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Hello Lostrider, reading some of the posts, including your own, I noticed you said a murderer can receive forgiveness but a homosexual cannot…this is not so, anyone and any sin can be forgiven if TRUE repentance is what you are feeling…platitudes when asking for forgiveness will not be entertained, but true repentance and a person willing to work every day to rid themselves of that sin will enjoy God’s mercy and forgiveness. I could not continue to willingly sin every day and every night ask for forgiveness and receive it. There is no sin, no human weakness, no thought or action greater than God!
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sis and purify us from all unrighteousness. (NIV, 1 John 1:9).
“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, the will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land,” says the Lord. (NIV, 2 Chronicles 7:14).
If a wicked man turns away from all the sins he has committed and keeps all my decrees and does what is just and right, he will surely live; he will not die,” says the Lord. (NIV, Ezekiel 18:21).
God our Savior…wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. (NIV, 1 Timothy 2:3-4).
If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (NIV, Romans 10:9).
These are only a few of the passages dealing directly with your query…my only good suggestion is if you’ve never truly read the Bible, be honest with yourself (cover to cover), then read it! You’ll find all your answers in that book and through prayer! I would suggest beginning with the New Testament first, Jesus speaks of the new law and requirements therein. I will pray for your journey, that it is a success and don’t stop asking questions, your journey is difficult, your sin is sin, just like my sins, they need attention, they need prayer and God’s help to overcome. Sex is a big thing for humans, any sex, and intoxicating and we are inundated with sex everywhere we look, from spandex pants to commercials, etc. etc. All sin is hard to avoid and get rid of completely, you’ll fall back over and over before it is overcome…hopefully you’ll be a much stronger servant. Discussions are the seed my friend, you have to cover this seed with the knowledge you obtain from the Bible, God will do the rest and I pray that he sends the Holy Spirit into your heart and creates there a burning desire to know Him and that you will be saved…all you have to do is open your heart to Him.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sis and purify us from all unrighteousness. (NIV, 1 John 1:9).
“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, the will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land,” says the Lord. (NIV, 2 Chronicles 7:14).
If a wicked man turns away from all the sins he has committed and keeps all my decrees and does what is just and right, he will surely live; he will not die,” says the Lord. (NIV, Ezekiel 18:21).
God our Savior…wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. (NIV, 1 Timothy 2:3-4).
If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (NIV, Romans 10:9).
These are only a few of the passages dealing directly with your query…my only good suggestion is if you’ve never truly read the Bible, be honest with yourself (cover to cover), then read it! You’ll find all your answers in that book and through prayer! I would suggest beginning with the New Testament first, Jesus speaks of the new law and requirements therein. I will pray for your journey, that it is a success and don’t stop asking questions, your journey is difficult, your sin is sin, just like my sins, they need attention, they need prayer and God’s help to overcome. Sex is a big thing for humans, any sex, and intoxicating and we are inundated with sex everywhere we look, from spandex pants to commercials, etc. etc. All sin is hard to avoid and get rid of completely, you’ll fall back over and over before it is overcome…hopefully you’ll be a much stronger servant. Discussions are the seed my friend, you have to cover this seed with the knowledge you obtain from the Bible, God will do the rest and I pray that he sends the Holy Spirit into your heart and creates there a burning desire to know Him and that you will be saved…all you have to do is open your heart to Him.
Lostrider, I understand where you are at, I also served for 2 tours in Vietnam and trusting anyone was never one of my strong qualities! The perfect remedy for people such as us brother is just keep seeking!! Jesus found me in a mop closet in college at age 22!! You might say I was a late bloomer!! LOL
You might say I was a doubting Thomas of sorts!!( John 20:24-31!!) Also belief is not an instant process!!example!( mark 9:23-24!) I struggled a great deal after Jesus came into my life! Believing in Jesus is no easy fix. BUT!!!! IF, and I say if you allow Holy Spirit to teach you ( rom 8:14-15)and are willing to preform the same discipline you had in the service,to now be in his service( please read 2 Tim it is only 4 chapters but written for people like us bro,then the rewards which you have dreamed about, having total peace of mind and always strong hope,will indeed rest upon you!! ( Phil 4:7-8) and rom 15:13)
Jesus has no problems with our questions,because in our questions, this should lead us to an area of our life lostrider to seek answers! This lesson which was the hardest for me to follow in, the lesson of waiting! HOW to wait as well!!( Isaiah 40:28-31)
I am now some 34 and a half years in our Lord brother,and the price I paid to discipline my sorry flesh and cause my mind to become renewed by the very Word of God, has not gone unrewared!! I am sure not perfect!( phil 3:12-14!!!!)But I have pressed on as you can! This choice is left up to each of us!
Stay where one is, or dare to trust Jesus in every area of his or her life!( matt 14:28-33) Like Peter I looked around me at times,and began to sink,and Jesus endured me to pull me up again and again! Yes I got rebuked as well!! LOL verse 31. It was then Holy spirit inside me said,"can you just picture what Jesus must of said to the rest who did not even get out of the boat to start with??"( Rev 3:19-22!!) LOL
Jesus does not hold a candle in one hand and a bat in the other bro! His discipline increases belief,not hides it!( matt 5:13-16!!) I hope this give you the kick in the pants some of us needs,rather then be told you poor soul,do something about it!!( James 1:22)
When I was told this bro,I did do something about it!! What did I have to lose!! I had nothing to start with! You know in the military enduring is tough,so you have a big head start on that knowledge,but that knowledge means nothing unless one puts it to use! The tools are there!! Now it is our turn!! Use them, or sit there while nothing gets fixed in ones life!( 2 peter 1:3-11!!!!!!)
My life got fixed!!! Yours can to!! Blessing bro!! Jesus does not love me more then he does you!( rom 2:11 and acts 10:34!) We are out of excuses and into being convinced!!( rom 8:31-39!!!!)
We are a work in progress bro( Phil 1:6) But if we never get into the race to start with and understand what being accountable is and means,we will never finish the course prepared for us all to WIN!! ( 1 Cor 9:23-27!) You decide! I am just telling you while I myself am still running to get out of the grandstands and start running with us! lol
You might say I was a doubting Thomas of sorts!!( John 20:24-31!!) Also belief is not an instant process!!example!( mark 9:23-24!) I struggled a great deal after Jesus came into my life! Believing in Jesus is no easy fix. BUT!!!! IF, and I say if you allow Holy Spirit to teach you ( rom 8:14-15)and are willing to preform the same discipline you had in the service,to now be in his service( please read 2 Tim it is only 4 chapters but written for people like us bro,then the rewards which you have dreamed about, having total peace of mind and always strong hope,will indeed rest upon you!! ( Phil 4:7-8) and rom 15:13)
Jesus has no problems with our questions,because in our questions, this should lead us to an area of our life lostrider to seek answers! This lesson which was the hardest for me to follow in, the lesson of waiting! HOW to wait as well!!( Isaiah 40:28-31)
I am now some 34 and a half years in our Lord brother,and the price I paid to discipline my sorry flesh and cause my mind to become renewed by the very Word of God, has not gone unrewared!! I am sure not perfect!( phil 3:12-14!!!!)But I have pressed on as you can! This choice is left up to each of us!
Stay where one is, or dare to trust Jesus in every area of his or her life!( matt 14:28-33) Like Peter I looked around me at times,and began to sink,and Jesus endured me to pull me up again and again! Yes I got rebuked as well!! LOL verse 31. It was then Holy spirit inside me said,"can you just picture what Jesus must of said to the rest who did not even get out of the boat to start with??"( Rev 3:19-22!!) LOL
Jesus does not hold a candle in one hand and a bat in the other bro! His discipline increases belief,not hides it!( matt 5:13-16!!) I hope this give you the kick in the pants some of us needs,rather then be told you poor soul,do something about it!!( James 1:22)
When I was told this bro,I did do something about it!! What did I have to lose!! I had nothing to start with! You know in the military enduring is tough,so you have a big head start on that knowledge,but that knowledge means nothing unless one puts it to use! The tools are there!! Now it is our turn!! Use them, or sit there while nothing gets fixed in ones life!( 2 peter 1:3-11!!!!!!)
My life got fixed!!! Yours can to!! Blessing bro!! Jesus does not love me more then he does you!( rom 2:11 and acts 10:34!) We are out of excuses and into being convinced!!( rom 8:31-39!!!!)
We are a work in progress bro( Phil 1:6) But if we never get into the race to start with and understand what being accountable is and means,we will never finish the course prepared for us all to WIN!! ( 1 Cor 9:23-27!) You decide! I am just telling you while I myself am still running to get out of the grandstands and start running with us! lol
Hey Rider! I commend you for sharing with honesty, I trust God enlightens as you seek to know him more. Please be reminded that all is spiritual, so your willingness to open up spiritually to the truth of God and providing that you truly want to know, it's more like you being receptive then there is clarity of God's message.