| Please realize I am not a
Preacher or Minister. I am just a Real Estate Broker who had Questions. I have tried to answer questions that have been submitted by friends like you. I hope some of these answers will help you on your search for the truth. Please do not hesitate to send me an email with and questions or comments you might have. |
Question: |
I accepted what God did for me a few years back. I thought that everything would change. Doesn't the Bible say... that all things will be new? Well a lot of things are new. I now feel more guilt doing what I uses to do without remorse. How do I quit doing the same old things or am I just not saved? |
|
| NOTE! | This is a little longer than most "Questions of the Week"
but is one of the most important questions asked. If you can relate to the
above question, I encourage you to take the time to meditate on the
answer. I also would recommend that you click on the print version link and pray about what God is trying to do for us. |
|
Answer: |
Thank you for being so honest. So many have your same feelings but just don't say anything which is exactly what Satan wants them to do. "I want to predicate my answer by saying that I deal with this problem daily. Those who says they don't are setting themselves up for a major attack from Satan! My daughter developed diabetes when she was 12. She is now 22. She is doing fine. She still has diabetes, but dealing with it. If she wanted to deny she has this problem, it could cause devastating problems if not take her life. If you are serious about this question, then take the time to read, study and pray about what is to follow. THERE IS A WAY Let's get started. The Apostle Paul said it best. Look at Romans 7:14-24 I have printed it in is entirety and will comment on it following the text. Rom 7:14-24 14 We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. 15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18 I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do-- this I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. 21 So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God's law; 23 but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? (NIV) Totally confused? What is important to know is that Paul was used by God to write the majority of the New Testament. You would think Paul of all people would be above this problem. One more passage to review before we get to the answers. Galatians 5:17 17 For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. (NIV) Can you relate? What does all this mean? First, no one is above being tempted by Satan. I don't care if you are a preacher, a business man or woman, a student or even an Apostle. Even Jesus was tempted. Heb 2:18 18 Because He himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted. THE QUICK ANSWER..... 'CHOICES' God says that He will not allow us to be tempted above that we are able: "1 Cor 10:13 "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." The way we avoid this is to MAKE A CHOICE. "To Say NO!" James 1:14 says; "but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed." We know when we are tempted. We just act like children who want what we want when we want it. It is called immaturity. God says in: James 4:7Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. We either believe what God says is true or we do not. God is not going to tell us to do something that He does not give us the power to accomplish. Ask God to help you to overcome those pet sins that we seem to carry with us. Let Him know you desire to eliminate those continual sins that keep occurring. THEN...... Just quit doing them. It really is that simple. It is all a matter of CHOICES. To conclude go back to Paul's original soliloquy in Romans and look at Romans 7:25 this will summarize the situation and the solution. It says: "I thank God, through Jesus Christ our Lord, So that with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin." When those sins and temptations FIRST enter your mind, ACT ON THEM IMMEDIATELY before you body takes over. Say, 'NO' and immediately tell those thoughts to leave in the Name of Jesus Christ who has set you free for the law of sin. I find that when I do not take time each day to have a Quiet Time (This is so, so important" This IS the key.), I am more susceptible to Satan's attacks. Bottom line. Make moment by moment choices. Overcome those sins one sin at a time, one temptation at a time. Don't worry about tomorrow, next week or next year. Live by the 'NOW' principle. Are you doing what you should be doing right NOW? That is all you have to do. One NOW at a time adds up to a life that God will be proud of. When you fall, NOT JUMP into sin, go directly to God, don't avoid Him, confess it and move on to the next NOW. MOST IMPORTANT I don't care if you live a perfect life. That will not get you into Heaven. Heaven is a free gift. You can't work for it or earn it by not sinning. This question and answer is talking about FELLOWSHIP NOT RELATIONSHIP. If this is confusing please go back to the question of the week section and read "Why not live as we please after we are saved?" |
To Print This Page.. Right Click and Select Print