If it were any other way, it would be bad news. Today's Three-minute Bible Study Print, Study and Apply Title: If it were any other way, it would be bad news.------------------------- Date: 1/11/2002 Keywords: "faith" "gospel" Welcome to eXXit, the web site designed to help you stand strong in the face of sexual temptation. Passage: Romans 8:1-14* (the Apostle Paul writing to the early church in Rome) 1. Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2. because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. 3. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, 4. in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit. 5. Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; 7. the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. 8. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. 9. You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. 10. But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you. 12. Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation--but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. 13. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, 14. because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. Question Why can Christians who struggle with porn, even give in to it, count on never being condemned by God (see verses 1 and 2 above)?   Practical help God never condemns, will never condemn, Christians, no matter what they've done, continue to do, or will do in the future. Period. Let's say that again: God never condemns, will never condemn, Christians, no matter what they've done, continue to do, or will do in the future. Period. Which is why Christ's gospel is such good news. If it were any other way, it would be bad news. If you're a Christian struggling with porn, embrace the good news. You're ultra-bright, squeaky clean in God's eyes because of your faith in Christ's atoning work at Calvary, not because of your pure life (which it ain't). So, if you want to rid your life of smut and be free of the demoralizing crap, use the one tool that works. It isn't human effort, which Paul in earlier chapters in Romans decries as worthless. The one spiritual tool that even moves mountains, as Christ challenged his disciples, is faith — believing God to do what you can't. So confess your porn struggle to God and one or two close Christian buddies. Then take your eyes off your human efforts to overcome smut and put them on God. He's not called the Almighty God for nothing. eXXit homepage Index of three-minute studies Copyright 2002 by eXXit *Scriptures are from The Holy Bible: New International Version, © Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. All rights reserved.