Yesterday one of my coworkers wanted me to respond to a Facebook status she had written and was beginning to get comments on. I have taken the liberty to post her question and the responses that followed – including mine.

Not to stir up anything… but… When you get saved and you ask God to forgive you of your sins does that ONLY cover the sins up to that point? Meaning after you are saved you have to keep asking over and over again for anything you mess up on intentionally or otherwise OR or does it cover ALL your sins for all time… Let the discussion begin!

You have to repentance continuous, if you’re doing wrong and having sin.

You have to continue to repent and ask forgiveness when you sin.

I think that once your name is written in the Book of Life, you are saved but………when you do sin, you have to ask for forgiveness because we are only human, only GOD and JESUS were,and are perfect. It also says that when you are saved, your sins are as far as the east is from the west (not perfect wording) but your sins are forgotten because you are covered by the blood of Christ.

I will continue to ask for forgiveness. And sometimes it’s for the same sins. I’ve also written a letter to God and the people I’ve hurt and asked for forgiveness. Then I tear up the letter and throw it away. It’s like a weight is lifted off my shoulders.

Eternal salvation IS Eternal!

Reminds me of something one of my children said years ago at dinner: ” Why can’t we just give thanks now for all the food we will ever eat in our life?” My answer to today’s question on forgiveness is similar to what I said back then: Our relationship with God is not a theological cat-and-mouse game, with him waiting to pounce on us if we don’t get a sentence or a thought exactly right. It’s about a lifetime commitment to the practice of thankfulness, of repentance, of practicing the transforming love of Jesus.

Wow! Multiple issues here:) As a human, my perception of the passage of time is linear. Our God is not bound by such limitations. Past, present and future are all present to Him. His act on the cross is a direct response to my sin today. Because of this sacrificial act, I am humbled to my knees and face constantly (spiritually speaking). When I sin, His sacrifice constantly covers me AND a repentant heart keeps me on my face. He looks upon the heart for a soft and pliable place to chill. When I let sin, complacency and short memories harden my heart, His response is NOT to condemn me to hell, but to begin softening my heart to restoration.

The person who is trapped in a legalistic paradigm believes they must repent everytime they sin BECAUSE it is required to keep their salvation. The person who has freedom in the grace based paradigm believes they must repent everytime BECAUSE their own heart is tender toward Jesus Christ and his sacrifice.

I believe that we are forgiven of ALL sins (past, present, AND future) at the very moment that we admit we are a sinner, ask for fogiveness, and invite the Holy Spirit into our lives. It is finished at that moment (actually I believe it was finished on the cross for all people . . .just not all accept it). From that moment on, forgiveness if freely given and we do not HAVE to continuously ask for it. However, because the Holy Spirit lives within us, he causes us to see our sin and convict us. That conviction should lead us to repentance (turning from the sin) and restoring our fellowship with God through the ritual of asking for forgiveness (even though it has already been granted to us). At this point, I don’t believe that the asking for forgivenes is because God needs us to ask in order for to give it. . .it is for US to recognize and receive the forgiveness. Sin separated us from God . . . .Jesus fixed that for us on the cross by paying for all of our sins; therefore we dont have to do anything to EARN God forgiveness. However, as a child of God walking with him, sin can negatively affect our fellowship with him. Let me be clear here . . .fellowship is different from our standing with God. As a follower (a child of God) sin does not remove our place with God, it only affects our fellowship. Consistently repenting of the sins that we have ALREADY been forgiven of, only serves as a way for us to maintain close fellowship with God. Anyway, long answer . . .but that is what I believe.

I agree somewhat with one of the comments but I read repentance as a different thing it has nothing to do with the words of our mouth it doesn’t meant to ask for forgiveness each time it means to recognize ur sin and turn from it it’s a heart thing not a head and mouth thing God doesn’t want our guilt and shame he wants us to honor Him with our whole heart and obey Him

Why would our Savior say we must forgive to be forgiven? (Lord’s prayer) Again why say we must confess our sins and be cleansed of all unrighteousness? Jesus finished the job on the cross & when He arose from the grave! There is a sin nature within us. We will do wong things that need to be confessed & cleansed from us . We are in prossess, not finished! To overcome what this world would put on us we must seek God’s goodness.

Sometimes I just “wonder” about God infinite love and forgiveness I mean to me it’s a heart matter if you are listening and actively following God you will be sin conscious and to want to be like Him… I just wonder how much we judge how much He loves us by what we do or don’t get right…

If you are drowning and someonne saves you , The next time you fall in the creek just tell the lifeguard , Thats O K , you saved me last week ! L O L ! JUST SAYING ! I,d rather be safe than sorry ! I do agree that true repentence will make you turn away from the sin. You will never offend God by repentence ! HOW MANY TIMES DID JESUS TELL PETER TO FORGIVE !? JESUS IS MORE HOLY THAN PETER !

One thing about my friend JESUS , I can tell him ALL, and know that he still loves me ! I,m STILL human !

You need to come to Passover. I explain it all there. Wait – you DID come to Passover. Maybe you need to come get a refresher. He took the condemnation for every sin for all time. If you’re a bookkeeper, He paid for a debit to be posted on the ledger page for each sin you will ever commit. Then when you sin and a credit gets posted there, the debit is already there to cancel it out and THERE IS NOW THEREFORE NO CONDEMNATION FOR THOSE WHO ARE IN CHRIST JESUS!

As for me, I’ll just give some scripture…if that’s ok. It is our absolute source… 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness.