Previous Questions and Answers
Subject: Tattoos
I have two tattoos, one of a
bulldog with USMC under it, and one of eagle feathers to represent my Native
American heritage. I got both of them before I was saved. Do you think I am
going to hell because of the tattoos?
.
What sends
people to hell is their “unbelief” and “unrepentance.” Jesus said in Luke 13:3,
“I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” Jesus
also said in John 3:16-18, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only
begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have
everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the
world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him
is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he
hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” The blood of
the Lord Jesus Christ can forgive all sin. 1 John 1:7 says, “But if we walk in
the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the
blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from ALL sin.”
The Lord Jesus Christ forgives people of all sorts of sins, when they repent, and by faith place their trust in Him to save them. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 says, “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”
Those who take the mark of the beast, are not really saved, and they will believe the lie of the antichrist. Revelation 14:9-11 says, “And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.” 2 Thessalonians 2:3-12 says, “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”
What should you do with your tattoos? Are they in a spot where a long sleeve shirt would cover them up? If possible, pray about getting them removed. Is it costly? Yes, many times it is. But what did it cost the Lord Jesus Christ to pay for your sin? Romans 5:6-9 says, “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.” Is it painful to get tattoos removed? Yes, with some treatments, there is some pain involved. But pain was involved in getting tattooed, too, but you still went ahead and did it.
The problem with keeping tattoos, is that some people will see them on you, and just assume that you think that getting tattooed is okay. To other people, you may have the opportunity to explain that they are the “scars” of your sinful days. Ask the Lord to guide you what to do. James 1:5 says, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”
