12 Steps & Their Biblical Comparisons
1. We admitted we were powerless
over our addictions and compulsive behavior, 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 is at work 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 5:16a
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 ask Him to remove all of
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 unto 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 alter and there remember that your
brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of
the alter. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and
offer your gift.” Matthew 5:23-24
10. We continued 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 meditations to improve our conscious
contract with God, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and
the power to carry that out.
“Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly.”
Colossians 3:16a
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 him gently. But watch yourself, or you may
also be tempted.” Galatians 6:1
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