When to be scared you're NOT a genuine Christian.

I'm hoping and praying that God would use this to comfort those who need comfort and to shine a light on those who are living dangerously, so they can make a true faith commitment to Jesus.
Trust in Jesus, follow Jesus, be real about it.
My website BibleThinker.org

[@NarnianLady]

There is a difference between someone who is struggling with sin and wanting to live free, and a person that is almost boasting in their sinful lifestyle. Huge difference...

[@CLDJ227]

Good distinction 🤔.

[@swen6797]

No difference. Neither are children of God that know the Way to righteousness. 1 John 3:9

[@fidelamoah9115]

Its true but I believe Mike was referring to a group that is more nuanced. I was born again, even received the gift of the Holy Ghost. But I still couldn't stop my sexual perversion largely because I wasn't imbibing the Word of God and I turned from grace to works. Eventually I got tired and stopped following Jesus. Years later, He found me again but this time around, gave me a mentor to help me grow. The sexual perversion disappeared not long after. My point is having a desire to stop sinning doesn't totally mean you're saved if you continue in it. Like Jesus said, He who the Son sets free is free indeed. So I've concluded that the salvation question lies solely with each individual. If you test yourself, you'd know whether you're on the right path or not.

[@Theguy1244]

@@swen6797 Is it your view that people can, and are expected to, entirely cease from sinning in this life?

[@swen6797]

@@Theguy1244 walk in the light and find out. Thats the criteria laid out, and that's how children of God are made, begotten by His light. . Prove all things. Thessalonians doesnt say nay-say all things. Proverbs says scoffing is only condemning yourself and that the wise man accepts reproof as new knowledge. Doesnt it sound like the lack of knowledge that perishes My people is that they walk in darkness? If you're not walking in the light, then you are only manifesting lies and deception, including the inferences you make here. Separation from God's light started with the fig leaf waaaay back in the garden. Hmmm original sin, continuing today, is clothing and all the modern barriers and lifestyles and accepted advice that keep you from abiding your flesh in God's light, which is the Great Physician. Who said you were naked?

[@dessiplaer]

There was a period in my life where I was continually sinning, and as I was a believer, I was sorry that I sinned, but once the guilty feelings subsided, I would do it again. I decided that I would just trust God and his grace and not worry about it. I was going about my merry way feeling a whole lot less guilty all the while continuing in sin, but one day right out of the blue, I heard a voice inside me saying "I also said to repent". From that day, I stopped falling in that particular area of my life. If you are truly saved, you will want to please God If you are weak, don't run away from God. Run straight for him and confess your sins. He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. However, Paul said, " shall we sin that grace may abound? God forbid!" If you love God, you will want to be obiedient to him. But if you are weak (and we all are in some areas of our lives) God is faithful and strong enough to help you overcome in your weakness. The Bible says, "For the Lord your God is gracious and merciful and will not turn away His face from you if you return to Him.

[@roqsteady5290]

Right, that is one of the great things about Christianity; you can commit the most venal sins and always count on being forgiven afterwards! It is a bit like the get out of jail free card in Monopoly and indeed many inmates do find Christ during their residency. Go well with the Lord!?

[@anotherperspective8263]

@@roqsteady5290 Right.. It is Satans way of convincing you that is ok to do evil...

[@The_redeemed7]

@@roqsteady5290 what happened in Peters life from the moment before he met Jesus to the day after Pentecost? What happened to Paul the day before he met Jesus to the day He went to be with the Lord. The answer is, spend time with Jesus. The more time you spend with Him the more you will fall in love with Him, understand the ways of the Lord, the more you will be influenced by His Spirit…. I think that is the answer spend time with the Lord

[@roqsteady5290]

@@The_redeemed7 dunno, can’t even remember what happened last Tuesday.

[@stuart3178]

yes we are to repent daily - keep your heart focused towards Jesus ; yes continue a heart in repentance after we ask God his gift of repentance. it is repentance that saves us trusting in Jesus

[@Read..Matthew-11..28]

Hello, I was wondering if anyone could pray for my big sister. Her name is Mercedes and she is going through a horrible time. She just miscarried and she is being severely stalked. No one in my family has seen her for 9 months. Please pray for her salvation and safety. Thank you and God bless each and every one of you❤🙏

[@Kiryu1985]

Thanks for caring for your sister, praying for her now

[@Meche0485]

Will pray for her !

[@psaltykingdom7542]

Praying, Sis. 🙏🏾

[@arowoflights1377]

Praying!!!

[@Ianassa91]

Just prayed for her.

[@wendysimmons5906]

This something Ive really been dealing with . I was saved at 13, even baptized and then went off the rails , straight into fuzzy sin world for way too long. 5ish years ago I sincerly repented but now am completely stressed/scared because sinning as a saved christian seems a thousand times worse to me versus unsaved sinning. I pray for God forgiveness and if I can warn anyone else- dont stay in the fuzzy zone. The price of failing God is too high.

[@swansonseven2851]

Jesus is your righteousness. If He took away your sin upon belief than you rest in Him. You can’t make yourself clean through not doing big sins others don’t approve of. It’s only faith in Jesus that pleases God. Rest in it ❤

[@respawncheetah]

Press in Wendy, I struggle too but someone one told me good people question themselves, bad people don't even think of that.

[@reginaford8575]

In Christ you have been forgiven!! Listen to sermons from Alistair Begg or the late Charles Stanley

[@walter1383]

I've a similar story. Got saved at 15 years old, and quickly became a worse person in my late teens and early 20s than I was in my early teen years, struggled with (still do sometimes) feelings of unworthiness and giving in to sin out of depression off and on for the past 15 years as a result. 2 steps forward, 1 step back the whole time. I only recently realized that all that hardship was the enemy trying to destroy me from the inside out. Once you put your faith in Christ, evil will do whatever it takes to twist you around and encourage you to give up, thereby making our witness to others ineffective.

[@happyday2765]

​@@swansonseven2851 Couldn't have put it better myself! God Bless!

[@MegaPB4Life]

Thank you for this Mike. I've been struggling with a relapse from pornography addiction and your teaching made me realize that although I had myself convinced I was doing well, I really am not taking Jesus as seriously as I need to be. Thank you again for opening my eyes with the hard truths we all need to hear.

[@theparadigmshift74]

I just did a video on this subject! Its a tough one at first. Get a calander set a goal and keep working towards avoiding that. I got rid of my TV because it would always lead me in a weird direction that led to that sort of thing. Whats the longest youve went without seeing that?

[@HotelCharliHill]

No, forget the calendar. Surrender yourself to Jesus wholeheartedly while admitting and accepting that you are helpless without him, and realizing (and begging him) that you will never be the man He has made, saved, and call you to be UNLESS you are free of porn, and you will NEVER have the ministry of life He has planned and prepared for you (ephesians 2:10) UNLESS you are free from porn. Then pour yourself into Christ, fast from the worldly things (and even food for a while so you can master the flesh, desiring Christ above all - because this also likely involves demonic activity trying to keep hooks in you), and live your life serving the Lord. And if you require a helpmate, pray for one VERY SPECIFICALLY with all you desire AND for what the Lord KNOWS you need (and want, because we don't even know ourselves as well as God does), and that a relationship with her will bring more glory to God than you being alone. This is what I did Jan 2, 2022 and I've been porn free since, and I'll never return unless I actually decide and WILL to. (on that note, when you align your will with the will of God, you WILL be able to do all that He desires you to accomplish - Phil4:13, 2chron16:9). He also introduced that helpmate to me and it was amazing. But satan stole her away through lies and fear and anxiety. If you don't mind, pray she returns... or that the Lord blesses her with an amazing man of God who will lead her into full restoration so she may share her amazing testimony of God's preservation in her life... and that I will find someone else. Thank you.

[@sarahsays194]

I've also had porn struggles. When you get tempted, go read the Bible, listen to worship music, and do not dwell in thinking sexual things. Remember that the Bible says with God's help we are capable of withstanding any temptation. You may also have a demon influencing this, so you should keep that in mind as well and take proper steps to get rid of it if you verify you have one. They will take any weaknesses and poke at them to get you to falter in your walk. One other thing is get an accountability partner.

[@amperky88]

Yes the first thing I worry about when discussing this topic is us who deal with addictions. Whether it be porn, or substance such as alcohol or drugs. Where we have wonderful times of striving to be better Christians but then the temptation strikes us, or our own evil heart strikes us and boom we've grieved the Holy Spirit. I'm reading a book on Assurance of salvation by H. A. Ironside that has helped with me knowing that I'm not hopeless, and that I'm not some Calvinistic predestined-to-hell person that can't be saved. Just remember my friend that doing the right thing doesn't get you saved, and doing the wrong thing doesn't send you to hell, it's the Blood of Christ. Nothing but the Blood, as the hymn goes, can wash away your sin. It is not your Righteousness that gets you to heaven but the imputed righteousness of Christ. Whether you sin once a week or a million times, the only thing that can get you forgiven is leaning on Christ, making Christ your King. Try to increase your Prayer life, take it to the King. He's our savior, our King, and even calls us brother, someone who knows how you feel when tempted.

[@SundayVibesmusic]

This was one of the hardest things I personally struggled with..I was in that zone for a many years..I was terrified that I wasn’t “saved” because I didn’t feel “clean”. As I matured I realized that my salvation was in Christ and not in whether or not I stopped looking at porn. I know I was saved because Christ changed my heart..even though my actions hadn’t caught up..my heart and mind hated porn. It took years to get sober/free from this. I wish there was a magic prayer or 12 step program but ultimately I stopped treated porn as something “bad” that I did from time to time..and started viewing it as an addiction. I tried my best every day through the power of God to consciously prepare myself..I had to stop listening to certain songs and watching certain tv shows..I needed to have my mind renewed and that couldn’t happen by entertaining myself with the same environment..today I honestly say I’m free from porn but my mind has still been effected so much that over the years I feel I could easily go back if I don’t properly guard my heart. The best advice I can give is don’t pray and seek God for the sole purpose of breaking free from this addiction..you’ll only disappoint yourself and give yourself false expectations. Pray and Seek God because he’s the only one who can save. And He’s worthy to be praised! Over time trust that God knows what you need and he’ll provide it for you..but get in his word and know Him for him and not for what you can get from him. Grace and peace! Praying for you brother🙏🏽❤️

[@reepicheepsfriend]

My sister and I were talking about the meaning of atonement, as in, Jesus' death atoning for our sins. She pointed out that to atone for someone means not just paying a debt but also restoring a relationship. If our relationship with God is restored, then we will grow towards seeing things the way He sees them, and as a result, we will begin to hate sin more and more, and avoid it more and more. Praying for all Christians to understand this more deeply.

[@kbacha11]

Wow, great point. Can't believe that didn't click for me until now

[@phlegmbuoyant]

Amen 🙌🏽☝🏾🙏🏾🙏🏽🙏🏼🙏🏿

[@user-im9ov9ud7m]

It is just one more reason to establish relationship with Jesus.!

[@user-im9ov9ud7m]

@@phlegmbuoyant ... Kool screen name. 🐮

[@anotherperspective8263]

To "restore" something, means to return it to original condition... Are you saying that if our relationship with god is returned to its original condition, "then we will grow"?.. Because as far as I can tell, the original condition is NONEXISTENT...

[@preacherplays]

4:16 "I think it's ok to be a little scared sometimes because your lifestyle is CONTRADICTING your CLAIMS of faith, and go 'yeah' I need to get serious about Jesus." Well said. And that follow up with the call to true repentance. Well said again Mike.

[@davidmcclain5910]

True biblical repentance in the context of salvation is changing your mind from unbelief in Christ alone as your savior to belief in Christ alone as your savior, the word repentance in Greek is 'metanoia' which means change of mind. 'repent of your sins' isn't found in the Bible and the vast majority of pastors and preachers are using the word wrong to try and keep people under the law, mixing your obedience to the law plus Jesus work on the cross for your salvation is a false gospel, the one and only true Gospel of Jesus Christ is believing in Jesus Christ that he died on the cross for your sins and rose again 3 days later, it Is a free gift of God and not of our works lest any man should boast according to scripture.

[@davidlawrence8051]

​@@davidmcclain5910 I agree with you. Once I started believing I was saved my fruit increased and my desire to do the right thing instead if the wrong thing increased. When I use to worry about wether I'm saved or not is when I had almost no fruit and I was trying to do the right thing to stay saved. That never works. But metanoia means chnage your mind and according to the Bible God changes our hearts.

[@CerealDust-nStuff]

@@davidmcclain5910 - Yes, that is completely correct. God repents several times in the Scriptures.

[@pparrker5420]

​@@davidmcclain5910 Pretty much amen , wolves like this don't seem to realise that or don't want to keep well away from that creep .

[@pparrker5420]

You're no more saved than he is .

[@lp1506]

Sadly Mike, this was a problem in my small group at church. I struggled with understanding how to relate to a "sister" who was 7 months pregnant, unmarried and insisting that we accept her lifestyle of sexual immorality and not judge her. Repentance was not in her heart, and she doubled down on her deeds. I was the only one who wanted to try to restore her as stated in James, but I was called judgmental. It happened again with a new member and after years of listening to people who are supposedly being transformed by God, I felt like they were being deceived and they were trying to deceive me, based on God's Word. Eventually I had to leave before I made a concession to another's sin. It is dangerous, and even more sadly, I continue to meet more and more people in my church who overlook sexual immorality instead of battling it with the aid of the Church body.

[@nathanielbass771]

And it's a good thing too. If the community will not work together, you were warned to flee from sexual immorality, 1 Corinthians 6 : 12-20, "12 “I have the right to do anything,” you say-but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”-but I will not be mastered by anything. 13 You say, “Food for the stomach and the stomach for food, and God will destroy them both.” The body, however, is not meant for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14 By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also. 15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! 16 Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.”[b] 17 But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit.[c] 18 Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body. 19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies."

[@ashleycnossen3157]

Come as you are but if you love Christ you won't stay as you are. It's crazy how many people misapply the Bible's teaching on judging.

[@josedopwell9645]

@ LP, unfortunately people who are "easy" or "soft" on the sins of immorality are oftentimes either guilty of the same or making a broad place to be treated with kid gloves if they do the same in the future. A corrupt politician can't truly insist that other corrupt politicians clean up their acts. A prosperity preacher can't truly rebuke another preacher who idolizes money. They can't insist on godly grief that leads to salvation and to repentance without any regret (2 Corinthians 7:9-11). Sadly, statistics show that around 70% of professed believing men are slaves to pornography.

[@VaughanMcCue]

Perhaps the woman isn't as perfect as you. It is good you left that church and remind yourself that every church you avoid attending will benefit from your absence. I suggest you get a white satin cape and stand on abandoned street corners in the snow. That way, you will blend into the scenery and not be noticed.

[@VaughanMcCue]

@Emmanuel Goldstein I love my sin and try to maintain a high average score. I hope nobody is sinning at Olympic standards, as I couldn't keep up. Maybe the Jesus you imagine did not exist, and describing something in someone's imagination isn't so much a lie as confusing reality with fiction.

[@taylorjensen2787]

Yo. I needed to hear that, "when you have Jesus in your heart, you are not going to want to partake in those sin, or to the same degree". I have struggled... but I know in my heart that I am saved, I WILL get out of the fuzzy zone...thank you.

[@rockieruiz9552]

Praying for you😊

[@taylorjensen2787]

@Rockie Ruiz thank you Rockie.

[@honzarubes2103]

Getting saved is not about stopping to sin, yes we all should stop sinning, but if you believe on the lord Jesus Christ that he paid for your sins then it means that no matter what you do, you will be saved because all sins even future sins have been paid

[@Zulonix]

You are not and have never been in any fuzzy zone. If there were something you could do to ingratiate yourself with God, Paul says that doing that would make Jesus of no use to you. Jesus does it all. There is nothing to do. You can, however, improve your awareness of your perfect status with God by simply listening to Jesus.

[@christsavesreadromans1096]

@@honzarubes2103 That’s false teaching and heresy, the one who continues to sin [without repentance] will not inherit the kingdom of God, as Saint Paul has said in Galatians 5:19-21.

[@Luvurenemy]

As a new believer I’m constantly amazed at how my ability to turn away from sin is the work of the Holy Spirit in me rather than my tortured, weak, effort. All I must do is choose to ignore or distract myself from my lusts. The moment I make this small choice The Holy Spirit will join me in the fight. What was once feeble, lonely, me versus Satan is now feeble me with my big brother The Holy Spirit. Satan has no chance and he knows it.

[@Garanon5]

I commend you for understanding this simple truth much earlier than others (including myself). The Holy Spirit isn't only there to convict us of our sins after the fact. The better situation is when we humbly surrender to God recognizing our own weakness, He is mighty to save us from habitual sins, shame, self-condemnation, and the attack of the enemy. Turning away from the things that tempt us is much easier after this and we're set free.

[@wellsd1959]

@@Garanon5 Amen!

[@Luvurenemy]

@@Garanon5 Amen! Thank you for the commendation. All glory to God!

[@rinzler9171]

"God have mercy on me, a sinner."

[@gzkarr3730]

The sinners PERFECT plea!

[@PockASqueeno]

My dad is in the “fuzzy zone.” Please pray for him.

[@monical2840]

Mine too.

[@beccalou597]

Mine tooooo.

[@AverageMann]

what is the fuzzy zone

[@VaughanMcCue]

@@AverageMann It is a time when you need new spectacles because everything you see is fuzzy.

[@VaughanMcCue]

Me too, and I love the fuzzy zone. Since nothing fails like prayer, you may as well pray for everyone else and leave your dad alone.

[@karielouzig]

Thank you for posting this! I have struggled to understand my testimony for years because of this very issue. As a child I prayed to be saved, got baptized then a few years later as a teenager got completely involved and overwhelmed by sin. I would repent and do better for a while, but then find myself right back in that same sin pattern again. This went on for years until I finally surrendered ALL to Jesus (to be ALL in). I had to radically cut some things out of my life and started studying the Bible over and over until I finally understood what I was reading. Thank God those fuzzy years are all behind me. I know at some point in my crying out to God, I truly became saved! If anyone struggles with this type of sin, don't only repent but also make radical changes in your life and study God's word in a translation you can understand so you can learn how to follow Jesus.

[@phlegmbuoyant]

Amen 🙌🏽 ☝🏾🙏🏾🙏🏼🙏🙏🏿🙏🏿

[@matt25675]

@Hiroko Harada go back to the drawing board, you don’t get it

[@louisamayriggall4143]

Thanks for this video, Pastor Mike! I was that unsaved person and called myself a Christian for so long because I grew up believing in God and knowing that God exists and going to church, but when the time came for me to live on my own I stopped going to church and decided to walk in the desires of my flesh and clung to them. It wasn't until things got so depressing that the Lord opened my eyes to see my sin for what it was and He called me to repentance. Then I can say that, by the grace of God, I took steps to remove that sin that I had clung to; it was definitely a process, as now I look back and see those early days as still filled with lots of compromises that I'm ashamed of now, but the pattern of sin became way, WAY less marked in my life, and the Holy Spirit kept leading me in a process of repentance and submission. All this to say, I think the difference between those two fuzzy zones is the attitude of your heart: do you want to cling to your sin, do you relish it? Or has the Lord begun to show you that sin is repulsive and destructive, and you desire to be free from it. I hope that helps someone reading. Basically, God's grace is AWESOME, and He will finish the good work He begins in us, when we truly repent and submit. God bless, sorry for the long comment.

[@Life2theFull4710]

YES!!!!!!! Amen! PTL!

[@jamescrumbaker3169]

This is where I am at in my walk. I've seen the destructive pattern of sin in my life, and each time I fall I get back up and plead to be freed from it. It's becoming less and less, and I even feel the conviction in my heart before and after I sin. I know that if I continue in my walk with the Lord, I will be freed. I have to keep clinging to faith.

[@1967MGC]

Isn't it possible to both love and hate sin? I find myself rolling by a grocery store and grab too many hard ciders only to regret it afterwards. I've prayed for a new heart but keep on falling on my face. From what I understand, we have NO power to change. That is a gift from God, and I've asked for it. I've given up trying to change and have left my fate in His hands- for better or worse. I'd like to think I'm saved but there's a worrisome thought in the back of my mind that maybe I'm one of the "vessels of wrath".

[@jamescrumbaker3169]

@@1967MGC as long as we recognize it for what it is and keep repenting and asking for a new heart, we continue in the faith. Don't give up, and don't give in! I've seen changes in my life from where I started. It's gradual, and sometimes you fall, but God will not fail us. We need to keep fighting and trusting in the Lord.

[@rhoda4621]

I have always had non-christian friends and been afraid of telling them about Jesus. I only ever evangelise to strangers online and avoid confrontation. In irl conversations I tend to agree with my friends about topics I don't think are right or just try not to talk about them at all. I'm not sure people would be able to tell I'm a Christian. When I was a teenager I thought 'oh it's just peer pressure, I still have time to grow' etc, but I'm 20 now and struggle to see this attitude going away..

[@vbetta8979]

Maybe really start seeking Him for deliverance from the fear of man? Lots of good information available online. Repent for putting yourself and others ahead of God, because that is what fear of man really is. You serve whom you fear.

[@docmars]

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35

[@Window4503]

You just kinda have to do it and accept that you might lose some people. The next time you have one of those conversations, just say, "I understand where you're coming from, but I have to disagree and here's why..." and go on from there. You might be shaking or need to take some deep breaths or look away; you don't have to be this bold hero, just be faithful.

[@HotelCharliHill]

Galatians 1:10. Just give it a shot, pray and tell them all about Christ. If they reject you, GOOD RIDDANCE, who needs friends like that?! And pray for godly friends who encourage and are serious about Christ. Be blessed!

[@donnagelina8548]

Oh my.... I am 62 and have trouble with this. I actually have had trouble being open about my beliefs with my own husband! I'm not ashamed of it, but I am always awkward whether I will say the right thing and if they ask questions whether I will have the (right) answer). I'm not as much worried that they will think some way about me. I just worry they will walk away being even LESS likely to believe in Jesus! I know my own pride has a part in this.

[@vj563]

I still struggle with anger. I keep praying and asking God to deliver me from this because I can't do it in my own strength. I need His help. I don't want to hear Jesus say He never knew me.

[@milkoftheword1718]

The secret is to turn your heart to the Lord Spirit who lives in you. Spend time beholding his face. Loving him. In that moment his riches flow into your heart. Those riches transform you from one degree of glory to another and before you know it anger has been overcome. It's a day by day practice.

[@vj563]

@@Whitedoves78 I'm sorry you deal with this too. I'll keep you in my prayers. 🙏

[@davidpacheco5796]

I struggle with anger and frustration too I asked the Lord to change my heart… i asked a lot but finally came to the end of myself and cried out Lord I can’t do this anymore please help me… and He has it hasn’t been easy but as I surrender and die to myself the less and less I have anger or frustration issues… also get the book humility and absolute surrender by Andrew Murray I tell you now you will feel convicted as he used the word to lay out how surrender and humility are traits a true believer should have. Currently on chapter 8 awesome read

[@vj563]

@@davidpacheco5796 Thank you so much! I'll look into that book. That's really great! Praise God for that! I've cried out so many times. I do well for a while and then just out of nowhere it gets bad. I think it has something to do with demonic oppression too. Anytime I start getting further on my walk with God I feel like there's an attack. So I pray for help with this, that I be delivered from any oppression and for the Holy Spirit to help sanctify me into what Jesus wants me to be. Thank you again for sharing that info. I appreciate it. God bless you.

[@josephmetts3085]

Jesus only tells the people who thought they were Christians I never knew you. Believe on Jesus' alone. Don't look at you or works at all. When u get angry find grace for self too. Don't be so hard on yourself. When u focus more on Jesus and his love rather than what do wrong u will find urself living people like Jesus did.

[@internetneverlies]

Well said - if your scared, do not despair, come to the light.

[@anotherperspective8263]

If your scared, go to church...

[@Ryanjoned163]

The problem with deception is that people don't know they are being deceived

[@docmars]

I would hope that God has mercy on those who do not know of their deception, because it hasn't been revealed to them. Imagine an Earthly father getting angry and kicking their child out of their house for unknowingly believing something false - I do not believe that God is that callous.

[@CMA418]

Which begs the question, how would YOU know?

[@paulthompson9668]

@@docmars And yet there's the Old Testament

[@4everMayito]

​@docmars That is an incorrect analogy. The bible says that everyone is a creation of God, not that they are all his children. Through faith in Christ we become children of God (Gal 3:26). As long as we trust in Jesus as our Lord, no deception that the Lord can't reveal will come upon us. That is why he says that the truth will set us free.

[@docmars]

@@4everMayito Fair point, however, how do we deal with those who have accepted Jesus as their savior, but believe that LGBTQ+ is the way to become a god of your own, because they believe "you are Christ"? How do you work through that deception spreading throughout the church? Is their claim to salvation valid while they simultaneously spread heresy far and wide?

[@baronreed8131]

Thank you Brother Mike for constantly addressing the difficult questions and issues with a very straightforward approach.

[@sharonrussell1560]

I have worried about my own salvation. For many years I went astray. But when I came back and truly repented, the sinful things I was drawn to before, no longer have any power over me. I still sin (we all do) but I am no longer a slave to sin and I do not do the things I used to do. I am more aware of my words and actions. I am thankful for conviction. I see so many people who are what you describe in this video as being in the fuzzy area. They claim to genuinely believe in Jesus but their lives are aligned more with the world. Willfully and knowingly do things that go against God. I try to be an example to them but it seems to not matter. I worry about them. Then I worry if I am being too judgmental. Do I have a log in my eye and am I too focused on the speck in theirs? I hate second guessing myself.

[@josephmetts3085]

U can't look at ur works as a marker on whether or saved or not. The Mormon or the Amish live "holier" lives than most but there not saved. Because they never believed that Christ was enough to save them

[@robynalbury-sipeli8479]

You don't have a log. You are speaking the Truth in love. This just shows how much you care. Blessings

[@thefruityking6722]

​@@josephmetts3085 I agree. An unsaved person can do works too.

[@josephmetts3085]

@@thefruityking6722 yup, the unsaved can do good works and the saved can do bad works. Look at bill gates, I'm not really a fan of his but on paper he does alot of charities and gives lots of money to the unfortunate but inwardly, well I don't think I need to go there.

[@karenmazzu]

Please don't give up trying to help people follow Jesus. I'm in the fuzzy area and don't know what I would do if people gave up trying to help me. Been fighting and failing for longer than I wanted to, and many people have given up on me because maybe they think they are not having an effect. But I am still hoping to get out with Jesus. 🙏

[@NewCreationInChrist896]

Proverbs 28:13 “He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.”

[@davidmcclain5910]

Turning from sin isn't nor is it part of biblical salvation, The INSTANT a person places their faith in Christ ALONE as savior (believing He died for all their sins, was buried and rose again on the 3rd Day according to the Scriptures for their justification) they are IMMEDIATELY, PERMANENTLY and ETERNALLY saved!!!! They have received the IMPUTED RIGHTEOUSNESS of Christ that very INSTANT without which NO MAN can be justified in the eyes of God...saved from eternal death in hell and GUARANTEED eternal LIFE in the New Heavens and New Earth forever!!!!! "For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him." 2nd CORINTHIANS 5:21, KJV

[@NewCreationInChrist896]

@@davidmcclain5910 Amen, much love to you. 💕

[@Luke-tk9lm]

@@davidmcclain5910 , I agree. If it were, how would anyone ever know that they’d turned enough? Plus then you’re automatically gauging your acceptability with God based on your ability to turn from sins. That is trying to earn salvation by works and they are DEAD WORKS because they are an attempt to earn salvation. We are created 👉🏻unto👈🏻 GOOD WORKS because they are done in faith AFTER salvation according to what God in Christ has accomplished.

[@OJPrime]

@@davidmcclain5910 This is not true, the need for repentance is an ongoing process. Remember the parable of the sower. You're not eternally secure until your secured eternally in Heaven. Not everyone who calls Him Lord will be able to enter. Not everyone who does mighty works in His name will be able to enter. Make sure your election is sure and work out your salvation with fear and trembling. The kingdom of heaven is like a man who found treasure and buried it in a field. Later he sold ALL he all had and bought that field. Whoever takes the plow and looks back is not worthy of Him. Therefore to everyone take up your cross daily for you are not only believers but followers...doers of the word. May the Lord bless you and correct and reproof everyone to His ways.

[@themagnificentorange672]

@@OJPrime Correct

[@stephenbailey9969]

I came to Christ, but still had the mindset that what is done in the Spirit and what is done in the flesh were separate things. It was a year to a year and a half later that the Holy Spirit convicted me regarding my behavior, and delivered me from that desire. I have been enabled to walk in chastity by his power ever since. There isn't a passion, lust, addiction of the flesh that God is not able to overcome, if we allow him to be the Lord of our lives.

[@mer8795]

I struggled with surrendering my own Will to God for decades after baptism. Holy Spirit was with me the entire time, but i kept wandering off the path. I finally surrendered, and it is so much easier to follow Jesus. Im not saying there aren't temptations, but it is less. Therefore, I believe that surrendering to God's Will is a big part of becoming that solid Christian and knowing what will be when you meet Jesus face to face.

[@ThisAlphaWolf]

You and me both. I was saved as a child, yet had a child's understanding of what that meant. Life circumstances whisked me away from the church and into chaos. Then, I went my own way and spent 40 years wandering the wilderness, so to speak. I always believed in Christ, although at one point, I started to falter there. God gave me every chance to straighten up and eventually, I did. It never ceases to amaze me when I look back now, I can also clearly see that the Holy Spirit was with me the entire time. And now that I've learned to submit my own will, my connection to the Holy Spirit has gotten so much better. It's nowhere near as difficult of a thing as I thought to myself that it would be to remember to put God's will first and foremost. In fact, its something that I _desire_ to do now. I know He knows far better than I, loves me and wants what is best for me. That pesky, stubborn, independent, flesh driven streak tries to make an appearance from time to time still, but I am better prepared to confront it now whenever it does. All praise and glory goes to Christ!

[@karenmazzu]

🙏 please pray for me and my bf to get out of the fuzzy category and into the light 😭 I was (behaviorally) in the clear Jesus category for years but even then struggled to be certain I was saved, it's totally right to say get out of moping and ask God for a real repentance. Thank you for posting this.

[@Shellyspurr]

Thank Jesus I was delivered from sexual sin

[@tylerbuck9347]

I must be too :/

[@HowChristdiedforoursins]

Repentance is a change of mind not turning from sin but faith towards Christ alone That's how you know you are saved for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God🙏🏾

[@WeWillShowMercy]

Amen 🙏🩸✝💗🕊 "There is also an antitype which now saves us-baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him." 1 Peter 3:21-22 NKJV

[@benprestridge6787]

Amen, repentance when speaking of salvation can only mean going from unbelief to belief Turning from your sins repentance gospel is as blasphemous as it gets Hello John MacArthur and co Mark and avoid these folks but pray for them too

[@Dacipleinc]

There's 2 types of Repentance, Repentance unto Salvation, which is that change of mind about everything the Word says about us and Sin and who and what Jesus is and has done, aka you change your mind about Sin being worthy of death and hell and you change your mind about Jesus being God who died on the cross for your Sins and that results in the saving faith and belief unto Salvation. However once you are saved you definitely are commanded to turn from Sin. Prior to Salvation you literally can not turn from Sin, it's impossible. You were dead, you were enslaved, nothing a dead and enslaved person can do to turn from Sin. But once we are saved, we have the Holy Spirit in us who has made us free from Sin and it's bondage and now we are commanded to turn from the Sins that had a hold on us. It's the difference between Justification and Sanctification. Repentance unto Justification requires only changing your mind and believing in Jesus. Sanctification is a life long process of the work of the Holy Spirit that by repentance we are changed more and more into the image of Christ.

[@Daves2024]

Best example of the truth as told in the Bible is exactly what you said. Thanks for that!

[@time_2_get_ready]

Christians today have totally forgotten that the baptism of REPENTANCE preached by John the Baptist preparing the Way of the Lord, PRECEEDS the baptism of the Holy Spirit. John scorned some by calling them a brood of vipers whom he insisted "do things in keeping with repentance..."

[@reecetrahan6169]

When we truly are saved, I feel it’s like we’re tethered to God. When we move away from Him, we are pulled back because we’ve already made that decision. But I don’t know if that is sound Biblical philosophy, I’ve just noticed that even when I do stray, I can’t stay in it, as if God is nagging me to return to Him

[@Jaxmusicgal23]

Same. I sadly don’t see the same situation in regards to my husband and his entire family. Yet they grew up as a “good Christian family” in church. Since January he constantly fights with me that I have begun “take my faith too seriously” and then lets me know if God wants him to stop doing something he shouldn’t He will take it away (all while also claiming God can’t or won’t heal his addictions). I finally realized a year ago I was putting alot ahead of God in my life for a while- even trying to make my marriage work and other things. I laid those down and put Jesus first again as my Lord and began to seek Him first. My priorities changes and how I approached things changed. It has caused a lot of tension in our home off and on but I am attempting to bring peace and not argue on subjects that hubby and I disagree with religiously. I can’t keep away from God for long. My hubby has gotten jealous and said he doesnt know how to have a relationship with God like me… he sadly doesn’t like the answer I give as to what it takes to have one. I pray weeping about it knowing its not my hubby’s lack of knowledge but internal desire to submit to God that is preventing him from this. I wish I had recognized my state and prayed sooner for us both before it got to where it is now.

[@Masowe.]

@@Jaxmusicgal23 all things work for good to those who love him. Romans 8:28. tell him to read the bible and pray at least once a day

[@cmpreston12]

Oh wow Mike - you're talking to me here! I was born again 10th January 2022, so just 16 months. I still find myself in sin that I hate - I'm surrounded by unbelievers in my family and at work. I am easily tempted into gossip at work, which makes my skin crawl when I do it. I also smoke cigarettes. I've prayed about these strongholds, but they're still so strong. I don't know where to go from here - I want God's will to overpower my own, but it's just not happening. Please, would you pray for me. Carole x

[@Apoch86]

My youth pastor once told me, living as a Christian is often not a switch, it's a dial. This is the process of sanctification, or "becoming more like Christ". Essentially, your life, after Christ has entered it, has been changed. But it may not be readily noticeable day to day. Like a seed planted in the soil, will not be a mighty tree for many years. Your life is changing, by degrees. The things that you used to tolerate and be ok with, you're no longer accepting in your own life. Be thankful in this season, that the Lord is convicting you of things you see as separating you from Him. Be thankful that he is growing you, disciplining you, and shaping you (all parts of that sanctification), in to the person He wants you to be. Have some grace and patience for yourself in this process. Continually strive for Him and His kingdom, but don't weigh yourself down with shame. Also remember that conviction is not the same as shame. One builds up, the other tears down. Grace and peace to you. ps. Smoking is not a sin :) While addiction definitely can be, have patience with yourself here also. If you're intent on quitting, or absolutely need to quit for any reason, start by degrees.. Maybe break the cigarettes in half before starting to smoke them, or maybe break one for every one smoked, then next week or the week after, break 2.. or eventually only smoke every other day... do it til you're buying a pack just to break them all, and then don't buy it! Keep praying for deliverance from this, and with some perseverance through prayer, He will remain faithful and you will be delivered.

[@kurtweiand7086]

🙏

[@cmpreston12]

@@Apoch86 thank you so much 💓

[@cmpreston12]

@@kurtweiand7086 thank you 💗

[@hyeminkwun9523]

God knows that we are weak because of the effects of the Original Sin inherited. To help us to overcome this weakness and become holy as He is Holy (Lev 11:44, 1 Peter 1:15-16), Our Lord instituted Sacraments in His Church founded on the 12 Apostles (Rev 21:14) with St. Peter as His Vicar (Pope) on earth. The Sacrament of Baptism makes the baptized a child of God (John 1:12) restoring the Sanctifying Grace lost and a member of His Mystical Body, the Church whom He saves (Eph 5:23), and, at the same time, forgives all past sins committed by the baptized. A sin committed by the baptized darkens the beauty of his soul, takes away the Sanctifying Grace from him, and separates him from the communion of life with God. Sin causes the person to return to slavery under Satan, who thus exercises his evil dominion over him, and leads him along the road of eternal perdition. To meet our extreme weakness (to sin), Our Lord instituted the Sacrament of Confession in which He absolves sins and communicates His Graces to heal and strengthen the soul and to form new hearts and a renewed life in the penitent. The soul of a newly baptized is a spiritual baby (Hebrews 5:12-14, Eph 4:13-14, 1 Cor 14:20). In addition to cleansing by the Sacrament of Confession, the baby needs spiritual food to grow to become a mature man. The Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist is the Bread from Heaven (John 6:35-58) given to the members of the Church so that they grow to mature men, bearing abundant fruits worthy for Heaven (John 15:5). Without the Sacraments instituted by Our Lord and administered by His Church, which is the power He gives to members of His Church to transform them into His image (Rom 8:29, 2 Cor 3:18), one can't retain the Sanctifying Grace, which is the wedding garment (Matt 22:12-13), required for salvation. Therefore to be saved, one must be a faithful member of the Church. Otherwise, whatever one does, for example, read Bible, pray to God, preach God, and try to do good to others, it will be no avail. That's why 'Extra Ecclesiam nulla salus (outside the Church, no salvation)' is a Catholic Dogma (Catechism No. 846). Please watch The Forgotten Dogma: No Salvation Outside the Catholic Church by Father Isaac Mary Relyea on KZbin. Why wander about outside of Our Lord's Holy Sheepfold (John 10:16) and suffer? Come quickly to Our Lord's Holy Sheepfold so that you may hear His Voice, know Him, and be saved, before it is too late, because the public appearance of the Antichrist is imminent (2 Thes 2:8-12)! May God bless you and lead you. Amen!

[@animaanimus8011]

I’ve only recently began studying the scriptures. I wasn’t raised Christian, but was taught a general belief in God. I often feel guilty because no matter how much I want to be saved my brain throws up doubts. I have been indoctrinated to believe that science and Christianity are mutually exclusive. I am a sinner and I have a lot of regrets about lies I’ve told or times I’ve engaged in bad behavior. I lived with an ex for a time outside of marriage. Please pray for me!

[@Adam-gm5tm]

All one must do to be saved is to trust in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of their sins. The Gospel is the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of our sins, that we read in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4.

[@barbarapaz3722]

I understand where you’re coming from. Before converting I was the same way. Throughout my life I needed “logic” to explain everything. I had several friends who were Christians, and though I “believed in God” or some higher force (honestly I was very into eastern new age spiritually for quite a while) I wasn’t a Christian and didn’t read the Bible nor did I go to church. I was raised Catholic though and hated it from the bottom of my soul as it always felt off. Now as a Christian (Baptist) I know exactly why. Anyhow, I wanted to tell you what I did about 10 years ago. Watching my Christian friends and their lifestyles and their faith I was almost a bit jealous. I remember one day sitting on my couch and I asked God to open my heart for this kind of faith and to help me overcome my doubts and disbelief. To overcome my need for things to make sense and be “scientifically backed-up”. I really really wanted it but I knew my brain was my main leader and not my heart at the time. It was so hard for me to accept the whole story of Adam and Eve and the flood and everything. Rewind 9 years and last year I converted and surrendered my heart to Christ. About 10 months prior to my conversion I started attending a Bible studies group in my town. And after actually READING the scriptures and studying them slowly I started feeling the change. And then it happened. Now, my whole testimony would be a bit too long (as this reply already is haha) but that was the key. And I am eternally grateful that Lord answered that prayer of mine 🙌🏻 I hope you will surrender your heart to Christ too. Maybe you can ask Him to help you like I did. To open your heart enough and to take away the doubts. Ask Him to reveal Himself to you and He will! God bless you on your path to Christ.

[@susand]

@@barbarapaz3722 God bless you, Barbara.

[@barbarapaz3722]

@@susand thank you. God is merciful 🙌🏻

[@isaiahhill2104]

You just described my situation 😭

[@rickyoquedo6047]

Woah!! Im in that fuzzy area and I’ve been trying to justify my thinking with absurdity. But I NEED God…desperately. Thank you Mike❤️God bless

[@NewCreationInChrist896]

Amen, we practice what we believe in Jesus Christ, evidence of our faith, faithfulness and seeking our Savior for strength to overcome. Galatians 5:22-23🕊️ “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”

[@Life2theFull4710]

❤

[@phlegmbuoyant]

Amen 🙌🏽

[@Tyler_W]

I heard a story from an Orthodox priest that might shed some light on this subject. There was once a priest who lived and struggled with the sin of drunkenness, and one day, he died. Some of the people from his church said among themselves that although it was sad that he had passed, it was probably for the best, because he shamed his profession and made the community look bad. Some wondered if he was even going to heaven at all. Another priest heard them saying these things and discouraged them, saying that he had a troubled past and wrestled with a lot of inward turmoil. Before his conversion, he would try to get drunk multiple times a day (i forget if it was multiple times per day or per week, but the point remains). He told them that after his conversion, it was a constant struggle to overcome his vices, and he often lost the bsttle, but he would get up and continue the slow and painful struggle to shed the old creation and put on the new. With much prayer and repentance, he found himself getting drunk far less often than he once did, even though he was hung over on the day he died. The lay people asked the priest whether or not the other who died was welcomed into heaven, and the priest told them he certainly was. God understands the frailty and weakness of our nature and our past, and he recognizes the conflict and desire in our hearts and the long, overarching trajectory of our lives. Even though his drunkenness was not a sin that he was able to fully conquer in this life, his desire to be more like Christ and his efforts to that end through repentant prayer and personal struggle reveal that the Spirit was still at work in his heart, and his attempt to work in sync with that prompting of the Spirit produced improvement, alebit slow improvement over the long course of his life, compared to where he had started. God recognizes our struggle and the areas in which we are weak. We have cause for concern when we do not care, even if we know the things that we make a conscious habit of doing are evil, and have no desire for genuine change. You will not simply be content with where you are for long if the Spirit is truly at work. The fact you even care at all shows that you aren't beyond help in this life and that there's something still there for the Holy Spirit to work with. If you were past some point of no return, you wouldn't be concerned with the answer to that question in the first place, and even if that were the case, there's no telling whether the grace of God will effectively impact your heart again in the future and ignite that spark of life again (although that possibility is not something I would consider wise to take for granted and try to take advantage of). If you struggle with sin and if you come to Him, genuine in your desire to overcome it, Christ responds to your desire, acknowledges the struggle, and sympathizes with your weakness as our perfect High Priest. Our perishable works of sin that are burned up and destroyed are transformed into precious metals refined in the fire of the presence of God through our repentance and requests for mercy and grace. There's a reason why Christ told his disciples to repeatedly forgive those who sin against them, even multiple times a day, if they seek forgiveness and reconciliation. The reality is that although at some point we may not be shielded from all of the natural consequences of our bad decusions, which God sometimes uses as a wake-up call, God's mercy has no limits for those who seek it. Because we are the way we are, sometimes repenting multiple times a day is what it takes to embrace the struggle, to get back up and keep on fighting uphill every time we get knocked down. Getting back up and trying again and again after getting knocked down is a part of the job description in the spiritual war into which we've been drafted upon our initial repentance and faith in Christ.

[@gr3ywolf144]

I think one sign that someone is either saved or not, is whether they have what Paul describes as 'Godly sorrow'... Years ago, I used to say that I was a Christian if anyone asked me, all the while sinning and it not really bothering me. Today I will still say that I am a Christian, but now if I sin, it bothers me because I know that I have sinned against God and I hate it, sometimes to the point that it will bring tears to my eyes because I dont want to sin against God anymore.

[@theSoundlessHuman]

I've tried everything to flee from porn, yet there's always an opening, I've prayed day and night, fasted, cried on my floor, I was raped at a young age, got into porn at a young age, I'm almost thirty now and even though I'll never lose faith, I've lost a lot of hope expecting that things will ever change for me.

[@rainbowhawk911]

Don’t lose hope. Jesus can break your stronghold and one day, He’s going to come back and abolish everything that has tainted God’s perfect world and make everything alright again.

[@potapotapotapotapotapota]

@@rainbowhawk911 Maybe He will maybe He won't. God can make whatever He wants out of us for His glory.

[@rainbowhawk911]

@@potapotapotapotapotapota In the meantime, TISTTRUTH should continue to lean on the strength of Jesus and trust him with everything that’s going on in life.

[@potapotapotapotapotapota]

@@rainbowhawk911 Yes and sometimes that means resting in Jesus, knowing that no matter how we may fail Jesus' blood still covers us.

[@rainbowhawk911]

@@potapotapotapotapotapota And all we can do in the meantime is pray.

[@karispanos]

I needed this! ❤ Thank you Mike! I appreciate your wisdom and trust that the Holy Spirit is sanctifying me!

[@espy0008]

🙏 Thank you! I’ve had this on my heart for months so I absolutely needed to hear this answer! Thank You!

[@nicki8487]

Thank you for making this video. This is a topic that I go back and forth with people about often...they interpret passages like these as proof that your salvation does depend partly on works, that you can lose your salvation. I have tried several times (with great difficulty!) to communicate that this is not really what these passages are saying, but at the same time, true salvation is not, "Yep, I believe in Jesus and prayed a prayer and now I'm going to behave however I want." This video really simplified and summarized it well! You're great Mike, keep it up! I can't even tell you how much your videos have helped me over the past few years...praying that God continues to bless you with peace and everything you need to continue this work, thank you!

[@fernandodeleon4115]

Keep moving forward in Christ sister but this is truth = 👍Once Saved Aways Saved. In 1John 3:6, when it says (Whoever abides in Him does not sin), that's talking about our (new man), our new man does not sin. When it says (Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor knows Him) that's talking about the person that's not saved. *Now look at 1JOHN 1:8, our flesh sins. *We can walk in darkness, 1JOHN 1:6, cross reference with Romans 13:12 The Lukewarm: Jesus could wish they were cold or hot not Lukewarm. =Revelation 3:15 The Lukewarm, are people who are not saved. *The Lukewarm people are naked, they have no garments on.= Revelation 3:17,18 *There are some believers that have defiled their garments, they are not naked= Revelation 3:4 Now go back to Revelation 3:21 = (to him who overcomes,) cross reference that with 1JOHN 5:4,5, (we overcome the world, through our faith.)

[@fernandodeleon4115]

I hope this will help you sister. You do not need to answer the questions. There meant to make you think. Iron sharpens Iron. Context is very important to understand the scriptures. In the beginning of the letter of Galatians, Paul is addressing the Churches of Galatia and in these Churches not everyone is saved. 👉Can you say everyone in your Church is saved? Every Church that's of God has people that are not saved. Next, Paul mentions the gospel of Christ in Gal 1:7, in this gospel Salvation is Today = 2Corinthians 6:2, Acts 13:39. And by Him all that believe (are) justified (from all things), from which ye could (not) be justified by the law of Moses. (justified) in the Greek is (dikaioō), which means to render righteous, declared righteous. 👉What does (justified from all things) means? in Acts 13:39 In Gal 5:16, we can put out the Spirit = 1THESSALONIANS 5:19,and walk in the flesh. In Gal 5:19 it mentions (works). In the Judgment seat of Christ, which is a Judgment for the Church only in = 2CORINTHIANS 5:10/1Cor 3:11-15, this judgment is for rewards, based on our (works), not a lost of salvation. Verse 15 supports this. In Galatians 5:21, Paul uses the word (they), not us or we, (they) meaning those that are Not saved in the Churches of Galatia.

[@lodestar3984]

Thank you Pastor Mike! Videos like this always help me see what I’m doing wrong, and how God can save me from my sins!

[@RayRestored]

I fell away from Jesus for sometime. The hardest thing Ive had to learn is that if a person has accepted Jesus Christ and yet falls away, if there heart if fertile to the seed s of His word, they will be chastised through this period and brought through some rough stuff until they, or in my case I submitted to Him. As the lamb that goes astray from the 100. Prayer and support in the Love of Jesus is a powerful thing when dealing with people as I once was. Your presistance to love and bring good ministry to the fallen away does matter. I will testify of this. Bless you who suffer us through these periods of spiritual harships. Descipleship in Christ is truly a group effort I have found, this is what makes the church of believers different from the world.

[@jacques3402]

Yes, I agree. "The Lord chastises those whom He loves." It can make for a seemingly bizarre situation in which, looking back, I am thankful for certain difficult times because I see in them God's hand correcting my path and, thus, evidence of His love for me.

[@RayRestored]

@@jacques3402 Amen. I am relieved that Jesus never gives up on us, even if we do give up on ourselves.

[@jerseycarlsen1847]

God bless you brother! That was amazing! Something so simple yet so deep! I am grateful to God for men like you! Those who bear the image for the glory of God!

[@stevenharris7013]

This...was honest, thought provoking, challenging, encouraging, and awesome. Thanks Mike.

[@benprestridge6787]

What was honest about it? It was heretical

[@jerome620]

Consider this. If God has truly given you a new heart, will you chase after sin? I believe this is what Paul is pointing to, those who chase after sin. Those who have a war within over their sin, take heart, this is a sign that you are saved. For the unsaved do not war over their sin.

[@davidmcclain5910]

That's actually not a sign that you have biblical salvation although it sounds appeasing to the ear to think you had something to do with your salvation. But that's not biblical salvation according to scripture. The INSTANT a person places their faith in Christ ALONE as savior (believing He died for all their sins, was buried and rose again on the 3rd Day according to the Scriptures for their justification) they are IMMEDIATELY, PERMANENTLY and ETERNALLY saved!!!! They have received the IMPUTED RIGHTEOUSNESS of Christ that very INSTANT without which NO MAN can be justified in the eyes of God...saved from eternal death in hell and GUARANTEED eternal LIFE in the New Heavens and New Earth forever!!!!! "For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him." 2nd CORINTHIANS 5:21, KJV

[@annieaviles4760]

@@davidmcclain5910 uh… those indwelled with the Holy Spirit- as the scriptures indicate- will be led to righteous living… an internal compass. It’s not that hard to understand. The original poster is correct.

[@KronZoldyck]

@@annieaviles4760I guess if your dealing with problems you don’t have the Holy Spirit then, basically saying u look at your works to know if your saved. You believe in yourself to be justified before god, Paul makes it clear we look to Jesus for our justification.

[@annieaviles4760]

@@KronZoldyck righteousness is works? LOL! Repent!

[@tonieabbott180]

Thank you so much for this video, Mr. Winger!! It means an awful lot to me. I have a cousin who goes to church and claims to be a Christian, but we were discussing matters of faith one day, and she made statements that contradicted the Bible. When I tried to point out to her that she was wrong, she got really annoyed, and I haven't heard from her since (We live in separate states and have only ever talked online). I know this video is God's way of letting me know once again that I did the right thing by actually defending Scripture instead of taking the "warm and fuzzy," overly tolerant approach that is actually very dangerous and detrimental to true spiritual development. I think my cousin was hoping that I'd just sweep this under the rug, but I cannot do that in good conscience. It's kind of a bummer that we're not speaking right now, but I feel fine! I can't control how other people respond to my doing what Jesus wants me to do, but I can always control myself and continue to bear good fruits, even when I have to bear them all alone. As a Pinterest meme said, "Being honest may not get you many friends, but it will always get you the right ones." God bless you and your ministry. ✝❤

[@jamesbaldwin4716]

Great message. So simple, yet so clear and to the point. This makes me reflect on my lifestyle. I’ve always felt uneasy proclaiming Christ as my Lord and Savior, yet still living a life full of sin. The past 6 months have been eye opening for me. But there’s great news. In the words of my phenomenal pre-marital counselors, “You did what you did, now what are you going to do about it NOW?” Thanks, Mike!

[@gailmitchell5101]

Thanks for always being bold and courageous, never tickling ears!!

[@m7m746]

I think what helps me other than knowing with my whole mind, heart and soul that I love Jesus and trust fully in Him, is that when my body sins, I absolutely freaking hate hate hate it. There is such a discomfort in me when I do things I know that God did not intent for me to do. 🙏🏽❤️ Love watching your videos Mike. Thank you for everything you preach! And thank you Lord for Mike!

[@anotherperspective8263]

Wake up.. Your body CAN NOT sin.. YOU control your body.. Not the other way around.. The first step to true salvation is accepting responsibility...

[@m7m746]

@@anotherperspective8263 you are wrong. The body does sin. If salvation is made through taking responsibility then what Jesus did on the cross was for nothing and nothing makes sense. We are saved through faith by grace. Without Jesus we cannot earn anything. You are so wrong which is so sad. You are too egotistical by believing that you can save yourself which is absolutely what you are spouting. You’ll never earn it. “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 ‭ “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.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭9‬ ‭

[@anotherperspective8263]

@@m7m746 You can start your rambling with "you are wrong" but it won't actually make me wrong... You just haven't found Truth yet.. And you never will as long as you keep believing...

[@anotherperspective8263]

@@m7m746 Oh, and by the way.. I am not looking for salvation.. I have nothing to be saved from...

[@m7m746]

@@anotherperspective8263 the fact that you don’t believe that you need to be saved from anything shows me that you have absolutely no faith in Jesus and only belief in yourself. I have heard enough.

[@January_Cold]

I needed this video! Thank you Mike!

[@majorphenom1]

Thanks for sharing 🙏🏾 His grace and mercy be upon you and your loved ones 🕊️🥛🍯

[@stetsonwatkins]

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ Matthew 7:21‭-‬23 Thank you for sharing this, Mike. I prayed that God will bless you for speaking the truth in love.

[@stephaniedowtytestimony]

Pastor Mike! Thank you for your faithfulness. All glory to God 🙏✨Hebrews 12:1-2

[@Babsbakes]

Thank you for your help, Mike. May God bless and keep you.

[@JuliaShalomJordan]

This teaching is so well done. Thank you!❤

[@themadre9573]

My pastor and his wife spent a lot of time getting me to a place where I finally understood this, and the Holy Spirit has been very clearly changing my heart ever since. My kids are in their 20s and are a little freaked by the turn-around, but I guess I'm glad they can see what a life changed by God actually looks like right up close.

[@kevinlawrence2600]

I appreciate Mike's honest and humble approach. I have enjoyed his videos for several years. I also noticed in this passage a clear distinction between the groups: 1. The group defined by sin 2. The Ephesians who Paul is assuming to be saved. Even though this passage may be a reasonable guideline for a person to take inventory for their own life, it seems that it's not intended to be used as the end all be all of how to make a final determination on a persons eternal salvation. The "fuzzy area" analogy is spot on! So real and honest. As Paul says "every man will give an account of himself to God."

[@Masowe.]

he says the same thing in other books though like 2corrinthians7:10 or 2 corrinthians6:9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous2 will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality,3 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.

[@kevinlawrence2600]

@@Masowe. I'm unsure what your point is or meaning. I would apply my comment to those other passages as well.

[@alexmauch7815]

Amen! Thank you for your honest and wise thoughts about this difficult topic.

[@jackjumper4231]

Whenever I apply this verse to other people as a test of their salvation I cannot determine whether they are or are not saved. However when I apply the scripture to myself I find two things happen, first of all when I doubt my salvation I can launch and see an inward change which is evidence to me that Jesus has redeemed me and secondly When I find myself committing sin are you see that the newness of my life in Christ does not permit me to continue, I believe this verse is most effective when I apply it to myself and not others

[@worldgonemad812]

Love this! The wheat and the tares grow up together. The Lord sorts it out❤🙌🙏✝️

[@loishilliard1]

I could listen to you all day. It is no mistake I heard this. Thanks be to our Father.

[@toobin4life]

TY Mike I needed that!

[@StrangeDays25]

I thank God for you and your encouragement. God bless you in Jesus Christ.

[@IAMMRPATRICKBORNAGAIN]

I think you hit the nail on the head, Mike. We work out our own salvation with fear and trembling.

[@gailmitchell5101]

Read Psalm 119 daily if you want a deep raw relationship with the Savior!!

[@phlegmbuoyant]

And I suggest that we ask the Holy Spirit to begin planting entire passages from Psalm 119, in our heart, mind and spirits - so that we can live into His TRUTH, like THIS one from Psalm 119:97 "mem" מ = "Oh, how I Love your Law! (The Hebrew Scriptures) I meditate on it ALL DAY LONG."

[@NeoSpiritx]

Mike, I like these shorter videos. Some of us may not have time to watch/listen to an entire podcast but will be able to listen to a short video where you answer 1 of the 20 questions. Consider making several videos per 20 questions podcast! You're doing an awesome thing Mike!

[@knatsomitab7376]

I had an indelible experience and continue too in Him. I had "believed" I thought, now I know. Huge difference in wanting to and try and actually knowing the why. He is the Way , the Truth and only Life worth giving my all too. I fall incredibly short but in Him, the narrow path is discernable. Love you all in His image!

[@stankwilliamsjr.8949]

Powerful. Makes me really contemplate my own personal “exterior” image.

[@BatMite19]

It's not a question of "how much sin?" It is about whether or not you have a heart of repentance. If you are acknowledging that your behavior is sinful, and if you want that sin to be removed but you just can't seem to get control over your flesh, then I think you are saved. But if you are nursing and protecting a sin, refusing to admit that it is sinful or something that requires repentance, then watch out.

[@micaelstarfire8639]

Very true. It's about your reaction to your sin. Many of us struggle with destructive addictions and sins: drugs, pornography, anger, etc. A saved Christian is grieved by those sins, even while acknowledging his lack of control over them. The unsaved one continually tries to justify why those aren't sins for him, or why sin isn't a problem. Especially common is the modern version of antinomianism where, "God has to love me no matter what I do, so I can do whatever I want."

[@catholictruth102]

No that’s false, you have to stop the sin to be saved, not just recognize it’s wrong and continue committing it.

[@waynestewart1919]

That is a great challenge! Thank you for the wisdom and discernment.

[@pichael6143]

When i was first getting to know God and whats good and what's sinful i was really struggling to let go of my sin, and at times i was almost hopeless but in the end that helped drive me to Jesus because i had God's promise that he could free me and now i'm still not where i want to be but way better than how i was and still praying and putting my faith and hope in him.

[@melissabunn7453]

Never give up

[@PufferFishRequiem]

A good thing to note is that if you're thinking "How much can I get away with before I'm clearly not saved anymore" you should probably reevaluate of you were ever saved. If you're someone who notices problems in their life and genuinely makes effort to solve those shortcomings because you believe you should be better then you're probably alright

[@Mink_Tracks]

What if you realize you have multiple sin issues, are struggling with them, but just want to have assurance of salvation? Knowledge that there in hope in the end?

[@christsavesreadromans1096]

@@Mink_TracksThere is no assurance of salvation for those living in serious sin daily, repentance is required.

[@Mink_Tracks]

@@christsavesreadromans1096 I have learned the real meaning of repentance since my last comment was posted. It is not the false "turn from sins" meaning that is used by most preachers. Reading the bible is so important. One finds that God repents multiple times (at least 30) in the OT. Repentance CANNOT mean turning from or feeling sorry for your sins. God is perfect and holy and has no sin to turn from. Repentance "metanoia" simply means change of mind :) in the context of salvation.. changing ones mind from unbelief to belief in Jesus and His antonement for our sins at the cross of calvary. God is so good and has made salvation so simple. Yet man complicates it and adds his pride and filthy rags. I will look to Jesus for my assurance. He is my only hope. God bless you.

[@hissonggirlmoni5706]

If a person chooses their sinful obsesión but is a believer. Gods spirit will continue to convict you. If he is ignored He will take you out of this world so you stop hurting yourself. And no one knows the moment it’s too late. Repent and surrender your life to the Lord.

[@Ehhhhhsureeee]

Thank you so much for this video, and thank you for your comment at the end where you address the way we should respond. I tend to find myself in that middle category. Believing in Christ but not seeing the fruit and doing things I do not want to do. When I think on those things, I tend to get depressed and fall into a deeper spiral. Again, I appreciate how you said to respond.

[@shelly12252009]

How amazing your words are. I can totally relate to what you are saying me and my boyfriend of three years had to have a conversation with our pasture because I was feeling such confliction about being sexually immoral and we went so far as to stop 180 days we went and then we got married and now we're having our wedding and September 9th 2023 God blessed us with the spirit and that confliction and the conviction of knowing the difference between right and wrong like I lived my whole life in the wrong but not feeling it was wrong because whatever I want I can do cuz I'm selfish person and then once I got saved things changed and now I do things for God cuz this is his Temple so I have to use his prized possession to fight away the evil from my life

[@ed-jf3xh]

Only God knows the truth of one's salvation. However, if one's fruit indicates that one isn't saved, then all those around them who are, should be ministering to them.

[@josephmetts3085]

Fruit refers to ur beliefs or doctorines. Not what sins u do or don't do. If that was case Moses and David weren't saved because they murdered someone. I know I've never did that

[@davidmcclain5910]

Joseph you are bang on, fruits or proof of fruits isn't contigent with salvation, our salvation comes by Grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. It is a free gift from God lest any man should boast according to scripture

[@ed-jf3xh]

@@josephmetts3085 Fruit is not beliefs or doctrine, it is the work that you do because of salvation. It is no a means to salvation. If you are saved, you are saved by faith, not by works, lest any man boast. However, if you are saved, your works (fruit) will show it. Again, nothing to do with doctrine or sin. We all sin. For the unsaved, our lives are sin filled life. For the saved, the sin in our lives becomes less and less through growing more and more Christ-like. Our life style changes. Moses and David sinned but both were saved by their faith in the coming Messiah and the promise of God. Yeshua is the Vine and , if you are saved, you are the Branch. The Branch produces Fruit but not of its own but through strength of the Vine. No Branch can produce Fruit on its only but if it truly belongs to the Vine, it will produce Fruit.

[@josephmetts3085]

@@ed-jf3xh the point I was trying to make is that our sins has nothing to do with good works. The law was never meant to save us it was always as means to show us we need to be saved. Christ became the law and freed us from the law. Now that we are free, we can now do good works in his name. Good works is not committing any sin, it's love, the kind of love we can only get from God. Mormons and Muslims and Buddhist and the Amish all try to keep the law or to not sin but they are not saved and can never show true love. They r not connected to the vine. So it is talking about doctrine. Christ alone to save us. Every other false religion or doctrine will try to add to what Christ did and so although outwardly they look like they live a very holy life inwardly they r a dead man who try to keep the law. And I'm afraid that's what most Christians do today is backloading there own righteousness into the gospel. Once u mix works or the law into grace it ceases to be grace anymore. Stop looking at people's "fruit" to determine who is saved or not. Jesus will be the only one to divide the wheat from the Tares on judgement day.

[@ed-jf3xh]

@@josephmetts3085You assume too much. I do not look at one's works to see if they are saved. But, they will be known by their works. See Jas 2:18-26

[@John14-6...]

Thanks Mike, Great explanation! Maybe the scripture that talks about working your salvation out with fear and trembling is geared towards those two fuzzy groups so that you don't have to worry about being in the unsaved group.

[@Randoid97]

I think you nailed it!

[@josephmetts3085]

If u believe that Christ took ur sins upon himself so u can have eternal life then u are saved. If u look at ur sins in anyway on whether ur saved or not then u should question urself

[@Randoid97]

@@josephmetts3085 I think that is the point.

[@phlegmbuoyant]

"My dear friends, as you have always obeyed in my presence, but Now much more in my absence, CONTINUE to work out your Salvation with Fear and Trembling, FOR it is GOD who works in you, To Will and To Act, according to His good purpose." _______ Philippians 2:12-13

[@angelicagalabuzi1131]

May God Bless you and your loved ones for the ministry you do!!!

[@AlexBianco100]

I needed to hear this. Thank you.

[@TheOnlyConto]

I got saved because of you and other preachers who are faithful to the truth of scripture. I was on the wide path while claiming the narrow. Eternally grateful to God for bringing me to where I am today.

[@anotherperspective8263]

You got saved from what?..

[@eltonron1558]

You didn't get SAVED. Saved means salvation. You only got CONVERTED.

[@christsavesreadromans1096]

You should join the Catholic Church, the earliest Christian’s were catholic

[@TheOnlyConto]

@@anotherperspective8263 saved from sin, saved from death, saved from the punishment I deserved for a life spent selfishly hurting others. Jesus took it all, my guilt, and shame and pain and He gave me life everlasting🙂

[@TheOnlyConto]

@@eltonron1558 funny enough I actually already would have said I was a Christian but I didn’t know the first thing about God and His love and grace. I needed a serious wake up call. So no, I didn’t get converted, I got saved. I was drowning in a life of misery and Jesus grabbed me by the coat, pulled me up and placed me on dry land. If He can save me He can save anyone🙂

[@NewCreationInChrist896]

As saved believers we overcome seek and knock. If you fail keep knocking and seeking until you overcome sin struggles, be faithful. Matthew 6:33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” Matthew 7:7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you”

[@willscott596]

Well said, I find myself having this type of conversation often with those around me.

[@christywilkens2481]

Thank you, Mike.

[@beingright]

Sorry Mike, big fan of yours but I don't think you said this well. You are confusing justification with sanctification. A great thing about grace is that you don't have to wonder if you did enough (the "fuzzy zone" as you put it). Jesus did it all when it comes to justification; we only have to accept the free gift. This grace is the only way we can have peace with God. You seem to suggest that, hey, you had better start doing more works or you may not be saved (justified). If that is your motive for doing good works, to be saved as you suggest, that is works-based salvation which results in no peace because you can never do enough. While I try to live a Godly life, I know I am not righteous and that is the requirement. My favorite verse is Romans 4:5 and there are about 150 just like it in the NT. I recommend Charlie Bing's book Grace, Salvation and Discipleship where he goes through each of these difficult verses, including Ephesians 5:5. Believers who sin will not enjoy rewards in the kingdom. That is a sanctification issue, not a justification issue. The alternative is living a life not based on the work of Christ, but on the works of yourself.

[@wysteriafox2977]

I would say those struggling with sin who beat themselves up over it and are actively praying, fasting and working towards changing those lifestyle choices. Then those people just need to keep up the work and keep turning to God no matter how many times we fall. Hes faithful. stay repentant He will bring you through it.

[@macdonaldnelson2267]

Thanks for the highlighting the differences, especially the fuzzy zone. Always struggle to get the right words to describe it. :)

[@justin_mariaheverett9868]

I realized recently that I've been fuzzy on a few things --not surrendering them to God. Made me concerned about my salvation bc I felt so dead. This passage has helped challenge me to repent and change. Experiencing greater joy! Thank you Mike for sharing ❤

[@SpaceCadet4Jesus]

"The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity." "That is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will go out, cull out the evil people from among the righteous ones, and will throw them into a blazing furnace. In that place there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.” The warning is "Don't let that be you (that includes me)!" Godly fear now is better than regret later.

[@jme1mm]

Thank you, Mike, I just had a terrible relapse into my porn addiction habit and this video appeared right when I needed it. God bless you. Could someone pray for me to overcome this problem? I've struggled with it on and off since I got exposed to it at 10 years old.

[@Garanon5]

I'm praying for you. I encourage you to pray, confess, and repent to the Lord. Then surrender this area to Him, humbly asking for His grace to overcome, and trust in His ability and willingness to do so. You cannot do this in your own strength, but the good news is God has given His Spirit to believers so they aren't alone. So long as you submit to His Lordship and help: He WILL act, in Jesus' name!

[@23045678]

@@Garanon5 Amen

[@Summer-sc1ph]

Praying for you! I struggled with it for years and years too, but was delivered from it! Covenant eyes is a good resource.

[@benjaminallen6269]

I love the way God works. I have been struggling with this a lot recently and then bam, next thing i know theres a video in my youtube feed about it, and as much as i wish it didnt, it fits my circumstances perfectly. Thank you God!

[@pauldonaghey4896]

This is amazing I thank God for you my brother

[@sandraderoubaix734]

We so often want people to change and then get saved. If they are saved, God deals with the sin. My own mother always said she had to first stop smoking and then she would respond to Jesus. She screeched into the Kingdom 6 days before passing away.( still smoking) She was already dying and had no time to do any religious stuff or get baptised like the man next to Jesus on the Cross.But I know I will meet up with her one day!

[@christsavesreadromans1096]

You don’t know if she’s in heaven at all, especially if she died in her sin and chose not to get baptized, so you should pray everyday that God had mercy on her.

[@user-vt9lv5gn9v]

⁠@@christsavesreadromans1096what in the world is wrong with you or warrant you to even comment that!! If her mother put her trust in the savior to save her then Jesus did just that he saved her.. dying in your sins means you do not believe on Christ therefore you have no righteousness because we need Jesus’s!!!!! We need a savior.. dying in. Your sin is not sinning before you die… he covers all of your sin the moment you put your trust in him! And you do not have to get baptized that is a work.. ( it’s an act of obedience) so I hope and pray you are not trusting in your works to save you what a shame that would be… our works are as filthy rags to god good luck with that!Wow just wow with the audacity of your comment… I hope one day you can see to stop trusting in the sinner and start trusting in the savior… please examine your self to make sure you know the true gospel and have put all your faith in Jesus! Salvation is free and all you gotta do is believe/trust in what Jesus did for you!

[@christsavesreadromans1096]

The Bible is explicit that one must be born again with water to enter heaven (John 3:5). Jesus said the one who believes AND is baptized will be saved (Mark 16:16), and in Acts 2:38 it was baptism and repentance that remitted sin. Baptism is required to be saved. Also dying in your sins without having repented certainly means you will go to hell. What Paul said in Galatians 5:19-21 is more than clear. "Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God." Paul warned the church of this, so those within were already believers in Jesus Christ and had accepted Him as their savior. They were still warned about their sin. Dying with any severe sin on you means that you will go to hell almost certainly unless you repent before death like the thief on the cross.@@user-vt9lv5gn9v

[@user-vt9lv5gn9v]

@@christsavesreadromans1096 wow… it’s baptism of the Holy Spirit not water.. I suggest with a sincere heart you go study that topic.. the moment you put your trust/believe in Christ you get the Holy Spirit which means you are born again one with Christ in Christ!! Repent means to change your mind… or turn from so turn from unbelief in christ to belief and the moment you do that you get the Holy Spirit… baptism with water is just to symbolize your faith in Christ ti show how you died and was buried and rose with Christ.. please study this.. and dying in your sins is when you die without trust in Jesus… your sins are forgiven past present and future otherwise it makes no sense.. you will fail if you are trusting in you.. but the savior is unfailing and if you trust him and have faith he is going to save you.. there was an exchange on the cross all your ugly ness and sin for his righteousness.. go study all of this I pray you do with an open heart.. I’m not arguing online good luck and god bless

[@user-vt9lv5gn9v]

@@christsavesreadromans1096 we will not be entering the kingdom in our fleshly body.. the new man we have in us cannot sin and that is who enters

[@AJTramberg]

I continue to stand on one word with regard to this ongoing queston. "REPENTANCE". Do you even BELIEVE you need to repent (turn your mind/heart against sin), or are you putting all your trust in the notion that because you once made a statement of faith, then anything you do thereafter is already forgiven? Do you believe Jesus died to ENABLE your sin, or to FREE you from sin? Do you WANT the sin, or do you wish and seek to have victory over it? I believe an imperfect, yet repentant heart is the difference. Someone who intentionally sets out to sin by abusing Grace puts themselves in real jeopardy in my opinion. Whenever Iiberal Christianity starts to push into my thinking, I always go back to 1 John, because its absolutely crystal clear. Verse 9 is so critical to understanding this. If God's seed abides in us, we have the Holy Spirit, which makes it nearly impossible to remain in unrepentant, lifestyle sin. Without the doctrine of regeneration (God performing a work in our heart), then this can turn into works. Struggling with sin is a good sign, as long as it remains a struggle! A righteous person struggles and fights against sin. An unrighteous person does not. Verse 4. "Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. 5 You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. 6 No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. 7 Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. 8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. 9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's[b] seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God. 10 By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother."

[@lukebubar7126]

Amen. Thank you for this video.

[@ryanunknown4181]

Amazing! Thank you pastor and thank you Holy Spirit for using this pastor so wonderfully

[@Electronidus]

Wow this is speaking directly to me. Thanks so much for this Mike. The lord is speaking through you.

[@grantbartley483]

One way to look at it is to say that if you believe in Christ but don't even try to be better, then the sin will eventually engulf you so much that you will stop believing in Christ, and that's what to be wary of, since you are only saved if you keep believing til the end... So stay watchful, and repent!

[@michaelestrella2791]

Thank you and God bless you and yours..

[@SalooanMatti]

Thank you for showing this scripture to me and everyone else

[@charlotteroblin5374]

For some reason I keep struggling with loving sin. Especially today. It's so bad.

[@sneaksyranger]

It can certainly be frustrating, especially when prayers for changes to not be so attached to our sin or to be more convicted feel unanswered. I don't know if I have much else than what Peter told Christ when asked if he were going to leave as well: "To whom shall I go?"

[@CMA418]

It’s all in the Red Letters.

[@KarinaLlanos]

I don't know the situation, and I hope you can figure it out. What I know, and hopefully it may help you accordingly, is that many times sin is bound to a habit that triggers it, ask God in prayer to reveal to you the habit and or situation that triggers it, some times is so mechanic that you don't even realize it. And the other is: what is that sin comforting, satisfying or supplying? So it will help you either way to find a better way to deal with it or to deviate from it. Hope it helps 🙏

[@hyeminkwun9523]

God knows that we are weak because of the effects of the Original Sin inherited. To help us to overcome this weakness and become holy as He is Holy (Lev 11:44, 1 Peter 1:15-16), Our Lord instituted Sacraments in His Church founded on the 12 Apostles (Rev 21:14) with St. Peter as His Vicar (Pope) on earth. The Sacrament of Baptism makes the baptized a child of God (John 1:12) restoring the Sanctifying Grace lost and a member of His Mystical Body, the Church whom He saves (Eph 5:23), and, at the same time, forgives all past sins committed by the baptized. A sin committed by the baptized darkens the beauty of his soul, takes away the Sanctifying Grace from him, and separates him from the communion of life with God. Sin causes the person to return to slavery under Satan, who thus exercises his evil dominion over him, and leads him along the road of eternal perdition. To meet our extreme weakness (to sin), Our Lord instituted the Sacrament of Confession in which He absolves sins and communicates His Graces to heal and strengthen the soul and to form new hearts and a renewed life in the penitent. The soul of a newly baptized is a spiritual baby (Hebrews 5:12-14, Eph 4:13-14, 1 Cor 14:20). In addition to cleansing by the Sacrament of Confession, the baby needs spiritual food to grow to become a mature man. The Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist is the Bread from Heaven (John 6:35-58) given to the members of the Church so that they grow to mature men, bearing abundant fruits worthy for Heaven (John 15:5). Without the Sacraments instituted by Our Lord and administered by His Church, which is the power He gives to members of His Church to transform them into His image (Rom 8:29, 2 Cor 3:18), one can't retain the Sanctifying Grace, which is the wedding garment (Matt 22:12-13), required for salvation. Therefore to be saved, one must be a faithful member of the Church. Otherwise, whatever one does, for example, read Bible, pray to God, preach God, and try to do good to others, it will be no avail. That's why 'Extra Ecclesiam nulla salus (outside the Church, no salvation)' is a Catholic Dogma (Catechism No. 846). Please watch The Forgotten Dogma: No Salvation Outside the Catholic Church by Father Isaac Mary Relyea on KZbin. Why wander about outside of Our Lord's Holy Sheepfold (John 10:16) and suffer? Come quickly to Our Lord's Holy Sheepfold so that you may hear His Voice, know Him, and be saved, before it is too late, because the public appearance of the Antichrist is imminent (2 Thes 2:8-12)! May God bless you and lead you. Amen!

[@JakeRuzi]

Seek to love God more! Search for Him! The more you love God, the more you will despise sin. Finally, trust that Jesus has the power to deal with your sin issue and overcome it in your life. ONLY HE CAN! When you do sin, do not wallow in it… don’t go ‘ah well, I’ve sinned. Might as well continue sinning.’ No! Go to the Saviour immediately and repent; He is enough. Let’s seek Him more.

[@MagnusVonBlack]

Mike, thank you for this. I struggle so terribly with this. Satan has such intimate knowledge of my weaknesses, and he stabs at them so viciously. Yet I refuse to give up eternal life with Jesus the Messiah in exchange for dopamine. Being saved does NOT mean we don't have disordered desires, it means we have something to cling to in the storm of temptation. But let us not underestimate the storm.

[@arielkozak]

Growing up in a family of believers church every Sunday and some bible study. I'm 26 and I've only truly began to understand my salvation 3 years ago when I really put my trust into Jesus Christ. It feels like I was really saved about 3 years ago. Because my life was not centered on Christ before, because alcohol drugs people were more important. Not I'm 3 years with no alcohol and stopped my evil thought. I want to know about Jesus I belive that's a sing of a beliver that you want to truly know more about Him

[@Onelousypetunia]

Thanks for your willingness to talk about things in a very ordinary way of understanding something that everyone wants to either complicate or make too simple. Sometimes you just need to talk it out and get some understanding. Your videos do that well, thank you.