Question

My husband has committed a sin, the sin of lust. He feels that he now has lost his right to the Kingdom of Heaven. That he is lost forever and doomed to hell. I need to know if you can help me please. 

Answer

Let me begin by telling you that your husband is not lost. His “adviser” is wrong. There is no passage that teaches that someone who is saved will never again commit sin. No passage at all that teaches that.

In fact, there are passages that teach just the opposite, as well as plenty of examples of people who were believers, yet sinned. Are you familiar with Simon the Sorcerer in Acts 8?

Acts 8:9-13 9 But there was a certain man called Simon, who previously practiced sorcery in the city and astonished the people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great,10 to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the great power of God.”11 And they heeded him because he had astonished them with his sorceries for a long time.12 But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized.13 Then Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip, and was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs which were done.

The key phrase here is in verse 13: “Then Simon himself also believed, and when he was baptized . . . .” Some people claim that Simon wasn’t truly converted at this point, but there is nothing in the text to indicate that. In fact, the clear statement is that he was a believer, and he was baptized just like everyone else.

However, a few verses later, he sinned, and Peter told him about it.

Acts 8:18-24 18 And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money,19 saying, “Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”20 But Peter said to him, “Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money!21 “You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God.22 “Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you.23 “For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.”24 Then Simon answered and said, “Pray to the Lord for me, that none of the things which you have spoken may come upon me.”

Simon very clearly sinned, Peter told him about the sin and told him what to do about it, and Simon complied. He wasn’t told that he needed to be rebaptized. He simply needed to repent and ask God for forgiveness.

Another passage that teaches this is 1 John 2:1.

My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

John tells us here, ‘Don’t sin. But if you do, then we have Jesus as our advocate in Heaven.’ We are to try our very best not to sin, but if we do, then we can still be forgiven because that is how God created the plan of salvation. Just like Simon, if someone who is a Christian sins, he must confess that sin to God, repent of it, and ask for forgiveness.

Peter sinned after he became a Christian. In Galatians 2, Paul tells how he rebuked Peter in public for a particular sin, yet Peter went on to become a pillar of the New Testament church. How could he do that if he was lost with no hope for salvation as soon as he committed that sin?

Since your husband (and I assume you, also) was taught erroneously about that, I’m guessing that you were both taught incorrectly about what you need to do to become Christians, also.

Throughout the Bible, God has been very specific about man keeping His commandments. The plan of salvation is no different. Read Acts chapter 2 and see what the people there did. They were taught by the apostles, they came to the realization that Jesus was the Christ and they had sinned in killing Him, they confessed as much when they asked, “What shall we do?” (Acts 2:37), and Peter told them to “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

Every other account of conversion in the book of Acts is almost identical to this. People heard God’s Word, they repented, they confessed that Jesus is the savior, and they were baptized for the remission of their sins.

In addition, they came together on the 1st day of the week to worship God and take the Lord’s Supper (Acts 20). Paul refers to the names of the various churches in Romans 16:16 when he writes, “The churches of Christ greet you.”

Read the book of Acts with your husband, and examine the various accounts of those who were converted. Find a church of Christ near you and go worship with them. You can go to the website www.bible.ca and find a contact from a church near you, wherever you are.

By Michael Molloy