“I am a Christian but I am struggling with bestiality. I slipped up again this morning.”
--hypothetical person
I would tell this person that they are NOT a Christian, and that they need to repent for the sake of their soul’s salvation. Likewise, Peter told a professed Christian who had been baptized the following:
Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive you for
having such a thought in your heart.
(Whole Chapter: In
context: )
We know that those who “practice” sins such as those listed in the Condemnable Sins document will go to hell if they die in that unrepentant state. But this document’s argument begs a compelling question:
Can a “Christian” commit an “occasional” act of adultery or murder? My answer is “probably not”. Dan Corners answer is “no”. He just about blows a hole in “lifestyle” sinning doctrine with this quote:
A true Christian (or righteous person) doesn't have to "practice" sin, such as adultery or murder, before they lose their salvation, since it only takes one act of adultery to make a person a Bible-defined adulterer (Lev. 20:10) and one act of murder to make him a Bible defined murderer (Number 35:16). Rev. 21:8 is clear in stating such people are headed for hell because of their sins. David is a clear example of a righteous man who lost his salvation for a time, due to adultery and murder.
I gather that Dan believes that you lose your salvation every time you commit a deadly sin. I personally think this is an orthodox conclusion that he uses scripture to make. However, I do not personally agree with it in all cases.
This is because I do not believe that all deadly sins are equally severe. That is a main point of this document. For instance, will discord and jealousy bring spiritual death to a believer as quickly as orgies will? I’ve seen Christian girls struggle with jealousy at times, but I can’t imagine… Never mind.
Galatians 5
19The acts of the sinful
nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20idolatry
and witchcraft; hatred, discord,
jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions
21and envy; drunkenness, orgies,
and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the
Just because this is a list does not mean that all sins in this vice list are equally severe. I see other scriptures that make this clear. However, my view on the issue causes it to become very complicated--perhaps unnecessarily complicated.
We should avoid all sin --and especially deadly sin-- at all cost. It is this simple:
Mark
9:43
If your hand causes you
to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life
maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes
out.[
(Whole Chapter: Mark
9 In context: Mark
9:42-44)
However, in terms of discerning the body, or judging other people’s salvation, the topic of this document becomes more important. That is why I will present the following argument:
The purpose of this document is to discuss what the second type of deadly sins are. They are called “abominations”. They are mostly defined in the Old Testament, and only referred to in the new.
Rev 21:8
But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
Here, the apostle John uses the phrase “abominable” to refer to the 11 deadliest sins listed below. However, in the same sentence, he mentions 3 of these abominations (see my italics). I did not italicize murderers. Does that surprise you? The reason I did not is because certain types of murder (such as murdering a man that you catch sleeping with your wife), are not abominations.
In order to understand the Old Testament definition of abominations, you will first need to understand some covenant terminology.
Hebrews 10
26If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, 27but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. 28Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? 30For we know him who said, "It is mine to avenge; I will repay,"[4] and again, "The Lord will judge his people."[5] 31It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
when we “deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth”.
Notice how He equates these two actions:
What is the correlation between the two actions?
So then, there are two ways listed here by which one may forfeit the forgiveness offered through the blood of the covenant:
1
John 1:8
If we claim to be without sin, we
deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.
(Whole Chapter: 1
John 1 In context: 1
John 1:7-9)
If you disagree with God’s law regarding the definition of sin, you would not even bother asking for forgiveness, and would feel no need to repent. You would not confess your sin (as sin) to God, and would not be forgiven.
1
John 1:9
If we
confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our
sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
(Whole Chapter: 1
John 1 In context: 1
John 1:8-10)
In God’s law, this phrase appears to refer to a person’s responsibility for their sin. Obviously, everyone is responsible for all of their sin. However, there are types of sin that are so severe, so detestable, that they are not atoned for within the blood covenant. Instead the person will have to pay the price for their sins which are not covered by the blood of the covenant.
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is
eternal life in[
(Whole Chapter: In
context: )
Why are they not atoned for? This is because their very nature suggests that they were deliberate. Since they are deliberate, or high-handed, their perpetrator can only be living in an unrepentant state during the time that they commit the sin. If he were to repent, he could be forgiven—but the very fact that he is committing such a horrid sin demonstrates that he is unregenerate, or unsaved. In such a state of rejecting God’s covenant (new or old) grace, forgiveness is unavailable.
Forgiveness is only available by repenting, accepting, and following God’s terms of His covenant of salvation, the Gospel. But this would be the equivalent of getting “re-saved”, or “re-dedicating” your life to God.
"But if a righteous man turns from his
righteousness and commits sin
and does the same detestable things
the wicked man does, will he live? None of the righteous things he has done will be remembered.
Because of the unfaithfulness he is guilty of and because of the sins he has committed, he will die.
(Whole Chapter: In
context: )
So we can assume that you can lose your salvation by committing one act of such abominations. Or we could assume that you were not saved to begin with. Either way, if you have committed even one act of such an abomination, then you need to repent for salvations sake.
Acts
2:38
Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of
Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will
receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
(Whole Chapter: Acts
2 In context: Acts
2:37-39)
Acts
5:31
God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins
to
(Whole Chapter: Acts
5 In context: Acts
5:30-32)
Acts
26:18
to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light,
and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness
of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.'
(Whole Chapter: Acts
26 In context: Acts
26:17-19)
What does this phrase “his blood will be on his own head” mean within the context of the following scriptures? Notice how they seem to refer to responsibility for sin lying within the sinner (outside the covenant in His blood).
Joshua
2:19
If anyone
goes outside your house into the street, his blood will be on his own head; we will
not be responsible. As for anyone who is in the house with you, his blood will be on our head if a
hand is laid on him.
(Whole Chapter: Joshua
2 In context: Joshua
2:18-20)
Acts
18:6
But when the Jews opposed Paul and became abusive, he shook out his clothes in protest and said to
them, "Your blood be on your own heads! I am clear of my responsibility.
From now on I will go to the Gentiles."
(Whole Chapter: Acts
18 In context: Acts
18:5-7)
Here the people of
Matthew
27:25
All the people answered, "Let his blood be on us and on our children!"
(Whole Chapter: Matthew
27 In context: Matthew
27:24-26)
The phrase is also used to refer to the higher accountability that comes after you have been warned of impending death, but this is also a type of responsibility for your sin.
Ezekiel 33:4
then if anyone hears the trumpet
but does not take warning and the
sword comes and takes his life, his blood will be on his own head.
(Whole Chapter: Ezekiel
33 In context: Ezekiel
33:3-5)
Ezekiel
33:5
Since he heard the sound of the trumpet but
did not take warning, his blood will be on his own head. If he had taken warning, he
would have saved himself.
(Whole Chapter: Ezekiel
33 In context: Ezekiel
33:4-6)
Many of these same sins are referred to in Lev 18 and thereafter as “abominations”. I use the term “abominations” to distinguish them from what I refer to as “deadly sins”.
Leviticus 20
10 " 'If a man
commits adultery with another man's wife-with the wife of his neighbor-both the
adulterer and the adulteress must be put to death.
11 " 'If a man sleeps with his father's wife, he has dishonored
his father. Both the man and the woman must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.
12 " 'If a man sleeps with his daughter-in-law, both of them
must be put to death. What they have done is a perversion; their blood will be on their own heads.
14 " 'If a man marries both a woman and her mother, it is
wicked. Both he and they must be burned in the fire, so that no wickedness will
be among you.
Notice that incestuous adultery is a level worse than the usual kind, because the law stipulates an eternally damning judgment in saying that “their blood will be on their own heads”. This sin falls within the scope of the Greek word used by the Apostle John above in Rev 21:8: “whoremongers”.
Leviticus 20
13 " 'If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.
Leviticus 20
15 " 'If a man has
sexual relations with an animal, he must be put to death, and you must kill the
animal.
16 " 'If a woman approaches an animal to have sexual relations
with it, kill both the woman and the animal. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.
Leviticus 20
27 " 'A man or woman who is a medium or spiritist among you must be put to death. You are to stone them; their blood will be on their own heads.' "
Leviticus 20
6 " 'I will set my face against the person who turns to mediums and spiritists to prostitute himself by following them, and I will cut him off from his people.
Deuteronomy 18
10 Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter
in [1]
the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in
witchcraft, 11 or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. 12
Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD , and because of these
detestable practices the LORD your God will drive out those nations before you.
13 You must be blameless before the LORD your God.
The King James Version makes it clear that these are abominations.
Deuteronomy 18
10 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch.
11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.
12 For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.
One of these sins is a “necromancer”, or “one who consults the dead”. This abomination is warned against elsewhere in scripture. Regardless of these warnings, many today consult Mary, or other dead saints in prayer.
Pot smoking “Christians” need to get saved.
Leviticus 20
9 " 'If anyone curses his father or mother, he must be put to death. He has cursed his father or his mother, and his blood will be on his own head.
This is a tricky one that I will not count. If you accuse someone else falsely of an abomination, then you should receive the penalty of that abomination.
Deuteronomy 19
Witnesses
15 One witness is not enough to convict a man accused of any crime
or offense he may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony
of two or three witnesses.
16 If a malicious witness takes the stand to accuse a man of a
crime, 17 the two men involved in the dispute must stand in the
presence of the LORD before the priests and the judges who are in office at the
time. 18 The judges must make a thorough investigation, and if the
witness proves to be a liar, giving false testimony against his brother, 19
then do to him as he intended to do to his brother. You must purge the evil
from among you. 20 The rest of the people will hear of this and be
afraid, and never again will such an evil thing be done among you. 21
Show no pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot
for foot.
Ezekiel
18:13
He lends at usury and takes excessive interest. Will such a man live? He will
not! Because he has done all these detestable things, he will surely be put to death and his
blood will be on his own head.
(Whole Chapter: Ezekiel
18 In context: Ezekiel
18:12-14)
This sin is most likely grouped with “swindling” in the New Testament, although it may also come through as “greedy”. Interestingly, another phrase is used to express the severity of this sin:
Ezekiel
18:18
But his father will die for his own sin,
because he practiced extortion, robbed his
brother and did what was wrong among his
people.
(Whole Chapter: Ezekiel
18 In context: Ezekiel
18:17-19)
Neither Jesus, nor a bull or a goat, died for this man’s sin. He died for his own sin.
However, his son kept the Lord’s covenant by following His decrees.
Ezekiel
18:17
He withholds his hand from sin [
(Whole Chapter: Ezekiel
18 In context: Ezekiel
18:16-18)
I wanted to disrupt the flow of this document to point out that these scriptures paint a vague portrait of baptism. The old man died in his sin--much like we die to our old life of sin when we are dunked in the water.
Romans 6
Dead to Sin, Alive in Christ
1What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may
increase? 2By no means! We
died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? 3Or don't you
know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his
death? 4We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death
in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the
Father, we too may live a new life.
5If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will
certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. 6For we know
that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done
away with,[1]
that we should no longer be slaves to sin-- 7because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.
8Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with
him.
Having died to the old, we are resurrected into a new life in Christ, in which it is impossible to swindle. If we find ourselves swindling again, then we know we need to re-enter the covenant on GOD’s terms: by following the Gospel.
Jesus Himself used
this same phrase as “die in your sins”.
He used in reference to an unforgivable sin: Not believing Jesus Christ. It should be obvious that you would not ask
forgiveness via the blood of someone who you do not believe can provide
atonement. When it came to atoning
blood, the Pharisees preferred the blood of goats and bulls prescribed by the
Old Testament’s sacrificial system.
John 8
20"You do not know
me or my Father," Jesus replied. "If you knew me, you would know my Father
also." He spoke these words while teaching in the temple area near the
place where the offerings were put. Yet no one seized him, because his time had
not yet come.
21Once more Jesus said to them, "I am going away, and you will
look for me, and you will die in your
sin. Where I go, you cannot come."
22This made the Jews ask, "Will he kill himself? Is that why he
says, 'Where I go, you cannot come'?"
23But he continued, "You are from below; I am from above. You
are of this world; I am not of this world. 24I told you that you
would die in your sins; if you do
not believe that I am the one I claim to be,[1]
you will indeed die in your sins."
This is another way of “treating as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant”. Before Jesus came, following the sacrificial law was the thing to do. But not if it keeps you from accepting His own blood sacrifice. Jesus told them:
Matthew
16:3
You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky,
but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.
(Whole Chapter: Matthew
16 In context: Matthew
16:2-4)
If you believed Moses, you
would believe me, for he wrote about me.
(Whole Chapter: In
context: )
So they “rejected the law of Moses”. Does this sound familiar?
Hebrews 10
26If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, 27but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. 28Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? 30For we know him who said, "It is mine to avenge; I will repay,"[4] and again, "The Lord will judge his people."[5] 31It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
So if we count disbelieving Christ as essentially the same as:
Then we have counted 7 abominations so far. Disbelieving is also listed as abominable here:
Psa 14:1 [[To the chief Musician, [A Psalm] of David.]] The
fool hath said in his heart, [There is] no God. They are corrupt, they have
done abominable works, [there is] none that doeth good.
Psa 53:1 [[To the chief Musician upon Mahalath,
Maschil, [A Psalm] of David.]] The fool
hath said in his heart, [There is] no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable
iniquity: [there is] none that doeth good.
Many claim to believe Christ but reject his word as true.
Proverbs 17:15 New King James Version (NKJV)
15 He who justifies the
wicked, and he who condemns the just,
Both of them alike are an
abomination to the LORD
Many people today condemn the just. The view of “tolerance” espoused by secular humanists, and New Agers condemns the just. They tolerate only those who agree that everybody is right. If you disagree with them about this, they will not tolerate you. It is funny how those that preach tolerance are most intolerant of Christians and Jews, who look to the Bible as the authoritative standard of truth.
Fundamentalist Christians and Jews condemn homosexuality. The “tolerance” movement in turn condemns them, for being “intolerant”. This is an abomination called “condemning the just”. The other side of this abomination that they are committing is “justifying the wicked”.
Let’s apply this same law to the abomination of Disbelieving Christ/God listed above: Those who believe that a true Christian can practice deadly sin, or commit an abomination, are continually committing an abomination by believing that.
i.
by presuming forgiveness for deliberate sins
that you have not repented of.
1. by
continuing in or practicing deadly sin?
a. By
planning on sinning and presuming forgiveness in the future?
b. By
not avoiding the sin at all cost?
2. By
presuming forgiveness for a single abominable act instead of getting re-saved?
ii. By rejecting Christ’s sacrifice for bible-defined sin?
In either case, you need to get saved by responding to the Gospel of true grace.
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