a sin question

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HI ! Quick questions: If someone who intentionally knows that they are doing wrong and continues doing wrong, with awareness - such as premarital sex - and this is the case AFTER they WERE delivered (from a previous bad relationship of such sin) but came back to their senses and faith, found Jesus again, went to mass, received Gods Spirit and blessings but fell badly again in the same situation, only worse - but they know now and are aware of what they have done and are sorry

- CAN they be saved again ?? - CAN they come back ? - WHAT does the church say ? - Is it worse for them now because now they have more knowledge ?

thanks for advice

-- sinner (pretendemail@nospam.com.), July 24, 2004

Answers

Dear Friend,

Of course a sinner can come back again. If one realizes the foolishness of his/her past life, or how rebellious they have been after knowing better, they should go to confession and humbly confess their sin. In the Sacrament of Confession and Reconciliation, Christ will give them not only plentiful forgiveness, but also the power to live a new life!

The Lord keeps calling us to himself. Remember when St. Peter asked him, "Lord, if my brother keeps sinning against me and repents, how often should I forgive him? As many as seven times?" Christ answered, "Not just seven times, but seventy times seven!"

That is what God's wonderful grace is like. But it will be important to accept the Lord's love and to honestly repent--to take the relationship with God seriously, and not just take his mercy for granted.

Regards, Michael Edwards-Ronning

-- Michael Edwards-Ronning (edwardsronning@prodigy.net), July 24, 2004.


I agree completely with the above response, but an additional note concerning the wording of the original question ...

It isn't a matter of being "saved again", since a person is saved only once, and that is at the moment of death. No-one is "saved" while they are still alive on this earth, because everyone in the flesh still sins, and the possibility still exists for every person to reject Christ and forfeit salvation. Satan and his minions are working diligently to make that happen. Earthly life is the process of "working out our salvation in fear and trembling" as the Word of God says we must do.(Phil 2:12) Ongoing repentence and confession of recent sins we have committed is part of that process, part of the lifelong process which eventually leads to being saved.

"But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved." (Matthew 24:13)

-- Paul M. (PaulCyp@cox.net), July 24, 2004.


...but came back to their senses and faith, found Jesus again, went to mass, received Gods Spirit and blessings...

It's interesting that you mentioned going to Mass but not Confession. Without a full and sincere Confession you're only digging yourself into a deeper hole.

-- DC (skeptickk@yahoo.com), July 24, 2004.


I have deleted Nolan's cut & paste post above. Rules of the Forum prohibit such posts.

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