Question: “Jesus, died was buried in rose again for my sins 2000 years ago. When I sin, the Holy Spirit immediately “ wears me out” with conviction. I go to God and tell him I’m sorry, then go on with my day. Should a Christian ask for forgiveness for a sin? A lot of times when someone is called on to pray in church, they end the prayer with “Lord, forgive us of our sins in Jesus name amen.” I know there’s a verse that says that God is just to forgive us of our sins.”
Answer:
Yes, believers are told to confess their sins in 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.” (1 John 1:9)
Confess means to come to an agreement, or to say the same thing. A believer who sins, and we all sin, should go to the Lord in prayer and agree with God that what they have called OK is actually sin, like God says. This confession will result in the fellowship between God and the believer being restored. This is not for salvation, it is for progressive sanctification.
Thanks!