I’ve written to you a few times and have used the website a lot. I have a different question I’d like to ask. How do you deal with things that aren’t sinful, when they resulted from sin? I know the Bible doesn’t say that, for instance, if a woman gives birth before she is married, she is required to give that baby up for adoption. So I think there is some allowance for using, benefiting, or enjoying the outcome sometimes. My question isn’t about having a baby before marriage, that’s just one example. Are there times we shouldn’t use something because it wouldn’t have (or might not have) come about if we hadn’t sinned? If we repent of that sin, should we still feel the guilt when we are still benefiting from a result?<\/p>\n
Thanks!<\/p>\n\t
The general rule is that good doesn’t result from evil. “And why not say, “Let us do evil that good may come”? — as we are slanderously reported and as some affirm that we say. Their condemnation is just<\/em>” (Romans 3:8). Sometimes something appears good in the short term but has negative long-term effects.<\/p>\n Let’s use your example of a girl committing fornication and having a baby. Yes, there is pleasure in having a child, but there are also difficulties. A single mother has to support herself and her child, so she can’t do a good job at both. Usually, the guy doesn’t stick around to support his child. Children raised by a single parent tend to have more problems because that parent can’t be always available. The list can continue, but my point is that what looks like a benefit isn’t as fun as it may appear on the surface because we have a tendency to gloss over the bad parts.<\/p>\n How about another example? Stealing gives the apparent short-term benefit of wealth, but in the long-term, it leads to prison. The short joys are not worth the long misery.<\/p>\n Generally what happens after sin is additional responsibilities. Sure there are aspects that are enjoyable, but not nearly as enjoyable as they would have been if we did things God’s way.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Question: I’ve written to you a few times and have used the website a lot. I have a different question I’d like to ask. How do you deal with things that aren’t sinful, when they resulted from sin? I know the Bible doesn’t say that, for instance, if a woman gives birth before she is…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[20],"tags":[424,179],"class_list":["post-48909","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-answer","tag-consequences","tag-sin"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":37282,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/what-if-you-didnt-know-something-was-sinful-before-you-were-baptized\/","url_meta":{"origin":48909,"position":0},"title":"What if you didn’t know something was sinful before you were baptized?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 21, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Hello, I have been baptized recently and but my mom has not yet. I have been trying to encourage her to get baptized and she has said that she wants to be baptized soon. However, I recently read some things on your website about repenting before being baptized that\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":16437,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/does-this-mean-that-if-you-have-sex-before-youre-married-its-a-sin\/","url_meta":{"origin":48909,"position":1},"title":"Does this mean that if you have sex before you’re married it’s a sin?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"September 18, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I accidentally discovered your site and found some interesting topics and I came across the topic of pregnancy. My question is is there a right time where you can conceive? Because my girlfriend and I have tried three or four times but she never got pregnant. We want to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":2195,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/is-it-a-sin-to-continue-having-sex-with-my-girlfriend-who-already-has-a-baby-with-me\/","url_meta":{"origin":48909,"position":2},"title":"Is it a sin to continue having sex with my girlfriend, who already has a baby with me?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 5, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Please, ... uhm ... is it a sin to continue having sex with my girlfriend, who already has a baby with me? Answer: Let me ask you a question as well: Would it be all right to continue stealing from your neighbor because you stole from him before? I\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":66228,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/i-appreciate-your-post-about-not-drawing-attention-to-ourselves-based-on-the-things-we-own\/","url_meta":{"origin":48909,"position":3},"title":"I appreciate your post about not drawing attention to ourselves based on the things we own","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 28, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Hello, Thank you so much for your post \"Is it a sin to own a luxury handbag?\" I am struggling with what the world says women should do to gain worth or look good vs. what God says. I am still learning. I prayed to God to teach me\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":34291,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/can-we-be-forgiven-if-we-plan-to-have-sex-before-we-marry\/","url_meta":{"origin":48909,"position":4},"title":"Can we be forgiven if we plan to have sex before we marry?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"August 4, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: My girlfriend and I have been together for eight months now and have been discussing having sex. We do plan on getting married because we are both loyal, honest and love each other very dearly. However, we both have very strong religious backgrounds and are not sure if we\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":35703,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/should-homosexuals-adopt-children\/","url_meta":{"origin":48909,"position":5},"title":"Should homosexuals adopt children?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"November 5, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: What does the Bible teach on gays adopting and raising children? Answer: The question, knowingly or not, attempts to balance sin with righteousness. Homosexuality is a sin, see Notes on Homosexuality for a list of verses proving this point. An adoption is a righteous act. 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