Unrepentant sin as a christian but NOT being disciplined by God

[Hannah66]

I have a friend, who is a christian, but is currently not living as a Christian.
They have been in this state for about 8 years now.

They were having affairs, while married, sleeping with Other women and paying to sleep with women.

They abandoned their marriage and stopped attending Church.

But they continue to thrive in everything they do.
They have a successful business, have remarried again( to someone who isn't a believer)
They have become a very successful artist and doing very well in their field.

They have abundance of friends(who are not christian) and are very well respected in their community

They are continuing to flirt, while married, for the 2nd time, but their wife doesn't mind their flirtateous behaviour.

I was just wondering when God's discipline would set in, but apparently it hasn't.

Can I assume they are not truly born again, or is God blessing them while they continue not to Live for HIM?

 

[Petros2015]

they were having affairs, while married, sleeping with Other women and paying to sleep with women.

I was just wondering when God's discipline would set in, but apparently it hasn't.
Can I assume they are not truly born again, or is God blessing them while they continue not to Live for HIM?

Matthew 5:45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

In that way, God still blesses him, but there are other blessings he will not be able to receive. He just thinks they are not important now.

Most (if not all) addictions are progressive, and progressively destructive. Not always in obvious ways. But there is generally increasing demand, and diminishing return even in the face of increasing consequences spiritual, emotional and otherwise. God won't need to step in with some special discipline for those to occur, nor is He mocked - they will happen naturally in their time.

Some trees take time to grow from seeds in the heart, and the longer they grow the more difficult to uproot.

James 1:15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

We will all eat of the fruit of the Spirit, partially in this life, eternally in the next. For a Christian life well lived following Christ, that will be the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5: 22-23). For your friend, unless and until God's grace and mercy steps in and he sees what is happening and turns aside from it, that may be something entirely different. But he is more or less blind to it at the moment. Or blindfolded, and he will fight to keep the blindfold on rather than take a real look in the mirror. I speak from some level of similar life experience in this matter, so he is not without hope, or rather he is, until Hope arrives and he surrenders to and follows it, rather than Desire, which can only end in Despair.

 

[d taylor]

I have a friend, who is a christian, but is currently not living as a Christian.
They have been in this state for about 8 years now.

They were having affairs, while married, sleeping with Other women and paying to sleep with women.

They abandoned their marriage and stopped attending Church.

But they continue to thrive in everything they do.
They have a successful business, have remarried again( to someone who isn't a believer)
They have become a very successful artist and doing very well in their field.

They have abundance of friends(who are not christian) and are very well respected in their community

They are continuing to flirt, while married, for the 2nd time, but their wife doesn't mind their flirtateous behaviour.

I was just wondering when God's discipline would set in, but apparently it hasn't.

Can I assume they are not truly born again, or is God blessing them while they continue not to Live for HIM?

Well you may can determine if a person is not born again. By asking, how a person receive God's free gift of Eternal Life and becomes a born again child of God.

If they give an answer to this question with anything but "belief in Jesus". They may have not actually have become a born again child of God. They may have been trusting in actions they were doing, playing the church/christian role.

But if they do give the "belief in Jesus" answer they are a believer and will eventually be disciplined by God.

 

[Maria Billingsley]

I have a friend, who is a christian, but is currently not living as a Christian.
They have been in this state for about 8 years now.

They were having affairs, while married, sleeping with Other women and paying to sleep with women.

They abandoned their marriage and stopped attending Church.

But they continue to thrive in everything they do.
They have a successful business, have remarried again( to someone who isn't a believer)
They have become a very successful artist and doing very well in their field.

They have abundance of friends(who are not christian) and are very well respected in their community

They are continuing to flirt, while married, for the 2nd time, but their wife doesn't mind their flirtateous behaviour.

I was just wondering when God's discipline would set in, but apparently it hasn't.

Can I assume they are not truly born again, or is God blessing them while they continue not to Live for HIM?

Kind of sounds like you may have more of an issue with God's plan for your friend and I also sense a bit of jealousy that she has good fortune. Nothing in scripture promises blessings according to behavior. It is still in God's will. I would suggest leaving it in His hands. Blessings.

 

[anetazo]

I'm not judging anyone. Jesus is the Judge.
As servant of God, I tell the truth.

Amos chapter 9 . God isn't happy with those who play church. That won't repent. Acting like heathen, instead of being Christian. At the 7th trump, there's going to be punished for sinners.

Psalm chapter 50:3. Our God shall come, and shall not keep silent; a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be tempestuous round about him.
Jesus is coming 7th trump to rule with rod of iron. As King of Kings. The wicked get punished.

50:5 . Gather My saint's together unto Me, those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.
Only your love and worship and repentance is expected. The saints are the set aside ones. They are Gods Election. They will be in kingdom of God.

50:6 . And the heavens shall declare his righteousness: for God is judge Himself. Jesus is the judge. The righteous get rewards. The wicked get punishment. God is fair. God doesn't show favoritism.
No one has license to sin. God expects much from Christian people. The heathen don't know any better.

50:7 . Hear, o, my people, and I will speak, o Israel, and I will testify against thee: I am God, even thy God.
God will correct the outsiders or Christian on His time schedule. Jesus will make things right at the 7th trump. Everyone will see power of Jesus.

50:15 . And call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me.
Those who repent, try their best to keep God's commands, and produce fruit for God. They study sound doctrine.
50;16 . But unto the wicked God says, What has thou to do to declare My statues or that thou should take my covenant in thy mouth.?

God doesn't listen to the prayers of the wicked or false brethren. Get the picture. Chasing after windbag preachers. Flaunting Gods laws and won't repent. Using false pretexts tas cover up.

50:21 . These things has thou done, and I kept silent; thou thought I was altogether such as one as thy self: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thy eyes.

The millennium is time of teaching and discipline for the spirtualty dead. This is last chance for the spirtualty dead to get their acts together. The 7th trump starts the millennium.

50:22 . Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver.

On judgement day. Those who refused to repent. Those who hated God and the righteous, will go into lake of fire with Satan.

No one has license to sin. Habitual sinners are reprobates. They go with satan into lake of fire.

 

[Hannah66]

Kind of sounds like you may have more of an issue with God's plan for your friend and I also sense a bit of jealousy that she has good fortune. Nothing in scripture promises blessings according to behavior. It is still in God's will. I would suggest leaving it in His hands. Blessings.

I am not jealous, I pray for God's best for him. He was my covenant husband. I would just love to know he is saved

 

[Hannah66]

I'm not judging anyone. Jesus is the Judge.
As servant of God, I tell the truth.

Amos chapter 9 . God isn't happy with those who play church. That won't repent. Acting like heathen, instead of being Christian. At the 7th trump, there's going to be punished for sinners.

Psalm chapter 50:3. Our God shall come, and shall not keep silent; a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be tempestuous round about him.
Jesus is coming 7th trump to rule with rod of iron. As King of Kings. The wicked get punished.

50:5 . Gather My saint's together unto Me, those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.
Only your love and worship and repentance is expected. The saints are the set aside ones. They are Gods Election. They will be in kingdom of God.

50:6 . And the heavens shall declare his righteousness: for God is judge Himself. Jesus is the judge. The righteous get rewards. The wicked get punishment. God is fair. God doesn't show favoritism.
No one has license to sin. God expects much from Christian people. The heathen don't know any better.

50:7 . Hear, o, my people, and I will speak, o Israel, and I will testify against thee: I am God, even thy God.
God will correct the outsiders or Christian on His time schedule. Jesus will make things right at the 7th trump. Everyone will see power of Jesus.

50:15 . And call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me.
Those who repent, try their best to keep God's commands, and produce fruit for God. They study sound doctrine.
50;16 . But unto the wicked God says, What has thou to do to declare My statues or that thou should take my covenant in thy mouth.?

God doesn't listen to the prayers of the wicked or false brethren. Get the picture. Chasing after windbag preachers. Flaunting Gods laws and won't repent. Using false pretexts tas cover up.

50:21 . These things has thou done, and I kept silent; thou thought I was altogether such as one as thy self: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thy eyes.

The millennium is time of teaching and discipline for the spirtualty dead. This is last chance for the spirtualty dead to get their acts together. The 7th trump starts the millennium.

50:22 . Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver.

On judgement day. Those who refused to repent. Those who hated God and the righteous, will go into lake of fire with Satan.

No one has license to sin. Habitual sinners are reprobates. They go with satan into lake of fire.

encouraging answer, thank you

 

[com7fy8]

First, make sure you yourself are growing in Jesus in sharing with others who are maturing Christian's. And God will use your good example to help people.

Jesus knows what really is going on with your husband.

 

[Maria Billingsley]

I am not jealous, I pray for God's best for him. He was my covenant husband. I would just love to know he is saved

Thanks for using " him" instead of they. And thank you for clarifying your relationship with him, your x husband. Your connection to your x may not be particularly healthy for you which is why your OP stresses your desire for God to discipline him. I'm not sure how you think that would unfold to your satisfaction. IMHO.

 

[Hannah66]

Thanks for using " him" instead of they. And thank you for clarifying your relationship with him, your x husband. Your connection to your x may not be particularly healthy for you which is why your OP stresses your desire for God to discipline him. I'm not sure how you think that would unfold to your satisfaction.

 

[Hannah66]

Thanks for your comment. I am not sure I am understanding your post. I refer to him as my friend as he isn't my husband any more but he is still my friend. He has always been my friend. I continue to pray for him. My desire is for all my loved ones and everyone to be saved.

 

[Riot42]

Ive been your friend, and can tell you that while you may not see God disciplining your friend via earthly means, spiritually he is having little to no relationship with God, what worse punishment is there?

Being in a state of grace is not about being blessed with earthly blessings, its about being blessed with spiritual blessings.

 

[BobRyan]

I have a friend, who is a christian, but is currently not living as a Christian.
They have been in this state for about 8 years now.

They were having affairs, while married, sleeping with Other women and paying to sleep with women.

They abandoned their marriage and stopped attending Church.

But they continue to thrive in everything they do.
They have a successful business, have remarried again( to someone who isn't a believer)
They have become a very successful artist and doing very well in their field.

They have abundance of friends(who are not christian) and are very well respected in their community

They are continuing to flirt, while married, for the 2nd time, but their wife doesn't mind their flirtateous behaviour.

I was just wondering when God's discipline would set in, but apparently it hasn't.

Can I assume they are not truly born again, or is God blessing them while they continue not to Live for HIM?

Romans 11 talks about losing salvation - as does John 15

1 Tim 4:2 -Conscience seared
1 But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, 2 by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron

Rom 11:17 But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree, 18 do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you. 19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” 20 Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear; 21 for if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you, either. 22 See then the kindness and severity of God: to those who fell, severity, but to you, God’s kindness, if you continue in His kindness; for otherwise you too will be cut off. 23 And they also, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in; for God is able to graft them in again.

John 15:
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.

 

[Carl Emerson]

Have a look at Psalm 73 specially verse 15...