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What does the Bible say about repeated sin?

Bible Topic · WEB

The Bible teaches that repeated sin is a serious bondage that grieves God, yet Christ receives repentant sinners with forgiveness, help, and power for new obedience. Romans 7:15-25 recognizes the believer’s painful struggle with remaining sin, while 1 John 1:9 assures cleansing to those who confess. Hebrews 10:26 warns against hardened, willful persistence that despises Christ’s sacrifice, not humble repentance after failure. In Christ, believers have an advocate with the Father, as 1 John 2:1 says, and are called to turn from sin, forgive others, and walk in love and obedience. God’s grace does not excuse sin; it trains his people to resist it and bear the fruit of repentance.

Top passages, ranked by readers

Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible

  • Romans 7:15-25 10 votes

    For I don’t understand what I am doing. For I don’t practice what I desire to do; but what I hate, that I do. But if what I don’t desire, that I do, I consent to the law that it is good. So now it is no more I that do it, but sin which dwells in me. For I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, dwells no good thing. For desire is present with me, but I don’t find it doing that which is good. For the good which I desire, I don’t do; but the evil which I don’t desire, that I practice. But if what I don’t desire, that I do, it is no more I that do it, but sin which dwells in me. I find then the law that, while I desire to do good, evil is present. For I delight in God’s law after the inward person, but I see a different law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity under the law of sin which is in my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will deliver me out of the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! So then with the mind, I myself serve God’s law, but with the flesh, sin’s law.

  • Hebrews 10:26 10 votes

    For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more a sacrifice for sins,

  • Luke 17:3-4 7 votes

    Be careful. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him. If he repents, forgive him. If he sins against you seven times in the day, and seven times returns, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.”

  • 1 John 1:9 6 votes

    If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

  • Galatians 5:19-21 5 votes

    Now the deeds of the flesh are obvious, which are: adultery, sexual immorality, uncleanness, lustfulness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strife, jealousies, outbursts of anger, rivalries, divisions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these; of which I forewarn you, even as I also forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit God’s Kingdom.

  • John 14:15 4 votes

    If you love me, keep my commandments.

  • 1 John 2:1 3 votes

    My little children, I write these things to you so that you may not sin. If anyone sins, we have a Counselor with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous.

  • Luke 15:7 3 votes

    I tell you that even so there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, than over ninety-nine righteous people who need no repentance.

  • John 8:34 3 votes

    Jesus answered them, “Most certainly I tell you, everyone who commits sin is the bondservant of sin.

  • Galatians 6:7 2 votes

    Don’t be deceived. God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.

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