Brian, thank you for the gracious and in depth response on this and I love the points you’ve made. I agree there’s definitely a place with being open about our sins and bringing them before the Lord not to seek forgiveness but to be renewed in our minds and walk in relationship with the Father. I’ll update the article when I get a chance.

I would like to give a little push back on your statement you made that’s connected to 1 John 1:9. Please take the following with a grain of salt and see how this resonates with your spirit.

The statement is “Once we receive forgiveness, we never have to ask for it again because the blood of Jesus covers our sins in the past, present, and future.”

I believe that idea is half right in a glorious way, and half misleading in a pastoral way.

Because of Christ’s once‑for‑all sacrifice, all the believer’s sins (past, present, and future) are truly and decisively dealt with. And yet, Scripture still expects believers to “confess sin and seek forgiveness” relationally as part of walking in the light.

1. What’s gloriously true in that statement

Hebrews especially is very clear:

“By a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.” (Hebrews 10:14)
“Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” (Hebrews 10:17)

For the person who is in Christ:

– There is “no more wrath” for sin (Romans 8:1).
– There is “no more sacrifice” to be made (Hebrews 10:18).
– We are “justified once for all”; God does not re‑open our case every time we sin.

So in that sense, yes:

– The blood of Jesus covers sins “past, present, and future”.
– We are not bouncing in and out of salvation every time we sin.
– We do *not* “re‑get saved” over and over.

I think your perspective is guarding against “fearful, works‑based, “maybe I’m unforgiven again” mentality”, which is a good instinct.

2. Where the statement becomes misleading

The phrase: “Once we receive forgiveness, we never have to ask for it again…” runs into tension with several clear biblical patterns.

a. Jesus teaches disciples to keep praying “forgive us”

In the Lord’s Prayer, taught to “disciples” (not just seekers), Jesus includes:

“Give “us” this day our daily bread, and forgive “us” our debts…” (Matthew 6:11–12)

“Daily bread” and “forgive us” are side by side:

– Ongoing dependence for “provision”.
– Ongoing dependence for “pardon” (relationally).

That doesn’t mean Christ’s once‑for‑all sacrifice is incomplete, but it does mean:

– Healthy Christian life includes “ongoing confession and asking for forgiveness”.

b. 1 John assumes ongoing confession for believers

Even allowing for Gnostic background, the flow of 1 John is:

– Believers are those who “walk in the light” (1 John 1:7).
– And those walking in the light are people who “confess sin”, not deny it (1:8–10).

The grammar is present/continuous:

– “If we “confess” our sins…” (present tense pattern, not a once‑only event)
– “He is faithful and just to forgive…” (1 John 1:9)

From my perspective it seems like you’re to make 1 John 1:9 mainly about unbelievers. That’s a “minority reading” and has to work against the natural “we / us / my little children” flow of the letter.

Most careful interpreters across traditions have seen 1 John 1:9 as:

– Written *to believers*,
– Describing ongoing “confession and cleansing” in the life of someone already justified.

Not “re‑saving” them, but restoring and maintaining “fellowship”.

c. The Bible treats sin as still serious for believers

Even though our status is secure:

– David, a believer, prays: “Against you, you only, have I sinned… Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.” (Psalm 51)
– Churches are warned about grieving the Spirit (Ephesians 4:30), quenching the Spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:19), needing restoration (Galatians 6:1), discipline (Hebrews 12).

The pattern is:

Saved people still sin. Sin still “matters”.

Therefore, the normal response is still: “repentance + confession + turning back”.

If you say “we never have to ask for forgiveness again,” you risk:

– Flattening biblical language into something the text itself doesn’t say.
– Confusing believers about whether it’s appropriate to say, “Father, forgive me.”

3. Helpful way to hold this tension

A simple framework:

1. “Legal / positional” reality (justification)

– At conversion, God declares you “righteous in Christ”.
– All sins—past, present, future—are included in that verdict.
– There is no future day when God will “discover” a sin that Christ did not bear.

In that sense:

– You do “not” need to get “re‑forgiven” to stay saved.
– Christ’s blood is sufficient, once for all.

2. “Relational / fellowship” reality (ongoing walk)

– You are now adopted into God’s family.
– Children can grieve, offend, and distance themselves from a parent “without ceasing to be children”.

So:

– We still confess sin.
– We still say things like, “Father, I have sinned; please forgive me.”
– Not to earn justification, but to “restore intimacy”, clear our conscience, and align our hearts with God.

1 John 1:9 fits here beautifully:

– Not “keep yourself on the salvation roster,”
– But “walk in the light; do not hide; bring sin into the open; receive fresh cleansing in the relationship.”

4. Dangers on both sides

I’d name two ditches:

Ditch 1: Perpetual fear

– “If I die with unconfessed sin, I’ll be lost.”
– “Maybe I’m out again until I say the right words.”

This “undercuts the finished work of Christ” and turns confession into a fearful ritual instead of a relational practice.

Ditch 2: Presumption / relational numbness

– “I never need to tell God I’m sorry again.”
– “Since it’s all covered, my sin doesn’t really matter for my walk with God.”

This “undercuts the seriousness of sin” and the tenderness of a responsive heart.

Biblical tension is:

My standing before God is secure “because of Christ alone”, and because of that security I “freely and honestly confess” my sins.

5. How I’d rewrite that summary line

If you wanted a version that is theologically rich and pastorally safe, I’d say something like:

Because Jesus’ sacrifice is once‑for‑all, those who are in Christ are fully forgiven of every sin—past, present, and future—and never fall back under God’s condemning judgment.

At the same time, Scripture calls us to keep confessing our sins and asking for forgiveness, not to re‑earn salvation, but to walk in honest, restored fellowship with our Father.

Thank you again for the incredibly encouraging and empower blogs you post. Keep shining!

Glad it helped 🙂 May He continue to teach you and give you new revelations as you journal.