not what we believe the Scripture actually says. We believe it is worded correctly in the KJV, NKJV, NASB, HCSB, NIV, GWT, ISV, AMP, NLT, RSV, TLB, and WesleyNT, when they chose to use the WORD BY instead of the word IN which only creates confusion. The word BY makes it very clear that the Holy Spirit is one doing the Baptizing, and NOT what we are being immersed into by HIM. What then are we being immersed INTO? The Spiritual Body of Christ.
1 Corinthians 12:13 (NKJV)
[SUP]13 [/SUP] For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free--and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. {ALL then includes everyone including the THIEF ON THE CROSS.}
Yes, I respect your right to believe differently, but we have very biblical reasons to not accept the Charismatic Experiences as the real McCoy.
CORRECT, neither is mortal Flesh and Blood.
WHY IS IT MORTAL?
CORRECT again, it is because of SIN IN US.
THAT IS EXACTLY WHY THE INSTANT we are resurrected, or HE calls us out to go to the Wedding of the LAMB, we have to BE CHANGED:
1 Corinthians 15:50-57 (HCSB)
[SUP]50 [/SUP] Brothers, I tell you this: Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, and corruption cannot inherit incorruption.
[SUP]51 [/SUP] Listen! I am telling you a mystery: We will not all fall asleep, but we will all be changed,
[SUP]52 [/SUP] in a moment, in the blink of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed.
[SUP]53 [/SUP] For this corruptible must be clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal must be clothed with immortality.
[SUP]54 [/SUP] When this corruptible is clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal is clothed with immortality, then the saying that is written will take place: Death has been swallowed up in victory.
[SUP]55 [/SUP] Death, where is your victory? Death, where is your sting?
[SUP]56 [/SUP] Now the sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
[SUP]57 [/SUP] But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!
Let me share another thought with you, that might shed more light on the fact, that sinlessness will not be fully achieved until we get that glorified, resurrected or changed body:
WITH YOUR THEORY, it would be totally possible for a drunk driver to ROB you of the blessing of going to Heaven. If you had a single bad thought about a speeding driver that just cut you off while passing on a Highway while you were doing the 65 MPH speed limit as you are going by an intersection forcing you to hit the brakes as you came through that intersection. And at the same time a Drunk Driver runs that stop sign at 65 MPH, and:
BAM!
That drunk driver T-Bones you, and you are DEAD before you can confess that bad thought about the driver that passed you illegally in an intersection, cutting you off, and forcing you to hit the brakes. You will be DEAD in a heartbeat, because of that Drunk Driver, without having confessed that bad thought.
WHERE DOES YOUR FLAWED THEORY LEAVE YOU?
C
First off I will respond to at what cost. Perhaps you are right. One day I might feel different. Maybe even tomorrow. I do not focus on Satan unless I'm talking about a subject that to me pertains to Satan. I do not want to be ignorant of his devices. For Angela the scripture that comes to mind is Matthew 11:28-29. When I read that I hear Jesus telling me whatever I'm going through give it to him. And VCO. I also respect yours and anybody's belief that is different than mine. I do not believe the gifts of the Holy Spirit have ceased. God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
K
You did not create yourself, therefore you have no right to murder yourself. An earthly judge considers whether or not a murderer was legally insane. But God the judge knows the thoughts and intentions of the heart. If the intention of suicide is murder of one's self, then it seems to me they will be found guilty, but only God is judge, and it is His judgement call to make. But He does say that murderers will not enter the kingdom of heaven.