I'm a former recovering pornography addict and I've been fighting my imaginations and failing miserably to fight my passions and I fear my ever drawing closer to backsliding and I'm too embarrassed to bring it up to other Christians and I've found nothing but love and encouragement on this board. Please someone pray for me? I've been caught in the lust of the flesh and I just feel broken and cast down and feel the desire to hang in the towel. My failure of self control has left me contrite and ashamed and I don't know where else to go. I can't see how Jesus can have patience on me when that's a sin I used to be a repeat offender in and I've slipped quite a bit these past few months with no one to confide and confess to. Not the physical act of porn but the imaginations and self gratification and masturbatory nature thereof. It's an addiction I've been very open with with fellow believers in my circle but given my recent slipping backwards I'm just too ashamed to say it to them. Forgive the shitpost please. I just don't even feel Jesus wants to put up with me anymore. Which I know is a lie but when you fall into sin it's hard to believe He can forgive an offense been forgiven before. Apologies if for any unsightliness I may have caused by sharing.
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Jesus already forgave our past/ present/ future sins. No we don't have to follow the commandments as we are no longer under the law. We are under grace now, praise the Lord! :) The only way to live a life without sin is to understand God's unmerited favor, His grace; that all our sins are already forgiven. Not because of your works, but because of the finished work of Jesus at the cross.
Saying we no longer have to follow the commandments would mean I could steal or rape or worship other gods... that to me is not being a Christian. If I do those things and am not sorry, that to me is a disconnect. Jesus also said “Whose sins you shall forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you shall retain are retained.” Yes, Jesus has paid all our sins in full; but that doesn’t mean we get free reign to do whatever we want, and to sin as much and as freely as we wish with no remorse for our actions. I apologize to the original poster that this has somehow turned into a completely different conversation. I think this would be a much better conversation over a glass of wine on a patio somewhere. I’m glad you have Jesus in your life. I do as well, and I find great joy and peace in my faith and the ability to confess my sins, hear forgiveness from Christ himself through the priests he has ordained, and to have the ability to work towards being a better person in my life. I’m sure you find great comfort in your faith as well. Blessings to you!
Thank you very much for your kind comment, anon!
I do agree with your above statement, however, I just feel the need to clarify something: I never said to go out and live a sinful life. In fact, I said that the only way to live a life without sin is through grace, not the law. We don't need a mix of law and grace, grace is more than enough. When we are under the law we focus on sin, while under grace we focus on God's love. Once one understands that there is no condemnation the accuser has no power anymore about you. You don't feel guilty anymore and therefore you don't focus on sin.
So we both really have the same goal, to live a life without sin and to live in Christ. Our flesh can never be without sin, so we should not trust on our own works but on the finished work of Jesus. Also wonderful to hear that you have a close relationship with Jesus! God bless you!
Agreed, we definitely both have the same ultimate goal. I will just add thank goodness for faith during this craziness of the world, right? My priest always says, “When the world spins out of control, keep your eyes fixed on the cross. The cross always stands still.” :) Thanks for your follow-up, fren. God bless you too!
What a nice quote indeed. Yes, the world gets darker and darker... but God's church always has light! While the Egyptians had total darkness the Jews still had light; it's very similar for us now, praise the Lord! I believe in God for many years, but only some weeks ago I truly realized what Jesus did for me at the cross. Before that Jesus didn't play a significant role in my faith. So the beginning of my comment is very true for me personally; in the midst of darkness and evil I had my biggest faith revolution. How cool is that? :D
We will get through this.