Tomorrow Night...

This is just a taste of the new movie Fireproof, coming out September 26th.

Have you ever had a "conversation" like this with your spouse?

It all comes down to this...

Biblical Morality

All of Scripture's command are summed up for us in two succinct statements.  Love God with everything you have, and love other people as much as you love yourself (Matthew 22:37-40).  The person who does this fulfills the law perfectly.  Everything else, all of the Bible's commands and prohibitions fall under this grand umbrella.

The Christian ethic, biblical morality, is all about love...  REAL love, not the kind of love which seeks it's own at the expense of others.  It is about kindness, compassion and mercy.  It is loving someone enough to humbly tell them the truth even if they hate you for it.  Here is the question, then.  Is abortion an act of compassion and love or is it an act of cruel selfishness?  Is the mother loving her child as much as she loves herself when she decides to abort that child?  If the shoe were on the other foot, and the mother was going to be an inconvenience for someone, or was going to enter into a life of potential hardship, would she rather be killed or would she rather be let live?  This question and others nee honest answers.

The Bible commands us to offer protection for the weakest and most vulnerable members of humanity.  Psalms 82: tells us to "Rescue the weak and needy; Deliver them out of the hand of the wicked."  Ask yourself, does abortion defend and protect the most vulnerable members of the human community or does it destroy them?

Proverbs 6:17 proclaims that God hates, "haughty eye, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood."  Psalms 106:37, 38 speaks of God's contempt for child sacrifice saying, "They even sacrificed their sons and their daughters to the demons, and shed innocent blood, the blood of their sons and their daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan and the land was polluted with the blood."  Look at the pictures of abortion and ask yourself honestly, does abortion shed innocent blood?

1 John 1:7 tells us to walk in the light.  John 3:20 says that the deeds of darkness hate the light.  They hate being exposed.  Ask yourself, does the abortion industry want the light to shine brightly upon their handiwork?

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And has been re-printed here without permission

Here's the thing, as far as I'm concerned...  With the environment becoming an increasingly HUGE matter on the minds of people, including professing Christians, more and more during this presidential campaign season, the candidates are pandering to potential voters on a couple of key issues.  Which, I've got to be honest with you, I'm not really all that concerned about...

On the issue of the environment, one only needs to open up the word of God to the Book of Revelation to see what God is going to do with this world when the cup of His wrath is finally full and he unleashes it upon those who have rebelled against His kind offer of everlasting life...  Each and every person on the face of the Earth from the beginning of history until that very day could drive 10 cars simultaneously, every moment until our dying day, and we would not be able to even come CLOSE to destroying the Earth as effectively as God is going to...  Stick around, you'll see that the Bible is true...

On the issue of the economy, once again, we are simply living in the midst of prophecy...  The economy is going to crash, and any nation that does not want to die of starvation or complete neglect of resources of any kind is going to have to sign on to a cashless currency, and then ultimately give up their national sovereignty to the One-World Government...  Has anyone heard about the UN convening to talk about what should be done with this U.S. economy?  It's coming soon, keep your eyes and ears open...

Christians, "true" Christians simply do not live in fear of that which has been pre-ordained by God Himself...  We are much more interested in warning people of God's Wrath that is to come upon all those who, in the end, do not repent and put their trust in Christ...  And as we put our efforts toward the seeking and saving of the lost, we stand-up when issues of righteousness and morality arise in our society, in order to defend the principles that God has set forth in His Word...

And that is why, until a candidate is willing to make the issues of Abortion and the Protection of Traditional Marriage a major focus of their campaign, I'm simply not interested in supporting their cause...  Now, I'm not saying that they've got the be a Born-Again Christian in order to garner my vote.  However, in order to hold my interest for more than 2 seconds in this election, if my vote is desired, the issue will have to be one of defending the rights of those who cannot defend themselves, as well as the protection of the institute of marriage in the form and fashion it has been honored in America since her beginnings.

If you want to ignore God in the issues, then consider these points.  Scientifically, it cannot be denied that a child in the womb of his/her mother, is a separate, complete and whole person, merely smaller in size and stature, unable to care for themselves without the aid of someone who loves them - not a whole lot different than when we are newly born, only we are a little bigger at that point, though no more or less of a human being...

And on the issue of Gay Marriages, consider the fact that civilization, as we know it cannot prevail if homosexuality is encouraged and even promoted to our children.  The rate of disease and public perversion will skyrocket as we have already seen the rise in the past 2-3 decades as we have felt the ripple effect of the Free-Love movement which popularized promiscuity in a way that the previous generation would have never imagined...

And when you bring God INTO the issues, the points are clear - He HATES hands that shed innocent blood, He HATES those who practice perversion.  We NEED to be forgiven of our sins against a Holy God, and until a leader is willing to step up and be counted as one who is conscious of the fact that we cannot concentrate on issues that are non-essential because of the deception of the human heart.  I simply, cannot, in good conscience cast a vote for the greater OR the lesser of the two "evils."

GodSpeaks.com

Have you seen these billboards lining the roadside as you've traveled the Highways and Interstates of America?  The idea behind the signs is to encourage people to "get back" to the Bible.  

America is considered by many to be a "Christian nation."  However, our nation teaches an anti-Christian version of the origins of man and the universe.  The ACLU has all but outlawed the words "Merry Christmas" from our public conversations during the month of December.

The mass-murder of pre-born humans is condoned and even legislated...  Adultery and Pornography is glamorized in our entertainment...  Our politicians make a public mockery of faith in public and private life and business...  As Paul warned Timothy 2 Timothy 3:1-7 most Americans claim some sort of "spirituality" with more than 80% of adults claiming an affiliation with the Christian faith...  And while those same adults could name 10 beer brands or the ingredients of the McDonald's Big-Mac in less than 30 seconds, few, if any, could name more than 3 of the 10 Commandments listed in the Book of Exodus found in the Bible they would claim to believe in as the book of their "faith."

In order to help people "get back" to the Bible, shouldn't we do what the Bible says 2 Timothy 4:1-5 rather than try to make up some sort of new, catchy gimmick?  My question is whether the intentions of these billboards might be misplaced or not.  Romans 10:14-15

Personally, I love these billboards - however, forsaking God's Word in order to promote it just isn't the method God Himself has provided for us to bring the world to Him...  We need to open our mouths and warn people that God is going to have a day of Judgement when He is going to reward each of us according to what we have done. Romans 1:18-32

Jesus said "unless you Repent, you shall also likewise perish." Luke 13:3  And Paul preached that people should "Repent toward God, and have Faith toward Christ." Acts 20:20-21

What does Rush Hour or "The Game" have to do with salvation?

Shame on you Fox News 6

In the fashion of Mrs. Clinton, I thought I would comment on a recent "news" story I overheard on Fox 6 San Diego, regarding the Vanity Fair photo shoot with Annie Leibovitz. I don't feel its necessary to link the photos, or the article / news story. For the three of you who haven't yet seen/heard about this sad affair of bad parenting and poor judgment, I've included a censored copy of the offending image below.

And in case you think I'm over reacting, or blowing this out of proportion, consider that on the one hand, the Cyrus' claimed to be Christians the last time I checked - and on the other, I have a daughter, and would not want her displayed in this way for ANY amount of money or publicity... I welcome your comments...

Regarding your reporting on Miley Cyrus' photographs - first off, in my personal opinion it was unnecessary to show the photo of a minor without her clothes on...  

Your anchor's opinions that the photo didn't look all that "scandalous" to them was also unnecessary.  

Exploitation like this should neither be propagated or dismissed as innocent. It's indecent - plain and simple. Everyone gasps when a teenage girl is kidnapped, raped then brutally murdered.  

I make the connection because this type of reporting only causes viewers to change their opinions on subjects such as these. As long as we don't see anything wrong with portraying teens half-naked in magazines, television and the web, we shouldn't be all that surprised when a pervert capitalizes on a moment of opportunity to abduct and have his way with her...

An Online Witnessing Encounter

From time to time I'll submit an email I've either received or sent out to someone who has written in to an Online Counseling Website that I set up several years ago to help people with their challenges while trying to, at the same time, be a Christian in today's society.

The website is HELPinChrist.com.  And I admit that when I set up the website, I was not yet a Christian, I was, in fact, what Jesus refers to in the Parable of the Sower as, a false convert or, one upon whom the seed of the Word of God had fallen on thorny ground.  Matthew 13:3-9

In December of 2004, God sent a messenger to where I was at to share His Laws with me to show me that I was still in need of salvation, and the salvation I thought I had was false.  The image I held in my mind of who God was, and the real reasons why Jesus died on the cross were all without a true Biblical foundation.

I was living in the midst of transgressing the 2nd of His 10 Commandments.  I had created for myself a god to suit myself and my own sinful desires.  One that would overlook my sins, and still let me into heaven - and it was at the point of salvation that I knew if I was going to have anything more to do with this website, I would have to share the same truth with anyone who was in danger of being deceived by the same delusions I had previously been mired in myself.

What you will read below is my reply to a young man who is living a similar life to the one I lived the better part of my adult life...  He is a Youth Leader, therefore, he claims to be a Christian...  However, he struggles with pornography - but he doesn't just struggle with that particular sexual sin, he has been dabbling in, and quite recently, as you will find out, he has given in to the lusts of his flesh - namely, homosexuality...

This is not an easy post for me to share because I realize now as I read, and re-read what I've written to him, that I am exposing a lot of my own personal past.  A LOT of which I prefer to leave out of my testimony whenever I share it in mixed company for obvious reasons - not the least of which is that I wouldn't want to cause you to judge me in any way that was not righteous in it's intent.  Though, I have decided to post it here in the hopes of possibly encouraging even one person, while warning others as I myself had been warned.

His name has obviously been changed, and I have left out any references to personal, geographic or otherwise distinguishable information for the sake of total anonymity.  My purpose is to edify, not embarrass.

Joe:

In case you haven't thought I was being serious up to this point, I want you to understand that I am absolutely serious now...

Your problem with porn and homosexuality is sin, and the Bible says that sin brings about death in the life of the person who is living in it.  Jesus said that the person who dies in their sin will be cast into hell.  And the primary reason I'm here, doing this, is so that you won't end up in hell...  I haven't asked you for money, I'm not telling you to join my church or buy my cassettes or videotapes - I'm pleading with you to get this fixed between you and God before another day goes by because you do not know when your soul may be required of you...

It is clear that you understand that your situation is sinful, no doubt there...  What is not clear, however, is how real you believe God's punishment to be for those who sin against Him.  You mention that you hate yourself for some of the things you do - and you should...  You are committing offenses against the one who gave you life and breath and every good thing that you have...  It was your sin that put Christ on the cross - therefore, based upon your own admissions and testimonial, it is difficult for me to talk to you as a person who is a follower of Christ because you continue in your sins.  1 John 1:6, 2:4, 15-17 & Hebrews 10:26-27

At this point, I have to insist that you post-pone your organization and participation in any youth-related activities including the youth conference you are organizing, particularly because of your unresolved, un-repented of sin.  I'm not trying to be mean here, I'm trying to help you get the help you need...  You don't need someone to tell you that everything will be alright, all you need to do is pray to God and believe that He answers prayer.

Joe, I have to be honest with you here because my position in all of this, and the Word of God compels me; I am not telling you these things with a smile on my face.  I am fully aware that this is the exact opposite of what you want to be told when it comes to your involvement in ministry...  However, I have to think about those you have been put in charge of. (the teens in your Youth Group)  This is a situation that you need to take to your Pastor, whether you repent of it or not...  Obviously, if you repent of this sin, it will be easier to share with him because you will simply be asking him to help you through the sanctification that God will bestow upon your life.

What you need is to put everything on hold and get on your knees before God and repent of ALL of your sins once and for all.  Cry out to God for mercy Psalm 51 and confess your wretchedness against God. 2 Corinthians 7:10 You are aware of your lawlessness, but do you realize the severity of the offense?  God will not overlook your sins because you serve in youth ministry, on the contrary, you will be judged more severely because you put yourself in the place of a teacher, one who should know better. Romans 2  You do not want to be one of those who God gives over to the desires of their hearts Romans 1:22-32

And I speak to you as one who was once in your place.  I am not sitting up on my high horse looking down on you as some would.  I've been where you are at.  I once acted upon my sexually sinful desires with another man.  Things didn't go as far as they could have because my conscience (God's Law written on my heart) was screaming at me, telling me that what I was doing was wrong!  As a Youth Leader, I was living in a sinful relationship with a girl I knew, while all the while immersing myself in pornographic lusts...  I was truly playing the part of the hypocrite.  Telling the teens I was working with to be holy because God is holy, while living like the devil in my private life.

Therefore, until you repent of your sins and trust in Christ completely to deliver you from your sins - rather than your own ability to overcome "the moment" you are getting wrapped up in, you will continue this cycle of temptation, lust and sin...  Yet there are four factors in that equation...  And if you are not reconciled to Christ before you come to the final factor, death, and you will suffer eternally for what only happened in a moment.

You wrote in to HELPinChrist.com two months ago today, letting us know that you were addicted to pornography, and struggling with homosexuality.  That you hadn't yet had sex, and now you write in mentioning that "last week for the first time ever..." "...some very bad things happened..."  I have to take some responsibility here for not writing these things to you when you first wrote in - because I am terrified of the idea that you could have died within the past two months, let alone the past week, without hearing the Truth...

It is appointed unto every person once to die, and then the judgement...  Sin is the transgression of God's Law.  If you've ever lied, stolen, blasphemed God's name, disobeyed your parents, hated someone or even called them a "fool" - wished that you had someone else's stuff as your own, or created a God to suit your own personal way of life...  Then you are guilty of sinning against God Himself.  He made your eyes, don't you think He can see what you are doing when you think no one else knows?  He formed your ears, do you not realize that He can even hear the thoughts you are thinking?  He requires truth in our inward most parts...

And He has set aside a day in which He will judge every person in righteousness, according to what they have done...  Acts 17:31  And He will by no means clear the guilty...  The soul that sins shall die and be cast into the Lake that burns with fire...  Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.  

But that's not the end of the story, and God's desire is not to send you to Hell...  2,000 years ago, He became a man, filled a body as a hand fills a glove, in the person of Jesus of Nazareth.  He lived a perfect, sinless life, fulfilling the Law and then giving Himself up to be murdered to take upon Himself the punishment for the sins of all those who would repent and believe in Him.  He did not come to condemn the world, because the world, because of it's sin, is already condemned...  Rather, He came to seek and to save those who are lost in their sins and trespasses.  John 3:14-21  And He calls all people everywhere to repent of their sins against God because His kingdom is at hand.  

He became the propitiation (substitutionary sacrifice - the sacrificial lamb that was slain) in our place - taking upon Himself God's Wrath for us.  Because we sinned, Christ came to die...  And if you will repent, and put on the Lord Jesus Christ Romans 13:14 as a skydiver puts on a parachute before jumping 10,000 feet, His Word promises that He will save you...  You will be Born Again and brought into a right relationship with God. John 3:3  Just as quickly as you can lose control of your situation (a moment) Christ can save your soul...  He can bring you from death into life, from darkness into light - He can give you a new heart with new desires and replace your heart of stone with a heart of flesh.  I believe that He is calling out to you today to be reconciled to Him through repentance and faith. Matthew 3:8 & Hebrews 3:15

All of this is not to say that you will be perfect this side of heaven...  But you will be "made perfect" in God's eyes - meaning, you will be given Christ's perfection...  You are still human, however, and will sin from time to time - however, you will fall into sin, rather than your current situation where you wade around in sin, ready to dive in the next time temptation presents itself as a viable alternative to whatever you may be doing at the moment.  Remember, I've been in your shoes...  Paul talks about how before we are Born Again, we are slaves to sin, and we commit sin because it is in our nature...  But when we are regenerated by Christ's sacrifice, we become slaves to righteousness - which is what God's Word calls us to, live lives of righteous behavior... Matthew 5:20 & Luke 1:68-75 & Acts 10:35 & Romans 6

I'm sorry if this all seems a little overwhelming, however, God is just that...  God is a consuming fire, and His Word is sharper than any two-edged sword...  Surgery is painful, that's why they sedate you first...  Removing the sin from a persons life is a spiritually surgical procedure...  I'm sure that's why Christ calls us to love one another...  If I didn't love you, and care for your eternal fate, it might be impossible for you to accept what I'm sharing with you.  That's the way it was for me when I heard this message, and the one I shared with you, Hell's Best Kept Secret,  I'd been a self-professed Christian for over 12 years at that point in my life, and a Youth Volunteer (and self-professed Minister) for over 10 years...  When I heard a man who was reading from the Bible tell me that if I was living in sin, that the Bible, and Jesus Himself offers me no assurance of my salvation.

My deepest prayer is that you receive this email with the same heart I received his words.  Because my deepest fear is that you would be one of those Jesus spoke about when He said that many will come to Him in the Day of Judgment saying, 'Lord, Lord...  have we not done many great things in Your name?'  and He would tell you to depart from Him, because He never knew you, because you were one who went on practicing lawlessness...

Jesus didn't promise us that following Him would be easy, in fact, He encouraged those who were not fully committed to following Him to simply return to their homes and families...Matthew 8:18-22  He didn't assure His followers a full moneybag, a new well, or healthy livestock...  (Today I suppose that would be equivalent to the modern-day gospel promise of a full bank account, large house, and a 4-car garage without an empty space in it...)  Nope, he promised that we would be hated for His names sake, that we would suffer tribulation, Matthew 24:9 and persecution, and not the least of which - and this is where Christ's promise hits home for you - we will be tempted... Luke 8:13 The call is for us to overcome temptation and endure until Christ's return...  And we will be blessed if we endure until the end...

I care about you, and don't want you to end up in hell - please consider what God has written, and I have been blessed to share.  And don't take my words for it, please look this stuff up for yourself.  Be like the Bereans and make sure that what I'm sharing with you lines up with God's Word...

I'm praying for you, and those you serve...


-Benjamin, Counselor
HELPinChrist.com

p.s. - Perhaps consider the words of my pastor - listen to the July 27th sermon, I believe you will find the message speaks to your specific challenge...  Not homosexuality, but unbelief...

Christian Music?

The video speaks for itself...

1 Corinthians 6:9-10

1-2-1 Witnessing - Online...

Earlier today, we received an email at HELPinChrist.com and a young man, we'll call him "Fred" asked for help kicking his Internet Porn "habit." Now, because the Bible refers to it as "lust" and lust as "sin" then we prefer to call his "addiction" a lifestyle of sin.

For the record, when we counsel, we don't make assumptions or judgments about people before we talk with them, we merely use the Bible and the information they share with us in order to help them get the help they're looking for.  Some people respond more favorably than others - and I've got to tell you, this particular young man went through the conversation the way I wish everyone would...

First is his message - and after is our conversation...

What do you need help with?

I am a christian I was molested as a child by my brother in law and now i am 20 going on 21 and addicted to gay porn just internet porn and I can not seem to stop looking at it please help.

Now, before you read the conversation, I want to point out to you that not everyone who refers to themselves as "Christian" truly is one... One of the first clues is when a person is living in unrepentant sin - another clue is when the person cannot clearly, or Biblically explain the Gospel. 

And when you expect that a person may not be saved, it's never a bad idea to ask a couple of questions to find out if your suspicions might be accurate - after all, it's a matter of life or death... An eternal matter.

Me: You wrote in to HELPinChrist.com?

Fred: yeh

Me: You mentioned that you are a Christian?

Fred: yes

Me: and now you're addicted to internet porn?

Fred: yeg

Me: okay, can you share with me how/when you "got saved"?

Fred: yeh sure i got saved when i was 10 years old i was in church and i listened to a sermon and went forward

Me: so how is a person saved?

Fred: by asking Jesus christ into their heart and by receiving his forgiveness for their sins because of what he did on the cross

Me: and where in the Bible does it say that we are supposed to "ask Jesus into our heart"?

Fred: i am not sure of the place that it says that 

Me: I ask, because I've read the Bible, and I've never found that anywhere in there - though I've heard it a LOT...

Me: okay then, what is sin?

Fred: anything that comes between you and God and something that you do such as adultery disobeying God and other things

Me: okay, adultery is sin, what else?

Fred: Homosexuality lust disobeying your parents 

Me: well adultery, homosexuality, lust would all be covered under the same category of sexual sin, and disobeying your parents is sin as well, so there's two sins, is there anything else that is sin?

Me: what if you murder someone?

Fred: thats a sin

Me: right, and do you know that Jesus said that if you hate someone, that's considered by God to be the same as murder in your heart?

Fred: yes

Me: what about stealing?

Fred: its a sin

Me: what about lying?

Fred: lying is a sin

Me: blasphemy?

Fred: sin

Me: coveting?

Fred: sin

Me: idolatry?

Fred: they are all sins

Me: would you say that you've committed those sins?

Fred: yes some of them i have

Me: which ones have you not broken?

Fred: i have never stolen anything

Me: seriously? You've never downloaded a song you didn't pay for? or a put a photo on a site that you didn't take yourself? You've never cheated on a test or taken 20 minutes when you were only given a 15 minute break?

Me: You've never taken ANYTHING that wasn't yours, regardless of it's value?

Fred: ok i have cheated on test and downloaded a few songs i was not thinking of those things

Me: I understand - and most people don't - and here is why I've been asking you these questions...

Me: You see, the Bible says that "the Lord has set a day when He will judge the world in righteousness - it is appointed unto every man once to die, and then the judgment..."

Fred: yes

Me: Those sins we were talking about are based upon the 10 Commandments, and we only talked about 7 of the 10, and you said that you'd broken most of them, and it turned out that you'd broken all 7 - and if we looked at the remaining 3 - I'm sure we'd find out that you've broken those too...

Fred: ok

Me: Now, IF you were to die tonight in your sleep, and God were to judge you according to those Commandments, do you think He'd find you innocent or guilty?

Fred: guilty 

Me: And IF He found you guilty, do you think He'd send you to Heaven or hell?

Fred: hell

Me: and does it concern you that He would be justified in sending you to hell if you were to die unexpectedly?

Fred: yes 

Fred: and i would rightly deserve it

Me: and do you know what God did so that you don't have to go to hell?

Fred: He sent Jesus to die on the cross for my sins 

Me: Right, God came to Earth, in the form of a man, lived a sinless life, and gave up His life to die on the cross and take your place of punishment...

Fred: yeh

Me: For God so loved the world that He gave His only son so that whoever would believe, would not perish, but have everlasting life...

Fred: I like that verse 

Me: and now, taking into account the FACT that the passage "ask Jesus into your heart" is nowhere in the Bible. Do you know what you need to do in order to receive His gift of everlasting life?

Fred: Yes i need to believe that Jesus sent his only son to die in place of my sins

Me: that's not what the Bible says...

Me: You see, there are MANY people who believe that, who are not going to heaven when they die...

Fred: ok

Me: it's like if you were on a plane, and you had to jump - you cannot just believe in the parachute, you have to put it on in order for the parachute to save your life...

Fred: then what do i have to do? 

Me: The Bible says the same thing - we are supposed to put on the Lord Jesus Christ...   Romans 13:14 (AMP)

Fred: yeh i understand that

Fred: and how do we do that?

Me: through Repentance toward God, and Faith in Christ... here's how...

Me: we don't simply ask for forgiveness of our sins... that wouldn't work in a court of law...

Me: Uh, your honor, please forgive me of my crimes, I'll try not to do them again...

Me: The judge would say, you SHOULD be sorry, and you SHOULDN'T do it again, but the find STILL needs to be paid...

Fred: yeh absolutely

Me: We need to consider EVERY TIME we've broken His laws - and in your case, perhaps the pornography is a big one, but it's not the sum total...

Fred: yeh

Me: and understand that every time you broke one of the laws that God gave for us to follow, you have stored up wrath, as the Apostle Paul said, that will be revealed to you in the Day of Wrath...  Romans 2:5-9 (NKJ)

Fred: ok i understand that

Me: and turn away from those sins - the pornography first and foremost - and ask God to give you the power to resist the temptation... And He's promised that He will...

Me: The Bible says that when you cry out to Him for forgiveness of all of your sins (REPENT) and turn to Christ in faith, He will give you a new heart with new desires... He will bring you from darkness into light...

Fred: so we need to repent and turn away from our sins to be saved 

Me: and put your faith in Christ alone for your salvation...

Fred: ok

Me: You cannot go to church enough times... you cannot give enough money to hungry children... you cannot help enough little old ladies across the street... You broke God's Law, and Christ paid your fine... We are saved by grace through faith in Christ...   Ephesians 2:8-9 (NKJ) 

Fred: yeh but dont we all sin?? even after we are saved?

Me: Yes we do...  BUT...  check this out...  that new heart with new desires I was talking about - that the Bible refers to...

Me: God will cause you to walk in righteousness, and not in sin...

Me: Though you may sin from time to time, you might fall into it, but you won't dive into it...   Romans 6:12-18 (NKJ)

Me: For example...  On a personal note, I do not lie the way I used to...  or steal for that matter...  My sins of debauchery over internet porn - by God's power - are all gone...

Fred: so if i repent and turn my back on my sin God will give me the power to resist temptation and not sin

Me: yes - and though temptation will still be there, by His power, you'll be able to resist it...

Fred: ok 

Me: And if it happens that you would sin, you'll hate the fact that you've done it, and ask God to forgive you, and help you to stay away from it ever happening again...

Me: The Bible says that when you are converted, you'll begin to hate what God hates... (sin, wickedness) and love what God loves... (righteousness, justice, truth)

Me: I've been where you are at, though I was never molested, I was deep into internet porn before I was saved...  At the time, I thought I was a Christian, however, I had never repented, and I definitely wasn't trusting in Christ for my salvation...  I thought that my good deeds had outweighed my bad, and that God would accept me into heaven based on that fact...

Me: But the Fact is, NONE OF US is Good enough to get into heaven...

Fred: so u never turned your back on your sin and trust in Christ for you salvation and taht is why u kept falling back into those sins

Me: falling back? I never got out in the first place...

Me: BUT...  When I finally repented once and for all - that's when I was able by God's power to resist the temptation to go back...

Fred: I understand that was just a word taht i used i should have used another word 

Me: It's cool, I understood where you were going with it...

Fred: yeh

Me: DO you have a Bible?

Fred: actually i got a bible program i can use on my computer

Me: when was the last time you read it?

Fred: i start to read it but then i quit so its been on and over i read a lil of it the other day

Fred: off

Fred: I should read my bible more than I do

Me: k., then let me do something for you...

Me: I'm sending you an email message...

Me: It's going to have a reading list...

Fred: alright

Me: several parts of the Bible I want you to check out before you go to bed tonight... ...I'm going to give you about an hour's worth of reading, and I'll be sending along other bits of info that'll help you out with resources that you'll be able to search...

Me: But now the big question comes...

Me: well two actually.

Me: what do you need to do to get right with God?

Fred: Repent and trust God for my salvation 

Me: and the second question, when are you going to do that?

Fred: Tonight im going to repent and trust him...

The conversation took about an hour, and I sincerely pray that he answered the call that God was placing on his conscience.  I have not posted this for anything less than God's glory... That some might be encouraged, that others might be instructed, and still others might find hope for their own situation. Like John the Baptist, my desire is that Christ is glorified, and that I am not.

Be encouraged fellow sowers!

-Benjamin