Tommy hit Bobby again for about the tenth time that week. "Sorry," said Tommy. Each time Bobby believed him because Tommy looked sorry; but Tommy never stopped. One year later, Tommy was still hitting Bobby, saying sorry, and not changing his behaviour. Years later it was still going on. How long do you think it took for Bobby to stop believing Tommy meant what he said? Maybe he never did believe because when someone doesn't change their behaviour or at least make good effort towards that end, then their actions are not lining up with their words.
I can't imagine what it's like to have a spouse cheat on you. I do know there are some that continue cheating time after time, apologizing to great extents when caught, but then resuming the behaviour soon after. It would be extremely difficult for me to believe my spouse loved me if he behaved that way. Of course, that line of thinking always brings me back to my own heart and how I behave towards the Lord.
We know that everyone who has been born of God does not continue to sin, but the one born of God guards himself, and the evil one does not touch him. 1Jh. 5:18
According to this Scripture, if we have been born again then we do not continue to sin. Can you take that to mean we never sin again? Actually some people do but the reality is as long as we are human we will sin- unfortunately. So never sinning again is not the logical conclusion (at least until we get to Heaven). Instead the Greek indicates the verb sin is present active indicative, which means “does not keep on sinning.” So, like the examples above, the unchanged behaviour without good personal effort* (with divine assistance) towards change, is not acceptable for a born again believer.
We must also guard, keep, carefully attend to ourselves. Not that we can do this by our own might or strength, but with divine power and strength, in Christ, we can do all things (Php. 4:13), and in this way the wicked one will not touch us. Hmmmm... well, he still comes at me so what is this really saying. In actuality the word "one" is not in that passage but it's put in there to help us understand. Evil means evil or wicked. Touch means lay hold of or grasp with a modifying influence to harm, overcome or devour.
So putting it all together, if we are born of God we do not keep on sinning, but guard, keep and carefully attend to ourselves with God's power and strength (Ps. 121:7), and evil / wicked will not lay hold, grasp, harm, overcome or devour us.
Lord, thank You that You have overcome the world (Jh. 16:33; 1Jh. 5:4^); that You guard us (2Th. 3:3), shield us (2Sm. 3:3), help us (Is. 41:10), provide refuge (Ps. 46:1), and You preserve us for your heavenly kingdom (2Tm. 4:18). Praise and glory to Your name!
*he voluntarily and earnestly endeavours to avoid sin and to practice righteousness; he steadily and energetically sets himself in opposition to the temptations by which he is beset
^For everything that has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that overcomes the world, our faith. 1Jh. 5:4