Saved or Not: Porn Addiction and Christian Assurance
Christian assurance, understood as a "fullness of faith in God which leaves no room for doubt," is grounded in the conviction that God's revelation is true and worthy of acceptance, particularly through the resurrection of Jesus [1]. This assurance is not merely an intellectual assent but an "entire unwavering conviction of the truth of the declarations of Scripture" [1]. However, the presence of persistent sin, such as pornography addiction, can raise significant questions about the validity of one's salvation and the nature of this assurance.
The New Testament frequently emphasizes the transformative power of faith and the expectation of a changed life. To be a Christian is to be spiritually joined to Christ, meaning believers' bodies become "parts of Christ" [2]. This union implies that believers are not free to violate their bodies through sinful acts [2]. The apostle Paul, in Romans 6:3, indicates that those who are "baptized into Christ" are bound to a life of righteousness, having died to sin with Christ [4]. This death to sin is not merely symbolic but signifies a commitment to no longer serve sin [6]. Adam Clarke, in his commentary on Galatians 5:24, explains that "genuine Christians have crucified the flesh," meaning they have "nailed them to the cross of Christ, where they have expired with him" [6]. This perspective suggests that a true believer actively resists and overcomes the dictates of their sensual appetites [6].
The struggle with pornography addiction, therefore, presents a tension between the ideal of a crucified flesh and the reality of ongoing sinful desires. While the outward ceremony of baptism "in itself, does no more than put away the filth of the flesh," true baptism involves "a faithful answer or restipulation of a resolved good conscience, engaging to believe" [5]. This implies an internal commitment to a transformed life. The presence of "the secret flame of lust," as described by Jamieson, Fausset & Brown in their commentary on 1 Corinthians 7:9, can "lay waste the whole inner man" and, if unchecked, could lead to "hell-fire" [9]. They emphasize the need for "the dew of God's grace" to stifle this flame [9].
The concept of "righteousness which is of God" is central to understanding salvation and assurance. This righteousness is "received by faith through the atonement made by Christ" and represents "God's method of justifying sinners through faith in his Son" [3]. It is not based on "mine own righteousness" or "any thing I have done or could do" [3]. This emphasis on God's grace through faith, rather than human works, is a cornerstone of Protestant theology. However, this does not negate the expectation of a changed life. The book of Revelation states that "there shall in nowise enter into it any thing that defileth," referring to the New Jerusalem [8]. This includes "an impure person" or "he who turns the grace of God into lasciviousness" [8]. Only "acknowledged persevering members of the true Church of Christ" who are "saved from their sins" will enter [8].
The tension between God's grace and human responsibility is a recurring theme. While salvation is by grace through faith, this faith is expected to produce fruit. Adam Clarke, commenting on Acts 2:21, notes that "whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved," but he also points out that "only such as receive the Gospel of the Son of God shall be saved" [7]. He further states that "all Christians are bound by their baptism to renounce the devil and all his works, the pomps and vanities of this wicked world, and all" [8]. This suggests that a genuine commitment to Christ involves an active renunciation of sin.
For individuals struggling with pornography addiction, the question of assurance often revolves around whether their ongoing struggle negates their salvation. The biblical understanding of assurance is not a license for sin, but rather a confidence in God's saving power that also empowers believers to overcome sin. The "full assurance of faith" is a "fulness of faith in God which leaves no room for doubt" [1]. This assurance is not based on perfect sinlessness, but on the conviction that God's promises are true and that He is faithful to complete the work He has begun in believers. However, persistent, unrepentant sin would contradict the very nature of this transformative work. The expectation is that those who are truly "Christ's" will actively strive to crucify the flesh and its desires [6]. The struggle itself, coupled with repentance and a desire for freedom, can be an indicator of a genuine faith, whereas an indifference to sin would suggest a lack of true conversion.
Sources
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Assurance — The resurrection of Jesus (Acts 17:31) is the "assurance" (Gr. pistis, generally rendered "faith") or pledge God has given that his revelation is true and worthy of acceptance. The "full assurance [Gr. plerophoria, full bearing'] of faith" (Heb. 10:22) is a fulness of faith in God which leaves no room for doubt. The "full assurance of understanding" (Col. 2:2) is an entire unwavering conviction of the truth of the declarations of Scripture, a joyful steadfastness on the part of any one of conviction that he has grasped the very truth. The "full assurance ”
- 1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 6:15: 6:15-17 To be a Christian is to be spiritually joined to Christ in both life and death (cp. Rom 6:3-11). As a result, believers’ bodies have become parts of Christ (cp. 1 Cor 12:12-28; Rom 12:4-5). This spiritual union (cp. John 14:20; 17:21-23) means that they are not free to violate their bodies by physical union with a prostitute.”
- Philippians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Philippians 3:9: And be found in him - Be found a believer in Christ, not having mine own righteousness - not trusting in any thing I have done or could do, in order to my salvation; relying on no scheme of justification, set up either formerly by myself or by others. But that which is through the faith of Christ - That justification which is received by faith through the atonement made by Christ. The righteousness which is of God - God's method of justifying sinners through faith in his Son. See the notes on Rom 3:21, Rom 3:23 (note), Rom 3:25 (note), where this subject is trea”
- Romans (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Romans 6:3: Know ye not, etc. - Every man who believes the Christian religion, and receives baptism as the proof that he believes it, and has taken up the profession of it, is bound thereby to a life of righteousness. To be baptized into Christ, is to receive the doctrine of Christ crucified, and to receive baptism as a proof of the genuineness of that faith, and the obligation to live according to its precepts. Baptized into his death? - That, as Jesus Christ in his crucifixion died completely, so that no spark of the natural or animal life remained in his body, so those who pr”
- 1 Peter (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 1 Peter 3:21: Noah's salvation in the ark upon the water prefigured the salvation of all good Christians in the church by baptism; that temporal salvation by the ark was a type, the antitype whereunto is the eternal salvation of believers by baptism, to prevent mistakes about which the apostle, I. Declares what he means by saving baptism; not the outward ceremony of washing with water, which, in itself, does no more than put away the filth of the flesh, but it is that baptism wherein there is a faithful answer or restipulation of a resolved good conscience, engaging to believe”
- Galatians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Galatians 5:24: And they that are Christ's - All genuine Christians have crucified the flesh - are so far from obeying its dictates and acting under its influence, that they have crucified their sensual appetites; they have nailed them to the cross of Christ, where they have expired with him; hence, says St. Paul, Rom 6:6, our old man - the flesh, with its affections and lusts, is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. By which we see that God has fully designed to save all who believe in Christ from all sin, whether”
- Acts (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Acts 2:21: Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved - The predicted ruin is now impending; and only such as receive the Gospel of the Son of God shall be saved. And that none but the Christians did escape, when God poured out these judgments, is well known; and that All the Christians did escape, not one of them perishing in these devastations, stands attested by the most respectable authority. See the note on Mat 24:13.”
- Revelation (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Revelation 21:27: There shall in nowise enter into it any thing that defileth - See Isa 35:8; Isa 52:1. Neither an impure person - he who turns the grace of God into lasciviousness, nor a liar - he that holds and propagates false doctrines. But they which are written - The acknowledged persevering members of the true Church of Christ shall enter into heaven, and only those who are saved from their sins shall have a place in the Church militant. All Christians are bound by their baptism to renounce the devil and all his works, the pomps and vanities of this wicked world, and all ”
- 1 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Corinthians 7:9: if they cannot contain--that is, "have not continency." burn--with the secret flame of lust, which lays waste the whole inner man. (Compare AUGUSTINE [Holy Virginity]). The dew of God's grace is needed to stifle the flame, which otherwise would thrust men at last into hell-fire.”