The Week in Answers

This past week I took the time to visit a Christian forum where a vast array of topics are discussed. I thought you may benefit from my answers to the questions and topics I engaged in.

Q; Why am I stuck in my sin?

A: From my experience with the sin in my life, I have come to believe that when I sin it is because I am looking for love, acceptance, meaning, and purpose in life from the world rather than from my relationship with Jesus Christ. You will always have some sin in your life. As you focus on your relationship with the Lord, the byproduct will be a diminishing of sin in your life, but you won't completely get rid of the sin until you die and enter eternity. However, be at peace, God is not counting your sin against you. This isn't to excuse it, but to say that nothing is separating you from your God; including your sin. When you sin, I would suggest asking God, "What am I expecting to get from this sin that I am not receiving from you?" Sin begins in the heart. When God starts to do a work in you and change your heart, you won't want to do those sins anymore. However, this takes time. It won't happen overnight. God is patient with you. Grace and Peace.

Q: Who is responsible for our sanctification?

A: God is responsible for my sanctification, not me. I don't get sanctified by how I live. I am sanctified based off of Who lives in me.

"But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God." 1 Corinthians 6:11

"For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified." Hebrews 10:14

Grace and Peace.

Q: Is it a sin to attend more than one denomination?

A: No, it is not a sin. Your church doesn't own you, Jesus does. If they teach that, leave. There is no law or biblical mandate requiring you to attend one particular gathering of Christians or preventing you from visiting multiple denominations. Besides, we are not under the law and even if it was a sin, it was forgiven at the cross, along with all your other sins. Go where you go. The Holy Spirit goes with you. Furthermore, Jesus said, "For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them (Matthew 18:20).” This "gathering" can take place anywhere, regardless of denominational affiliation, and it could be just you and Jesus; that makes up two. Trust Him to speak to you if He believes you should settle in one place. Be well.

Q: Is it okay to be single forever; to be single as long as you live?

A: Yes, it is okay to be "single as long as you live." There is no biblical directive on who stays single, who gets married, etc. Personally, I would ask the Lord what He sees in your circumstances. I am almost 50, single, never been married, and don't have any children. I don't worry about it. If someone comes along great, if not, great. You are a child of God. The Lord doesn't love you based on your relationship status. He loves you based on your relationship status with Him through faith in Jesus Christ. Grace and Peace.

News article: "Hillsong writer reveals he's no longer a Christian: I'm genuinely losing my faith."

My comment after reading the article: Maybe he should lose his faith. Perhaps, what he is/was believing isn't true. I am not one to equate someone who says they are "losing" their faith with they had true faith in the first place. Someone needs to ask him, "What is your understanding of the Gospel?" That answer may give clarity to what it is he is believing and it may not be saving faith. When he talks about preachers falling, "contradictions" in the Bible, the lack of miracles, etc., all these things tell me he doesn't even know Jesus to begin with because all of these conclusions he is making have answers. So, just pray for him and do not let your heart be troubled saints.

Q: Are there sins that Jesus did not pay for?

A: The only sin that Jesus didn't die for at the cross was the sin of unbelief in Him. "And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me (John 16:8-9)." Men do not go to Hell because of their sins. They go to Hell because they are spiritually dead to God [and] do not believe in the offer of the restoration of the life of God received through faith in Jesus Christ. The only way a person is not saved is by not accepting Jesus' offer of life. Once they have received the life of God that is when they begin to experience the benefit of the forgiveness Jesus provided by His death. That benefit is that there is no sin that can cause the life of God to leave a believer when they sin because of the eternal redemption of the cross (Hebrews 9:12). That is why we have eternal life. Grace and Peace.

Q: If penal substitution is true, why do I have to ask for forgiveness?

A: You don't. There is nowhere in the New Covenant where a Christian is told to ask forgiveness. In fact, all of your sins were forgiven at the cross. The Bible clearly states that "God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them (2 Corinthians 5:19)." I recommend asking yourself some questions:

If you need to ask for forgiveness, what sins is God still remembering and what sacrifice are you going to perform that God requires and accepts given the fact that Hebrews 10:17-18 says, "Then he adds: “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.” And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary"?

What blood are you shedding that is acceptable to God since Hebrews 9:22 says, "In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness"?

How can you, "Forgive as the Lord forgave you (Colossians 3:13)," if you still need to ask for forgiveness for your sins?

Are you saying that you are not blessed because Romans 4:8 says, "Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord will never count against them”?

Are you believing that your sins cause you to lose fellowship with God when the Bible says, "God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord (1 Corinthians 1:9)"?

Was the Apostle Paul lying to us when he said that "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38-39)"?

It is not an act of faith to ask for something you already have received. If you do not believe you have received it, there is something wrong with what you are believing. I advise you to ask God to reteach you His truths about your identity in Christ and be open to changing your mind about everything you've been taught up to this point. It is the only way you will be able to begin to trust the Holy Spirit and let Him guide you from within and lead you into all truth. Grace and Peace, my friend.

I pray these answers were helpful and, at the very least, have sparked interest in you to seek answers to the questions you have about the Christian faith and walking with the Lord Jesus Christ.