| Author | Message | ||
| Jtree |
Have I then no work to work in this great matter of my pardon? Answer: None. What work canst thou work? What work of thine can buy forgiveness or make thee fit for the Divine favor? What work has God bidden thee work in order to obtain salvation? Answer: None. His Word is very plain and easy to be understood, "To him that worketh not, but believeth in Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness" (Rom. 4:5). There is but one work by which a man can be saved. That work is not thine, but the work of the Son of God. That work is finished. What do you say? | ||
| Max |
Jtree, an old hymn springs to mind: Nothing in my hand I bring, Simply to thy cross I cling. | ||
| Denisegilmore |
The answer to the above heading: Quit Smoking??? Least ways, that's what it takes to, among other things, get baptized into the SDA Church I was attending. Although the Pastor did tell me that smoking is NOT a sin. Hmmm, I couldn't figure out why I couldn't get baptized while committing a non-sin. Ah, well, that's my answer to the question heading this topic. I'm still working on the quitting smoking part. Max, Colleen, Maryann, anyone?? I'm perplexed. Am I sinning or not. If so, is quitting a form of works especially if I don't particularly want to quit just yet? Kinda like sugar/caffiene (soda) a bit much too. Besides that, I'm probably perfect! (just joking!) God Bless all, Denise | ||
| Denisegilmore |
I had just posted the post, hit my back button clicked here and there and ran across, quite accidently, an archived thread titled: "I'm perfect and Holy, How about you." Sept 15th. I hope I got that title correct. Anyhow it's there and I am now really really wondering if the likes of me, A SMOKER, can be considered saved under the blood too. Truly a genuine question as so many denominations seem to frown on cigs but have no problems with, let's say, eating too much chocolate, drinking too much coffee, jogging in the pollution, drinking water that is out of the tap GASP! Eating at MSG galore soaked food joints, too much salt in potatoe chips eaters..lol. Okay ::sigh:: so, let's see, I'm still thinking but that is enough to get my point across I hope. Is smoking (arghh) the worst of worst? Personally I have hopes that God is bigger than my addiction but I still haven't been able to quit, rather, I've not really wanted to recently. But, when I did want to quit it was due to peer pressure and I still couldn't. Now what? I read some posts last night or night before about how focusing on our sin is a sin. I have to agree with that as it drives me to feeling tremendously anxious about something I'm truly hooked on. Besides when I focus on my non-sin or sin, whichever, I cannot adequately do the Lord's Will. It's called self centeredness, negative yes, but nonetheless it's self centered. Any opinions, thoughts? God Bless, Denise | ||
| Max |
Hi Denise, I feel sorry for the SDA pastor who told you that smoking was not a sin, yet could not baptize you. In my opinion, he has the right idea about smoking not being a sin per se, but to keep his job he has to keep the mistaken rules of his employing denomination. Mistaken rule #1: Smoking is a "test of fellowship." Mistaken rule #2: You are not baptized into Christ but into a group of people. As I see it, and my words are not Scripture, you're wondering about the wrong thing: ^^I am now really really wondering if the likes of me, A SMOKER, can be considered saved under the blood too.^^ Wonder about the right thing: "When this priest [Jesus Christ, a priest after the order of Melchizidek, not Levi] has offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool, because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy." Hebrews 10:12-14 NIV. Ergo, if you "are being made holy," you are perfect. Conversely, "We have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." Hebrews 10:10 NIV. Now, since the ONLY criterion for salvation, perfection, holiness and sinlessness is raw belief on the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, you -- if you believe -- are both: 1. Holy and "being made holy" at the same time. 2. Perfect and "being made perfect" at the same time. Or "saint" and "sinner" at the same time. This is another one of those beautiful scriptural paradoxes. You ARE saved, holy, perfect and sinless right now and forever in Christ. This is your birthright and NOBODY can take it away from you. And smoking? That's between you and your Creator. Thanking God for you, Denise, Max of the Cross | ||
| Shereen |
Denise, Let me tell you, you are saved because of Jesus. You could be smoking, doing drugs, drinking etc. and still be saved. As long as you reach out to Jesus and lay in His arms, He will do what ever it is that you need Him to do to make everything perfect for you. Let me give you a bit about my history as an example. In 1976 I was just married and off the streets. I had been into drugs and prostitution. I was molested a few times in my young years and turned to drugs to escape. I was brought up Catholic but baptised into the SDA's in 1977. My husband beat me and messed around on me all the time so that marriage lasted 2 years and I found myself back on the street, smoking, prostituting myself and doing any drugs I could possibly get my hands on. I cried to God many many times and tried several times, almost succeeding, to kill myself. People were praying for me so I survived much to my chagrin. I met a humorous man in the bar and laughed for the first time in years. I lived with this man for 19 years and had two children with him. He was into drugs and drinking big time but I was back at church and praying for his salvation. He used to come to church drunk and drag my children out. I was sinking farther and farther into despair. The church wouldn't put my name on the books because I was "living in sin". In the directory they had me as a friend of the church. I started and ran a soup kitchen through our church but some didn't want me to do that because they considered me not truly a SDA. They wanted me to either leave my man or get married to him. He wouldn't marry me and I had a couple of children to take care of. Finally, he got so bad that he almost died. I left the church and started to get lost on the internet getting involved in all kinds of things. Still, I prayed for help all the time. One year went by as we waited for a liver transplant for him. He was now a dry drunk and very mean. He had no energy but would say and do horrible things to the children and myself. My little sister was getting involved heavily in drugs at the time and I decided to try crack with her. Almost immediately I was forgetting all about my children and everything else in life and just doing crack. I loved and hated it. I needed more money so I emptied all our accounts and even forged a couple cheques. When he went for the liver transplant, I stayed home and got high. When he got out, we moved to a cheaper place and I got totally lost in drugs. I had alot of people praying for me around the clock. I renounced God and prayed to satan, promised my allegiance to satan if I could only get more money for drugs. I never got the money because too many people were praying for me and there were too many road blocks. Around this time, I met a wonderful, straight man. I was cleaning up on my own, without rehap. because that would have been too embarassing. This man helped me alot. I tried suicide one more time but was rushed to the hospital. That was totally embarassing and I never did that again. I started to pray for forgiveness again. I kicked out my childrens father and started to work in an office. I stayed clean but was still smoking a pack a day. I started to be a mother to my children again. I fell inlove with this new man but fought it. I prayed and prayed to God to close the doors to this new relationship if it was not in His will. The doors kept opening though and finally we got married. We got pregnant and I was in my 40's by then. Scary! I am so blessed now with a loving wonderful husband, a new baby and two exceptional older children ages 15(pink hair) and 12. I am now trying very hard to get right with God again. Through all this, I was still in total belief of all that SDA's stood for. I am having an even harder time getting over all my belief system than I did changing my life around. Through all this, God still loved me and still cried for me. He held me very close even at my worst. He never did give up on me. He loves you now and will never give up on you even when you are out smoking and buying cartons of smokes. No matter what you are doing or thinking or feeling, God is still the same God that he always was and always will be. His love is not conditional. | ||
| Patti |
Denise, If the kingdom of heaven is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, then I think it is very safe to say that the kingdom of heaven is not about smoking or not smoking either. As far as you addiction is concerned, 3 things: 1. Separate your addiction from your spiritual life; the two are not related 2. Accept yourself as being weak in the flesh--we all are! Everyone has sinned and continues to fall short of the glory of God. But you know what is good about being weak: His strength is made perfect in our weakness. We do not have to save ourselves; we are perfectly and 100% righteous in Jesus Christ. And no one can snatch us out of His hand. 3. As for your smoking, simply work on it, but not frenetically. Sometimes the more we focus on a habit, the harder it is to break. Now I am not an authority on smoking, because I have never smoked. But I do have other addictions. And I have found the best way to break a habit is by distraction. Doing something that you enjoy, for example, in which situation you absolutely cannot smoke. And don't hesitate to ask for help. THIS IS NOT A MORAL ISSUE, it is a physical one. You are not morally deficient simply because you smoke. Jesus Christ has done everything for your eternal destiny; you need not worry about being accepted by God if you believe in Him. But in the meantime, living in a sinful world in sinful flesh means that there are always character traits that we can work on to improve our temporal existence. 4. Do not feel alone. Statistics show it takes the average smoker 23 years to quit. My sweet hubby is struggling with this right now. So my sincerest empathy is with you. Just remember: This is not a salvific issue. You are not less of a child of God because you have a physical addiction. God bless you in this life; you are right that trying to break this habit is not worth devoting your life to. Pour yourself into your family and friends and things you have a passion for, and do not let smoking or trying to quit drive your life. God is with you. Grace and peace, Patti | ||
| Maryann |
Hi Shereen, Wow!!! What a story! I'm sooooooo happy you shared! I'm so happy you had the strength to share;-)) To everyone, Shereen is an example of the "fruits of the Spirit!" This is what I'm trying to get across to some. A radical change in a persons life makes others look and say, "what changed your life? Tell me about it!" When one has been in a Chrurch all their lives and finds that they were "White Lied" to and switch belief systems is a lot different (OUTWARDLY) to the change that happened in Shereen's life. I had hit the world with a thud too and can sooooooo relate to Shereen. When God changes your life, PEOPLE SEE A DIFFERENCE!!!!!! Shereen.....Please e-write me gogold@quixnet.net We have lots and lots of things to talk about;-)) With a life changed by GOD......Maryann | ||
| Susan |
Shereen, like Maryann I too am glad you shared. I was blessed by your story. What glory to God that he saves any of us, huh? My heart goes out to you for what you had to struggle with. It was simply by God's grace, that you were able to get through all of those tramatic experiences. And what a witness you are to his saving power! Thanking God for you Shereen! Susan | ||
| Denisegilmore |
WOW! I had no idea that the very scriptures that kept rolling around in my head and that I would cling to, would be posted today. Especially in light of the subject of smoking. I have to believe that our Lord is leading me through my walk because it doesn't matter what question I have in my heart, it's answered. Sometimes at night I try to sleep but have question upon question in my heart and I can always count on seeing an answer in the Bible, on this forum, in a magazine or hear someone speak of the very things I was questioning. This has been happening to me since I opened my Bible last year. It's truly amazing, awesome, fantastic and wonderful! Max, I cannot thank you enough for the scripture you put up there. That happened to be one of my questions yesterday (in my mind). I kept wondering who this Melchizidek was. I asked a Pastor last year and he didn't give me an answer, rather, it was avoided. I kept thinking, it has to be God as He had no beginning or ending of days. Here you are today, posting an answer to yet another question as well as applying it, as I did, to this topic of Salvation. God Bless you Max. Shereen, your experience in life is really really something I can relate to. I'm so grateful that you are on this forum as it confirmed to me that there are others here that have been there done that. I know now that nomatter what I've done there is someone here that knows the kinda of hell that sort of life was. May God richly Bless you and your family. I'm so glad he lead you to this forum. I'm so self centered that I really believe it was not just for others you are here but especially for me. Thank you and our Lord for your courage to post what you did. Had it not been posted I would have thought I was alone as far as past life experiences. Patti, I kept stating that same verse to others! Especially when I was being judged in matters of meat eating, smoking etc., it's not surprising you picked that particular verse as God is in control. I love it when He shows me he's still with me. I thank you so much for your encouragement and words from your heart that lead me to even more tears of joy. Part of me felt condemned due to others continued barking at me regarding these matters and then I would pick up the Bible and find that God said I'm saved. The words or the Bible stayed with me and nomatter what condemnation I was feeling it would be over-ruled by the Lord's Word. Still, I had to asked such a question as I'm sure there are many others out there lurking that smoke and feel condemned. May the Lord Bless you with Peace. Maryann, I've seen your posts and understand that you have a correct understanding (according to my limited understanding) that is correct as far as a changed life. My life has been so dramatically changed in all kinds of areas, not to my own boasting but to the Holy Spirits working in my desires, wants et-cetera. I agree that ones life does change when the Holy Spirit is listened to. Currently I have been pretty much disowned by family, friends and most Church members due to this change. My family call me a religious fanatic, my friends can't understand how when I was a homosexual at one time that I could be completely not homosexual now. That's one example of a MAJOR change in lifestyle. The Church members come right out and call me the antichrist, apostate, heretic and a whole lot more. I have had my life threatened, a home stolen from me, and completely abandoned by many due to the changes that have come about, NOT by my doing but I believe with all my heart, mind and soul, that the LORD CHANGES LIVES. God Bless you and give you peace. Keep standing on the solid Rock. Well, I've just devulged a BIG BIG part of my life walk with my real name in lights to boot. When I was asked to give a testimony of how the Lord changed my life, I was told that probably not mentioning my gay lifestyle of the past was the best thing. However, the Apostle Paul in talking to the Corinths had mentioned that some of them were also gay. I felt it is my duty that if I am to give a testimony on how the Lord changes us, that it is most important that I include a part of life that nobody wants to talk about or hear. The Lord changes lives, I have NOOO doubt. Just ask me! :) God Bless you all. | ||
| Denisegilmore |
I need to add one thing. The Apostle Paul in talking to the Corinths, is talking past tense. In other words, he is mentioning to them what they WERE (past tense). He is not advocating homosexuality rather he is preaching and teaching against it as it should be (in my limited knowledge). I Corinthians 6:9-11 "Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders, nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you WERE. 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." I have a male friend who is gay, he is trying to defend his position because in this scripture Paul says 'homosexual offenders'. My friend says he doesn't offend i.e. he doesn't force himself on others. This is what he believes Paul meant. I'm not of that opinion but what is my opinion? This should probably be another thread but then again, if Salvation is the topic and Paul says that certain types of people will not inherit the Kingdom of God, then perhaps it is fitting that it is here. Any thoughts? God Bless, Denise | ||
| Max |
Denise, You wrote, ^^The Lord changes lives, I have NOOO doubt. Just ask me! :)^^ That's the best message I've ever heard! And I keep hearing if from different people. Praise God for changing our lives! Max of the Cross | ||
| Terry |
Wow! Thanks Denise and Shereen. I am so thankful that salvation is a gift from God, independent of my lifestyle. I am 4th generation SDA...I blew out of the church and Christianity at age 14, did every illegal drug known to man, sex with many, many women for over 18 years...came back to the SDA church, and was never at peace. Now, that I have had the veil removed, I understand that prescious assurance that I never had. I am currently addicted to pain meds. I have tried and tried to quit, each time failed miserabley. I pray every day that God will remove this destructive habit. I still face it...yet I know that He still loves me (sometimes it is soo hard to believe). Terry | ||
| Maryann |
Hi Terry, It seems to me that God changed your life;-)) Do your "former" friends see a change in your life and ever ask what made the change. JESUS CHANGES LIVES! (.) Maryann | ||
| Terry |
Hi Maryann, Yes, God has changed my life, in the sense that I now understand the Gospel and a GREAT deal more of Scripture than before. I have peace and assurance...never had that before. I have one friend who really noticed the change in me THE DAY it happened...when I really got it! Unfortunately, she is so controlled by fear-SDA-control, that she won't even explore the possibilty that I have something that she wants. Several other of my "former" friends have shunned me (historic type) completely, out of fear. If it wasn't so sad , it would be really funny. Another very close SDA friend has been very gracious, and keeps praying for my redemption back to "the Church." Terry |
