THE LIES OF LUST Clarity on the struggle… Just because you are attracted to someone (non-sexual), doesn't mean that you are sinning...you need to not meditate on it. (Purity) Clarity on the struggle… Heterosexuality is being attracted to the opposite sex. A man is not sinning because they are attracted to a certain woman, but they should not meditate on it to cause lustful desires, and be tempted to act on them. (Causing them to sin) Clarity on the struggle… But when attracted to the same sex, They still need their mind renewed... There also has to be a changing of a person’s nature/desires, so the desire can leave. > God can change our desires… “Will homosexuals go to hell?” “Can a Christian be a homosexual?” Let’s shift the thinking for a moment… PROBLEM = When did we get to the point in our Christian walk and our Christian beliefs, where we started try to figure out how much sin can we commit before we are "turned over" to hell? It's like asking how much junk food can I eat before I start to destroy my body? The goal is long life, and treat our bodies well... (1 Cor. 3:16 – Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit) “When did we decide that our flesh is going to dictate the success of our Christian walk?” - @DavidSWinston “Will homosexuals go to hell?” Let’s shift the thinking for a moment… Will liars go to hell? Will people having unmarried sex (heterosexual), go to hell? Will thieves and cheaters go to hell? Will blasphemers go to hell? Will murderers go to hell? Will rapists go to hell? Let's put it in the proper context...instead of indirectly insisting that God only sees us by our sexual orientation... Let's ask: “Will people who ‘received’ salvation, but are living a lifestyle of sin go to heaven or hell?” Galatians 5:24 (NLT) Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Let’s define “Christian”: “Christian” is not a person who has said a prayer, or walked down an aisle, or been raised in a Christian family. All of these things CAN be a part of the Christian experience, but they are NOT what “makes” a Christian. A Christian is a person who has, by faith, believed, received and fully trusted in Jesus Christ as the only Savior. Acts 16:31 “…Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved” Ephesians 2:8 “For by grace are you saved through faith…” A Christian is a new creation. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17 A Christian is a new creation. You are an entirely new creature as a result of being in Christ. For a Christian to “lose salvation”, the new creation would have to be canceled and reversed. A Christian is redeemed. 18 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. 1 Peter 1:18-19 A Christian is redeemed. The word “redeemed” refers to a purchase being made or a price being paid. For a Christian to lose salvation, God Himself would have to revoke His purchase that He paid for with the precious blood of Christ. A Christian is justified. Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have[a] peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, Romans 5:1 A Christian is justified. To “justify” means to “declare righteous.” All those who receive Jesus as their Savior are declared righteous by God. For a Christian to lose salvation, God would have to go back on His Word and “un-declare” what He had previously declared. A Christian is promised eternal life. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but shall have everlasting life. John 3:16 A Christian is promised eternal life. Eternal life is a promise of eternity (forever) in heaven with God. God promises, “Believe and you will have eternal life.” For a Christian to lose salvation, eternal life would have to be taken away. How then can God break this promise by taking away eternal life? Salvation cannot be reversed… BUT… The Bible declares that a true Christian will NOT live a continually immoral lifestyle… 6 Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him. 7 Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. 8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. 1 John 3:6-8 The Bible declares that anyone who departs the faith is demonstrating that he never truly was a Christian They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us. 1 John 2:19 Therefore, Christians do not continually live immoral lifestyles, nor do they reject the faith and deny Christ. Such actions are proof that they were never redeemed. Read more: http://www.gotquestions.org/Christianlose-salvation BIG QUESTION: Are they accepting sin as their lifestyle or are they fighting against it? “I can’t judge anyone to hell, but I can love someone to heaven.” (Is. 33:22) Showing them the love of God, drawing them to repentance, and having them confess Christ and accept their new nature. ROMANS 2:4 -- Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin? The evidence of a changed heart is a changed lifestyle… Repentance is not a bad word – it just signifies that you are turning away from sin, and a change is being made. We shouldn’t hide ourselves from God because we are imperfect…he knows that! There is a difference between struggling with sin, and someone willingly living in sin. Only God and that person know where they stand… “But, we don’t come to God to get rejected… we come to get perfected.” - @DavidSWinston People who are labeling themselves a “homosexual” are being defined by (sexual immorality) sin. And if you are a born again believer, you should absolutely REFUSE to be labeled and defined by sin, if you have been washed by Jesus’ blood. We can’t judge people, but we should not condone sin. It is our assignment as Kingdom representatives to represent God, and God is love (1 John 4:8). We love people to Jesus. Conviction is not our place, it’s God’s…so let’s try not to take God’s place in someone’s life. John 14:15 “If you love me, keep my commandments…” If we are going to hate sin, let’s not just hate it in someone else’s life, but let’s hate it in ours too…lust, pride, greed, lying, corrupt speech, idolatry, fornication, gossip, etc. #EliminateSin REMEMBER >> You are the RIGHTEOUSNESS of God. You have God’s nature in you! When challenged with sinful desires say out loud “I am the righteous of God.” THE LIES OF LUST www.GoHardforChrist.com