Can you expound on Romans 8:1-9? And, after that, can you answer this question, "Do you still sin after your conversion?"
Romans 8:1-9 and the whole chapter of Romans 6 should be studied together to get almost the complete teaching of the New Covenant. I say
almost because neither explains why Romans 7:14-25 is no longer regarding us who have been
born again of the Holy Spirit. What is missing is the prophecy of Jeremiah 31:31-34. This is absolutely necessary, and when you've experienced the new birth, you can then relate to verses like Romans 6:6-7 and Romans 8:1-9, and the whole chapter of 1 John 3. Those who have not experienced being born again can only relate to Romans 7:14-25 as their own experience, and Romans 6:6-7 and Romans 8:1-9 and especially 1 John 3 are too far-fetched for them to be taken seriously. 1 Corinthians 2:9-16 shows how their human reasoning will even mock the things of God and believe those who teach such supernatural aspects of being a Christian such as being free from sin, foolishness. Isn't that how you feel?
I'm 75. 45 years ago I had been going to church for 30 years, and still willfully sinned. In fact, at the end of those 30 years I was in a relationship with a married man and did not want to quit. Not one prayer was ever answered. My keys or wallet stayed lost. I had no divine protection (which is the meaning of the Hebrew idiom about serpents and poison in
Mark 16:18) and was even raped twice; one of those times by a bona fide serial rapist who finally went to prison. I moved to Los Angeles and because of the studios, I dated many movie stars, directors and producers, and music industry recording artists. I still see old friends on TV or oldies but goodies radio all these years later. Nothing supernatural ever happened in my life to make me believe there even was a God. But I never went so far as to become an agnostic or atheist. But now I was actually breaking one of the Ten Commandments - adultery. That would send me to hell. So I started seeking God in a different way, and started searching for a church. And without telling you my whole testimony I found one and six months later saw a vision, God spoke to me 8 sentences that are seared into me, and was filled with His Spirit. While being filled I actually felt a heaviness leave my body. I know now it was my sin nature, and all desire to willfully sin left me. I still hear God's voice and we have established a relationship. So to answer your question, I no longer willfully sin, or commit things I need to repent from for the past 45 years.
1 John 1:9 is not a viscous cycle of sin/repent, sin/repent, sin/repent; it is to receive the Holy Spirit once and start growing in the fruit of the Spirit. Acts 2:38 is the sister verse to
1 John 1:9.