This is a common question that many Christians wrestle with. The short answer is yes, Christians should continue to ask God for forgiveness when they sin. However, there are some important biblical truths to understand about why this is necessary and how God’s forgiveness works.
We Are All Sinners Who Need God’s Forgiveness
The Bible clearly teaches that all people are sinners (Romans 3:23) and that the consequence of sin is spiritual death and separation from God (Romans 6:23). Even after becoming Christians, believers continue to struggle with sin in their lives (1 John 1:8). So every Christian needs to continuously ask for God’s forgiveness when they fail and fall short of His perfect standard.
King David, for example, committed terrible sins like adultery and murder. Yet after confronting his sin, he asked God for forgiveness: “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin” (Psalm 51:1-2). David’s pattern of repentance shows that even mature believers need to continually ask God for forgiveness.
God Is Faithful To Forgive Us
The good news is that God is gracious and eager to forgive those who humbly ask Him. 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” God promises to keep cleansing us as we turn to Him.
Some people worry they have asked for forgiveness too many times. But Scripture encourages us to keep seeking God’s mercy: “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). Just as a loving father keeps forgiving his children, God will continue to pardon those who rely on Christ’s sacrifice for their sins.
Forgiveness Is Not a License To Sin
Does this mean Christians can just sin as much as they want? Absolutely not! The apostle Paul refuted this notion, asking the rhetorical question, “Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means!” (Romans 6:1-2). True repentance involves a change of heart that leads to a change in behavior. Christians are called to live holy lives in the power of the Spirit (1 Peter 1:13-16).
This does not mean believers will never sin again. But over time, the pattern of a Christian’s life should show decreasing frequency and severity of sin as spiritual maturity increases. Continually asking God for forgiveness should lead to life transformation by the Holy Spirit’s power.
Forgiveness Removes Sin’s Penalty, Not Natural Consequences
It is important to understand that God’s forgiveness, while complete, does not automatically remove all natural consequences of sin. If someone ruins their marriage through infidelity then genuinely repents, God graciously forgives them. However, the damage to their spouse’s trust and the relationship may take time to heal.
King David was forgiven for his adultery and murder, but he still faced consequences like the death of his newborn son (2 Samuel 12:13-14). God’s pardon frees us from sin’s eternal penalty, but we may still have to deal with temporal effects of our wrong choices. We live in a moral universe—actions have consequences. This drives Christians to depend all the more on God’s mercy and grace.
Forgiveness Brings Us Into Deeper Relationship With God
The Christian life is all about drawing closer to God. Confessing our sins and receiving His forgiveness keeps the lines of communication open. It reminds us of how much we need Him. It strips away pride and humbles us to ask for pardon. It enables the Holy Spirit to purify us as God intended, making us more like Christ (Hebrews 2:11).
Sin causes separation from God, but through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, forgiveness restores our connection to Him. As 1 John 1:3 says, “We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.” Keeping short accounts with God by confessing sin preserves intimacy in that vital relationship.
We Are Called To Forgive Others As God Forgives Us
An important aspect of receiving God’s forgiveness is that we are called to extend similar forgiveness to others. The Lord’s Prayer includes the request, “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors” (Matthew 6:9-13). We plead for God’s mercy even as we show it to those who wrong us.
Colossians 3:13 says, “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” As forgiven sinners, Christians do not withhold grace from others. We pass on the mercy we’ve received. Forgiveness received must become forgiveness given.
We Must Forgive Ourselves As God Has Forgiven Us
Christians struggling with guilt sometimes continue punishing themselves though God has forgiven them. But Scripture encourages believers to forgive themselves: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). If God has forgiven us, we can forgive ourselves in His strength.
The Apostle Paul said he forgot what was behind him and pressed on toward what was ahead (Philippians 3:13). Lingering guilt can stunt spiritual growth. Christians must let go of the past, receive God’s forgiveness, and move forward in freedom. Our primary model of forgiveness should be the Father’s gracious pardon through Christ.
Christ’s Sacrifice Is the Basis for God’s Forgiveness
How can a holy and just God forgive morally corrupt sinners? The answer lies in Christ’s atoning death on the cross. Jesus paid the penalty for our sins so that forgiveness could be offered (Colossians 1:13-14). His death turned away God’s wrath against us, making forgiveness possible.
The author of Hebrews says, “Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” (Hebrews 9:22). But now through faith in Christ’s sacrifice, Christians can boldly approach God’s throne to “receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). His death enables God’s gracious pardon.
Forgiveness Is Not Automatic – It Requires Confession and Repentance
Some assume God’s pardon is automatic, regardless of whether one confesses or repents. But Scripture teaches that God requires a turning away from sin in order to receive forgiveness:
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
“Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord” (Acts 3:19).
While God’s gift of salvation cannot be earned, His forgiveness is conditional upon the sinner’s confession and repentance. Without the proper response on our part, God does not grant forgiveness. His pardon is available to all, but must be accessed by repentance.
Forgiveness Brings Healing, Restoration and Freedom
Being forgiven by God brings profound spiritual and emotional benefits. It relieves guilt’s heavy burden, heals brokenness caused by sin, and restores joy in one’s relationship with the Lord. Forgiveness also enables freedom from condemnation.
“Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered” (Psalm 32:1). God’s pardon lifts shame, refreshes the soul and sets the prisoner free. Christians should gratefully embrace His offer of forgiveness for these life-changing reasons.
Christians Struggle With Sin Their Whole Lives
From one perspective, the entire Christian life is a process of growing in holiness through the Holy Spirit’s sanctifying work. Believers do not automatically achieve perfection at conversion. Our fleshly tendencies resist the Spirit’s promptings (Galatians 5:17). We struggle daily to submit areas of rebellion to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
Even the Apostle Paul admitted his ongoing battle with sin: “I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out” (Romans 7:18). Every Christian, to varying degrees, can echo Paul’s sentiment. As long as we inhabit sinful flesh, the presence of sin and need for confession will plague us.
But in the midst of this struggle, God grants empowering grace to make progress as we rely on His Spirit: “He gives us more grace…God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” (James 4:6) Our sin highlights the need for God’s forgiving grace.
Asking Forgiveness Keeps Us Dependent on the Lord
Christians face the danger of becoming self-reliant after walking with God for a time. When a believer falls back into sin, asking God’s forgiveness reminds them how much they need the Lord. It strips away presumption and creates humility.
Regularly seeking God’s pardon also fosters gratitude for His mercy. Just as couples should never take each other for granted, believers must not presume upon God’s grace. Confessing sin sustains our awe of His forgiveness. It helps us cherish our relationship with Him.
The Process of Sanctification Continues Until Death
While God wants Christians to make steady progress in holiness, sin will plague us until death. Becoming more Christlike occurs gradually as a work of the Spirit. The process of sanctification will only find completion when we are glorified in heaven (Romans 8:29-30).
Until then, believers must keep seeking God’s forgiveness and depending on His grace. As Hebrews says, “Because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy” (Hebrews 10:14). The tense of “being made holy” indicates sanctification’s ongoing nature. Only at the end will we gain sinless perfection.
We Must Focus on Progress Not Perfection
Since sin remains while we await heaven, Christians should focus on progress in sanctification rather than demanding instant perfection. The goal is to become more like Christ over a lifetime by cooperating with the Holy Spirit’s transforming work.
Paul says our outward self is wasting away, but our inner self is being renewed day by day (2 Corinthians 4:16). Believers must remember sanctification is the Spirit partnering with us, not our own efforts alone. Dependence on God’s power provides hope for improvement even in lifelong struggle against sin.
Holiness Includes Turning From All Known Sin in the Power of the Spirit
An important aspect of growth in holiness is striving to confess and turn from all known sinful habits and thought patterns. This is only possible by relying on the Holy Spirit’s empowering grace.
2 Corinthians 7:1 says, “Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.” Cooperating with God to eliminate entrenched sins is key to sanctification’s progress.
Believers will never be sinless on earth, but we must war against all known areas of rebellion and idolatry. Yielding more of ourselves to the control of Christ’s Spirit diminishes sin’s influence.
Temptation Will Always Assail Us Because We Have Indwelling Sin
Why must Christians continually battle temptation and struggle with sin, even after being converted? Because our flesh is still corrupted by indwelling sin, which exerts strong pull toward evil desires.
The Apostle Paul described his frustration battling sin’s pull in Romans 7. Though we have been freed from sin’s absolute tyranny by the Spirit’s power, sin’s residual influence ensures constant temptation. Becoming Christlike requires harnessing fleshly desires spiritually.
Only when we are glorified and freed from the presence of sin, will temptation cease to assail us. Until then, believers must resist its allure, confess when entrapped, and rely on the Spirit to gradually weaken its power in their lives.
Conclusion
To summarize, Scripture makes it clear Christians must continually ask God to forgive their sins. Though initially saved by grace, believers still struggle with sinful tendencies and need to humbly seek pardon. God is faithful to forgive those who confess and repent, enabling deeper intimacy with Him.
Relying on Christ’s sacrifice, God graciously forgives His children while transforming them into Christ’s image through the Spirit’s empowering work. Sanctification is a lifelong process of becoming holier that continues until death. Focus must be on progress through dependence on God rather than instant perfection. Even while stumbling, Christians are being made holy as they walk with their Lord.