Assurance when Praying!!

You can learn a lot about a person by listening to their prayers.  What prayers often reveal is a lack of confidence in God.  Even praying in Elizabethan English can be an indication of someone lacking confidence, as some feel that addressing God with such words (thy, thou, whilst, beseech, thine, preserveth, heareth) increases the chance of being heard, as they feel such words are of utmost reverence where God will be truly honored by the 1611 KJV.

I have not met too many people who struggle with assurance in prayer who also does not struggle with assurance of salvation.  How a person views prayer is often how they view God in salvation.  If God seems distant from you when you pray on your knees then I bet He seems just as distant from you off your knees as well.

If you believe in “in-and-out of fellowship” then struggling in prayer can be a side effect of such an erroneous belief.  You are always wondering if there is some unconfessed sin in your life.  I meet people all the time believing God would not answer their prayers because they had a bad day with sin, and God would be reluctant to hear and answer their prayers. If they are angry with someone (co-worker, boss, spouse, parent, friend) then they feel that they cannot pray until the anger is first gone or God will not regard their prayers. They often go sin searching, “Oh God, if there be any unconfessed sin in my life then show me.”  If God wanted to answer that question then the person would actually be overwhelmed what their self-righteous eyes overlook daily. 

When I hear a person pray, “Oh God, hear my prayer” is a person praying under OT conditions.  This is assuming that God just might not be listening to the likes of that person, and religion loves quoting Psalm 66:18 that they force into NT passages.  They wickedly mix OT conditional blessings into the NT unconditional blessings. They always throw a bucket of cold water on the fire.

The problem people have in prayer is that they view answered prayer as a reward for good behavior.  God is now compared to the parent who demands the room cleaned before you can go out and play.  If you are not striving to be righteous, and if you have any unconfessed sin in your life then do not expect God to hear or answer your prayers is what they claim.  I have to say the opposite, and that is, if you are “trying” to be holy and righteous in order to have answered prayer is to never have answered prayer.  If you are first fulfilling conditions to have prayers answered is to have prayers go unanswered. 

Books are written on how to pray and get them answered that have proven to be worthless.  I bought many books on prayer, but you will finish reading them thinking that the reason the book did not bring about answered prayer was due to something in your life or some lack in your obedience.   You will be praying as I once did, “Oh God!  Where are you?  Please, do not hide your face from me.  Did I do something wrong?  Is there some sin I committed?  Was it that bad sin I did 2 years ago?  Are you testing my faith?”

You will hear people pray putting emphasis at the end of the prayer to hopefully prove to themselves that they have faith in that God will answer them.  Faith to them is currency before God where if you have enough of it then God just might answer you.  Prayers often end with, “You (Jesus) said that if two or more are gathered together in ((YOUR)) name, that not only are you in our midst, but that (((WE SHALL))) have what we asked for.  We pray these things in (((JESUS NAME))) trusting you for meeting our needs today.  Amen and Amen.”   These sort of prayers are for the arousing of feelings inside a person to hopefully confirm that they are believing, as their feelings are their so-called confirmation. 

Often people end prayers with repetitive “Lord, I believe you…I thank you for answering my prayer…I know you hear me….”  I am not saying there is anything wrong with those words, but people often are saying them repeatedly to arouse feelings within themselves so as to convince God that they really do believe Him.  Again, they believe prayers are only answered if they can arouse enough faith, so they resort to repetition to hopefully make themselves believe that they are believing. This is nothing more than faith in one's own faith.

Most of us have experienced the prayers that seem to go no higher than the ceiling.  People that struggle with prayers that seem to go no higher than the ceiling also tend to struggle with feelings in general.  They tend to question the God who “feels” distant.  They tend to question God’s love.  They tend to question God’s forgiveness.  I believe this is a struggle most of us have gone through, but it is the result of our examining ourselves for merit and not finding enough.  It is also our failure to see ourselves "in Him."

The doubt we experience in our prayer life often coincides with our lack of confidence in God for our salvation.  Yes, believers can have assurance of salvation but also lack assurance in prayers, but such people often do not enjoy the grace walk, as everything is based on their performance. However, majority that struggle in prayer often struggle with assurance of salvation.

Lack of assurance in prayer can be a sign of legalism too.  Anything you think can help increase your chances of getting prayers answered is legalism in my opinion.  You will find religion will mix OT with the NT to get a conditional view of prayer.  Let me ask you, do you find it easier to get on your knees if you had a good day being obedient by your definition to God?  If you have a bad sinful day then do you find it hard to drop to your knees?   Do you really believe you are approaching God on the merits of His Son only by answering yes to either one of those questions? 

When you pray, it is not you approaching God on ANY of your merits.  If your sins must be confessed, and you must be living an upright life then you are approaching God based on your performance (merit).  “God, I helped an old lady cross the street.  I gave Fred the mailman a gospel tract today.  I worked as hard as I could today at work even when the boss was not looking.  I did my best to refrain from sin as much as possible.  I even was nice to my spouse too.  I confessed my sins, so let me now ask you for the following…..” They now feel confident asking for anything because of their self-righteousness.

Again, the reason why people struggle in prayer is because they approach God based on their own merit.  You will find in most cases that such people tend to question their salvation based on their merit too. 

We have our prayers heard and answered because we are “in Him.”  You are members of His body, so when you pray is as though Jesus is praying that prayer on your behalf.  Get out of OT law of conditional blessings, and this should clear up for you.  I am in Christ, and He is in me, and that is why I can approach God with the utmost confidence.  I no longer have to see myself as detached from Him for ANY period of time, as I am ALWAYS in fellowship with Him 24/7.  To sense alienation or detachment in prayer is an indication of a serious error in your theology.  It does not mean you are not saved, but it means that you have bought into the lie of religion.

Jesus promised answered prayer, but religion will always read conditions back into scripture.  Look at John 15:16:

Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

I have done a blog on John 15:1-6, and how fruit here was not external obedient acts we are mustering up.  Fruit is something that God can see, and it is something produced “in us” that is always for “others” around us.  Fruit can be something seen by others, and it can be something that only God can see. You might be bearing fruit as small as raisins, but there will always be a believer needing those raisins you have to offer. 

However, religion reads John 15:16 and will tell you that you must be out bearing fruit that they define as external good works, and then God just might hear and answer your prayers.  They claim that you need to love your neighbor, be obedient, and abstain from sin for answered prayer, but that teaching of religion leads to legalism and phonyism.  You are now earning your answered prayer according to religion.  This is nonsense religion uses to manipulate people. 

The only people who bear fruit are those who were made clean (John 15:3).  You cannot bear fruit and not simultaneously be clean.  Being clean is not “in fellowship” one moment and out of it the next sort of nonsense, but it was referring to one belonging to Him (see my blog on John 15:1-6). 

The one that has believed is the one that such a promise of answered prayer is for.  Look at John 14:12-14:

¹² Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

¹³ And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

¹⁴ If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

Now some might argue that the above does not apply to believers today “dispensationally.”  I am not here arguing that prayers today can raise the dead and so on, but am simply making a point.  The context of the above is that answered prayer is to those that have believed on Him.  There is nothing in the above about, “Make sure you are in fellowship.  Make sure your sins are all confessed.  Make sure you are living above reproach and striving to abstain from sin.”  You will find religion preaching conditions that simply are not there.  Grab any book on how you are to have answered prayer, and you will see steps to follow and conditions for you to meet before your prayers can supposedly be answered.

In John 16, we read again about answered prayer without conditions of behavioral modification.  Verses 23-24 reads:

²³ And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.

²⁴ Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.

The apostle Paul never instructed a person to modify their behavior or confess sins to have answered prayer.  Paul nowhere claimed that lack of answered prayer was due to poor performance or unconfessed sin.  This should make anyone question the works oriented prayer life religion has been dumping into the heads of people.  Answered prayer is enjoyed just like receiving Christ, and that is by faith APART FROM WORKS!!!  Paul challenged the Galatians in 3:5:

He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 

Miracles back then were NEVER the result of behavioral modification or confession of sins.  It was by the simple “hearing of faith.” 

Religion will claim that prayers can be hindered in our age of grace, as they quote 1^st Peter 3:7:

Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.

I am amazed as to how they read that as now saying, “that your prayers be not hindered by God” in the above verse when God is nowhere in the context of answering prayers.  Such teachings only come from performance based religion.  They come before God with their own merit in prayer.  The prayers James was addressing would be theirs as a family, as they are heirs “together” of the grace of life.  Not honoring the wife can be an indication of a failure to understand Ephesians 5 about Christ being the head and loving the church.  The man is to love his wife in a similar fashion, as he is to give himself to her, and not this worldly “give and take” and “50/50” nonsense, and treat her as a doormat that I personally seen in the IFB movement.  Live together as being heirs of the grace of life, and not in a manner that would obstruct prayers.  The context all has to do with avoiding strife, contentions, and other problems, and not some 10 step program to answered prayer.  The word “hindered” refers to something being stopped, so it is talking about the "prayers" being stopped, and not the "answers" of them.

If sin hinders prayer then why were the Corinthians never told that?  Where are they ever told to confess sin for answered prayer?  It is amazing as to how much emphasis today is upon sin and its confession when the carnal Corinthians were never once instructed to do what religion heavily enforces upon people today. 

It is amazing, but I once believed listening to music with a beat would keep God from answering my prayers.  I had to follow the rules and then maybe God would answer my prayers.  Thanks religion, as it was you who were behind my years of misery in the Christian life, as I was always trying to measure up to your god of conditions.  I was always looking at my so-called righteousness to see if maybe God would listen to the likes of me.

Paul told us to “pray always” and that was certainly hard years ago for me when I held to performance based Christianity.  I found it hard to even pray for 10 minutes a day.  If I did pray for 10 minutes then it was all about woeful me and my miserable performance before God, and how I was so unworthy to have Him consider the likes of my requests.  I often got up from my knees doubting that God would even answer me, because it seemed that all of my other prayers went unanswered too.  Let's just say that prayer was at the bottom of my to-do list, as staring at the fish in the aquarium was more interesting at the time.

I have done a blog that covered the first half of James 5:16.  The latter half of the verse is quoted by many in religion, “…The effectual fervent prayer of the righteous man availeth much.”  People define “righteous man” as one that is upright in behavior.  No, you believer are the “righteous man” in Him.  I do hope you count your righteousness as dung, and not trying to lay it on some altar before God for answered prayer.  Again, you are the righteous man, as it is His righteousness that you are robed in.  Just look at the man James goes on to quote in verse 17:

Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.

He quotes an ordinary man like Elijah, as James said that he “was a man subject to the like passions as we are….”  He was not saying Elijah was so righteous to shame our behavior where if we pattern ourselves after him is to experience answered prayer.  No, Elijah was just like us, as he too was an ordinary man subject to the same passions as we are, as James never preached some so-called external righteousness of Elijah.  Elijah was righteous because he was a man who believed God.   No instruction at all on how to have answered prayer here.  This is how legalism works its ugly head into our prayer lives.  I have had people ask me to pray for them because they think my prayers would be heard before theirs would ever be.  I have seen people that will have their pastor pray for them because they believe their pastor is God’s big buddy, and what he prays for will have a far better chance than theirs to being answered, so they think.  These are people viewing God as rewarding those who live the best, but they are such people living a horrible boring legalistic prayer life.

You must realize that you are “in Him” when you pray.  It is not that Jesus left for another planet when you are praying, but your prayers are received as though Jesus Christ was praying that very prayer.  It has nothing to do with your righteousness, but everything to do with His!  This is why we can come boldly before His throne.  This is why Paul said to pray always.  Prayer is powerful, but people view it as a chore.   It is a chore because religion made them feel it was a command to do.  I have had people claim to doubt their salvation because they feel so cold and dead in their prayer life.  They fear that this could be proving they are not saved.  No, it is proving that religion has taught them to approach God on their merits even though religion would try denying that claim.

I went a little long on pointing out how religion makes prayer legalistic, but when we can see that we are “in Him” when we pray, and that prayer has nothing to do with our merits then prayer can be a joy.  Our faith is no longer in ourselves and what it is we do or do not do.  This is why people struggle to believe and that is because everything has been turned into a work and that includes their faith too.  I do not need a lot of faith to have prayers answered, but rather, I can have faith the size of a mustard seed in the Person my prayers go through.   Stop your pathetic prayers of “I am so unworthy.  I am so rotten.  I am so sinful.  Oh God, hear me please.”  Your prayers are “in Him,” so your prayers can never be pathetic.  You will find that seeing yourself in Him when praying can also affect your assurance of salvation. 

I sent out a mini-devotional last night that was behind me writing this blog, and I will share most of it now with you with some additions.  Your prayers are going before the Father "in Him."  It is no longer you having to worry what frame of mind you are in.  It is no longer you worrying about the state of your emotions.  It is no longer you having to worry about sin or lack of works.  No, your prayers are as though Jesus is praying it Himself before the Father even though it is you praying that prayer.  God does not look down and simply see you praying, but rather you praying because you have ALL things in Christ, as you are now entitled to them, as God gives all things freely "in Him."

You have an absolute right to come before the Father because of Christ your representative.  So God never looks at you and says, "Hmm, I do not think I want to listen to the likes of you.  I am not too happy with your behavior at the moment.  You have unconfessed sin.  You were ashamed of me when you did not pass out that gospel tract today."  None of those things could ever be true again of you. It is as though Jesus Christ just prayed your prayer.  You can realize that your prayers are heard just as much as when Jesus prayed walking the earth.  God is not up there saying, “Yes, I might have answered my Son’s prayer, but I am not in the mood to answer the likes of you.”   Your prayers are received with the same joy and anticipation that God had with His Son, and it has NOTHING to do with how good you are behaving at the moment.  You could have just sinned horribly, but God still hears your prayer with such a joyful pleasure, as your sins were already dealt with.  Nothing is hindering you but you.  It would only be you bringing your so-called good works or feelings before God in prayer to hopefully be heard.  That is not faith!

You are praying “through Him,” so no longer approach God on your merits.  Such a thought ought to explode faith in your very being to pray without fear of not being heard or answered.  Most times, believers approach God in prayer as though answers are based on how well one is living, or if one can conjure up enough faith.  We are members of His body, so when we pray it is as though we are there in the very presence of God in heaven, and Jesus is the one saying exactly what is on our hearts.  Remember, our prayers are like incense in the nostrils of God (Revelation 5:8). Also, we too are seated in the heavenly places "in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2:6).

There are reasons why believers do not have answered prayer, but I shared one big piece of the puzzle why.  If you come to God laying before Him your works, your sins, your supposed strong faith then you will walk away empty handed.  Remember, faith can never be in itself or in you.  It is sad, but many are trying to “feel” faith working inside them, and that is showing a faith that is not in Christ when praying.  I am able to approach God on the merits of Another, and I know that I have what I ask because I ask according to His will.  I am in Him, and He is in me.  I have the God-head dwelling in my 24/7, so my prayers are ever before Him even before I utter a word, as He knows what I am going to say before the first word forms on my lips (Psalm 139:4). 

Let me say one thing that I discovered in my own personal experience.  When my prayers began reflecting coming to God “in Christ” apart from ANY merit in me was when my faith began to grow.  I did not have instantaneous strong faith when praying or even in Him, but I found my faith was certainly growing stronger, as faith will grow strong in you too.  Faith can NEVER grow strong if it is rooted in your self-efforts, feelings, performance, religion, or even in faith itself, because those things can never remain unshakable.  If your faith is in the right soil (Christ) then expect it to truly grow.  You are praying “in Him” as you are a member of “His body,” so when you pray is you praying “through Him.”  That is where your faith is to be and never on your lifestyle.  This also helps tune the mind to the God of all grace where we finally leave all our merits and so-called good works behind, and simply have faith in Him, and no longer in our performance.

You have been "blessed with all spiritual blessings in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 1:3), so enjoy what is yours by faith, and stop trying to earn what is already yours.  Answered prayer has nothing to do with how much faith you have, but rather in the Person your faith rests.  It has nothing to do with how many good works you have done or how well you have abstained from sin this week. To have doubts is often a sign that your faith has been resting in what it is you do or do not do.  Again, our prayers are as though Jesus is praying for us, as we are praying in and through Him.  Everything we have is due to Him and never our efforts.  Enjoy what is already yours by faith.

Ephesians 2:10 Good works prove you are saved?

Does Ephesians 2:10 teach that you will have good works if you are saved?  I have noticed that just quoting Ephesians 2:8-9 alone often upsets legalists, as they often want me to know that “not of works” is not exactly what I think it means.  They will quote verse 10 and will claim that if you are saved then you will “do” good works (externals).  Good works to them are a validation of your salvation. 

The one problem with the opponents beliefs concerning Ephesians 2:10 is that they are the ones who are striving to do the good works externally that they believe God would have them to do.  They fail to see that the good works in Ephesians 2:10 is a reality we enjoy by faith, and faith is something legalists never walk by, as we walk by faith and not by sight (2^nd Cor. 5:7).  We are the ones walking in good works, but they are the ones trying to do good works.  Their obsession with the externals makes me question whether they will be the ones proclaiming, “Lord, Lord, have we not done many wonderful works in your name?”

I must also say that those who teach Ephesians 2:10 where a believer can live his/her entire life without good works also fail to understand this passage.  This would be claiming that a believer can live his/her entire life from beginning to the end without faith.  They too are all about the externals, as I once lived such a life of behavioral modification that never brought me peace and assurance.  Someone can be having all the good works, but might not be walking “in them” according to Ephesians 2:10, as there is a difference here. 

⁸ For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

⁹ Not of works, lest any man should boast.

¹⁰ For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. 

What were the good works Paul was referring about here in verse 10?  The good works here are something an unbeliever is incapable of doing, so I doubt good works was a reference to the externals especially after Paul just got through saying, “Not by works we have done.”  Unbelievers are clearly capable of good works.  Are we claiming that unbelievers are unable to do good works?  You will find unbelievers doing the same good works that believers do.  You will find unbelievers giving to the poor, and who are willing to help their fellow man if needed.  Unbelievers can join ministries, sing in the choir, preach, visit the sick in hospitals, abstain from sinful practices, and even pass out gospel tracts just like believers.  Lordship salvation claims that their faith must endure to the end, as unbelievers will turn from the faith proving they were never saved to begin with.  That simply is arguing nonsense, as an unbeliever can continue doing the same things a believer can do indefinitely, and sometimes with more fervor.

Looking to validate your salvation by external works is the worst possible means of finding assurance of salvation, and I have nearly 20 years under my belt to prove that, as external good works never gave me lasting satisfaction.  I used to view Ephesians 2:10 as external good works as being the automatic response of trusting in Christ.  I was always questioning whether I had enough good works to prove that I was saved, and it never gave me lasting assurance.  I often felt that I was serving sin more than God, and that always killed my assurance.

The good works of Ephesians 2:10 are not work of efforts we make, as no unbeliever is capable of walking in the good works that we were created for.  If you are making efforts to do good works because of Ephesians 2:10 then you do not understand what Paul was saying.  Look again at Ephesians 2:10:

 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

I used to argue when I once believed in Free Grace theology that the word “should” in the above verse meant that it was optional because it said “should” and not “would.”  We have to be careful not to read our beliefs back into passages because if “should” implies a possibility then our salvation is only a possibility too:

¹⁵ That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

¹⁶ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  (John 3:15-16).

Was Jesus not 100% certain of His being glorified in John 12:23 because He used the word “should”?  The verse reads:

And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.

Did Jesus know who “possibly” would betray Him in John 13:11 because He used the words “should betray”? 

When I hear religion claim that a believer can be totally fruitless and without good works indefinitely is to make me question whether they understood what good works are.  It tells me that they have a fleshly oriented view of scripture.  It tells me that they picture fruit and good works as something we muster up in our faith and efforts combined.  This probably explains their frustration and agitation they go through with their repeated trips to the unbiblical altar to renew their vows of trying harder next time to be obedient, as I remember my own frustration I went through years ago.   

I do believe in external good works, so do not misunderstand me.  We are capable of living peaceably with all men.  We can give to the poor, and seek to meet the needs of others.  We can live morally upright lives, and be good employees at our various jobs.  However, this too can be accomplished by unbelievers, but the good works of Ephesians 2:10 is something no unbeliever could ever do.   

We “walk in them” is what Paul was saying, and the word “walk” was not something foreign to the language of Paul.  It was not a reference to how hard we try, but it rather was referring to our walk of faith.  Colossians 2:6:

As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord (by faith), so walk ye in him (by faith). 

Look at Ephesians 5:8:

For ye were sometimes (formerly) darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light

You ARE light in the Lord, and that is the reality in which you are to live in (walk).  It is sad, but religion will claim that a believer can be “in darkness” that is ONLY a reference to unbelievers.  This is why religion fails to see the beauty of being perpetually in the light (Eph. 5:8), as they butcher 1^st John 1:7 as referring to our efforts to remain in the light:

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

I have done a four-part blog on 1^st John and the confession of sins, as I covered the above verse. 

Look at Galatians 5:16:

This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

It is surprising as to how many believers think that walking after the Spirit implies efforts on our part.  It is a life of faith, as we are not living by law/flesh. 

Romans 6:4:

Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Notice again the word “should” in the above verse.  It is not that you possibly will walk in newness of life, but you ARE in the newness of life, as you are a new creation in Christ Jesus.  This is the reality in which believers are to live and enjoy by faith.  2^nd Corinthians 5:17 reads:

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

All things have become new, and this is the realm in which we walk by faith.   2^nd Corinthians 5:7:

 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

Can walk refer to our actions or choices we make?  Yes, but make sure that is what the context was actually stating, as it often makes that clear. 

Ephesians 2:2 reads:

Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience

“Ye walked according to the course of this world” was the former you, as now you are a new creation.  People rather read that as your behavior, but it was referring to the “old things” that have “passed away.”  Think of “passed away” the same you would think concerning a person that has “passed away,” as you have died to law/sin.  Stop viewing your sins, as that former you has died, so give it its proper burial once and for all!

Romans 6:16 reads:

Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

So many read the above and because they read with their flesh see the verse as implying external works.  How can that be when we have unbelievers living better lives than many believers do today?  The above is referring to the realm or reality that you are in.  An unbeliever is always obeying the sin unto death regardless of how morally upright they might be living.  That is the realm they live in 24/7.  You are either “slave to sin” or a “slave to righteousness,” but being a “slave to sin” is IMPOSSIBLE for the believer, because he/she has DIED to sin.  The obedience unto righteousness is impossible for the unbeliever just as sinning unto death is impossible for the believer.  We have been taken from one kingdom (darkness, sin unto death) and transferred into the kingdom of Christ (light, forgiveness, life, righteousness).  The obedience unto righteousness was defined in verse 17 as believing:

But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.

The form of doctrine was that of Romans 5 and not some external fleshly obedience that religion prefers reading back into the passage.  This is similar to what we read back in Ephesians 2:2, as Paul mentioned the “children of disobedience.”  These would be those who have not obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine.  This is also why Hebrews 5:9 reads:

And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him

The above was not about our external performances, as Jesus became the author of eternal salvation to those who believed.  Look at how the NASV translated John 3:36 that closely resemble what you have in Hebrews 5:9.  The NASV translates the KJV “believeth not” as “do not obey”:

He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.

If you are viewing Ephesians 2:10 as implying that you are to strive to do good works then you clearly have misunderstood the verse.  The good works of Eph. 2:10 are not to scare you.  It is not a command to go out and do a bunch of good works as though you are capable.  It is being contrasted to the former you “ye walked according to the course of this world” as you are “no longer of this world,” and you are the one that now “walks in newness of life.”  The reality is that you already dwell in the realm of good works, so walk in and enjoy it by faith! 

When one reads Ephesians 2:10 as a command for them to go out and do ‘external’ good works appeals to the flesh.  This is where legalism often creeps in, and this is also how religion manipulates people by having them view their external works to supposedly prove they are saved by them. 

I sent out a brief devotional the other night to a bunch of people by email.  I shared 2^nd Timothy 2:15:

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

You will find the above verse is often quoted or translated by fleshly religion as a work you must do.  They will tell you to do things in order to be approved of God, and then you will be a workman that needs not to be ashamed.  There is such a sick obsession with good works in religion where everything you do is judged by man.  Females who wear pants are not approved unto God by religion.  Listening to music with a beat would not gain you approval from God according to religion.  Having a glass of wine with a meal would not gain you approval from God according to religion. 

The truth is, we believers are “approved unto God,” and that is what our focus is to be.  When a believer accepts that he/she is approved unto God then they will truly be a workman that does not need to ever feel ashamed.  Most believers I know live constantly under shame and guilt, but Paul said in Romans 10:11:

For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

You are the one that God approves of 24/7, so stop looking to your works!  God is well-pleased with you 24/7.  Please see my short devotional on ‘Pleasing 24/7’:

http://pureunadulteratedgrace.blogspot.com/2011/09/pleasing-247.html

Only those “in the flesh” cannot please God, as Romans 8:8 reads:

So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

You believer are NOT in the flesh, as verse 9 reads:

But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

Stop studying to find out what is wrong with you, but rather know that you are approved of God, because only then are you capable of living life unashamed.  I often do not like to quote other versions, but one version translated 2^nd Timothy 2:15 without being fleshly in the verse.  The New Life Version translated the verse as:

Do your best to know that God is pleased with you. Be as a workman who has nothing to be ashamed of. Teach the words of truth in the right way.

Trying to be “approved” by God will appeal to your flesh, and it leads to legalism.  The fruit you will bear will be that of frustration and failure.  Knowing you ARE approved by God leads to a life of rest and joy, as you ARE a workman that clearly has no reason to be ashamed!  Stop “trying” to be approved, and start living as one that truly is approved!

I already stated that I believe in external good works.  The problem with people who doubt their salvation is that they seek to do good works for selfish purposes.  They believe they have to do them or else suffer from the hands of an angry God.  They often believe the reason they do not have assurance of salvation is due to the failure of maintaining external good works.  They fail to realize that such a mentality is behind their doubts. 

External good works in other passages always has “others” in mind.  Titus 3:8 reads:

This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.

I often past out gospel tracts or joined ministries for the purpose of fulfilling my so-called religious obligations years ago.  I felt that God would withhold peace and assurance if I did not do these things.  My maintaining good works was selfish and it was behind my struggles for many years.

Jesus told the disciples to let their lights shine before “men” (Matthew 5:16).  Good works has “others” in mind.  James 2:14 reads:

What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

Religion sees the above verse as questioning the salvation of anyone who does not have works.  That is seriously wicked since the passage was not about the gospel, sin and death, or even the wrath to come.  Try finding any passage that talks about being saved from sin without Jesus Christ, sin, gospel, death, or wrath to come in the context.  The entire passage was about “others” (the poor). 

Notice how James begins with, “What doth it profit my BRETHREN (addressing the saved only)."  Notice Titus 3:8 where Paul said that good works are good and “PROFITABLE unto MEN.”  My point is that "profit/profitable" had "others" in mind, as faith alone would not profit "others."  The poor man was in context here, so what does it profit him (poor man) if your (brethren) faith has no works?  Can faith alone save (deliver) the poor man (him)?  The word “him” in verse 14 is accusative singular just like the word “poor man” in verse 6 was accusative singular.  One only needs to read verses 15 and 16 to see that the “poor man” was the one being addressed that faith alone could not help (save, deliver).  What doth it profit if your faith does not give the poor what they need?  Can faith alone help him/her?  See my blog on James 2:14:

http://pureunadulteratedgrace.blogspot.com/2011/09/works-prove-i-am-saved.html

You must understand the role of good works in the life of a believer.  If you believe good works must be done to be saved, stay saved, or prove you are saved then you will live in doubt.  When a person realizes that they walk in good works by faith then they will not be psycho-analyzing their every movement to prove they are saved.  We do not prove we are saved by anything external in ourselves.  Salvation and good works are as far apart as the east is from the west.  We are saved by His faithfulness and never our own.  If you just read that with disgust thinking, “This guy is teaching a license to sin doctrine” is for you to hear the gospel of grace, as you clearly demonstrate that you never believed it, as you are a child of disobedience. 

When a person knows they are well-pleasing in the sight of God apart from works then external works are a joy to do.  Being careful to maintain good works to men will no longer be you trying to gain brownie points before God. You will no longer be reading your bible or praying to fulfill your so-called religious duties to gain a pat on the back from God or to gain assurance and blessings from Him.  You will realize that you DO walk in newness of life, and this newness of life is a life of good works that is never to be defined in the external realm in Ephesians 2.  You are NOW light in the Lord (Eph. 5:8), as you never look to the externals to determine if you are in light.  Knowing you are light in the Lord is for you to enjoy that by faith (walk as children of light). This thinking should affect the externals.  Believers need reminding of who they truly are in Christ.  We are not what we DO, but as Christ is in this world, so are we (1st John 4:17)!  Believers having fellowship with the deeds of darkness need reminding of the light they are in Him, as how we view ourselves ought to affect the externals.  However, the good works of Ephesians 2:10 are not external works that we muster up.

The moment you turn back and stare at your good works is when you will question your salvation.  We believers walk in such good works, but we also have works that we ought to do before others, so I hope you can see the difference, as this will affect how you live.   Good works never prove you are saved.  A believer is one that now walks “in them,” as that has nothing to do with your external performance.  Also, now that you are saved, you ought to be careful to maintain good works because they are good and profitable unto men, and not because they are some sign you look for to know if you are saved.  There are good works that we walk in that only God sees and gets all the glory, and there are also good works we ought to maintain before men (what they see), because they are good and profitable to them. 

Stop allowing religion to scare good works into you that only produces a sense of guilt and condemnation.  The believers walk is by faith and not efforts.  There is no condemnation to those in Christ Jesus, but those believers who “feel” condemnation are those who “walk AFTER the flesh” (Romans 8:4)  This would be those listening to the threats of the Law.  We are to “walk AFTER the Spirit” that is a life of faith and not our mustering up some works.  This is you walking “in them” (good works), and not you fulfilling a bunch of good deeds for the day for all to see or for you to know if you are saved.  Being created “unto good works” is not where God is sitting around waiting for you to join ministries, donate money, being nice to your sister, read your bible and pray daily, pass out gospel tracts, stop listening to music with a beat, and so on.  It is simply you living with the reality that you have been given a new life, that you are well-pleasing, that you have died to sin/law, and that this life is never enjoy by lifting a single finger to get it.  You will discover that such a proper view will over time change the outward you, but never look at the outward change to see if you have the proper view.   

Remember, we are no longer of this world (ye (formerly) walked according to the course of the world), as we now "WALK in newness of life."  Imagine a very large room and that the floor represents the good works God created for us to walk in, and you are standing in the middle of this large room.  How much effort would you now be making to walk in those good works?  None, for you are in it, and you simply “walk in them.”  Even if the lights were shut off where you cannot see the floor is for you to know that it is still beneath you.  Since we cannot see that floor of good works is for us to walk by faith and not by sight (2nd Cor. 5:7).  However, most believers view good works from a law/fleshly perspective, as they choose to walk by sight.  They are ever climbing a steep cliff that they define as the good works of Ephesians 2:10, as they live aware more of the mistakes they make than the so-called good works they do.  Just as we were "CREATED" in righteousness and true holiness (Ephesians 4:24) implies NOTHING we do externally (a work of God alone that we enjoy by faith), so does our being "CREATED" unto "good works" implies NOTHING we do in Ephesians 2:10 externally, but it refers to a reality we believers enjoy and live in by faith!

1st Corinthians 10: Destroyed for Pornography???

1^st Corinthians 10 has caused problems for many doubting believers.  I was asked my opinion concerning this chapter several times since April, and pornography often lies behind their fear of this passage.  I will simply address what the passage says and does not say. 

 ¹Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;

 ²And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;

 ³And did all eat the same spiritual meat;

 ⁴And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

 ⁵But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

 ⁶Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.

 ⁷Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.

 ⁸Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.

 ⁹Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.

 ¹⁰Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.

 ¹¹Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

Believers show their insecurity by reading their various sins back into the above verses, as they fear God will destroy them for it.  They also fear that maybe the above is teaching that salvation could be lost. 

We need to remember that Paul did not write chapter divisions.  Paul ended chapter 9 about the possibility of being a “castaway” or “disqualified.”  Paul begins chapter 10 by talking about the history of Israel, and those baptized unto Moses.  It is interesting that chapter 9 ends with the possibility of being “disqualified” because he immediately talks about Moses.  If you recall, Moses was disqualified from entering the Promised Land because of unbelief.  However, we also read about Moses as a hero of faith in Hebrews 11:23-28.  We read about him in the mount of transfiguration too.  Disqualified does not mean loss of salvation, as so many try reading that into the word. 

Lordship Salvation that I was a part of before taught that the 23,000 that Paul said, “fell in one day” were not saved, but I have serious issues with that, as I will soon explain.  I know of one author who teaches salvation can be lost called this the “fatal (spiritual) fall,” but the context was physical death and not spiritual.  What people fail to realize is that these 23,000 Israelites were also recorded in the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11:29:

By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.

None of those recorded in Hebrews 11 were considered lost/unsaved. Paul was not using unsaved people as an example of what God may do to saved people in 1^st Corinthians 10, so the Israelites were saved.  The 23,000 just like Moses were disqualified from entering into the Promised Land.  If the 23,000 were lost for unbelief then so was Moses, as they were all denied entrance into the Promise Land, but we know better.  Hebrews 11 ends with:

 ³⁹And these ALL, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:

 ⁴⁰God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

It is a bit strange for the author of Hebrews to record “these all” that obtained a “good report through faith” as being the same people now suffering for all eternity for unbelief, or who were never saved to begin with.  Do you really think the author of Hebrews would record people who supposedly lost their salvation as heroes of the faith for a wonderful example and admonishment?  Just thinking about Judas as somehow being recorded as a hero of the faith, as that should show you how ridiculous such an argument would be.

The Egyptian army that drowned that day might have had the nerve to try crossing the parted sea, but they clearly did not have the faith God looked for, but the Israelite’s did and were recorded as so.  You must keep in mind here that there was a good reason these people were quoted in Hebrews 11.  Remember, God did not use the unsaved Egyptians who drowned as an example to the Corinthians, but the Israelites that clearly had faith.   

Here are a few more reasons why the 23,000 Paul mentioned were saved like Moses?  These Israelites were considered God’s people when in bondage to Egypt.  Also, they were baptized unto Moses who was their head, as we are baptized in Christ who is our spiritual head.  Their faith to cross the Red Sea as recorded in Hebrews 11 is another reason.  The fact that they put the blood over the doorposts by killing a lamb proved their faith.  One might say that they had “unbelief,” but so did Moses, and Moses was disqualified.  The reason for me pointing their faith out is that some self-righteous people of today want to believe that believers could never habitually sin, but we have such people recorded. Religion today tries claiming that a true believer cannot die in unrepentant sin, but we have an example here of just that.

I simply want to point out that I do not believe the Corinthian’s were being warned that God was on the verge of killing them.  He was merely sharing Israel’s history that was an “example” and for “admonishment.” 

Those that believe you can lose your salvation will claim, “they fell” in the wilderness, and falling to them is equivalent to losing salvation even though nothing there states that.  If that were the case then Moses lost his salvation because he too fell (perished) in the wilderness, as he never was permitted entrance.  Religion loves reading words back into a passage that simply is not there, and they are wicked! 

Let us remember Romans 11:29 that tells us that God’s gifts and callings to Israel are without repentance (Irrevocable). 

The problem I see with believers and 1^st Corinthians 10 is how they will make the sins of Israel/Corinth practically any sin they are doing today.  When they hear Paul talk about idolatry is for them to fail to associate it with Corinthians and the meats offered to idols, but rather they view it as their having anything before God.  Religion will tell people that if they spend too much time with their new car is idolatry.   Religion will tell them that idolatry here can be anything they put more time into than church or devotions, but that is not what 1^st Corinthians 10 was about.  Such religion is operated by good for nothing manipulators of guilt and fear.  Believer, do not view idolatry here as your job, your car, hobby, girlfriend/boyfriend, and so on.  Religion loves to terrorize such people into thinking this is the meaning here, as though God just might kill you for giving something else more time than Him.  The passage identifies the idolatry, and never spoke of it as applying to anything that religion shoots for. 

Some believers panic because they see that 23,000 died, and some of them died for sexual immorality, so they apply this to their pornography or sensual thoughts.  They fail to see that Paul was not dealing with sexual thoughts or looking lustfully upon the opposite sex.  Sexual fantasies can lead to open sexual sins, but sexual fantasies are not sins against the body.  3,000 died in Exodus 32 for the idolatry and “rising up to play.”  Many will tell you that this was referring to a drunken orgy, and not they had perverted thoughts.  I am sure they had sexual thoughts, but the emphasis was upon the fornication committed.  I have had people that came to me worried that their struggle with porn is incurring the wrath of God, and that God might give them a disease or strike them dead for it.  Stop reading extra words back into 1^st Corinthians 10, and stop listening to fleshly oriented religion. 

The Corinthian’s in 1^st Corinthians 6 were having sex with prostitutes, as you will not find Paul threatening people for sensual thoughts there.  The Corinthians had this view that everything was permissible, and they reasoned that if their body desired food then it was only natural to eat.  They took that reasoning too far, because to them, if their body desired sex was to satisfy that craving as well, as they felt it was natural. 

I like to bring up a couple points here on the side.  When you read the book of Corinthians then do you see a group of believers acting as if they believed salvation could be lost?  Do you see the Corinthians acting as though they made Jesus, "Lord of every area of their life to be saved"?  No, the Corinthian’s were behaving much like the Israelite’s that gave into sexual immorality and idolatry.  My point to you is to quit viewing your porn or sexual desires as being the same thing!  I am against pornography, but I would never compare that to the sexual sins of Corinth or the Israelites.

I have received a number of emails from believers struggling with pornography, as I will spend the rest of the time focusing on this problem.  These believers worry because they are convinced that the sexual immorality in 1^st Corinthians 10 is one and the same as pornography or sensual thoughts. 

How many verses can you quote that condemns sexual thoughts off the top of your head?  How many verses can you quote that claim God will judge or kill you if you have sensual thoughts?  Often people cannot even think of a verse period, but will quote verses that they will say implies such things.  I am certainly not downplaying such thoughts, but I honestly believe Christians are making a much bigger issue out of it than actual stated, and it shows when they read 1^st Corinthians 10, as they fear like Adam and Eve in the garden. 

Here is something you need to consider, as I have yet to find the opposite to be true.  A believer who fears God’s wrath the most over pornography and sexual fantasies tend to entertain such sensual thoughts the most.  All of their energy to stop such a sinful thought life is actually behind their struggle (see my blog on Identity Crisis).  The harder they attempt to resist such feelings is to feel them even more.  The harder they try to stop thinking impure thoughts are to have such thoughts rule the mind.  They never learn this lesson, as they keep making new vows to God on how they will never do this sin again.  Believer, how long have you been struggling with pornography?  Have your attempts to stop them worked yet?  I doubt it has worked at all, but you keep doing the very religious techniques that keep you in bondage. 

Do you think that Paul was oblivious to the lust that is in your heart?  The fact is that Paul recognized “lust” that is within humans in 1^st Corinthians 7:9:

But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn (in lust).

He was telling the person that could not control his/her sexual lusts to get married.  Better to marry than burn in lust, so Paul did not condemn a person for having lust, but rather if they could not "contain" it to get married.  Believers who view porn are burning in their lust, but that is not the same as fornicating.  It is my opinion that the above verse implies clearly that Paul recognizes that some believers have overactive sex glands, and are in need of a spouse quick.  He never said, “Stop lusting after the opposite sex” but offered a solution to the problem.  If you have a strong sexual lust problem then you need an outlet (spouse).  You will find “Stop thinking sexual thoughts” will only increase such sexual thoughts.  The “I got to stop” mentality only motivates the flesh to keep going.

People like to quote Jesus where He said that if you lust after a woman in your heart is to be guilty of adultery.  Jesus was preaching a higher law and not behavioral modification.  What Jesus was preaching about is still committed in many churches today by pastors.  They might scream and shout against fornication, but they are busy entertaining such thoughts in their hearts.  The Pharisees were hypocrites, and so are many preaching in pulpits today.  If you know of a pastor that is always preaching against sexual sin is typically a sign he is preaching against something he personally struggles with himself.  Remember, pastors often preach what is most on their hearts.  The sermons they preach often serve to fire themselves up against sin(s). 

When Jesus said that if one lusted after a woman was to be guilty of that sin used to cause me to just go ahead and commit whatever sin I was entertaining in my heart.  I figured that if I were already guilty then I might as well do it and get it over with than stressing over the thought(s) for hours.  I used to reason years ago that I would simply commit the sin (externally) then I would just go and confess my sins with bitter repentance afterward.  I figured that if I just followed through then I could get on with my spiritual walk, because I grew tired of committing the sin in my heart. 

Years ago, when I was a Wesleyan believing salvation could be lost was to find a loophole in scripture to be able to sin and get away with it.  One thing I found to be common practice with those who believe salvation could be lost is the 1^st John 1:9 soap bar.  You commit that sin you so desire, but then you immediately confess it with bitter tears of how you will never commit that sin again.  Those that accuse us of a “license to sin” doctrine have conveniently found a way to justify their own sins. 

Listen, you are not guilty of adultery if you were to think of another woman lustfully.  You did not sin against your body.  You have no need of making restitution with your spouse over your thought life.  What Jesus was sharing was that adultery begins in the heart, but Jesus was not saying that you actually were guilty of the very act as many claim.  Sexual thoughts are not the same as sinning against the body, and that needs to be made clear.  If sexual thoughts were the same as adultery then the spouse would have grounds for divorce, but we know that simply is not true or courtrooms would be jammed packed with men/females who had inappropriate thoughts.  Adultery begins in the heart. 

One problem believers who struggle with sensual thoughts have is that any thought that enters their mind is for them to believe they are immediately guilty before God.  Guilt and condemnation fills their mind, as that is not a product of grace but law.  They feel agitated and defeated, and they think by making some renewed vow just might bring them the victory they have been longing for, but it never works, and they never seem to learn that. 

You that struggle with pornography ought to know that 1^st Corinthians 10 is NOT talking to you.  If you are looking to be possibly guilty of the sin in chapter 10 then I guess you need to open an adult bookstore, erect a golden Hugh Hefner as your god, and then throw a drunken orgy.  However, I doubt snakes will smite you, or that the earth will open up and swallow you for having sensual thoughts.  I know many believers who are still alive, but have been struggling with porn for many years. 

I am against entertaining sexual thoughts involving another person, but do not give it any emphasis the Bible does not give it where death and judgment are hanging over your head.  Such believers who view porn struggle with masturbation and weep bitterly over the practice that is not once said to be a sin anywhere, but they fear God is disgusted with them and may strike them dead.  Do you think that masturbation was not a problem in Paul’s day like it is a problem today?  Were they so righteous externally back then that Paul did not see the need to address it?  My point is that so many treat it as being the same as sinning against the body that they fear God’s wrath, but if that were the case then why the silence of it in scripture?  The problem people have is that they read too much back into scripture.   

I am not condoning anything here, but I simply want you to stop condemning yourself and reading your problem back into scripture.  OK, you have a lust problem, but you ought to know by now that your spiritual recipes, spiritual programs, the buddy system, cold showers, bible memorization, and so on do not work.  Those that tell you to do such things are most likely guilty of the same lust problem themselves.  The only difference is that you admit your lust and they self-righteously deny it, but give you the very techniques they use that clearly does not work.  No technique can change the heart that lusts. Masturbation is your way of releasing the lust that is in you.  People expect me to beat them up over masturbation, but what verse on masturbation shall I quote?  No, I will deal with the lust that leads to masturbation instead, but I do NOT prescribe spiritual gymnastics to hopefully cure ones lust problem as religion attempts. 

I spoke to one man that claimed that God gave him prostate cancer because of his porn problem, and that is simply a man who was living under law thinking that.  Some even question their salvation because they do such things repeatedly.  If this language is disturbing you then I apologize, but it is something I feel needs to be addressed.

We are told to not fornicate.  We are told that our “bodies” are bought with a price, and not to join the members of Christ to a harlot.  We are told that fornication should not be named among us once.  The emphasis is upon the acting out the sins.  However, you will fail to find, “Let not sexual thoughts be named among you once” in scripture, as some get upset when I quote what scripture does NOT say, as they feel I am justifying sexual thoughts when I am not.  I do not believe in entertaining impure thoughts, but I simply do not feel the need to get all self-righteous by exaggerating sexual thoughts to being that of 1^st Corinthians 10.  The fact is a believer would not have died in the wilderness for sensual fantasies.  I fail to see a death sentence for sensual fantasies anywhere.  

Believers may have an impure thought life, but scripture was warning not to indulge fornication openly once.  If scripture said, "Never think an impure thought once" then such thoughts would flood the mind.  However, do not let fornication be named among you once is not something that floods the mind.  It is telling believers, and even those believers who have sensual desires to not act out in sexual immorality with another person of the opposite sex.  The immorality is between two living human beings.  Marriage pictures union, as we believers are in union with Christ.  Sex is union between two marriage couples, and it is picturing something beautiful.  This is why sex out of marriage is to be avoided.  Our bodies are His, and we ought to treat it as such. 

Why do I seem to be downplaying sensual fantasies?  I am not, as I seek to give it the same place scripture does, but why do you elevate it to such an extreme not shared in scripture where you live in fear and anxiety?  I do know that every believer who preaches the loudest against it is often the ones that falls the hardest into it.  They preach loud against it, but many fail to recognize that they are preaching to themselves.  Remember, if you ever encounter a blog and all they do is bash porn and sexual impure thinking often is a person preaching their self-righteousness to you.  They are preaching against themselves to hopefully fire themselves up to keep from such things that will always fail to work.

Those that worry about their sexual thoughts and those that “try” not to think about them are those that invite the problem even more.  The Law is the strength of sin.  You can try the Internet buddy system where someone checks your Internet history, or take cold showers, or the memorization of scripture, but your problem is a heart issue, as I already stated before.  I already shared much about the heart issues in my two-part blog on Identity Crisis that I recommend for reading. 

My point today is to show that the example and admonition in 1^st Corinthians 10 is not addressing those that struggle with lust.  Looking at pornography is not grounds to fear 1^st Corinthians 10 as though death and judgment awaits you.  1^st Corinthians 10 was not the loss of salvation either, as you have to read those words back into the passage as well.  Idolatry was not you playing sports on Sunday rather than being in church.  Do not read more into a passage than is stated. 

In part-two of my blog on Identity Crisis is where I revealed how one can win in their thought life.  I shared how I used to have blasphemous thoughts many years ago that would plague me.  The lesson I finally learned was actually how I experienced victory in other areas of thinking.  I would have a blasphemous thought that would pop into my mind against God that would cause fear and anxiety to fill my heart years ago.  The same is true for sensual thoughts, as believers are filled with anxiety when such thoughts fill their mind.  The harder you try not to have such thoughts fill the mind the more they do fill your mind.  Sensual thoughts may pop into your head, but if you panic about them is to give them strength.  If you take responsibility for them popping into your mind with a sense of guilt and condemnation is to find such thoughts popping in your mind even more.  I hope you find time to read my two-part blog on Identity Crisis.