Call in to ask your questions... (fb)

Do you need to ask for forgiveness for each sin? Let's tackle a question that's often misunderstood: Do you need to ask for forgiveness for each sin you commit? Spoiler alert: No, and here’s why. You won’t find the phrases "ask forgiveness" or "ask for forgiveness" in any New Testament letter. That's not a coincidence. Jesus declared "It is finished" from the cross, signaling something profound about forgiveness. Think about it: If forgiveness depended on us asking every time we sinned, what happens if we forget one? The good news is, Christians are completely forgiven for all time—past, present, and future sins taken away forever (Hebrews 10:14). Every sin you've ever committed or will commit was already accounted for when Christ died. God, looking across your entire timeline of sins, took care of them once and for all (1 John 2:2, Hebrews 10:14). The sacrifice of Christ was a one-time, all-encompassing event. His death was sufficient for all sins, across all time—no repeats necessary (Hebrews 7:27, 1 Peter 3:18). And now, Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father (Hebrews 1:3). Why does it matter that Jesus is seated? In the Old Testament, high priests stood daily, continuously making sacrifices that could never fully remove sins (Hebrews 10:11). But Jesus sat down because His sacrifice did what those could not—it completely removed our sins forever (Hebrews 10:12). As believers, we don't need to keep asking for forgiveness as if each sin could undo what Christ has finished. Instead, we can live in gratitude for the total forgiveness granted through His sacrifice. Recognizing our sins and turning from them is still important—it's part of growing and living in alignment with who we are in Christ. But remember, seeking more forgiveness isn’t the goal. We're already fully forgiven. Now, let’s focus on living out what it means to be clean and close to God forever! (fb)