Christians are all too familiar with the ongoing 'struggle within' ... For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. (Galatians 5:17)
If a believer relapses into the sinful habits that marked his old life, a decided battle has been lost, but thankfully, the war is not over. Fellowship with the Lord has been broken ... but not the relationship.
To the true follower of Christ, it can feel like a death pall has swept over your soul ... and the grief associated with it causes you to desperately seek restoration.
God provided a way for reconciliation ... Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound. (Romans 5:20)
But this is not a 'get out of jail free' card.
You cannot simply pick up where you left off as if your rebellion was of little consequence to God.
Forgiveness and restoration come when you confess that you have willfully gone astray ... My little children, I am writing you these things so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father - Jesus Christ the righteous one. (1 John 2:1)
Spurgeon - In this renewal, the same exercise of grace is required as at our conversion. We needed repentance then; we certainly need it now. We required faith that we might come to Christ at first; only the same grace can bring us to Jesus now.
Abide in the shadow of His wings. It is where resisting temptation takes place and the joy of salvation is experienced.
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