R.C. Sproul | – Is addiction a sign that someone is not a Christian?
We all fall into certain sins. The question is, are we truly repenting? From one of our Ask Ligonier events, Burk Parsons helps us take steps toward repentance and accountability to escape patterns of addiction.
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Ligonier Ministries
Ligonier Ministries is an international Christian discipleship organization founded by theologian Dr. R.C. Sproul in 1971 to equip Christians to articulate what they believe, why they believe it, how to live it, and how to share it. Proclaiming God’s holiness is central to Ligonier’s purpose.
Ligonier produces Renewing Your Mind radio broadcasts, the Reformation Study Bible, Tabletalk magazine, books through the Reformation Trust Publishing division, and various teaching series. It also offers academic degrees through Reformation Bible College. In addition, Ligonier hosts national and regional conferences, offers an online learning community through Ligonier Connect, streams twenty-four-hour Christian internet radio through RefNet, and makes available thousands of unique discipleship resources online at Ligonier.org.
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Thanks Burk, needed to hear this today.
that's not grace.
I missed his answer?
What happened to his right hand?
He had me 100% until he said "If you can't go to your elder and your church and talk to them about your sin, cause you're afraid, you probably need to find a church where they'll be ready to show you grace…".
"Probably" was the wrong word. Many, if not most, who would identify with that condition, feel afraid to do it.
But God, in James 5, commands us to go to elders, regardless of fear. If, after going to the elders, you see they are not willing to show grace or address the sin with you, then you can look elsewhere.
Yes! But if it's got the better of you and you cannot achieve victory over that sin, plz pray and ask Christ to help you if your sincere and really want to stop what your doing that offends God pray and ask him to help you! I promise you he will he will orchestrate a perfect solution and help you, I know , he helped me! Shalom!
For a much more comprehensive answer read The mortification of sin by John Owen.
1:58… Yes, as you say 'truly striving'…
The 'good fight of faith' is a war against sin, and every work of the flesh; and 'the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through GOD to the pulling down of strongholds…' (2Cor.10:4-6). Jesus says to sincere believers, 'Strive/fight to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able!' (Luke 13:23,24). Thus, Christ is saying, Yes, few will be saved; those not willing to fight the good fight against sin will be 'thrust out' (Lu.13:24-28) as 'workers of iniquity', for knowing to do good, by faith/belief of the truth, and yet 'doing it not, to him it is sin' (James 4:17). Paul obviously sees it as black and white, 'for whatsoever is not of faith is sin' (Rom.14:22,23, 1Cor.15:33,34). Jesus says, '…the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it' (Lu.16:16).
I agree with this wholeheartedly. . although one thing I would mention is when it comes to being kind and not harsh… I think it wise to define what is kind and what is harsh. Bc i would tell someone the truth out of love even if they thought it unkind or got their feelings hurt.
No.
is self righteousness a sign some is not a Christian like worrying about who is and who isn't? that's between the Holy Spirit and the sinner. and do you really care abour the sinner or just about being better than other people and knowing more? seriously consider those things because they're as much sins as addiction, hate, stealing and sexual sin
Oh what a wise answer.
Of course certain sins are worse and more detestable than others, but just one sin no matter the severity would send a person to hell without the forgiveness or mercy and grace of our Savior. The problem is how sincere are you to deal with it, but even with that Paul says the things I want to do I dont do and the things I do not want to do this I keep on doing ! Who will save me from my wretched and wicked ways ? Thanks be to my Savior the Lord Jesus Christ ! In this body or flesh you will battle till Christ comes to restore you. I'm not condoning sin by any means, but I'm also not saying I've arrived and completely free of ever sinning again you would be woefully wrong in thinking you have in this life. Christ is able to help you daily to live by the spirit and not by the flesh which we should crucify daily.
For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
Romans 7:15-25 KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/rom.7.15-25.KJV
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:8-9 KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/1jn.1.8-9.KJV
My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
1 John 2:1 KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/1jn.2.1.KJV
For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.
Hebrews 10:2 KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/heb.10.2.KJV
He's not wrong but it has to be said that if a Christian confesses to a friend that he struggles with a runaway tongue that hurts people,he appears humble, but if he confesses to an addiction of some sort he's seen as untrustworthy and very much found lacking.The way we treat brothers and sisters struggling this way needs to change, we need to see each other through Jesus's eyes not our own..
Sin of alchohol? Surely havent heard of that in the Bible
You just used an example from Harry Potter, a book/film that glorifies Satan,whitchcraft, sourcery, and evil? The irony of talking about a besetting sin and then give a personal example that shows your acceptance of a worldly film the obviously is of Satan.
awesome answer!
One thing that really bothers me is that someone with an addiction to alcohol is shunned, looked down on and avoided…but obese people are given positions in ministry and their issues are ignored, tolerated, and never discussed as addiction, sin, or anything out of the ordinary.
?wat are you doing watching harry potter for
How can a church help you get the help you need. I thought the Holy spirit was your help.Church can't do that for you. That help comes from above not the church
i hate god for pain evil suffering sins haram wrong and whatever is bad – i'm against god by hate because i can't be against god true because i need him great and he is powerful rescue me from a lot but he who put me in it or his life so him – i'm against god by hate only because i can't do more or i will be same like devil i may hurt god creatures or myself and it's not what i want – i only wanna survive from god existence who scare me with punishment when i say that i wanna back before god create me and god never create me again and if god true about Christianity or islam as sky wrote to me by clouds or jewesh so why no and i saw miracles i dont wanna hear philosophy and magic by religion things i and everybody loves and needs i mean if you want philosophy and magic so ok if i dont wanna hurt myself or whatever and just wanna rest in peace true and religious way hey all times whatever god did you can find sins and haram and wrong and this is biiiiiiiiiiiiiig damage to a lot and can't be accepted by holy god or innocent creatures and by the truth also and btw i'm ready for whatever and god know so anyway by the truth creating is sin and haram and wrong so god you dont have real rights to do that – its only because you able to – you do it – you created me without i accept or get my permission for that although you said and it seems like you able to do whatever and whatever about all and everything exist is too easy i mean everything is too easy and small on god again i mean everything is too easy and small on god god know and can control or change on do extra or edit whatever about us and what we do and everything – god created existance or what we know about existance this way its a fact i can see myself breath and i eat food its a fact but look how everything true is we eat food we have to kill creatures and by bad way and do you know how these creatures lived ok look at us we human and we need to go to bathroom although god created us looks somehow beautiful but how we live how we suffer – even if i was king of everything even if god made me god i kill and hurt whatever for long as i want . most i hate about god . plus ignore whatever creatures need bad or suffer .. not ignoring and god plan bla bla ok and i apologize for say bla bla so not ignoring and god plan so why peace and mercy true one isn't god plan and if god is here and you ask god will tell you i support peace and mercy more than anything and then prove it to you by ability then you find yourself accepting god but that doesnt mean god accept you because you may find later you bad or can't afford whatever or was wrong decision – there is nothing beautiful if pain evil and suffering exist .. how to make god accept to give peace – don't bring childeren or eat too much and no sins or haram or wrong til death and pray or god may hurt you and let you hurt others plus you can't see you do that .. god is horror god is to fear not to love god have hell too and forever not only heaven that for few – for few – for few – so its stupid adventure to bring children plus its wrong whatever god said – i will say creating creatures and alive and souls and pain and whatever types ofpain and evil or suffering or wrong small big hidden visible anyway whats hated is exist so who make more things exist with god for that or who increase whatever hated like eat food too can't be seen good by me i dont like myself when i eatt food but i may feel little good when i sleep – what i write is too big and god is very evil with great punishment and hard to forgive personality – don't follow that me or in wrong – i born can't be exist .. so nothing to lose and i maybe be somehow different so i have to write that i would go for merciful death if allowed and free and this was since i born all my life and may never change i suffered bad yes great punishment by god yes and miracles too and i knew it i will have miracles that doesnt mean god is good i'm not responsible – i don't know anything and not responsible i only seek merciful death rights if possible by the truth of me
Please see my additional comment below my first one.
If ALL the world is doing something, watching something, going somewhere, jumping on something, eating something, buying something, then just maybe, as Christians, we should really think twice before we follow them. We shouldn't be following the worldly crowd. Harry Potter is of Satan and the world has gone after him. I'm heading in the other direction. Believers are called, even commanded to be Holy, sanctified.
2 John 1:6 KJB ☝️
Is usage of medicine for anxiety, sleeping disorder prescribed by a doctor a sin?
Where is the Gospel in this presentation?
It is the power of God unto salvation… in this life and that which is to come.
I wish him well, but I wouldn't recommend him to the'regular guy'.
The Gospel, people support, and love for those caught in addiction and broken families.
Christ for all!
Its just me but… I dont really feel that he truly answered the question
Are we striving? Good question.
Addiction is a illness not a sin.
A believer, can be chastened by the Lord, even to losing our life, and our rewards in heaven, but not our salvation which was paid for by Jesus own blood sacrifice for all sin. First Corinthians 5:5 Turn such a one over to Satan to kill the flesh, so that his Spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord. This born again Ephesians 4:30 believer, was sleeping with his fathers wife. Sick. He was about to lose his life, and the rewards he could have had in heaven, but He was still saved so as by fire. First Corinthians 3:15. God does chasten His children. But, Hebrews 13:5 He will never leave us or forsake us. He will never cast us out. John 6:37.
He can not go back on His word. John 6:47 John 1:12 Romans 1:16 John 5:24 Romans 4:4-8.
If you listen to Ray Comfort, if you sin you were never saved. Honestly, I am so confused.
Perhaps examining the causes a person chooses to self medicate might yield more serious sin. Sin perpetrated by the unrepenting who happen to be the ones pointing fingers at the addicted. Let that settle for a minute..
Addiction is a sign of spiritual bondage for sure. Addicts need deliverance or they will and do face judgment it may not always be a sin but it is sinful and leads to the sin of idolatry. How? Well inevitably the will of God will be for a believer to choose righteousness but alas the addiction says otherwise and the addict ends up disobeying grieving the holy spirit being enslaved to the will of the flesh. Pray for and encourage a believer in addiction always giving them hope and reason to fight to be free.
Good video but you didn't answer the question of the title
YOU ALL DICKHEADS
Wow I just had a brief moment of a what if scenario. That what if scenario was what if I was a nonchristian listening to this guy speak? I wouldn’t know more than half the words he is using but as a Christian it’s easy to understand. That is a blessing in disguise.
Still waiting to hear the answer to the question in the title….is addiction a sign that someone is not a Christian?
This man has never been born again. We don't sin repent sin repent like when we're walking the flesh. We walk in the spirit. True Christians don't revisit there old sins then make excuses like nobody is perfect…I am only human. Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only deceiving your own selves. A little leaven leaven's the whole lump. You will be judged according to your deeds whether they be good or evil
A So-called Minister talking about witchcraft books Harry potter! You Yanks don't have a Clue!
We all fall short of the glory of God. Jesus lived a perfect sinless life put your hope in Jesus
Practice choosing not fighting. Choose because you can and your sinful nature says, yes but do it anyway. Don't wait for a sign or 3 years of modern church therapy lessons
We are sinners, we are the way we are so choose.
I'm well aware that it's not comfortable to do what we should in case anyone says, but we can, and we can and we can. We just don't want to, we would rather do wrong. We have to accept the feeling of discomfort in not because it's what will happen every time we are tempted.
God bless you family forever, I hope you learn to enjoy choosing right no matter what it costs and ill see you with the Lord regardless
Watching Harry Potter movies is not good for your spiritual health. It is even worse to use images from those movies to illustrate biblical messages.
That’s a really good answer, but he didn’t answer the question.
Wise man
2:20
This dude prays the same prayers as me lolllll no lie
Pls pray for me I have a opiate addiction, have done for years . I came back to God this year. I am really struggling. I ask for forgiveness and have the best intentions but I'm still finding my self in the same situation, taking thses drugs then being ashamed and regretful. I need to break this circle .