Asking for forgiveness

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Sep 24, 2012
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#1
Is it right to ask for forgiveness for sins or past sins if you are saved? We are supposed to confess them (right?), but should that include asking for forgiveness?
 

blue_ladybug

Senior Member
Feb 21, 2014
70,862
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#2
God automatically forgives us when we repent (confess) our sins.. But I think it's okay to ask for it anyway.. :)
 
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Locoponydirtman

Guest
#3
Read the Lord's prayer, forgive us our sins is one of the statements there in.
 
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7seasrekeyed

Guest
#4
Is it right to ask for forgiveness for sins or past sins if you are saved? We are supposed to confess them (right?), but should that include asking for forgiveness?

I think it's good to to do so

you can always say ' thank you for forgiving my sins, for dying for me' and so on

we could never be over thankful and we should be humble before God

now a guilty conscience is one thing we do not have before God

but you know, the Apostle John also said this:

8If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10If we say we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar, and His word is not in us. I John

it is believed to have been written as a letter circulated among believers, who, at that time, were dealing with Gnostic teaching
 
Sep 24, 2012
529
134
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#5
I think it's good to to do so

you can always say ' thank you for forgiving my sins, for dying for me' and so on

we could never be over thankful and we should be humble before God

now a guilty conscience is one thing we do not have before God

but you know, the Apostle John also said this:

8If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10If we say we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar, and His word is not in us. I John

it is believed to have been written as a letter circulated among believers, who, at that time, were dealing with Gnostic teaching
Gnostic teaching. I have read the ""Gospel" of Thomas", which may be a Gnostic "gospel". Maybe all of it, and maybe put a reasonable amount of thought into it. Some of the "sayings" may have been formulated, if that's the right word to use, to explain the miraculous works of Christ - maybe by people who believed they happened, but didn't believe, or people who heard about the miraculous works of Christ, didn't believe they happened, and were trying to explain what was being said.
 
7

7seasrekeyed

Guest
#6
Gnostic teaching. I have read the ""Gospel" of Thomas", which may be a Gnostic "gospel". Maybe all of it, and maybe put a reasonable amount of thought into it. Some of the "sayings" may have been formulated, if that's the right word to use, to explain the miraculous works of Christ - maybe by people who believed they happened, but didn't believe, or people who heard about the miraculous works of Christ, didn't believe they happened, and were trying to explain what was being said.

well Gnostic teaching is not biblical

GNOSTICISM IS THE TEACHING based on Gnosis, the knowledge of transcendence arrived at by way of interior, intuitive means. Although Gnosticism thus rests on personal religious experience, it is a mistake to assume all such experience results in Gnostic recognitions. It is nearer the truth to say that Gnosticism expresses a specific religious experience, an experience that does not lend itself to the language of theology or philosophy, but which is instead closely affinitized to, and expresses itself through, the medium of myth. Indeed, one finds that most Gnostic scriptures take the forms of myths. The term “myth” should not here be taken to mean “stories that are not true”, but rather, that the truths embodied in these myths are of a different order from the dogmas of theology or the statements of philosophy.

In the following summary, we will attempt to encapsulate in prose what the Gnostic myths express in their distinctively poetic and imaginative language.

lots more on this here
 
Aug 3, 2019
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#7
God automatically forgives us for sins if we have believed on His son for our salvation.....He knows we are born with a sinful nature and will struggle with sin and it's temptations throughout our lives. So He becomes our Heavenly Father when we get saved. Parents love and forgive their children no matter what they do. God is the same way. But parents like to hear their children admit what they did wrong and apologize for it, that helps the child to resist that behavior the next time as well. I believe God the Father is that way too.....He loves to hear our confessions and asking for forgiveness, it shows respect for Him, and shows we really are sorry. If we don't confess and just figure, oh well, He already forgave me, so I don't have to confess....wouldn't that mean we were taking Him for granted, and can just sin any time we feel like it?
 

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
24,555
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#8
Is it right to ask for forgiveness for sins or past sins if you are saved? We are supposed to confess them (right?), but should that include asking for forgiveness?
In Christ, we trust that the penalty for our sins is paid. However, the sins we committed before coming to Christ (and those committed after) leave behind effects and consequences that don't simply go away. If you are reminded of past sins, or find patterns of unhealthy behaviour in your life, it may be that the Holy Spirit is nudging you to bring something to the Lord.

There is no harm in asking forgiveness for specific sins as you are reminded of them. Just don't stay in that space; request cleansing from the sin and from the guilt, and consider it done.
 
Apr 15, 2017
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#9
Is it right to ask for forgiveness for sins or past sins if you are saved? We are supposed to confess them (right?), but should that include asking for forgiveness?
Mat 21:22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

Joh 16:24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.

1Jn 3:22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.

Mat 6:11 Give us this day our daily bread.
Mat 6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

Ask and we shall receive.

Mat 6:7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
Mat 6:8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

The Father already knows what we need before we ask, but He still wants us to ask for it, so it does not come automatically without our input.

The same as repenting and being forgiven, for God knows we need forgiveness but we still have to repent and ask for forgiveness.

Jas 5:19 Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;
Jas 5:20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

This is obviously talking about someone that has been saved, hence the word brethren, that has erred from the truth by holding unto sin, and one preached to them, and converted them for they saw the error of their ways.

When the person was holding unto sin they erred from the truth, they needed to be converted again, they are considered a sinner whose soul is in the position of death.

Heb 10:26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
Heb 10:27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

If they hold unto sin the blood of Christ cannot wash it away for God will not take it away if they hold unto it, and then they are under judgment to be prosecuted.

So that means that every time we sin we have to repent, and ask for forgiveness for we are in the position of being a sinner, and the blood of Christ cannot wash it away until we get rid of it.

So every time we sin we forfeit our repentance which means to turn from sin, and not want to do it, so when we sin we have to repent and ask for forgiveness.

And there is no excuse by saying we cannot abstain from sin for a Spirit led life will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh, and those that belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

2Ti 3:4 lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
2Ti 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
2Ti 3:7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

But some people want an excuse for their sin so they can enjoy the world, and believe they are right with God.

2Ti 2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

1Co 15:33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
1Co 15:34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.

Oh we cannot abstain from sin they cry as they enjoy sin, and want a no pressure lifestyle without a care in the world, and do not take it serious like they should.

If they say they cannot abstain from sin then they are holding unto sin, which the Bible says turn away from them, and withdraw yourselves from them, and do not keep company with them.

But they say we are elect all the while the Bible says avoid them.

2Co 6:3 Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed.

But their hypocrisy as they are being worldly causes the world to say hypocrites, and turns people away from the truth which is not the will of God.

And they do not get it.

If you sin you are back to being a sinner that needs to repent, but they never liked listening to James anyway.

But Paul said the same thing abstain from sin, but they only want to hear Paul when it says things that appear to support their beliefs, but they do not understand when Paul is speaking according to the flesh or the Spirit.

Faith alone, and not saved by works when we first confess Christ for that is all we can do, and then when a person receives the Spirit they are justified by works, and not faith alone, but they never liked listening to James anyway.

But Paul said the same thing as James that if they do not have charity like James pointed out then they are nothing, and have erred from the faith, and John says the love of God does not dwell in them.

But they do not want to hear Paul when he speaks like that, which Paul was always rebuking them because of their sin, and then they go saying they cannot abstain from sin.

They only want to hear what they want to hear.

God said He wants all people to be saved, and many are called but few are chosen, so He does the calling and choosing on earth, but they say not so.

Strange.

1Co 9:26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
1Co 9:27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

castaway
adokimos
ad-ok'-ee-mos
From G1 (as a negative particle) and G1384; unapproved, that is, rejected; by implication worthless (literally or morally): - castaway, rejected, reprobate.
 
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pottersclay

Guest
#10
God automatically forgives us for sins if we have believed on His son for our salvation.....He knows we are born with a sinful nature and will struggle with sin and it's temptations throughout our lives. So He becomes our Heavenly Father when we get saved. Parents love and forgive their children no matter what they do. God is the same way. But parents like to hear their children admit what they did wrong and apologize for it, that helps the child to resist that behavior the next time as well. I believe God the Father is that way too.....He loves to hear our confessions and asking for forgiveness, it shows respect for Him, and shows we really are sorry. If we don't confess and just figure, oh well, He already forgave me, so I don't have to confess....wouldn't that mean we were taking Him for granted, and can just sin any time we feel like it?
Well spoken rose.....many take God's grace as a automatic get out of jail card. Not so. The Lord's instruction of prayer has " forgive us as we forgive others" John reminds us of Christ as the advocate when we sin.