To repent means a change of mind....turning from unbelief to belief is the repentance unto salvation. Some people confuse "godly sorrow" with repentance.
Romans 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
2 Corinthians 7:10
For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
How can we tell the difference in a "Christian"? Should 'we' even look for a difference in him? Should it even matter to us?
A "sinner's prayer" can mean anything. I've never put much stock in them. But when one is saved, he is created in Christ...a new creature.
While this is true if nominalism is OK with God. However, it isn't His goal when saving a person and can't be for His reasons summed up in Christ Jesus. This makes a 'completed' salvation conditional which requires a new birth in Him that can only make it happen, a new birth not necessarilly administered at the time of one's 'initial' salvation.
Sin has no more dominion over him.
Only if that one understands what the issues are to have cultivated his love TO God sufficient for overcoming the "law" of his flesh.
Temptations will always come, but the "battle" one faces is an unnecessary one once one successfully reckons himself dead to sin.
Temptations are for testing one's allegiance to God. Jesus demonstrated that to be true. Satan is allowed to tempt us to reveal to us that which he still owns in us God wants overcome. In Jesus, he found nothing to censor, nothing to "rectify", nothing needed for Jesus to repent of.. What does he find in me? . . . in you?
That part can take longer with some than others.
What is needed for the "overcoming"?
It's a matter of asking God to increase our faith.
Faith for what, something magical to happen and one is delivered; released from that specific temptation? You don't mention "overcoming". Why?
One thing you can trust in is that we are being conformed into the image of the Son...He will perform what He started in us.
We are?? Whose is "we" if "we" doesn't understand that it requires seeking to know Him as Jesus knew Him? Certainly there is a price to pay for that relationship, correct? [cf John 17:3].
I often think of Peter "walking on water" when addressing this issue. Peter was fine until he looked down at the waves, and that's when he started to sink.
Peter took his eyes off the object of his affection and placed it upon 'saving' his own flesh, thus temporarilly thwarting God's will for his life. Fortunately, God did not give up on him.
I somehow feel there is another lesson in this for the born again Christian who sins or has a secret sin only He and God know about or perhaps simply an sin unrepented of that which seperates [puts to death] his intimacy with God.
The Spirit within, of course, and the Scripture itself.
And the "Comforter", whom Jesus said He would send, where does He fit in? Do you think a nominal Christian [or even the born again] knows about Him and His purpose for being sent by God after Jesus ascended?
OMT Lest I forget to ask: I assume you say the Lords Prayer from time to time, as most do when the occasion suggests. Have you ever really paid attention to the words Jesus taught His "Disciples" to say? What did you come up with in your understanding?
Thank you