Habitual sin and salvation: honest uncertainty, but the answer is always to press toward Christ rather than despair

Mike honestly admits he does not know where the line is between a genuine believer struggling with besetting sin and a false believer evidenced by sin. He cites 1 John 2:1 (if we sin, we have an advocate) as comfort, and 1 John's warnings about habitual sin as the tension. He contrasts Peter and Judas: Judas despaired and died; Peter stayed and was restored. Practical counsel: stop asking 'am I saved?' and start asking 'what more extreme steps can I take to stop this sin?' Despair is never from God.