I do want to notify my readers that I have done 8 parts of a series on Romans on YouTube.

Below is the email I wrote to a person who asked the question that titles this post:

I don’t think that repeating the same sins means there is no repentance. I think it means that a Christian is not sufficiently trained in godliness. The largest and most dangerous ignorance that we have is about our need for one another:

… exhort one another day by day, so long as it is called “today”, lest any one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. (Heb. 3:13)

Let’s consider how to provoke one another to love and good works, not forsaking our own assembling together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. (Heb. 10:24-25)

We don’t understand that righteousness is a team sport. That first verse tells us to help one another because sin is trying to trick us, and the second passage tells us that we must fight together. Listening to a sermon once per week is not enough. Getting good teaching is not enough. AA and other 12-step programs get it. We have to help each other. If your church doesn’t provide the kind of mutual exhortation and mutual striving towards purity that we all need, then try a 12-step program like Celebrate Recovery.

I think, though, that nowadays a lot of churches have groups that work together to overcome repeated sins.

Good teaching does help, though. I listened to a video on the fear of God by John Bevere, and it strengthened and affected me for a month. When I was much younger, I read Lectures on Revival by Charles Finney, and it powered me for 6 months. Finney’s book stated what is most important, though, very similar to what Hebrews 3:13 says. He said that everyone needs revival at least every 3 or 4 days. Let’s help one another achieve that!