Colossians 2:10 …and you [saved by the grace gospel] are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. 11 In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 buried with Him in [waterless, 1Cor.12:13] baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven [past tense] you all trespasses, 14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.
One must understand that when you respond in faith to the grace gospel, you are utterly forgiven of ALL your sins, past, present and future. Thinking any less means that you diminish the power of the cross, the sacrifice of Christ for you, and the grace that God provides because of Christ!
The act of repentance is effectively done when you get saved. When God opens your heart and you are drawn by faith into the message of the gospel, and receive it, —that is your act of repentance. From then on, you are Gods child and He will lead you in a lifelong journey of ever increasing sanctification, conforming you to the image of His Son.
Naturally, you will still fall into sin. Your spirit was saved, but your flesh needs to be renewed daily. When you sin in a moment of weakness, understand that you are still utterly forgiven. God does not count that sin against you!! This is His grace upon you.
2 Cor.5:19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing [counting] their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
As His child, you will probably feel saddened, even disappointed by that you sinned. You may even apologize and say you are sorry, but know this fact —there is NO need to feel condemned by your moment of weakness! (Rom.8:1) Your sin is not counted against you! Your sin is ALREADY nailed to the cross.
Isaiah 57:15 For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
True repentance happens only ONCE —when you are saved. Thereafter, you walk in the lead of the Spirit within you. You renew your mind with the Word. You grow in sanctification as you learn from your mistakes and choose to honour God in a slow, but ever increasing lifestyle of purity and love.
As Paul says, we are living epistles, written to bring glory to Jesus Christ.
2Cor.3:2 Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:
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