99Relapses Podcast Episode #9 Part II- Show Transcript
Hi, I’m James Egidio Welcome to the 99Relapses podcast. The podcast that moves you from recovery to discovery through the grace and mercy of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. This is episode number nine, part two, titled Is Addiction Sin? In the last episode, number eight, part one of Is Addiction Sin?, I made mention of some interesting statistics on how Christians and non-Christians alike view sin. Based on some statistics, as well as what determines a good person from a nice person according to biblical principles. In this episode, number nine, part two, I will mention some of the sins that addiction exposes, then I’ll answer the question is relapse a struggle with sin and finally finish with how we are called to live by the Spirit’s power.
But before I get started, I’d like to actually recap several important points from previous episodes that will answer some questions for this particular series Is Addiction Sin? In episode number one, I’d mentioned that when struggling with an out of control addiction, you may find yourself relapsing multiple times and you may be disappointed and discouraged with these relapses and you have to realize that it’s not the end of the world and I mentioned that from the very beginning and episode number one and then I followed an episode number two with the fact that the strength and courage that we get through our addiction comes from knowing that God has a purpose and plan for our addiction and he wants you to be sober and he wants you to be free from those chains of addiction, from all addictions. So when you go through an out of control addiction, sometimes it’s difficult to understand your addiction and the things that you’re thinking and feeling you’re in this quandary of addiction, you’re in the middle of this addiction and it’s a storm it’s a real bad storm! However the only way to understand this is through, of course, the Grace and Mercy of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ in which he can provide, and then I also mentioned that most people who suffer addiction sooner or later realize that they cannot overcome their addiction through the secular means with a pill, psychologist , self-help programs, or anything that is secular. It can only be done through faith in God. And I know that’s a bold statement and undermines and nullifies a lot of the psychologist and psychiatrist and I would probably catch a lot of flack for a statement like that but God can do all things, there’s nothing impossible that God can do and it’s definitely to get you to become sober again. There’s no question about that and then that follows with how do I do that? Is the question and it’s answered through wisdom, the wisdom that we obtain through the word through God’s word, the Bible, the holy Bible and the wisdom that we obtain through discerning spirit. So as Christians you’ll understand that we have this gift of a discerning spirit to be able to go to the Bible for all the answers, because Jesus Christ says I am the way the truth and the life. He’s the truth for all your questions and especially questions of sobriety when it comes to addiction. I stick to my terms of what I believe, which is that’s the only way to sobriety is through Jesus Christ and addiction I mentioned also is spiritual warfare and it’s sin and the only way to overcome addiction and sin is through God and repenting and that’s what leads us to this particular episode, but I also want to talk about. Episode number four, where. I had mentioned in that podcast episode about desire and how it relates to addiction and I discussed in detail about how we’re all born with an innate desire for God but because of our sin nature we turn away from God, especially in this day and age with the distractions that we have with cell phones, drugs, alcohol , internet pornography and social media and all these distractions that pull us away and what ends up happening as I had mentioned in episode number four is that it obliterates our relationships with families and friends and loved ones and it pulls us into a self centered, self-consumed world and it becomes a world of all about me and unfortunately with a preexisting sin nature along with a full blown addiction this completely places us in a predicament of detachment from not only, loved ones but from God and from others and with these primary addictions, Comes along other addictions that we’re not aware of, so for instance, let’s say someone’s addicted to drugs they will fall into sin with other sins or list of other sins, which I’ll touch on in this episode, that’s what this episode is about to bring awareness as to other sins that our addictions lead to.
The most important point here is that these sins consume us like I said again for the love of God and for the love of others. Which is actually in Matthew 22:37-40 37 through 40 and it reads, you must love the Lord, your God with all your heart, all your soul and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment and the second is equally important. Love your neighbor as yourself. The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments. So those are the two greatest commandments and that’s what addiction takes us away from is. First and foremost, the love for God. And again, the love for others.
So you could see where the damage of addiction leads us, but not only does it lead us down that path of separating us from God and from others, but it also leads us into sin and it is sin. There’s no question that addiction is sin. With that being said, when we sin and we repent, we repent to Jesus Christ and we asked him for forgiveness.
I’m going to take a short commercial break and when I come back, I will list the 32 most common sins that are prevalent with an out of control addiction 📍
without further ado, what I came up with was a list of about 32 common sins in the Bible that are more prevalent with your primary addiction. So in other words, if you’re addicted to drugs or alcohol or gambling or pornography, Or whatever it may be, there other sins that we may not be aware of that are leading us down that path. I’m not here to judge condemn or lecture anybody on these, sins in this episode But to give insight , educate , inform and provide awareness that as we are consumed with these addictions and especially our primary addictions, whether it be drugs, alcohol pornography, or whatever it is that we fall into other sins. The main takeaway is that we’re to go to the cross and ask Jesus Christ and repent for forgiveness.
I could have listed about 50 of these additional sins, but of course I just kept it down to 32 along with scripture, so I’ll read these in alphabetical order, and then I will reference actual biblical verses that are in accord with each sin. The other thing, is you can go to my website, which is 99 relapses.org and it’s the number 99, that’s 99 relapses.org. And you can go to the memory verse page besides the podcast episode page and you’ll find the memory verses for quick reference, which is really nice. You’ll be able to actually go there and reference verses for all episodes.
These are the 32 common sense in the Bible that are more prevalent with addiction or are compounded by addiction, so in other words, With a primary addiction. Of let’s say alcohol or drugs there’s a tendency to slip into these other sins I’ll start with the list of 32.
1, Adultery the verse that’s talks about Adultery is Matthew 5:27-28.
2, Anger Ephesians 4:26-27
3, Anger with one’s Brother Matthew 5:26.,
4, Arrogance 2Timothy 3:2
5 ,Coveting Romans 13:9
6. Deceit, Acts 13:10,
7 is obvious Drunkenness, Romans 13:13
8. Envy Mark 7:22,
9 Evil Thoughts Mark 7:22.
10 Foolish Talking, Ephesians 5:4.
11 Greed, Ephesians 4:19.
12 Lust or Lusting 1 Peter 4:3.
13 Hypocrisy Matthew 23: 13
14 Idolatry 1 Corinthians 6:9
15 Jealousy Galatians 5:20
16 Judging Matthew 7:1-5.
Number 17 Living for Pleasure 2 Timothy 3:4
18 lovers of Selfishness. 2 Timothy 3:2
19 loving Another Person More Than Jesus Matthew 10:37 that also falls under idolatry.
#20. Lusting after a woman. Matthew 5:27-28. That goes along with sexual addiction,
21 Lying. Ephesians 4:25 as well as Romans 9:1.
22 Pride Mark 7:22 and Peter 5:5.
23 Quarrels. James 4:1-2
24, Slander Mark15:19, Mark 7:22 and Ephesians 4:31.
25 Stealing Ephesians 4:28, Matthew 19:18.
26 Swindling 1 Corinthians 5:10.
27 Thievery Mark 7:21. 1 Corinthian 6:10
28 Treachery 2 Timothy 3:4.
29 Unbelief or Lack of Faith James 1:6, Mark 7:21.
30. Unforgiveness Matthew 6:14-15
31. UnGodliness Romans 1:18.
32, finally, Ungratefulness 2 Timothy 3:2, Romans 1:21 and Luke 6:35.
So you’re probably asking yourself two questions as I was reading, these is number one is why is he even reading this list? And number two When is he going to finish? And the reason why I emphasize the importance of these sins that are expressed through your primary addiction is to make you aware and conscientious of the fact that addiction takes you to places where you don’t want to be and it’s a domino effect of more sin and again, the importance of that is being able to be aware of that and obtain that wisdom through the word, through the book, through the Bible and to repent for it. That’s the reason why I spent that time listing those other sins. It was to merely just bring more awareness as to where addiction brings us and after listing these 32 sins that are prevalent with addiction the question becomes, is addiction sin? If we have a true relationship with Jesus Christ and we take responsibility for our actions the answer is a resounding, Yes. And the next question, is, relapse a struggle with sin?, and again, the answer is yes. And the only way out of this is repentance to our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. I don’t want to sound like a broken record, but it’s all about repenting and we’re blessed for repenting we’re blessed for repenting and coming to our knees and asking God for forgiveness.
The apostle Paul pleads about his struggle with sin, which he does in such a profound way in Romans 7:14-25, which reads so the trouble is not the law for its spiritual and good. The trouble is with me for I am all too human, a slave to sin. I don’t really understand myself for, I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it instead I do what I hate, but if I know that what I am doing is wrong this shows that I agree that the law is good. So I am not the one doing wrong it’s the sin living in me that does it and I know that nothing good lives in me that is in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t, I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. But if I do what I don’t want to do. I am not really the one doing wrong. It is sin living in me that does it. I have discovered this principle of life that when I want to do what is right. Inevitably do what is wrong I love God’s law with all my heart, but there’s another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death. Thank God. The answer is Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is in my mind. I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature, I am a slave to sin.
In that verse where Paul makes that profound statement about his sin and that struggle with his sin. You can probably relate to having been there many times, through your addiction in that struggle and the good news is we don’t have to live according to the law. We live in the freedom of Jesus Christ and his death at the a cross and it couldn’t have been mentioned any more beautifully than in Galatians 15:16-18, where Paul makes this declaration as follows and he says, so I say, let the holy spirit guide your lives then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the spirit wants. And the spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other so you’re not free to carry out your good intentions. But when you were directed by the spirit, you’re not under obligation to the law of Moses.
We must always remember as saved Christians that Jesus Christ lives within us. he’s indwelt in us and lives within us through the holy spirit. So anything that we take into our bodies or anything that we do to violate that covenant with Jesus Christ through the holy spirit defiles and separates that spiritual connection with Jesus Christ, our Lord and savior and that is so important to keep in mind when you fall into the temptations of addiction and all I can talk about temptation and I’ll talk about hope and all those elements of addiction in future podcast episodes.
But I want to thank you so much for joining me in this episode this two part episode of Is Addiction Sin? And I would like to close out with prayer. Heavenly father, we just give you so much. Thanks and praise, Lord. We know that we can come to you for strength and courage each and every day and I just thank you personally, Lord, for everyone. That’s listening to this podcast on sin. And just to let everyone know that I’m not here to condemn anyone but to speak the word through you, Lord to allow and provide that awareness to everyone that’s listening, that addiction is sin and that we are to come to you and we are to come to you on our knees and ask for forgiveness and repent for our sins, knowing that you’re going to provide us with that blessing. You’re going to provide us with that strength and courage to overcome those chains of addiction and Lord, as I pray deep down in my heart, I asked anyone and everyone that’s listening to this podcast that they overcome their addictions because addictions are an evil brought on by the enemy and we know that you’re the only one that can allow us to free ourselves from those addictions. I just thank you so much in your son’s name. Jesus Christ Amen
Again, I want to thank you for listening and joining me for this episode of the 99 relapses podcast. For current episodes, episode show notes, episode memory versus as well as episode recovery, lessons and tools go to 99 relapses.org. That’s 99 relapses.org. And that’s the number 99 and also if you’d like prayer requests for yourself, family or friends, please do not hesitate to send me your prayer request. If you have an interesting story to share about how God changed your life through addiction and recovery are an expert in the field of Christian addiction and recovery have published a book, have a Christian addiction, recovery podcast or website, and you would like to promote it on the 99 relapses podcast please email me anytime by going to 99 relapses.org. And again, that’s the number 99. And go to the contact page, the message me. I will respond within 24 to 48 hours. Finally, the 99 relapses podcast is a nonprofit 501C3 ministry and a donation in any amount would be much appreciated in order to get God’s word out during these perilous times when confronted with an out of control addiction. All proceeds, go towards covering the expenses for the production of the podcast, content creation of the podcast as well as the maintenance of the website thank you so much and God Bless.