Should we ask for forgiveness of sins?

I received this great question through the website.

“Why do we no longer need to ask for forgiveness for a sin?”

Sin is sin and we should never take it lightly (Eph 5:6). Grace does not take it lightly in that it requires the perfect blood of the Son of God to pay the penalty for our sins. Just one sin condemns us to death. Christ saves us from that judgment with the work he finished by the cross.

The reason we do not need to ask God to forgive is that he already has forgiven us. The work is complete. He is offering it to you already. Our conversation to God should be belief and gratitude that he has forgiven us through Christ’s blood.

“In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins” –Colossians 1:14

Praying for God to do something he has already done only shows a lack of faith in his finished work. A child would not ask a parent for lunch if the plate is sitting in front of them. Their response should be “thank you”. In the same way, we thank God for his forgiveness handed to us on the platter of grace.

God has already forgiven those who trust the gospel of Christ.

“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. ” – Ephesians 4:32

God offers this forgiveness to everyone in the world. They need not ask him to forgive, but merely trust that his offer is valid through the blood of Jesus. This is the gospel that saves. This is the ministry of reconciliation. God is reconciled to you, be ye reconciled to God!

“To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.” – 2 Cor 5:19

From Justin Johnson at graceambassadors.com
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