Problems of addiction
Personal
Overwhelmed,
isolated, out of control, anxiety (themselves and others), prone to
other problems, fetal alcohol syndrome (as well as various drug
damaged baby brains), cancer, impaired judgment, pain, injuries,
won't deal with problems except more addiction, being taken advantage
of, prison, loss of everything including job, family, self esteem,
increased early death, loss of love, etc.
Family
Interpersonal
problems, jealousy, arguments, all types of abuse, pulling apart,
conflict with children, fear, conflict over money, loss of
employment, health costs, emotional trauma, yelling, falling down,
insults, manipulating, violence, cheating, other addictions (porn,
internet sex, prostitution), risky behavior in family members, acting
out, children more likely to follow your addiction, emotional
problems in children, loss of love, loss of commitment, homelessness,
etc.
Society
Health
care, accidents, poor judgment, out of control character, stealing,
etc (need for money), etc.
How
many addictions are there?
B1
No one knows.
B2
Whatever is pleasurable, demanding, repetitive, a necessity.
B3
The 8 main ones are gambling, sex, internet, shopping, video games,
plastic surgery, food, risky behavior.
But
alcohol, uppers, downers, and other commonly abused substances aren't
the only things Americans abuse or think they're addicted to. In
fact, just substitute the word "behavior" for "substance,"
and you open up the definition of addiction to all kinds of
dependencies, some of which may surprise you. Whether it's sex, the
Internet, or bungee jumping, the desire to experience a "high"
becomes so strong that the so-called addict loses control and seeks
the activity despite all negative consequences.
As
serious, troubling, sorrowful, burdensome addiction is, there is one
addiction that is the worst. It affects all of us.
That
addiction is sin.
B1
Sin is pleasurable: Hebrews 11:24-25 GW
When Moses grew up, faith led him to refuse to be known as a son of
Pharaoh's daughter. 25 He chose to suffer with God's people rather
than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a little while.
B2
It is the “natural” thing to do. It is what we want to do:
Ephesians 2:3 GNB Actually
all of us were like them and lived according to our natural desires,
doing whatever suited the wishes of our own bodies and minds. In our
natural condition we, like everyone else, were destined to suffer
God's anger.
B3
Desires for pleasure: James 4:1-3 GNB Where
do all the fights and quarrels among you come from? They come from
your desires for pleasure, which are constantly fighting within you.
2 You want things, but you cannot have them, so you are ready to
kill; you strongly desire things, but you cannot get them, so you
quarrel and fight. You do not have what you want because you do not
ask God for it. 3 And when you ask, you do not receive it, because
your motives are bad; you ask for things to use for your own
pleasures.
B4
Our own desires. We cannot blame anyone but ourself: James 1:14-15
GNB But we are
tempted when we are drawn away and trapped by our own evil desires.
15 Then our evil desires conceive and give birth to sin; and sin,
when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
What is sin?
B1
Lawlessness is rebellion against known law or a standard. 1 John 3:4
WEL Everyone doing
sin, also is doing lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.
B2
God has summarized His law in 10 precepts:
C1
You must not have any other Gods except me.
C2
You must not have any idols. (a physical representation of a god made
of wood, stone, metal, etc.).
C3
You must not blaspheme God’s name or character.
C4
You must keep the Sabbath holy. (This one is for Israel, for it is
not repeated in the New Testament. Christians celebrate Jesus’s
resurrection. So, 1 Corinthians 16:2 NIV On
the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum
of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I
come no collections will have to be made).
C5
You must honor your father and mother.
C6
You must not murder.
C7
You must not commit adultery. (This includes porn).
C8
You must not steal. (This includes stealing of time).
C9
You must not bear false witness against your neighbor. (This includes
any lying).
C10
You must not covet.
B3
These 10 must be kept perfectly in thoughts, desires, words, and
deeds. Compare:
C1
Thoughts and desires: Matthew 5:28 NIV But
I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already
committed adultery with her in his heart.
C2
Words: Revelation 16:11 WEL And
blasphemed the God of heaven, because of their intense pain and
ulcers, but they did not repent of their deeds.
B4
The penalty for breaking God’s laws is death.
C1
The penalty is compared to a paycheck: I work and my payment is
death. Romans 6:23 WEL For
the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
C2
The one who sins will die: Ezekiel 18:4 BSB Behold,
every soul belongs to Me; both father and son are Mine. The soul who
sins is the one who will die.
C3
The body dies and becomes compost: Genesis 3:19 NIV By
the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the
ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust
you will return.
C4
The soul is punished for eternity: Matthew 25:46 NRSV And
these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into
eternal life.
What is the solution?
B1
Truth. For any addiction, we must acknowledge that we are addicted.
We must acknowledge the truth about us. We are addicted. Regarding
sin, we have sinned.
B2
God sends light for us to understand that we have sinned. He shed
this light, this understanding, over us by the Holy Spirit, who
initiates salvation.
B3
We must confess, that is, agree with God’s opinion about us.
B4
Believe and trust into Jesus Christ.
B5
Live by His grace.
What Can We Learn?
B1
All of us have an addiction. This addiction is sin.
B2
Sin is breaking God’s law.
B3
Breaking God’s law requires punishment.
B4
Punishment is physical death, spiritual, and eternal death.
B5
Someone must be punished. It is either me for my sin, or a
substitute.
B6
The only substitute is the Son of Man, Jesus Christ.
B7
He requires agreement that we are sinners, acknowledging He is the
only savior, and trust in Him for forgiveness of sin.
B8
There is a Christian life to live.
B9
There is a hope for heaven after death and a sin free world coming in
the future.
B10
Our only hope is Jesus Christ.
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