When bad things happen to bad people

[homwardbound]

Vi--

Thanks for a great thread that has me doing a lot of thinking. I wish I could give "the good Christian answer" but you know me... I usually have a few rebellious thoughts churning around in my head.

At this current point in my life, God seems to deal with me a lot regarding confession, honesty, and repentance. He gets a grip on my soul to come clean about most everything in my life, and though I know it's for my own good, it usually feels like more of a death grip.

I'll give some very personal examples. The time when I lived with a member of the opposite sex while I was in my early 20's that I kept hidden from my parents because I didn't want to be alone, but knew better?

YEARS after the fact (as in, about 5 years ago), God kept pushing me to come clean. In fact, ALL of the things I'd kept hidden from my parents, much as I loved them, that I thought I had "gotten away with" one or two decades ago??? I went through a week where I could not sleep at all until I finally called them and told them everything.

The times I made a mistake at work, and could have easily passed the buck? The things I should have never said, or the things I didn't say? The times I catch myself talking about something I shouldn't be talking about? God almost always pushes me until I apologize, confess to someone, and pretty much repent in dust and ashes made out of my own pride, burned to the ground.

So to be completely honest, now when I see people going through something similar I think to myself, "God is probably dealing with them the same way He deals with me." And I can't say I'm overly sympathetic, because for years, I was an enabler who also became good at hiding my own sins.

Sometimes people mistake grace and mercy for enabling a person to continually do wrong (or they are too tired to confront the person, or want that person's approval), so in reality, it keeps happening and only gets worse. In reality, the best thing that can happen is a consequence that will, hopefully change their behavior. Paul himself talked about handing people over to Satan, but of course, with the purpose of bringing them to salvation.

I thank you for reminding us that we should maintain attitudes of hoping for their best when and if the correction finally comes.

God showing you how to be free
James 5:16
Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
How did you feel afterwards a load off of your chest. Been through what you are going through or are done going through that depends on if you are done with the masquerading as most are doing or have done
Have you made up your mind and confessed this to God thank you that you are forgiven back at the cross forever before ever being born here on earth
Ephesians 1:7In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

Then maybe you, I and others might be able to move on to righteousness that is offered through the resurrection where he God gives you Christ's righteousness to use by the life we are saved not the death. We are only partakers in this by Faith
Romans 5:10For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled (forgiven) to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!
It is all in settling this fact that he died for all sins for all the world that all from God's perspective have been forgiven, yet being forgiven only never brings life only the resurrectiuon brings life and it is offered to all that will quit trying to obey law in and of themselves, and move on into trust of the living God that all things are taken care of by him and for you, you and you
Love you, by the great news of the full Gospel saved by the life, death needed first are agreement that we are dead and in need of life and God the Father supplies that here and now in the Spirit of God it just takes asking and beleiving, learning to renew your mindset from carnal to Spiritual the Holy Ghost, where no sin can ever take place

 

[Theophane]

I think it's the condemnation that is taken away. Washed away.

 

[shae0104]

although I love to say I wouldnt sin, I am human and have flaws. I do believe Christ died for me. But I don't think that I wont ever mess up and have to be repentful

Awesome post, yet I have ? you said "For the sins I have commited and will commit"
How would you know or can you say that you will commit any future sin?
If God took them away then are they or are they not taken away in Christ?

 

[homwardbound]

I think it's the condemnation that is taken away. Washed away.

Yes you are correct the punidhment for sin is dealt with. Which was death period
So with the punishment taken out of the way there are two choices left
1. (a) I just take advantage of it and sin anyway, why not I am forgiven and been forgiven since the cross before I was ever born This is exactly what the corinthians did and is why Paul wrote the first letter to them to straighten this out
1. (b) to the Galatians they added to thier belief by addind things to do to keep right with God, Circumcision was tthe case back then today it is going to here or there reading and studying, and on and on with so many do's and don'ts that we a lot of people have put works in front of Faith and Paul says to them
Galatians 2:16know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.
Galatians 3:1[ Faith or Works of the Law ] You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified.
Galatians 3:2I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard?
Galatians 3:5So again I ask, does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard?
Galatians 3:10For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, as it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law

Now and man has added to the believer youy must do this if you sin ask for more forgiveness, and nowhere in the bible does it ever say to ask for forgiveness after the cross came into play after the death of Chjrsit and man ahs been fooled into not beleiving God when God says we are forgiven by the cross
1 Corinthians 1:30It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.
Ephesians 1:7In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace
Colossians 1:14in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
2. we can not ignore such a great salvation where our sins and lawless acts are behind his back never to see again
Hebrews 10:17Then he adds: “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.”

The above is being in the new covenant the resurrected life of Christ in thankfulness to him
love you Theophane

 

[BarlyGurl]

I sometimes wonder if our attitudes are right when we see bad things happen to bad people. Such as a drunk driver being sent to jail for 80 years for killing an 8 year old (Made up scenario). Don't get me wrong, I like to see people get what they deserve. But I wonder if sometimes we tend to gloat a little too much. It's like sometimes I see people stick their noses up at others and act in that childish way of "Na na na boo boo." Hopefully you know what I mean. It kinda makes me wonder if we are being hypocrites ourselves when we do this. I mean, if each of us looks at ourselves, the way God see our sins, then where does that leave us? Not much better then the drunk who kills someone. I mean, maybe the better response should be that we are grateful that God kept us from doing the same thing, or changed us from that very person.

What do you think.

If only drunk divers got 89 years for killing a child.... that would be justice and the least they deserve. Instead we live in a society who makes drunkeness a disease instead of a choice and therefore people are given special consideration and deemed less culpable for their actions. God did indeed set out a foundational pattern for social government. THere is something known as "righteous anger" against offenders and it is not an emotion reserved expressly for God. Having lack of empathy for a homicidal cannibal and being satisfied or exhalting justice is not wrong. THe rising prevelance that "sin is sin" is falsely promoted... the only context where that is accurate is that ALL sin separates us from God. All sin is However NOT equal and those who assert to make all sin equal are ignorant of bible knowledge or intentionally tearing down the principals of God... PERIOD.

 

[homwardbound]

although I love to say I wouldnt sin, I am human and have flaws. I do believe Christ died for me. But I don't think that I wont ever mess up and have to be repentful

please read post 22 to Theophane, we can mess up, and most lilkely will but if we get our minds off flesh and thank God for his amazing salvation one might crowd out flesh so it can't have control for that day, and then the next day comes and we sow (think) on God and waht he has done for us all praising and thanking him all day long, you again will choke out sin for as a man/ woman thinks in thier heart so are they. We are all contolled by our dominnat thoughts
If our thoughts are on the flesh then flesh is what is born period.
Try this to be angry, without any angry thoughts. So doi you see day by day Sister taking all thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ by praising him all day long being your song and thanking you are never out of fellowship, you are never thrown to the wolves people do this but God does not, God just love you sing the song of thank you all day long
Now what if you do sin?
1 John 2:1My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.
Because we are all forgiven, and all past sins are forgiven
2 Peter 1:9But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.
Before any one can ask so instead thank God you are and now ask how to walk and not do that again
Love you Sister
Hope this helps in your walk in removing that stress

 

[Robbinette]

Yes I am very guilty of doing this. Coming from the South it is engrained in us or at least in my family that you can't do wrong and get by with it with God. He sees all and he knows all. My Aunt has this saying that "God don't like Ugly" and what she means is you know when your thoughts, behaviors and attitudes towards someone else could be considered ugly and God knows that too. So whenever I hear of someone that has done something, beaten or stolen from or mistreated another person I'll always think Gods knows and it may not be today or tomorrow but He's going to handle that situation in His way. So when I hear of a wife beater that has been arrested my first thought is Good, he deserved it. But my second and third is I shouldn't think that way because it isn't my place and at the end of the day He is the judge and jury not me

 

[homwardbound]

Yes I am very guilty of doing this. Coming from the South it is engrained in us or at least in my family that you can't do wrong and get by with it with God. He sees all and he knows all. My Aunt has this saying that "God don't like Ugly" and what she means is you know when your thoughts, behaviors and attitudes towards someone else could be considered ugly and God knows that too. So whenever I hear of someone that has done something, beaten or stolen from or mistreated another person I'll always think Gods knows and it may not be today or tomorrow but He's going to handle that situation in His way. So when I hear of a wife beater that has been arrested my first thought is Good, he deserved it. But my second and third is I shouldn't think that way because it isn't my place and at the end of the day He is the judge and jury not me

The law is in polace fro the law breakers and is meant to lead one to Christ. so we pray for the law breaker that he learns to trust Christ and then becomes no more being a law breaker and starts to love neighbor as self.