Forgiveness, repentance... and restitution?

[SWalt]

Interesting discussion. In layman's terms, how should I and others handle stuff like this? For example -

I look at hot women, I think thoughts about their bodies, how hot they are, how they move, what they wear, etc. You know, typical red-blooded American male stuff.

So, it's driving me crazy. I want to be "clean" in my thoughts so as to be more Christ-like, but no matter what I do, I still fail. Then I feel guilt. Repeat ad nauseum. I've tried all sorts of stuff like trying to appreciate their beauty and not linger my eyes, but eventually, I fail. And then I guilt trip again, ask for forgiveness, and then the cycle repeats.

Finally, I asked God to sanctify me, I asked him to do what I seem to cannot do, make me into the kind of person he wants me to be.

Am I doing this wrong? Am I on the right path? How do you handle these ongoing failures to resist sin without the emotional rollercoaster?

Hmmm.....look at it this way. You probably spent most of your life from your teens onward looking at, thinking of, trying to, wanting to, hoping for those attractive women to be with you and probably got rewarded at times. Doing that all the time, in any circumstance building in all those habits and you think they will just disappear? Old habits are hard to break. A righteous man falls 6 times but rises 7. That is faith. Every time you do stare and lust and catch yourself is faith in His word since you recognize it as wrong. God could certainly make them disappear in an instant seems you have a cross to bear. Try this, imagine the humiliation if the woman you're staring at would turn to you and call out loud what a pig you are and stop bothering her you perv.

[Kokopelli]

Interesting discussion. In layman's terms, how should I and others handle stuff like this? For example -

I look at hot women, I think thoughts about their bodies, how hot they are, how they move, what they wear, etc. You know, typical red-blooded American male stuff.

So, it's driving me crazy. I want to be "clean" in my thoughts so as to be more Christ-like, but no matter what I do, I still fail. Then I feel guilt. Repeat ad nauseum. I've tried all sorts of stuff like trying to appreciate their beauty and not linger my eyes, but eventually, I fail. And then I guilt trip again, ask for forgiveness, and then the cycle repeats.

Finally, I asked God to sanctify me, I asked him to do what I seem to cannot do, make me into the kind of person he wants me to be.

Am I doing this wrong? Am I on the right path? How do you handle these ongoing failures to resist sin without the emotional rollercoaster?

Say you are driving down the road and notice a woman walking on the sidewalk. It is not a sin to be aware of people, surroundings, etc. Do not stare at her. The first look is free. The second look is sin.

Proverbs 4
20
My son, pay attention to what I say;
turn your ear to my words.
21
Do not let them out of your sight,
keep them within your heart;
22
for they are life to those who find them
and health to one?s whole body.
23
Above all else, guard your heart,
for everything you do flows from it.
24
Keep your mouth free of perversity;
keep corrupt talk far from your lips.
25
Let your eyes look straight ahead;
fix your gaze directly before you.
26
Give careful thought to the paths for your feet
and be steadfast in all your ways.
27
Do not turn to the right or the left;
keep your foot from evil.


Resist the devil and he will flee.

[Subotai]

Say you are driving down the road and notice a woman walking on the sidewalk. It is not a sin to be aware of people, surroundings, etc. Do not stare at her. The first look is free. The second look is sin.

Proverbs 4
20
My son, pay attention to what I say;
turn your ear to my words.
21
Do not let them out of your sight,
keep them within your heart;
22
for they are life to those who find them
and health to one?s whole body.
23
Above all else, guard your heart,
for everything you do flows from it.
24
Keep your mouth free of perversity;
keep corrupt talk far from your lips.
25
Let your eyes look straight ahead;
fix your gaze directly before you.
26
Give careful thought to the paths for your feet
and be steadfast in all your ways.
27
Do not turn to the right or the left;
keep your foot from evil.


Resist the devil and he will flee.

Everyone has made great points! But, this one is special. Thanks for finding that!

[colossians323]

[Kokopelli]

Thank you for sharing that video, Colossians 323. It is very powerful!

The very name of Barabbas carries meaning.

BAR means the son of. Like Simon Bar Jonah.

ABBA means father.

Barabbas. His very name means all the sons of all the fathers. All now set free by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, The Lamb of God at the cross. Jesus died for all mankind that we may be set free from the punishment we so deserve. God reconciled us to Himself in this.

God's
Riches
At
Christ's
Expense

[Gymtech]

Once saved. Always saved. Unless you decide to change your heart. You can believe you are saved. Your not saved because of words. Your saved because you believe that Jesus died for your sins.
My opinion is that Christians are constantly under attack because the devil wants us not to share the gospel