With that train of thought, maybe I answered my own question, the cross saved us from punishment of our sins, IF we repent, but according to most of you, repentance is void if you sin again, so the next question here is, can you sin-repent be saved, sin- lose salvation, repent- gain salvation again. As stated by many we ARE NOT under works for salvation.
The issue with sin/repent/sin/repent/sin/repent/sin/repent is that it demonstrates a lack of a genuine repentance.
There is godly sorrow and there is worldly sorrow.
Godly sorrow produces this...
2Co 7:11 For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.
Wordly sorrow produces this...
Heb 12:16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.
Heb 12:17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.
It is godly sorrow that works repentance unto salvation not to be regretted. In other words it is meant to occur ONE TIME.
2Co 7:10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
Both godly sorrow and worldly sorrow produce regret and consternation of sin. Yet both do not produce the genuine change of mind by which iniquity is purged from the soul (the axe being laid to the root).
Godly sorrow produces a carefulness, indignation over sin, a strong desire to make restitution, a fear of God, ultimately producing a CLEARING OF WRONGDOING in the heart for the root of iniquity is excised. The result is the genuine change of mind which leaves one in a submissive state to the leading of God.
The Bible says Esau sought repentance with tears yet did not find it and it used that example (of the physical) as an example of the spiritual to us in relation to a root of bitterness which defiles a soul.
Heb 12:13 And
make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.
Heb 12:14
Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
Heb 12:15
Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God;
lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
Heb 12:16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.
Heb 12:17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.
The writer of Hebrews is painting a picture of a genuine conversion to Christ. The result of a genuine repentance unto salvation is a single eye focused on God (Mat 6:22) which requires due diligence and produces the straight paths for the feel by which we follow peace and holiness. Esau exchanged his birthright in order to temporarily gratify his flesh the end of which was regret due to the long term consequences, yet unfortunately the root of iniquity which motivated such an exchange was not to be purged from Esau because he could not find a genuine repentance.
Many people caught in the sin/repent/sin/repent/sin/repent cycle are just like Esau. Their heart remains defiled although they go through bouts of worldly sorrow and yet any change of behaviour is more akin to law keeping because it is only a forced outward regimentation as opposed to the genuine heart purity resultant of genuine faith.
Many take repentance for granted in the sense that it is something that can be turned on at will. Such is not the case, genuine repentance is a work of God upon the soul of man and it requires a genuine broken contriteness. It is not something one can put off and say "i'll do it later" because it is not something done apart from the working of the grace of God (ie. man leading the way.) No! God initiates the draw on all men and if that draw is despised the ongoing rebellion (sin) hardens the heart with the likely end result being a reprobate mind (inward defiance which snuffs out the light of God/ie. God withdraws Himself and gives them over to their own carnality).
This is not to say that a second repentance is not possible, it is simply unlikely due to the defilement that is wrought. Which is why Peter gave warning...
2Pe 2:20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
2Pe 2:21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.
2Pe 2:22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
If one chooses to be a pig or a dog that is what they will be.
Of course what I have written above has no place in modern theology because repentance has been redefined to a confession of sinfulness as opposed to being completely broken on the rock of Christ. Thus the sin/repent/sin/repent/sin/repent cycle is considered normal, the only concern is if no "growth" (ie. sinning less) is made evident.
*tsk tsk
