Scenario: After sinning, one person despairs completely of mercy; another regards hope of mercy as cancellation of repentance and moral responsibility.
Governing principle: Complacent security and despair are both imbalances; hope in mercy is joined to fear of accountability, repentance and obedience.
Sound application: Repent, reform one’s conduct, pray for a good ending and avoid unsupported certainty about anyone’s final state.
Limit of the conclusion: Hope of forgiveness is not permission to sin; fear of punishment does not require despair of divine mercy.