Question Sent In:
Do you believe that we are saved IN our sins?
Is there any sin one must stop in order to be saved?
Or to make it even plainer:
Does someone who is viewing pornography have to stop that sin in order to receive forgiveness from God? or does God forgive them while they are still doing it?
Response:
The Greek words from which we get the word “fornication” or “fornicator” is porneia and pornos Any sex outside of holy matrimony is fornication. Jesus says: “But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.” (Matthew 5:28)
“Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.” 1 Corinthians 6:18
Sin that is not overcome is the proof of a rebellious heart. All of Holy Scripture testifies to this truth. Some sin if obviously very difficult to overcome and so we must be quickened in His holy fear to repent afresh, return to our LORD as “first love,” fast, pray, and choose to have a heart after Him (Rev. 2:4-5; Isa. 58; Hosea 10:12, etc.).
“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” Proverbs 28:13
Someone watching pornography is a fornicator in the eyes of a holy God and Judge, and according to His Word, will not enter the kingdom of Heaven if he is still watching it because he has not repented (1 Cor. 6:9-10; Rev. 21:8; 2 Cor. 12:21, etc.)…. Jesus made it crystal clear that only the overcomers will be with Him eternally (Rev. 2-3). All who die in sin will be in the lake of fire forever (Rev. 21:8, 27; 22:14). A person who dies in his sin, having that “EVIL heart of unbelief,” is not abiding in Christ and will be cast into the fires of hell (Jn. 15:1-6; Heb. 3:6, 12-15; 10:26-39). This is regardless of any past relationship with the LORD. He will spend eternity in the lake of fire. The wages of sin is still death (Rom. 6:23).
Without personal holiness no man shall see the LORD (Heb. 12:14). Jesus is coming back for a church that is holy, without the spot of sin (Eph. 5:25-27).
Upon studying and considering the full-counsel of God’s Word, we must conclude that those who do not overcome sin, namely specifically named as profusely offensive to the LORD (Gal. 5:19-21), simply do not having saving faith always produces personal holiness, bringing forth fruit meet for repentance or consistent with a changed life (Matthew 3:7-8; 7:21; Lk. 6:46; Titus 1:16; 2:11-12; 3:14; James 1:22, etc.).
The person who rebels against this truth loves his sin and despises the LORD he deceitfully claims to know.
“He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” 1 John 2:4
“They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.” Titus 1:16
“Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.” 1 Corinthians 6:9-10
“But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. … And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” Revelation 21:8, 27
The way a person lives reveals who they love and “No man can serve two masters.” (Matthew 6:24)
“Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” Romans 6:16
1 Thessalonians 4
1Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more. 2For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. 3For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: 4That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; 5Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: 6That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. 7For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. 8He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.” 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8
The Root and the Cure
The sins of uncleanness and self-idolatry of self are at the root cause of those who watch or view pornography. The answer the LORD gives is to be filled with His Spirit and crucified to the sin nature, via the daily cross. There is full victory over all sin by the grace of Jesus Christ and power of the Holy Ghost (Romans 6; 8:13-14, etc.).
Any person who views such defilement is disconnected from the One who told us “Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: 15But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:13-16)
Jesus told us that “fornication” and “adulteries” come from the heart of a man and that these sins “defile the man” which simply means they make him unclean in the eyes of God (rejected).
“And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. 21For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: 23All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.” Mark 7:20-23
God looks on the hearts of men and those who are committing these sins are defiled or unclean in His holy eyes (1 Samuel 16:7). They will not enter into His eternal abode (Galatians 5:19-21; Hebrews 12:14-15; Revelation 21:8, 27; 22:14-15, etc.).
Read and do Isaiah 58.
The book Lie of the Ages thoroughly addresses this topic according to the whole Counsel of God’s Word.
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