Can I be forgiven? Am I still saved?

[Everdream]

I think I might have willfully sinned that way Hebrews 10:26 warns about. ("For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more a sacrifice for sins,")

I'll explain what I did:

I think it's wrong to buy meat from fast food places and from grocery stores because it comes from factory farms that abuse the animals, so it supports animal cruelty. Despite this, there have been several occasions where I've given in and got meat from fast food places, knowing it was wrong for me to do, but I did it anyway.
I what I did was stupid, and I'm sorry. I don't what to buy meat from those places, and I care a lot about animals and don't want to fund animal cruelty, It's just hard to say no sometimes and it's harder because my parents get fast food and shop grocery stores, and don't get meat that was treated humanely when it was alive.
I keep asking God to forgive me and tell me if I can be forgiven or not, but He has not answered me.

I want honest answers, so if you think I blew it all you can tell me. I just want to stop wondering if I can be forgiven or not. Please pray for me to be forgiven and for me to believe I'm forgiven.

One more thing, I can still pray in tongues, so does that mean I'm still saved?

 

[amadeus2]

Consider David! When being pursued by King Saul, he went to the priest and ate of the shewbread. Jesus uses that example to explain an apparent disobedience on the part of His own disciples:

"At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat.

But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day.

But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him;

How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the showbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests?" Matt 12:1-4

The need was there and was pressing. If we abuse what we know to be right by flagrantly violating what is in our own heart by the Spirit of God, we will be condemned, but Jesus is the Lord of all. He should be your Lord and the Holy Spirit within you will direct you rightly. We do not live by a set a prescribed black and white rules, but we have the Word alive within us directing our every step. Jesus is, or should be, our Lord:

"This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him." Matt 17:5

 

[DutchChristian]

Hello Everdream,

eating fast food is not a sin to do.

Really do not worry about this!

Your 2nd question : a person can backslide and fall into sin and sure this person could at that moment still speak in tongue's but is at that particular moment probably going to hell if he would die in his sins without repentance. That is why a person always need to confess and turn away / repent of any sin.

But eating a hamburger is not sin, and animals aren't the same as humans they aren't made in the image of God.

Let's take a look at Scripture:

Mark 12:
30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

Now is a animal your neighbor? Neighbor refers to other humans.

Now is the creation God? No! only the Creator is GOD. Let that sink in for a while...

Now the stinky filty devil liar new age teachings would have us to believe that the whole creation and animals are part of GOD Himself and therefore holy but that is not true. If the whole creation would cease to exist then God would still be there. (just to give you an example: God and the creation are not connected but they are seperate)

Now this wicked movie Avatar , is such a filthy lie creeping in it is so wicked and vile letting children and people believe that animals and plants have a soul and that the earth and so called "mother earth" or "gaia" is a living entity by itself but that is a filthy STINKING Lie! Or that we are "connected" on "soul level" to animals and plants but that is a LIE from the DEVIL! as the whole creation is not a God in itself no no. Nor is creation itself a Divine entity! -BUT only GOD IS, And Him Alone should receive all worship honour and praise.

so don't worry about the hamburger that you would like to eat or not eat every once in a while, that is up to you yourself to decide but please know that it is not a sin. If your conscience bothers you then abstain from that meat.

 

[Brad Huber]

I know this will be controversial, but ask yourself... "If I lose Christs sacrifice for my sins, should I let myself become reprobate, give in to the darkness fully?" I would hope that none of you would say yes. If you KNOW Christ to be the truth, the way, and the Life everlasting, you should do the best to follow Him regardless of whether you end up blotted out of the Book of Life. And hope is a great thing, and Love is greater. I think we should stop worrying about our reward or lack thereof in heaven, as our motivating factor in our christian life, acting like a spoiled child. If we know its better to follow Christ, then do so, whether or not you fail. I submit myself to the Lords wisdom. If I am not worthy of life eternal, then I trust in the Lords wisdom to keep me away from those who are. Most slaves fear thier master and only submit if they know thier reward of food, shelter, and saftey is there for them. The good servant trusts his master's wisdom in all things, even in deserved punishment, and still does his best to serve His master. I would rather just be a servant of the Lord without the full reward of a son, then eating the pig slop of this world, regardless of how good it tastes.

 

[Everdream]

Even if it's not a sin to buy fast food, it is sin for me because I think it's wrong.
Also the Bible never says whether or not animals have a spirit, and even if they don't it's still wrong to abuse them.
Proverbs 12:10 "A righteous man cares for the needs of his animal, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel."

 

[revbrad]

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.....I John 1:9

 

[amadeus2]

Even if it's not a sin to buy fast food, it is sin for me because I think it's wrong.
Also the Bible never says whether or not animals have a spirit, and even if they don't it's still wrong to abuse them.
Proverbs 12:10 "A righteous man cares for the needs of his animal, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel."

"Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?" Ecc 3:21

 

[Strypes]

Even if it's not a sin to buy fast food, it is sin for me because I think it's wrong.
Also the Bible never says whether or not animals have a spirit, and even if they don't it's still wrong to abuse them.
Proverbs 12:10 "A righteous man cares for the needs of his animal, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel."

If it is a sin to you, then don't buy it.

What you spend your money on is your own business. If you need food to eat and the only source of food is "fast food"..get the french fries or the oatmeal or the salad or the cherry pie. The burger is not your only option.

What your parents buy is their concern, not yours.

I understand your concern for the animals. I saw a documentary a while back and it really grossed me out. The way they do not allow chickens to see daylight is mind-blowingly cruel. The cows.. oh my, they live in two feet deep uh.. how do I say this politely as to not be in violation of forum rules.. uh... two feet deep in .. feces.

Grain fed, free range is best and the most healthy meat by far. It is more expensive and not all stores carry it. Perdue chickens are in most grocery stores and are a good choice.

Nuts and beans are a good source of protein and are also another option.

1 Corinthians chapter 8 says "8 Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do" and concludes with Paul's statement "13 Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble."..

As for your concern with "willful sin" because you have eaten meat that you feel is wrong to eat, tell God how you feel and ask for His forgiveness and forgive yourself too.


Romans 10:9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

Eating or not eating meat is not part of the equation. It does not undo what Jesus did on the cross for you.

 

[jari]

how can you lose your salvation if you didn't do anything to earn it? (Eph 2:8-9) and what can you do to lose it, if you didn't earn it?

 

[Everdream]

"Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?" Ecc 3:21

I don't think that verse says that animals don't have a spirit. Another translation of that verse says "Who knows if the spirit of man rises upward and if the spirit of the animal goes down into the earth?"

I view cats and dogs as gifts from God, and I don't think God would give them to us only to keep them from going to Heaven with us.

 

[Everdream]

If it is a sin to you, then don't buy it.

I don't buy it. I've repented.

 

[Everdream]

I don't know why everyone assumes I ate hamburgers. I don't like them very much.

Edit: Sorry for the double post.

 

[revbrad]

Question: Do animals have a soul? Answer: As a rule, the complete question involves concern about animals, especially pets, being in heaven. The original creation. When we visit the original creation, we discover a number of truths. One apparent truth is the uniqueness of man compared to the lower animal creation. Only to man was it said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness...." (Gen. 1: 26). Animals are next mentioned in the verse, but from the standpoint of their subservience to man. The fate of man and animals. The wise man had much to say regarding man, his birth, life, and destiny. He wrote, "Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was; and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it" (Eccl. 12: 7). Earlier, he wrote regarding man and the beast: "Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?" (Eccl. 3: 21.) This question is clearly answered in the above noted chapter twelve, verse seven. Animals have a soul in the sense that they possess life. A common Hebrew word translated life (soul) is nephesh. Nephesh is used for the life or breath of both animals and man (Gen. 1: 20, 30; 19: 17). Life is that state that is the opposite of death. It is a state of animation, breathing, and awareness. Men and animals alike possess a soul in the sense of breath (nephesh). However, in the sense of possessing a part or element that lives forever, as man possesses, animals do not possess an eternal spirit (cp. Matt. 25: 46). The animal simply and totally returns to the dust, the spirit of man continues to exist (Eccl. 3: 21, cp. 12: 7). The fact that animals do not possess an eternal soul in the sense that man does, does not de-emphasize their value as companions to man. Pets can and do become an important part in the lives of millions. Also, in man's charge over the animal kingdom, it behooves man to protect and not abuse the animals (Gen. 1: 26-28). ......................

from: biblequestions.org

 

[amadeus2]

Originally Posted by amadeus2"Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?" Ecc 3:21

Everdream: I don't think that verse says that animals don't have a spirit. Another translation of that verse says "Who knows if the spirit of man rises upward and if the spirit of the animal goes down into the earth?"

I view cats and dogs as gifts from God, and I don't think God would give them to us only to keep them from going to Heaven with us.

I posted the verse as an indication that what men call lower animals do have a spirit. I tend to agree with you. While our pets are not created with the ability to disobey God, they certainly are a blessing, or should be. I do not believe that when and if we endure to the end with the Lord that He is going to remove anything good from us. I would use the parable of the talents to support this. God does not take good things away from those who are faithful: He adds to them.
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[Everdream]

I posted the verse as an indication that what men call lower animals do have a spirit. I tend to agree with you. While our pets are not created with the ability to disobey God, they certainly are a blessing, or should be. I do not believe that when and if we endure to the end with the Lord that He is going to remove anything good from us. I would use the parable of the talents to support this. God does not take good things away from those who are faithful: He adds to them.
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Oh, I thought you were posting that verse because you thought it said their spirit disappeared when they die, because I'm seen other people saying that verse means that. I posted another translation of that verse to point out it does does not necessarily say that.

I agree with what you said.

 

[eldon]

Even if it's not a sin to buy fast food, it is sin for me because I think it's wrong.
Also the Bible never says whether or not animals have a spirit, and even if they don't it's still wrong to abuse them.
Proverbs 12:10 "A righteous man cares for the needs of his animal, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel."

something told me to kill a wounded animal.
I didn't, never really got anything from God about it later either.
wounded deer, out of season, the only thing i had to shoot it with would wake up the neighbours, not to mention never shot a deer before either.
life is weird sometimes.

 

[goga]

I think I might have willfully sinned that way Hebrews 10:26 warns about. ("For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more a sacrifice for sins,")

You see, receiving the knowledge does not nesesseraly <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]-->mean accepting it.

I think it's wrong to buy meat from fast food places and from grocery stores because it comes from factory farms that abuse the animals, so it supports animal cruelty.

Take a look into the scripture. There is "cruelty" all over the place, killing animals in order to eat, to make clothe (God clothed first humans before sending them out of Paradise), to make a sacrifice.. to God and by God's request, and eat it after it is done.. or is God given command to kill a ship and eat it before going out of Egypt made people cruel? Where did these teachings coming from? Green party? Movement "save the animals"? Well, for that there are places in the scriptures as well. Read the Bible, not the lectures about how to become a better human by being nice to animals, if you really wish to be happy. To be happy is to be calm in your conciseness.

 

[goga]

Even if it's not a sin to buy fast food, it is sin for me because I think it's wrong.

Thinking that something is wrong does not make it a sin. It is a self made rule, based on someone else's influence. It is your right to make a rule and follow it. But it is everyone's right to not accept your rule when you are trying to make it a law.

Also the Bible never says whether or not animals have a spirit, and even if they don't it's still wrong to abuse them.

You are mixing cruelty with necessity. Following the same logic why do we need to grow animals to begin with, if they are going to die, even with their own death.

Proverbs 12:10 "A righteous man cares for the needs of his animal, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel."

So, if wicked saves the animal from being eaten at the McDonald's, that is cruel? So what does make a kind act cruel? The kind act is kind in itself, what makes it to become cruel?