Does a porn addict have to forsake porn BEFORE God will forgive them?

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Nov 26, 2011
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#1
Does a porn addict have to forsake porn BEFORE God will forgive them?

My answer to that question is an unequivocal YES!

Jas 1:21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
Jas 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

Isa 55:7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.



Now my question is not addressing the METHODOLOGY or the HOW one may forsake a certain behaviour. My question is simply addressing the issue as to whether certain behaviour must literally cease BEFORE God will grant forgiveness.
 
D

danschance

Guest
#2
Addiction to porn means a person is compelled to view porn. I have a friend who is battling his addiction to cigarettes. He has tried many times and keeps on fighting his addiction but still has not had any success. Can he be forgiven even if he continues to smoke? It is my understanding that addictions also have an element of shame attached to the addictive behavior. Far be it for me to assume I know when and how God forgives. We serve a God of love and compassion. God understands addictions better than we will ever understand them.

Here is something Paul wrote that might help us to get a handle on this.
(Romans 7:14-8:4 NKJV) For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. {15} For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. {16} If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. {17} But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.{18} For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. {19} For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice.
{20} Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. {21} I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. {22} For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. {23} But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. {24} O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? {25} I thank God; through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.

( 8:1) There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. {2} For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. {3} For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, {4} that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
So here we see that Paul suffered with a sin issue and do you think he was forgiven? I hope so! So I also believe that those trapped in an addiction can be forgiven.
 
N

nathan3

Guest
#3
You can't continue in sin, your suppose to actually stop . If the sin is a habitual sin , do not expect God to respect that. You can't con God. And you would only be fooling yourself into thinking your in good standing.
 
Sep 8, 2012
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#4
Does a porn addict have to forsake porn BEFORE God will forgive them?

My answer to that question is an unequivocal YES!

Jas 1:21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
Jas 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

Isa 55:7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.



Now my question is not addressing the METHODOLOGY or the HOW one may forsake a certain behaviour. My question is simply addressing the issue as to whether certain behaviour must literally cease BEFORE God will grant forgiveness.
It is certain that repentance comes first.
But what of forgiveness if that addict falls back?
Can they live in sin? - NO.
But does God forgive to the utmost-(70x7 in a day); yes.
So it comes back to the intent of the heart.
Continuing in sin hardens it.
But God's grace through Jesus Christ softens it.
So it comes down to intent.
It is both a mistake to think he can do as he will under grace;
and a equal mistake to measure his relationship to God by outward righteousness.
In that case he is worshiping his own will.

It comes down to a living, loving relationship with the God of Life through His Spirit.
But cutting off the offense is a necessity, as God is not mocked.
Paul said - "I keep my flesh under subjection, lest I having preached to others become a castaway."
 
Jan 11, 2013
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#5
It is certain that repentance comes first.
But what of forgiveness if that addict falls back?
Can they live in sin? - NO.
But does God forgive to the utmost-(70x7 in a day); yes.
So it comes back to the intent of the heart.
Continuing in sin hardens it.
But God's grace through Jesus Christ softens it.
So it comes down to intent.
It is both a mistake to think he can do as he will under grace;
and a equal mistake to measure his relationship to God by outward righteousness.
In that case he is worshiping his own will.

It comes down to a living, loving relationship with the God of Life through His Spirit.
But cutting off the offense is a necessity, as God is not mocked.
Paul said - "I keep my flesh under subjection, lest I having preached to others become a castaway."
Good post Rick
If a person is to cease addictions that may have bound them for years before repentance is granted/before God will accept them as His, then they must do so without the Holy Spirit in their life. For if the Holy Spiorit lives in you, you belong to Christ(Rom8:9)

It is the Holy Spirit who sanctifies us(Rom15:16)
We will not be controlled by the sinful nature because he lives in us(Rom8:8)

Therefore, if repentance is not granted before addictions cease, the individual has to stop themselves being controlled by the sinful nature, for the Spirit as yet cannot dwell in them?
 
Feb 11, 2012
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#6
Yes, this is a given in scripture, its repentance unto salvation, not just porn, adultery, smoking, drunkeness, etc, but all vile sins, simply because God has given mankind free will and ability to stop their adulteration before He grants Him mercy, you dont get saved, still in bondage and then get filled with the spirit, No, you repent first as commanded, the spirit is there to guide and power you, but will not fill a still defiled vessel.
Its all about ablilty, one camp says man is depraved(calvinism) the other says:

Ecc 7:29 Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.
 
Jan 11, 2013
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#7
Yes, this is a given in scripture, its repentance unto salvation, not just porn, adultery, smoking, drunkeness, etc, but all vile sins, simply because God has given mankind free will and ability to stop their adulteration before He grants Him mercy, you dont get saved, still in bondage and then get filled with the spirit, No, you repent first as commanded, the spirit is there to guide and power you, but will not fill a still defiled vessel.
Its all about ablilty, one camp says man is depraved(calvinism) the other says:

Ecc 7:29 Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.
The above shows how wrong your doctrine so often is Tommy

I was baptised in the Holy Spirit and smoked. And this was confirmed to me
 
Feb 11, 2012
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#8
For you stop sin after salvation and filled with the spirit, depravity people, think about this if you are married:

Does someone caught in adultery, wanting reconciliation and forgiveness from their spouse stop and forsake their adultery before the wife takes him back? Or after?
I know you would say yes, the sin must stop, and then hope and pray the spouse will forgive, its never a given forgiveness will come, but in this case, its much more with God!

He demands we stop our sins first in repentance, then seek His great power and mercy! The same with your spouse and the same with God!

Isa 1:16 Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;
Isa 1:17 Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.
Isa 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
Isa 1:19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:
Isa 1:20 But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.
 
Jan 11, 2013
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#9

He demands we stop our sins first in repentance, then seek His great power and mercy! The same with your spouse and the same with God!

Its al what WE DO then is it?

Paul states:

You however are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit if the Spirit of God lives in you
Rom8:8

Yet you say, the Spirit of God will not live in us, UNTIL we have ceased being controlled by our sinful nature
 
Feb 11, 2012
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#10
Eze 18:30 Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.
Eze 18:31 Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
Eze 18:32 For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.
 
Jan 11, 2013
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#11
Eze 18:30 Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.
Eze 18:31 Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
Eze 18:32 For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.

[SUP] [/SUP]I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. [SUP]27 [/SUP]And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws

Ezekiel 36:26&27

Interesting how you quote the old covenant and I the new
 
Feb 11, 2012
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#12
Its al what WE DO then is it?

Paul states:

You however are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit if the Spirit of God lives in you
Rom8:8


God has nothing for the double minded, do you honestly think you can be still defiled in your heart and receive the holy spirit??

I know this is the popular teaching today!

I ask do you believe mankind it totally depraved and has no ability to repent and stop sinning against God?

Do you question the whole book of Jonah?

The Holy spirit convicts the lost world of sin, righteousness and judgement, the spirit in there to help and guide, but mankind has his part to do, which is repent, stop sinning, and seek the mercy of God, before the spirit makes abode in him.
 
Jan 11, 2013
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#13
Its al what WE DO then is it?

Paul states:

You however are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit if the Spirit of God lives in you
Rom8:8


God has nothing for the double minded, do you honestly think you can be still defiled in your heart and receive the holy spirit??

I know this is the popular teaching today!

I ask do you believe mankind it totally depraved and has no ability to repent and stop sinning against God?

Do you question the whole book of Jonah?

The Holy spirit convicts the lost world of sin, righteousness and judgement, the spirit in there to help and guide, but mankind has his part to do, which is repent, stop sinning, and seek the mercy of God, before the spirit aboded in him.
But Tommy, you believe the individual has to do it all. For you believe the Holy Spirit will not dwell in anyone until they have put their flesh to death/made their heart pure/ceased their sin.
Paul tells us we are sanctified by the Spirit(Rom15:16)
But you seem to think we sanctifiy ourselves
Paul tells us we can have no confidence in the flesh(ourselves) Phil3:3) But you say WE must put our own flesh to death
Paul tells us BECAUSE the Spirit livei in us we will not be controlled by the sinful nature
You say we must cease being controlled by the sinful nature BEFORE God will accept us and the Spirit lives in us

So you say it is what WE/THE INDIVIDUAL MUST DO, not what God does in the individual
 
C

cfultz3

Guest
#14
Its al what WE DO then is it?

Paul states:

You however are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit if the Spirit of God lives in you
Rom8:8

Yet you say, the Spirit of God will not live in us, UNTIL we have ceased being controlled by our sinful nature
Not to correct you, but Romans 8:8-9 says:

Rom 8:8-9 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you.

Mark, nowheres does it say you are controlled by either, but we are lead by either. We are led astray or we are led Home.
 
Jan 11, 2013
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#15
Not to correct you, but Romans 8:8-9 says:

Rom 8:8-9 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you.

Mark, nowheres does it say you are controlled by either, but we are lead by either. We are led astray or we are led Home.
I quoted from the NIV, if you feel that is unreliable translation, that is fine, but I am happy to use it
 
C

cfultz3

Guest
#16
I quoted from the NIV, if you feel that is unreliable translation, that is fine, but I am happy to use it
To be honest Mark, they are nowheres being close in rendition. Even your quoting does not even come close to the NIV either.

NIV 8:8-9
[SUP]8 [/SUP]Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. [SUP]9 [/SUP]You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ.
 
Jan 11, 2013
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#17
To be honest Mark, they are nowheres being close in rendition. Even your quoting does not come close to the NIV.

NIV 8:8-9
[SUP]8 [/SUP]Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. [SUP]9 [/SUP]You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ.
Well I have got a bible in front of me and on the front cover it says

Holy Bible
New International Version

I'm not going to have an indepth discussion about whether one version of NIV or another is acceptable or not, or whther a person should stick to the KJV. Such discussions do not interst me, but I note you do not accept the NIV translation I have used
For myself, I believe the point stands, though obviously for some it is uncomfortable truth. I will leave it there
 
C

cfultz3

Guest
#18
Well I have got a bible in front of me and on the front cover it says

Holy Bible
New International Version

I'm not going to have an indepth discussion about whether one version of NIV or another is acceptable or not, or whther a person should stick to the KJV. Such discussions do not interst me, but I note you do not accept the NIV translation I have used
For myself, I believe the point stands, though obviously for some it is uncomfortable truth. I will leave it there
But Mark, you are missing the point. Neither the Greek, the Niv, or the KJV say anything close what you quoted.

The point: if what you quoted is the verson of any bible you have and it adds words and thus change the whole verse, then what else have they changed?
 
Jan 11, 2013
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#19
But Mark, you are missing the point. Neither the Greek, the Niv, or the KJV say anything close what you quoted.

The point: if what you quoted is the verson of any bible you have and it adds words and thus change the whole verse, then what else have they changed?
Doesn't it?

NIV 1984 translation

However, as you feel the translation I am using is adding words and changing the whole text of what is written, I will, regretfully avoid discussion with you in the future, as clearly you have no confidence in the translation I mainly use to quote scripture
 
C

cfultz3

Guest
#20
Doesn't it?

NIV 1984 translation

However, as you feel the translation I am using is adding words and changing the whole text of what is written, I will, regretfully avoid discussion with you in the future, as clearly you have no confidence in the translation I mainly use to quote scripture
If they are adding words which are not even in the Greek, then I am sorry Mark, I have no confidence in that rendition. Besides, what of others who see those added words? What does it say about adding or taking away from Scripture? The problem is not you or I, but the addition of words to suite a particular way of thinking.