Sudsy wrote:cmbl wrote:RZehr wrote:
"Not repeating the offence is the genuine fruit of repentance."
Sudsy wrote:
And we may fail time and time again in the same area that we repented of (turned our back on).
Juxtaposing these two quotes indicates to me that they define "repentance" differently.
I can be convicted by the Holy Spirit of a sin, confess that sin and turn my back on it with intentions of not repeating it but then, being still in this fleshly body, not rely on the grace God offers to live victorious over that sin and repeat the same sin. I think the apostle Paul spoke about this in Romans 7. My repeated sinning in the same area is due to thinking I can stop my failing in some area through my own strength. Paul called the Galatians foolish for trying to live like this. We are sanctified by the Spirit to be able to live victoriously over sins. We may fall time and again but we don't give up for it is in our new nature to desire not to sin if we have been made spiritually alive.
Jesus pointed out that controlling our thoughts in sinful areas is still sinning as is the actual act. I believe the Christian life is one of turning from sin as we rely on God's supernatural grace to empower us to live victoriously. We are to keep reminding ourselves that we are no longer slaves to sin as that power has been broken. Yet we still fall short of the glory of God many times.
Is this how you understand repenting and how we deal with repeated failures/sinning ?
Paul, however gives the solution to his speaking in Roms 7 with his revelation in Romans 8...
I disagree with your assessment of Jesus' teaching regarding the mind. Just the thoughts passing through are not sin (nor did Jesus say they were) but allowing them to become lustful will bring forth sin. See James for the progression of sin,
Jas 1:14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
Temptation is NOT sin, else would Jesus be as guilty as you and me. Did he sin during his temptations in the wilderness? It may be that that was a process of the mind (not saying definitively that it was) that Jesus endured, yet without sin:
Heb 2:17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.
Heb 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
He was tempted with seduction, as well as a hundred other things, but always overcame the temptation.
Too many Christians live in defeat because they believe that just because a thought passes through their mind that they have sinned.
Mat 5:27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
I suggest again a reading of James to understand at what point the temptation becomes sin.
Perhaps a simple phrase can illustrate my point:
You can't stop the birds from flying over your head, but you can stop them from nesting in your hair.
Think about it.