Is God's grace limited or can we keep repenting? Can.God forgive the same sin 100 times after knowing the truth and it's a sin?
20 The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, 21 so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (from Rom. 5)
Does that mean we can just go out and sin all we want? Paul answers that question in the verses following in the next chapter:
What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2 By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? 3 Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. (from Rom. 6)
Note that Paul doesn't say that grace will run out - he just got done telling us that where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that isn't why.
Those who are in Christ who sin have Christ right there with them - we've been baptized into Him and are one with Him. There is no loss of 'fellowship' when a believer sins (there are no New Covenant Scriptures that says there is) - Christ is right there with us all the time and that's why believers who sin are uncomfortable in their sinning.
Repenting is often mis-defined as 'turning from sin'. Let's look at the Biblical definition for repentance:
Repent - Strong's G3340 - metanoeō
[*=1]to change one's mind, i.e. to repent
[*=1]to change one's mind for better, heartily to amend with abhorrence of one's past sins
Repentance - Strong's G3341 - metanoia
[*=1]a change of mind, as it appears to one who repents, of a purpose he has formed or of something he has done
Now about that changing of one's mind.
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (from Rom. 12)
How does this happen? By sheer willpower?
Thankfully, no. Guess what the Scriptures say teaches us?
Grace!
11 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12 It [Grace] teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. (from Tit. 2)
And note that Grace
teaches us . . . He is patient with us as we err and learn through our mistakes. Note that our errors and mistakes WILL have earthly consequences. For instance if you get drunk and drive into another vehicle or object and injure or kill yourself or someone else, that is an earthly consequence.
Sinning is dumb and destructive to ourselves and to those around us. Others in the Body of Christ are not obligated to put up with our sinning, and in fact are instructed to not associate with believers who sin (see 1 Cor. 5).
Don't confuse earthly (horizontal) consequences with heavenly (vertical) consequences. Your sins were all judged at the Cross.
If you are in Christ, the following is true:
Has God dealt with the sins of the world?
Yes.
How many times did He deal with it?
Once.
Have your sins been judged?
Yes.
Where were they judged?
At the Cross.
What was the verdict?
Guilty.
What was the punishment?
Death.
Who took it?
Jesus.
How much of it?
All of it.
How much is left for you?
None.
(Quoted from Bob George, The New Covenant Explained
http://bobgeorge.net/?ddownload=1833)
So the Work of Christ has dealt with all your sins, not only yours, but the sins of the whole world (1 Jn.2)!
And what about that verse in Hebrews 10 that says that if you continue in sin there is no more sacrifice for you (vs. 26)? In context, that verse, written to Hebrews who had been presented with the Gospel and were still depending on the Temple and its sacrificial system to 'cover' their sins, it is speaking of a specific sin - the sin of unbelief in Christ and His Work. If they continue in their unbelief, there is no sacrifice for
that sin. The whole letter to them is telling them of the superiority of Christ's Work to the work of bulls and goats via the Law. In the Old Covenant, one had to confess and sacrifice, rinse, and repeat as necessary. Christ is able to save us completely because He always lives to intercede for us (Heb. 7, 1 Jn. 2).
For a variety of really good teaching resources that teach about and build you up in who you are in Christ, check out the following page:
https://joyfullygrowingingrace.wordpress.com/audio-and-text-resources/
Lots of good resources there which will help you to sort out who you are in Christ according to the Good News (Gospel) and what it means to walk in Grace.
Grace and peace to you,
-JGIG