Hey, long time no see. ;P
Let's go, this one looks like it'll be lighter material. :P
"5. Being a Christian does not mean perfection - Although Christians (1) share in the perfect righteousness of Christ, (2) have received the Holy Spirit, and (3) have been redeemed from sin's power; they continue to still live in the presence of sin. As a result, each Christian has his own burdens and struggles with sin. We may be tempted to hide our burdens, weakness and struggles with other Christians; and depict ourselves instead as excelling in our faith, even when we are not. However, perfection is not a requirement to becoming a member of a church. On the contrary, one cannot become a member without being a deeply broken sinner. Each day we need to repent and confess our sins, again and again (cf. 1 John 1:5-2:2). Each day we must put to death the deeds of the body by the Spirit (Romans 8:14). Paul confessed that even he had not reached perfect obedience (Philippians 3:12-16). The truth is that we deeply need to approach God's throne every day for mercy and grace (Hebrews 4:16). We also need the community and ministry of the Church (1 Cor. 12). We need to carry one another's burdens (Galatians 6:2)."
Yes and yes again. Christians are not perfect. They are very broken, but they have come to a place of acknowledging it and accepting their past, because they know they have forgiveness through the cross, and ongoing power to be renewed daily through the Spirit in them, allowing them to walk forward in a new direction led by God for His glory and their joy.
God's grace truly is lavish (Eph 2:4) and new each morning. As He works in us to renew and refine us, we do trip up and need to reclaim that perfect forgiveness made complete on the cross as Jesus died for all sin -- past, present, and future. Each day God's love and grace are expressed more deeply as we turn from sin back to Him. Shall we sin more then that grace may abound further? May it never be so.
So then, what for those who are addicted or dependent or stuck in sinful ways? God's grace. If God wills, He is so powerful and gracious that He could completely heal any infirmary, physical, mental, habitual, etc. I was in Haiti for a week helping at an orphanage. I somehow ended up talking with this guy for like an hour. My French is not good. He went through the gospel with me. In the end we sang a repeating song about Jesus' amazing power and ability to heal our hearts. "I need a touch from you Jesus. I need a touch from you Lord. You can heal my body you can heal my soul. Just a touch from you Lord can make me whole." And there I was struggling so heavily with temptation and habitual sin. These words we sang for like 10 minutes. The whole time I was wishing and praying for that touch, that healing freedom.
I've asked and begged and prayed through "can I try this" "can I try that?" and the words "May it never be." Were the end response. But, then what? How can I feel whole? How can I feel satisfied in God? this is the main question the last few years that just never got answered, and why I ended up taking a risk and opening a dating app.
I'm not perfect. I'm definitely not. I need God's grace. But I don't know what to do if there's no meaningful answer to that question. A Christian counsellor even suggested that masturbation was ok because I had no other suitable outlet for temptation as a young man. She also suggested that being gay and Christian was also ok. But I always argued with her about that.
I don't have an answer here either. Is it possible to be here, and be broken, and still receive daily grace?
D.Fa
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