Page 96 - Overcoming Addiction

But the one who has heard and has not acted accordingly, is like a man who
built a house on the ground without any foundation; and the torrent burst
against it and immediately it collapsed, and the ruin of that house was
great."

This principle is as true for those who are now in the age of the church as it
was for those who were under the age of the Law. The basic principle of sowing
and reaping has never changed. Consider the words of Christ to the seven
churches in Asia whom He addressed in the book of Revelation. Christ was
speaking to Christian churches. He was sending a message to those who called
Him “Lord.” He was speaking to those who claimed salvation through His blood.
Yet over and over He began His addresses to these churches by declaring, “I know
your deeds.” (Revelation 2:2, 2:19, 3:1, 3:8, 3:15) It was by their deeds that He
accounted them either righteous or unrighteous. It was due to their deeds that He
either pronounced judgment or reward. Christ did not begin each address by
saying, “I know your confession.” God demands that our belief be proven by acts
of obedience.
You may ask why I am speaking about this in a book that is about
overcoming addiction. The reason is that when we have no fear that continuing in
disobedience will bring severe consequences, we are much more apt to be careless
in our resolve to overcome the sin in our life. The scriptures provide the following
insight:

II Corinthians 7:1
Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves
from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of
God.

Holiness is perfected in the fear of God. If we have been deceived into
thinking that we can continue in sin after having become partakers of the grace
and forgiveness of God then we will be prone to continue sinning. Yet the
Scriptures are very clear that this is not God’s will, and those who do such things
will incur judgment.

Romans 6:1-2
What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may
increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?

Hebrews 10:26-31
For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth,
there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain terrifying
expectation of judgment, and the fury of a fire which will consume the
adversaries. Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy
on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much severer punishment
do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God,
and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was
sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said,