For follow-up discussion and general commentary on the topic. Comments are sorted chronologically.
James Kraft
I am not going to say one way or the other because I do not believe my own convictions about something should have an effect on what you do. All of us as Christians have the spirit of God that lives in us to lead us into the truth. I cannot be your god on doubtful things.
Many say that if it is doubtful, don't do it. The problem with that is everything becomes doubtful that is not clearly taught in the bible. We are under grace, not the law. Where the bible gives clear teaching we are to follow that. There are absolutes. Buts Romans 14 clearly teaches that God does allow some things in some people that he does not allow in others. As some one once said, if we all loved the same things we would all love my wife.
Many cannot drink alcohol because they cannot quit or drink in moderation. But most people can drink in moderation without ever getting drunk. I am a smoker. I smoke very little, but God has allowed it and even has a purpose in it. It is to keep me from pride and self-righteousness. I have none of the normal effects of smoking and can go without for long periods of time even though I have smoked since I was 18 and am now 75.
So instead of being legalistic and saying that without question masturbation is a sin, I will leave it up to you and the Lord. I will not play God and tell people what they can and cannot do outside of what the bible clearly teaches. There is enough of that going around. God is our only authority. Not the preacher or the church. We are to have the mind of Christ which will lead us into all truth. God did not make us all the same. We are all different and He allows for our differences.
Smoking and drinking in moderation for me are not sin. They may be for you. Doubtful things are just that. We are all under grace when it comes to doubtful things.
Let God, not micromanagers, do his work in us.
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Well said.
Cassius D'Souza
Even if the word is not explicitly mentioned in the Bible, its ample clear that it's at par with adultery.
Matthew 5:28 "But I say to you, That whosoever looks at a woman with lust has committed adultery in his heart".
James Kraft
Jesus said that to the Pharisees to show them they were sinners. Romans 3:23 All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Romans 3:10 There is none righteous, no not one.
First John 1:8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.
All are sinners. That is why Jesus had to die to pay our sin debt in full so we would not have to go to hell to pay for them.
After we have received the free gift of salvation by grace. we should live right for rewards in heaven and to keep from the chastening of the Lord.
But living right never saved one person. We can only be saved by what Jesus has done, not by anything we do or do not do. Our works.
Believers can no longer be condemned. John 3:18, but we can be chastened by the Lord.
Since masturbation is not named in the bible I can not tell someone else it is wrong based on scripture. I have no scriptures to back it up. Same way with smoking or drinking coffee.
And there are not a one of us that are perfect in the flesh. We all sin. Should we sin? No, but when we sin grace abounds, where sin abounds grace much more abounds. Jesus paid our sin debt in full.
As Jesus said, he who has looked at a woman with lust has already committed adultery in his heart. No one is innocent. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23
Those that say they have no sin, like the Pharisees are only self righteous hypocrites. We all sin. Jesus died and paid the penalty for all sin..