This is true, but the point made by renewed-hope is a good one. When we constantly return to sin our relationship with Jesus is compromised. Unlike renewed-hope God sees our hearts, He does not just hear our words.
God dose expect us to say sorry and show repentance for all the sins that the Holy Spirit convicts us of, but it is what we do after this that matters. If we walk away where is relationship? If I hurt my wife through being stupid, I will not only say sorry, as I should, but I would try and bring to heart why I did the stupid thing in the first place. This is not working to earn salvation it is renewing our minds when we put this into practice with Jesus.
Unlike my wife who by now would have thrown a blanket on to the sofa, when I do the same thing again, God sees my heart, and He sees the hurt I cause myself by causing Him more hurt. Yes His grace does abound, and this is the secret of relationship, we can keep going back to God and Jesus.
We Hold tight to Jesus and He dose what He is in heaven for, He continually intercedes for us with Father. He renews our minds and renews us, and eventually because He loves us so much we will not do what we have been doing, and when this happens we can truly worship God because we can see what he has done in us to change us.
God bless sister.
Blessings to you too, brother. I get your point, completely. I understand that when we hurt someone we can't just say sorry and not deal with it.
Here is my point. Before Jesus died on the Cross, God couldn't even look at us (Habakkuk 1:13) in our sinfulness (there was no hope for us Gentiles). When the Jews sinned, under the law, they had to put their hands upon the head of their sacrifice (literally, Leviticus 1:4-5), then the sacrifice is slain and blood is sprinkled upon the altar. By this, the sinner and the Father's relationship is restored. (NOT BY ANY GOOD WORKS INCLUDING TRYING TO DO BETTER OR FOLLOWING COMMANDMENTS).
In the same way, today, Jesus has become our sacrifice.
Now, I understand the comparison to our human relationships. When we sin against someone, we hurt them so we try to make it up to them (because we love them and we don't want them to feel the hurt anymore).
When we sin, against God, today, really, is there anything we can do to make it up to Him? Yes, there is, actually. But, and this supports the point I'm making, it is not trying to do good. It is not condemning ourselves and feeling bad for committing sin. It is not trying to be a better person (not that it's wrong to be a better person). The only thing that pleases God is faith (Hebrews 11:6). Faith in what, exactly? Faith in Him that He exists, that He is our sacrifice. This doesn't only concern our salvation, it concerns everything in our lives.