You did say
And you did say that your friend continues to slip back to his old way of life over and over.
This is an obvious show that there's something substantial that he should know but doesn't. Contemplate Hebrews 6:1-6 for your friend's sake. I exhort you to teach him what I have been trying to help you to understand about the schoolmaster. God gave it and we should certainly use it. This will help you to understand about what those testings of faith have done for me.
http://christianchat.com/bible-disc...ovenants-galatians-4-22-30-a.html#post1739884
This is my favorite scripture
Romans 5:1-5
1 Therefore being
justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand , and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
I think your friend lacks hope. He obviously is being condemned by the law and cannot find his way out from underneath it because of no hope in his heart. I sounds to me like the "works of the law" that has no faith in order to be out from underneath it. James 4:10
Romans 8:24 For
we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
James 1:2-5
2 My brethren,
count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
3 Knowing this, that the
trying of your faith worketh patience.
4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire,
wanting nothing.
5 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.