Jesus died for our sins, but we still need forgiveness

[johnnyjones]

I often contemplate a dilema which may be unique to me. Yes of course Jesus died for our sins, and all the sins we would ever commit. But yet we need to ask for forgiveness. We are asking forgiveness because we are sorry and want to change (repent). Did not the blood of Christ cover our sins? Are we only asking for forgivness for our benefit since we are already forgiven… or are we?

When we say Christ died for the sins of the world, what does that mean? Why would it not mean perpetual forgivness if you choose to follow Jesus.? I hope you get what I’m trying to comunicate. I would just like to get comments so that I can see if what is already formulated in my head is reasonable.

 

[Della]

1 John 1:7b the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

God does not want us to sin but being fallen creatures we do sin. And although God knows what each of us will do he doesn’t make us do anything. So, it’s up to us to obey God or not, to sin or not. But if we do sin we can ask for forgiveness because Christ died for our sins. It doesn’t mean that we have been forgiven for sins we haven’t yet committed. God hopes we won’t sin. Rather when we do sin, which we will do through our weakness, God’s forgiveness is available to us.

 

[johnnyjones]

I thought that when Jesus died for our sins it included the sins we have commited and the sins we will commit. That is why I had the dilema. Are you sure it is correct that he didn’t die for all the sins we will ever commit?

 

[DJK100]

I thought that when Jesus died for our sins it included the sins we have commited and the sins we will commit. That is why I had the dilema. Are you sure it is correct that he didn’t die for all the sins we will ever commit?

I think it is fair to say the he died for all our sins including the ones we didn’t committ (although how can you be in sin if you didn’t committ the sin?) I think the way to view it is that when Jesus died for our sins, He being God, bestowed on humanity an endless amount of grace. What this means is that there is enough forgiveness in God through Christs sacrifice that no matter how bad of a sinner we are their is always God’s infinate forgivness and grace he can bestow on us. We need but to ask for forgivness and be resolved to do our best not to sin again in order for that grace to be applicable to us. However, to answer your question, because we have free will we are never sure if we will “future sin,” even though the forgivness of said sin, if we were to do it, would still be forgiven as Christ’s once and for all sacrifice merited infinate grace for mankind. Therefore, His infinate grace covers all sin.

Hope this makes sense.

 

[johnnyjones]

I think it is fair to say the he died for all our sins including the ones we didn’t committ (although how can you be in sin if you didn’t committ the sin?) I think the way to view it is that when Jesus died for our sins, He being God, bestowed on humanity an endless amount of grace. What this means is that there is enough forgiveness in God through Christs sacrifice that no matter how bad of a sinner we are their is always God’s infinate forgivness and grace he can bestow on us. We need but to ask for forgivness and be resolved to do our best not to sin again in order for that grace to be applicable to us. However, to answer your question, because we have free will we are never sure if we will “future sin,” even though the forgivness of said sin, if we were to do it, would still be forgiven as Christ’s once and for all sacrifice merited infinate grace for mankind. Therefore, His infinate grace covers all sin.

Hope this makes sense.

Thank you for a deep response. Even though you may not have sinned yet, I was under the impression that God knows what sins we will commit, therefor the atonement on the cross. I think that this is an over simplified or misunderstood topic and hope to get more responses. I like what you said that there is "enough’ forgiveness. To further rephase the question;
Could you sin (as a follower of Christ) not ask for forgiveness or unsure that you sinned and still be “covered” by the blood of Christ? I guess what I’m saying is that I always accociated the cross with forgiveness (covered for our sin) but yet we must still ask for forgiveness even though Jesus died for whatever sin it may be.

 

[PumpkinSeed]

Let’s say you talked bad about somebody behind their back. Slander the person. They come up to you and tell you that they know what you were doing. Without apologizing, the person says “I forgive you”.

Well just because they forgive you doesn’t mean you shouldn’t apologize.

 

[DJK100]

Thank you for a deep response. Even though you may not have sinned yet, I was under the impression that God knows what sins we will commit, therefor the atonement on the cross. I think that this is an over simplified or misunderstood topic and hope to get more responses. I like what you said that there is "enough’ forgiveness. To further rephase the question;
Could you sin (as a follower of Christ) not ask for forgiveness or unsure that you sinned and still be “covered” by the blood of Christ?** I guess what I’m saying is that I always accociated the cross with forgiveness (covered for our sin) but yet we must still ask for forgiveness even though Jesus died for whatever sin it may be**.

I think yes. Take mortal sin. One of the criteria is that you do it consciously and intentionally. So even if you committ the mortal sin you can still be forgiven without repentence as long as you truly were ignorant of the sin. Of course God knows your heart and makes that judgment. This is why confession is so important because if you have any doubt you only need to repent and truly make an effort not to sin anymore and God forgives you through his instrument of His Priests.

I think the bolded part is accurate if I am understanding you correctly. Also, just because the sin is covered it doesn’t mean God has to cover it. Hence the having to ask for forgivness.

 

[nightranger]

When we say Christ died for the sins of the world, what does that mean? Why would it not mean perpetual forgivness if you choose to follow Jesus.?

To be honest, I’m with you. I don’t get it either. I often wish I was a “born again” protestant, with all sins forgiven, no temporal punishment, no purgatory etc. Seems like a much happier place to be.

 

[DJK100]

I think the bolded part is accurate if I am understanding you correctly. Also, just because the sin is covered it doesn’t mean God has to cover it. Hence the having to ask for forgivness.

Sorry, I meant to say that…

Also, just because God has granted us his infinate grace to “cover” the sin doesn’t mean that he has to cover it. It is not an automatic absolution. He has to apply it to you and you achieve that applied grace by asking for His forgiveness and showing a contrite heart.

 

[underacloud]

I thought that when Jesus died for our sins it included the sins we have commited and the sins we will commit. That is why I had the dilema. Are you sure it is correct that he didn’t die for all the sins we will ever commit?

This is the understanding that many protestants hold, but in the Catholic Church it works differently.

We believe that each person retains free will, which includes the freedom to reject God if they so wish. So, while Jesus washed away our sins, we have to accept this forgiveness, and this is an ongoing process (as St Paul says, “work out your salvation with fear and trembling”).

There are a few sections in the NT that discuss falling away or mortal sin. We believe that someone can fall way, or chose to reject God (essentially what mortal sin is). For God to forgive them all their sin, now and into the future, He would have to remove the freedom of the will. Without freedom, we cannot truly love God, which is what He wants of us. Love requires freedom, while freedom leaves open the possibility of rejecting love.

 

[Della]

To be honest, I’m with you. I don’t get it either. I often wish I was a “born again” protestant, with all sins forgiven, no temporal punishment, no purgatory etc. Seems like a much happier place to be.

It isn’t a happier place, trust me, I lived it and I can tell you that’s not the case. Why? Because it doesn’t solve anything. Pretending you’re forgiven doesn’t make you face reality, which means you either deny you’ve sinned or you just ignore it, thinking since you’re already forgiven it will just sort itself out. But that’s not what happens. It gets buried and festers just like a sore that goes unattended.

If you went to the doctor with a pus-filled sore and he said, “Well, since you’re fully insured we won’t drain the pus, we’ll just say it’s okay and send you home.” What would you think? You’d think the guy had lost his marbles. And you’d see another doctor ASAP. It’s the same with sin.

We sin within time and space–we cannot pretend we don’t or hope God won’t notice. God wants better than that for us–he wants us to truly be holy as he is holy not just cover our sins like pouring chocolate over rancid fruit and then calling it edible. He wants our fruit to be fresh and nourishing, so we need to be cleansed, we need the pus cleared out so our wounds can truly heal. Does that make sense?