Twelve Steps
and
Their Biblical Comparisons
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| 1. We
admitted we were powerless over our addictions and compulsive
behaviors, that our lives had become unmanageable. |
I know that nothing good
lives in me,
that is, in my sinful nature.
For I have the desire to do what is good,
but I cannot carry it out.
Romans 7:18 |
|
| 2. We
came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could
restore us to sanity. |
For it is God who works in
you to will
and to act according to his good purpose.
Philippians 2:13 |
|
| 3. We
made a decision to turn our lives and our wills over to the care
of God. |
Therefore, I urge you,
brothers,
in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies
as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God
- this is your spiritual act of worship.
Romans 12:1 |
|
| 4. We
made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
|
Let us examine our ways and
test them,
and let us return to the Lord.
Lamentations 3:40 |
|
| 5. We
admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the
exact nature of our wrongs. |
Therefore confess your sins
to each other
and pray for each other so that you may be healed.
James 5:16 |
|
| 6. We
were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of
character. |
Humble yourselves before the
Lord,
and he will lift you up.
James 4:10 |
|
| 7. We
humbly asked Him to remove all our shortcomings. |
If we confess our sins, he
is faithful
and will forgive us our sins
and purify us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:9 |
|
| 8. We
made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to
make amends to them all. |
Do to others as you would
have them do to you.
Luke 6:31 |
|
| 9. We
made direct amends to such people whenever possible, except when
to do so would injure them or others.
|
Therefore, if you are
offering your gift at the altar
and there remember that your brother has something against you,
leave your gift there in front of the altar.
First go and be reconciled to your brother;
then come and offer your gift.
Matthew 5:23-24 |
|
| 10.
We continue to take personal inventory and when we were wrong,
promptly admitted it. |
So, if you think you are
standing firm,
be careful that you don't fall!
1 Corinthians 10:12 |
|
| 11.
We sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious
contact with God, praying only for knowledge of His will for us,
and power to carry that out. |
Let the word of Christ dwell
in you richly.
Colossians 3:16 |
|
| 12.
Having had a spiritual experience as the result of these steps,
we try to carry this message to others and to practice these
principles in all our affairs. |
Brothers, if someone is
caught in a sin,
you who are spiritual should restore them gently.
But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.
Galatians 6:1 |