A LETTER TO A TROUBLED BELIEVER

 

I have been thinking and praying about what you had shared to me about your concerns about “sinning” thoughts in your sleep.

I don’t think it is a sin:

·       James 1:13–15 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

It doesn’t seem to me that having these temptations are sins. They have not yet “conceived” sin. It seems that you would first have to embrace the sin. However, if you think that they are sins, then they may be as sins and harm our relationship and confidence in our Lord:

·       Romans 14:23 But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.

Therefore, if you have doubts about whether these dreams are sinful, simply claim this promise:

·       1 John 1:8–9 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

BTW, we all have sinful thoughts we are unable to conquer, and these humble us, and God works them even for our good (Romans 8:28). I too have areas in my thought life I have not been able to conquer, but I commit them to the Lord:

·       1 Peter 5:6–7 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

Even Jesus had the same temptations regarding sin as we have:

·       Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a high priest [Jesus] who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

In view of this, temptations are not sins! I trust that as you grow in your understanding of the Gospel, your thoughts and feelings of self-loathing and self-harm will diminish. You are beloved!