Tim Maas Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

First, I would say that, although humans (as well as religious institutions composed of humans) may characterize some sins as "worse" than others (as in "mortal" sin versus "venial" sin), the Bible (as the Word of God) does not recognize such a distinction. As indicated in James 2:10, "Whoever keeps the whole law but stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it."

Next, I would say that God intended sex (for the purpose of either procreation or physical pleasure) to be a monogamous activity between one man and one woman that represented a degree of intimacy that was so complete that it made the two of them "one flesh" in His eyes, and thus was to be performed only within the context of the commitment to each other that would be made in formal marriage, which was instituted by God Himself (Genesis 2:24). Thus, to engage in sexual activity outside of that commitment is to engage in sin, which is never to be regarded or performed casually.

At the same time however, such sin is not unforgivable, but can be repented of (that is, forsaken), and forgiveness asked and obtained for it through faith in Christ.

(Aside from the religious aspect of the issue, casual sex with multiple partners has become over time an activity associated with a multitude of possible physical health risks that can lead to infertility, serious/incurable illness, or even death. This indicates that the restrictions that God originally placed on such activity for His followers were (and still are) intended for their benefit.)

January 29 2021 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report

Shirley H Wife, mother, veteran in the spiritual war we all face!

Genesis 2:24, "Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to His wife, and they shall become one flesh." One flesh suggests a physical, sexual bonding and a lifelong relationship.

1Corinthians 6:15, "Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? (16) Shall I take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? (17) But He who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him. (18) Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that man (woman) does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body."

1Corinthians 6;19, " Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own. (20) For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's."

1John 5:16, declares that there are sins which do not lead to death. But, there is one sin that leads to death. All unrighteousness is sin.

The unpardonable sin, Matthew 12:31, "Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. (32) Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him, but the whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come."

2 Titus 2:11-13 "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ."

So, is there any sin that is mortal, except that of denying Jesus our Savior, and speaking against the Holy Spirit? I can think of one, perhaps... 1 Samuel 16:7, tells us God looks at the heart..1Kings 8:39, God hears in heaven forgiving and looking at the ways of a person's heart.

Romans 4:5, God justifies the ungodly by faith! God wants you to believe and trust in Him and His words!

Knowing this then, consider your body as a temple. Consider God's love for you. Is it worth giving yourself just for a few minutes of pleasure? Isn't that something of great value? Aren't you worth great value?

January 29 2021 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Grant Abbott Child of Father, Follower of Son, Student of Spirit

The only unforgivable (or mortal) sin is UNBELIEF in Jesus Christ. So how do we know if we have belief? The bible presents us with the good news of what Jesus Christ did for us on the cross to pay the penalty for and our sin and restore the gift of eternal life by making us into brand new creations. The bible says, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.”

But how do we believe? The bible further says, "If we confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in our heart that God raised him from the dead we would be saved." The confessing with our mouth part sounds straightforward. We simply declare that we believe in Jesus and accept him as our personal saviour.

But believing in our heart is a different matter altogether. Only God can and does examine our hearts to see if we have truly believed. The bible also says that our lives produce and abundance of what the heart is full of. If our heart is hard and cold toward God it is because our sinful nature is still in control. We engage in all kinds of sins without a second thought how God might feel. We show no sorrow or remorse for our wrong thoughts, words or actions. We have no desire to change the direction of our lives.

But a heart that has been born again will be soft and affectionate towards God. We will be sorry for all our sin, desire to repent and change our ways. We want our lives to be pleasing to God. We want to know God, to understand and follow his plan and purpose for our life. We thoroughly enjoy being in his presence for bible study, prayer, worship, Christian service and sharing the gospel.

The desires of our sinful human nature create patterns of thought, word and action that are sometimes difficult to break. Even after coming to faith in Jesus, some sins may fall off immediately while others can take years for repentance and healing.

The fact that we are caught up in some sins, like various kinds of addictions, that we just can overcome in our lives, does not mean God hasn't saved us, or that God is angry with us. God knows the attitude of our hearts. God knows our heart's desire to repent of all sins, even when we are powerless to change, and God graciously forgives, cleanses and empowers us to grow spiritually.

The bible challenges us to examine ourselves and see if we are really in the faith. To examine our thoughts, words and deeds to see if we are really seeking to live a God-pleasing life. To examine our attitude toward the sins in our lives, are we willing to forsake if we had the power to do so.

If we doubt that our faith may be genuine, all we have to do is pray and ask God to give us a new heart devoted to him, to give us a faith that trusts in Him with our whole lives, and to give us the power to repent and turn toward God. 

God is faithful and He will do it.

February 02 2021 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jack Gutknecht ABC/DTS graduate, guitar music ministry Baptist church

I was in this same boat. God gave me up to dishonarabe passions. Heterosexual expressions before marriage. I was unhinged from my Creator. But the real problem of my passions was my pride. Pride was the biggest problem that held me back from receiving Christ as my 
Savior! 

We are supposed to love people and use things. I was loving things: my own sexual urges, and using people. Why was this wrong? Because the opposite never works!

It took God intervening in my life to turn me around. He knew I needed humility so He caused me to hear this: "Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body."

This was sin-killing humility. This was the death of pride and all its perverting power over me.
I didn't own myself. I belong to God and must answer to Him as my loving wise Father who knows what is best for me.

This is a great question! I would agree with Shirley who said, “1 Kings 16:39, God hears in heaven forgiving and looking at the ways of a person's heart.”

I think she meant 1 Kings 8:39, though. 1 Kings 8:39 39 then hear from heaven, your dwelling place. Forgive and act; deal with everyone according to all they do, since you know their hearts (for you alone know every human heart),

Or 2 Chronicles 6:39 39: Then from heaven, your dwelling place, hear their prayer and their pleas, and uphold their cause. And forgive your people, who have sinned against you.
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New International Version
Are you a Christian, Anonymous? If so, this may apply: in 1 Kings 8:39 “deal with everyone according to all they do” is not to be thought of as a request for retribution for the sin committed (forgiveness and retribution are mutually exclusive), but as a desire for whatever discipline God in His wisdom may use to correct his own and to instruct them “so that they will fear [Him] all the time” (1 Kings 8:40), the very next verse after the verse I cited.

If you are not yet a Christian but are in the process of becoming a Christian, I encourage you to seek Jesus and respond to the good news of the gospel.

January 30 2021 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report