Have I Truly Repented If I Keep Sinning?

Episode 589 Show Notes

From the Show

The Apostle Paul says that we still have desires and passions which are against the desires of the Spirit. He is not talking about our spirit here, he is talking about the Holy Spirit. And he is talking to believers–to born again believers–and he says you are still going to have these battles. This battle is the normal Christian life. It is what Paul experienced and what we all experience.

–Adriel Sanchez

Questions in this Episode

1. I am concerned about my repentance and whether it is genuine repentance. I have attended church all my life, but only truly understood the gospel and received Christ last year. I know I should hate sin, but there are many instances when I find myself loving the sin that I struggle with. Often, I just instinctively run to my sin, especially the ones I have been committing most of my life. Sometimes I also wonder to myself, “If I am truly born again, would I be committing so much sin?”

2. I’m reading through the Bible this year and right now in the Books of the Chronicles and am once again struck with all the names that are recorded. Knowing that all Scripture is God-breathed and edifying, what can I can take away from these lists of names as I read them?

3. Just how important is baptism? Must it be done immediately after repentance? Do I have to be baptized in order to be saved?

4. If repentance is necessary for Christians, and repentance means to turn from sin, then does that make repentance a work that is necessary for our salvation? If so, how does this agree with the claim that we are saved by free grace through the body and blood of Christ? How do we know if we are truly repentant if we continue to commit the same sins?