How can God continue to forgive?

Question:
I have a friend that has a very close relationship with Jesus. They have been a Christian since a very young age...watches numerous preachers on TV, listens to numerous preachers on the radio, reads the Bible faithfully, etc. They appear to be a true example of a Christian. My question is this: I know that Jesus died on the cross for all of our sins. I know his forgiveness. When a person (like my friend) continues to choose to make bad decisions, how can God continue to forgive them? It's like they feel like, I love God, I know I'm forgiven, this is wrong for me to do but it makes me feel good so I'm going to do it because I know that God will forgive me...AGAIN. This is a huge concern of mine for this friend because I worry about their salvation and whether they will still be going to Heaven. :(

The Answer:
The answer to your question lies in the Gospel & nature of forgiveness, forms of religion vs. faith in Jesus, and our spiritual fruit.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is how God reconciles humanity back to Himself. God created humanity in His righteous image and He created the world entirely good (Genesis 1 & 2) but through sin humanity died, and that once righteous image became distorted (Genesis 3). Because of our sin, we were rightly doomed in death to hell to suffer apart from God forever (Romans 3:23). God therefore did something to remake the world and to fix humanity so we can be what we once were: pure, holy, and worthy of God’s righteous presence (Revelation 21). Jesus Christ has intervened on behalf of humanity through the cross; he took on the penalty and debt of our sin, removing us from its consequences, and enabling us through faith no longer to be distorted and dead but rather, righteous, alive, and capable of once again dwelling in the presence of the Holy God (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Now back to your friend: Forgiveness took place on the cross. Therefore, forgiveness is not doled out incrementally each time your friend sins. Forgiveness for humanity’s sin was a massive event that was paid for on the cross by Jesus Christ. Salvation comes from God; everywhere we turn in Scripture our forgiveness and righteousness is enacted for us by God (Romans 5:9; 8:30) and not through our own actions (Ephesians 2:8-10; Titus 3:5). This act of God through Jesus Christ is called “Justification” and thankfully is not dependant on our own effort or intelligence. Through the faith that God gives us, we experience all Jesus did through the cross and we are made righteous (Philippians 3:9).

Outward forms of religious culture are completely distinct from a life of faith (2 Timothy 3:2-5). Blending in with other churchgoers is easier than becoming more like Jesus. Whether or not your friend is a believer in Jesus Christ I do not know. However, our lifestyle says a lot about what we believe and who we really are inside. Jesus Himself blasted the Pharisees over their phony outward religious culture on account of their internal spiritual bankruptcy (Matthew 23:25-28). A life of faith in Jesus will produce visible examples; we call these examples “Spiritual fruit” (Galatians 5:22-25) and the process of becoming less like our natural sinful self and more like Jesus is known as “Sanctification” (1 Corinthians 6:11). Our fruit is visible in the way we treat others, the things we say, and the choices we make. The good news is that the same God who “Justified” you by grace through the cross of Jesus also “Sanctifies” us through His Spirit. Jesus is both the “Author” and “Perfector” of our faith (Hebrews 12:2); he doesn’t just start our story, He leads us progressively by faith to be more like Him in this life (Philippians 1:6) in preparation for being in His presence for all eternity (Revelation 11:15).

Your friend needs Jesus just like you and I. Without Jesus we are doomed to live according to our natural desires and impulses. Through Jesus we become free of these things, and are able to live in a way that pleases the Father. Pray for your friend, be humble and live well around your friend (Galatians 5:26), and tell your friend about Jesus. Jesus is your friend’s only hope.