Doubting My Salvation

Q

I am a born again believer. I know in my heart whom I belong to. My problem is my husband and I drink. I feel God wants me to quit. I hate my sin. I have begged God to take this away. I have even heard that a lot of people who accept Jesus as their savior, that their bad habits just go away. Why won’t God take this away from me? I also battle whether I am a truly saved since I repeatedly continue to drink. If I am completely still, I know who I belong to, but I just don’t understand this battle.

A

If you are habitually drunk, then you are sinning, but drinking in moderation is not a sin. God authorized the consumption of alcoholic beverages (Deut. 14:22-26), and Jesus made wine for others to drink (John 2:1-10). Matt. 11:19 indicates He also drank some Himself. These are things He could not have done if either was a sin.

God won’t make you do anything you don’t want to do. So if you are having trouble quitting, don’t blame Him. I know of people who say they were supernaturally relieved of their drinking habit, but they are very few in number compared to those who had to put forth some effort on their own to stop.

In any case, this does not have anything to do with your salvation. If you are born again, you are saved, period (Ephesians 1:13-14).