This seems to be a dichotomy...please help

[kalel76]

Are you saying I’m not repentant? I love Jesus and feel that I’m not worthy of His love. But I would like to think that Jesus forgives me for being human and having human weaknesses. I cannot stress enough that I love Jesus and try to be a good Christian. Don’t say that I am un-repentant and I’m asking for a free ride…

I never said you were unrepentant. It’s just that you have a misplaced idea that Jesus handed out forgiveness for everyone, when that really isn’t the case. I would like to think that Jesus would forgive me the moment I sinned as well, but it doesn’t reflect the way Jesus actually works.

 

[Asker20]

Oh well, I guess I’m going to burn in hell…thanks for all your support guys. Nothing like organized religion to make somebody feel like s-h-i-t just for being human. Jesus taught in the Bible that he was forgiving to people who accepted his forgiveness, but I guess a bunch of kooks on an Internet message board know what God is about more than Jesus does.

By the way–if I do go to hell, I’ll see you all there, because castigating people is a “mortal” sin as well…

 

[Langdell]

Oh well, I guess I’m going to burn in hell…thanks for all your support guys. Nothing like organized religion to make somebody feel like s-h-i-t just for being human. Jesus taught in the Bible that he was forgiving to people who accepted his forgiveness, but I guess a bunch of kooks on an Internet message board know what God is about more than Jesus does.

By the way–if I do go to hell, I’ll see you all there, because castigating people is a “mortal” sin as well…

Did you read my post?

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[Asker20]

I read your post, Langdell–I appreciate it. My problem is with these fringe kooks on here who think that they are God and have the right to say whose going to hell. I dealt with these idiots for 8 years in Catholic school and want no more to do with it–especially since they go against Christ’s teachings. Christ taught that he was forgiving to those who are truly sorry…It was the Pharisees who castigated people–and they were the people who Jesus disliked.

 

[Langdell]

Good luck with your issues. I hope it doesn’t cause you to leave the Church, even if you feel as though you don’t fit in. I left the Church for many years, and I missed out on a lot of spiritual comfort as a result. God loves you and understands you better than anyone else.

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[Asker20]

Good luck with your issues. I hope it doesn’t cause you to leave the Church, even if you feel as though you don’t fit in. I left the Church for many years, and I missed out on a lot of spiritual comfort as a result. God loves you and understands you better than anyone else.

I don’t want to fit into a Church that believes that God does not forgive. I love God and I don’t need anybody to tell me that I am shunned by Him. I’d rather stick to reading the Bible and praying to Him than listen to these morons tell me how unworthy I am of His love.

 

[cargau]

Hey Asker:
i feel ya man and i’ll try to help ya out here. i think you’re mixed up because you’ve been trying to get your answer from men and its really in the bible. Remember in Jn. 3:16 Jesus says those who believe are not condemned (judged). Why not? Because our sin has already been judged at the cross! Most people fail to understand this. No court can judge a thing twice. You only get one shot at it. Once you repent, sin is over and done with. Some will of course tell you that only counts for your past sins and not the future ones. But guess what? At the cross, ALL your sins were future! The one who the Son sets free is free indeed! You are trully free, man! Tell that to the devil!

I wouldn’t bet my soul on that!

Let’s understand what the Church teaches about sin as it relates to judgement.

The Church identifies certain actions or deeds as being as “grave” or “serious” matter. That means that if one commits the act with full knowledge of the gravity of the act, they are in real danger of seriously offending God.

God cares how we treat Him and each other. Your actions will ultimately chronicle exactly how much you love God. If you think that love is about just “feelings” and actions don’t matter, talk to your spouse.

Heaven is reserved for those who genuinely love God. Tell me all you want about John 3:16, if you don’t love with your actions, you’re nothing but a phoney.

 

[kalel76]

Oh well, I guess I’m going to burn in hell…thanks for all your support guys.

Don’t expect support when you are looking for permission rather than forgiveness.

Nothing like organized religion to make somebody feel like s-h-i-t just for being human.

I think it’s you who’s making yourself feel this way. Forgiveness is always obtainable, no matter what you do.

Jesus taught in the Bible that he was forgiving to people who accepted his forgiveness

But forgiveness was never unconditional, Read John 20 for confirmation of this. When Jesus appeared before the apostles, he said: “Receive the holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” John 20:22-23. If forgiveness was as freely given as you put it, why on earth would Jesus give the apostles the power to retain (or not forgive) a sin?

 

[Asker20]

Its a good thing you arent a sinner, Kalel, because if you were then me and you would be in the same boat. I thought the church was supposed to be a hospital for sinners–not a place that shuns weak people. I am a weak person who loves Jesus. I was taught that Jesus loved sinners. But according to you people there is no hope for me.

Some people on this board are so far from Christ-like it is unbelievable.

 

[kalel76]

Its a good thing you arent a sinner, Kalel, because if you were then me and you would be in the same boat. I thought the church was supposed to be a hospital for sinners–not a place that shuns weak people. I am a weak person who loves Jesus. I was taught that Jesus loved sinners. But according to you people there is no hope for me.

Some people on this board are so far from Christ-like it is unbelievable.

Of course, I’m a sinner. And yes, the Church is a hospital for sinners. All hospitals prescribe medicine and give sound advise on how to stay physically healthy. The Church does the same thing spiritually, only it’s medicine is the Sacraments (one of which happens to be reconciliation) and as far as sound advise goes, there are abundant materials on staying spiritually healthy.

No body on this board has said that there is no hope for you, except you.

 

[pickguard1]

Jesus does love all sinners and does condemn all sin. He will forgive anyone who is sorry for their sins. But this life is what we have (to work out our salvation, that is)- if we sin in this life, we must be sorry in this life to be forgiven for that sin. To die in a state of sin wihtout having repented of it is to die in a state of rejection of God. So, it’s not Jesus who rejects the sinners, it’s the sinners who reject Jesus.

 

[pickguard1]

You’re painting me into a corner, Shin. I’ll say it again, Jesus forgave people who were sorry. If I die after masturbating, why would God send me to hell? I try to be a good guy and I love Jesus–I go to Mass every week. I’d like to think He is a forgiving guy and not a Pharisee like those He condemned.

Are you sorry for masturbating? That’s the question. To be truly sorry, you have to make a real attempt at reforming your life. You may fail, but just because you fail doesn’t mean you don’t have to keep trying to correct sinful behavior. Jesus is forgiving, but he can’t forgive those who don’t want to be forgiven.

It sounds like you want to justify your behavior as out of your control. To some extent it may be (that is not for me to determine). But, to the extent that it IS in your control, you are responsible for any willful action you take that is sinful or leads you to sin. For example, do you put yourself in positions that make it easier to commit this sin? (i.e. looking at inappropriate pictures/movies) If you do, that is definitely under your control, and you can’t blame that on hormones.

Mostly, though, you need to be honest with yourself - pray to God that he will give you the Grace to recognize your sins and the behavior/environment that leads to them so that you can avoid doing again altogether. If you don’t do it, you have nothing to worry about being sorry for.