Question:
40.3—I’ve heard the thought brought out that when we become Christians we no longer have to ask for FORGIVENESS for our sins because they have already been judged at Calvary.  The word “advocate” was tied to this thought noting that our Lord is continuously bringing us back into good fellowship with the Father. I know we are to confess our sins to God. Are we on wrong grounds by asking God for forgiveness when we sin?

Answer:

40.3—“Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this Man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: and by Him all that believe are justified from all things” (Acts 13:38). This verse clearly teaches us that when we first come to God for forgiveness (judicial forgiveness from God as our Judge) we need not ask for forgiveness; we simply need to believe that forgiveness is ours through the Lord Jesus Christ. Like salvation and eternal life, forgiveness is a gift. When one offers you a gift, you simply take it. It would be out of place to turn to one who is offering you a gift and ask them for it. No, they are offering it to you because they want you to have it, and God’s forgiveness is ours the moment we trust the finished work of Christ.

After we are judicially forgiven we are in the family of God and if we sin as a child of God we need to go to God the Father (NOT to God as Judge, but as Father) for paternal (or restorative) forgiveness. But here too we do not ask for forgiveness; we simply confess our sin and His forgiveness is ours. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Both aspects of forgiveness (judicial and paternal) are gifts procured for us through the blood of Christ shed on Calvary. Faith is the hand that lays hold of them.