Time To Forgive Yourself

Q

In your response entitled OSAS and Galatians 5:16-21 you state that “people who live like this are giving evidence that they are not saved and therefore won’t inherit the Kingdom.” I received Christ as my Savior trusting his death and resurrection to pay the penalty for my sins before I went to college. But once I went to college I began drinking excessively and partying. I would try to compartmentalize my behavior and live a” Christian” life except for my drinking, but that as you know that is impossible. My question is then, since my life was “characterized” by this behavior and this was occurring nearly every weekend where do I stand as far as Galatians and your comment about it? I have confessed my sin since I left college. It took awhile to break free from excessive drinking but I have recommitted myself to Christ since then, however sometimes I still have doubts about my forgiveness and my standing before the Lord.

A

By reading Ephesians 1:13-14 and 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 you can see that your salvation was guaranteed from the moment you first believed. Your college days were a lapse in behavior but not in belief, which is the basis for your salvation (1 Cor. 15:1-4). What you’ve described of your behavior doesn’t fit the definition of being “characterized by drinking and partying” since you indicated you were also striving to live a Christian life during that time and your partying was only on the weekends. You sound more like a typical college kid than a habitual drunk.

If you have asked God to forgive you for the excessive drinking, He has done so and has purified you from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). But since it appears you’re still feeling guilt about those days maybe you haven’t forgiven your self.