How can we seek God's forgiveness when we repeatedly fall into sin? Setting the Scene We know the heartbreak of stumbling into the same sins again and again. Jeremiah’s day was no different. Jeremiah 3:5 in Plain View “Will He be angry forever? Will He keep His anger to the end?” This is what you have said, yet you have done all the evil you could. • Judah assumes God will simply overlook ongoing rebellion. • God answers: words alone are empty when the heart clings to sin. What Keeps Us from Returning? • Minimizing sin—“It isn’t that bad.” • Treating grace as a license—Romans 6:1-2. • Shame that hides instead of confessing—Genesis 3:8. • Hollow lip-service—Isaiah 29:13. God’s Door Is Still Open • Just a few verses later: “Return, faithless Israel… for I am merciful” (Jeremiah 3:12-13). • His mercies “are new every morning” (Lamentations 3:22-23). • “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive” (1 John 1:9). How to Seek Forgiveness after Repeated Sin 1. Face the sin honestly – Psalm 51:3-4: name it without excuses. 2. Confess it specifically to God – 1 John 1:9: agreement with God, not mere apology. 3. Abandon self-justifying talk – Proverbs 28:13: hiding prolongs bondage. 4. Receive the finished work of Christ – Ephesians 1:7: forgiveness rests on His blood, not our resolve. 5. Turn, don’t just talk – Ephesians 4:22-24: put off the old, put on the new; practical changes show real repentance. 6. Ask for a transformed heart – Psalm 51:10: “Create in me a clean heart.” 7. Seek godly accountability – James 5:16: confess to trusted believers for prayer and oversight. 8. Walk daily by the Spirit – Galatians 5:16: dependence on the Spirit breaks the cycle of fleshly habits. 9. Remember the Father’s heart – Luke 15:20: the prodigal’s return met with running compassion. Practical Steps for Today • Set aside a daily moment for honest confession and Scripture meditation. • Memorize verses that confront your specific struggle (Psalm 119:11). • Replace the sinful pattern with a righteous habit (Romans 12:21). • Stay close to a local church family for encouragement and loving correction (Hebrews 10:24-25). God’s question in Jeremiah 3:5 exposes shallow repentance, but His invitation throughout the chapter—and throughout Scripture—promises full pardon to every sinner who turns back, no matter how many times we’ve fallen. |
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