Quit Asking for Forgiveness

One way I reinforce my inveterate functional Pelagianism is by allowing remembrance of a past sin to bring me back into despondency and a renewed plea for forgiveness every time it comes to mind.

The trouble is that (normally) I've asked the Lord to forgive me in the wake of the sin, yet when it comes to mind again I find myself crumpling internally into yet another anguished prayer for forgiveness.

The enemy loves it. He sees I'm not letting a decisive placing of that sin under the blood of Christ settle the issue once and for all. Somehow I allow myself to feel that the more often I ask for forgiveness, and the greater the anguish, the more effectual the blood of Christ on my behalf.

Which is itself works-righteousness. It's a denial that the blood of Christ is enough. It's thinking: I need to help out Christ's work by a super intense, repeated, pleading for that blood. The very gospel application is a gospel denial. My mind pleads grace while my heart self-atones.

Place it under the blood. Once. Then quit asking for forgiveness.

'. . . and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.' --Isaiah 53:6

Dane Ortlund

Christ’s Precious Blood

Peter calls the redeeming blood of Jesus “precious” (timios; 1 Pet. 1.19).  Thomas Watson discusses that precious blood of Christ of which the communion cup is a sign.   Why is it so precious?  It is precious because…

1) It is a reconciling blood (Col 1.21).  Sin rent us off from God; Christ’s blood cements us to God.
2) It is a quickening blood (John 6.54).  The life of our soul is in the blood of Christ.
3) It is a cleansing blood (Heb 9.14).  As the merit of Christ’s blood pacifies God, so the virtue of it purifies us.  It is a laver to wash in (1 John 1.7).
4) It is a softening blood.  There is nothing so hard but may be softened by this blood.  It will soften a stone.  It turns a flint into a spring…the heart becomes soft and the waters of repentance flow from it.
5) It cools the heart.  The heart naturally is hot, it burns in lust and passion, but Christ’s blood allays this heart and quenches the inflammation of sin.  Christ’s blood cools the heat of sin like water to the fire.
6) It comforts the soul.  Christ’s blood cures the trembling of the heart.  The blood of Christ can make a prison become a palace.
7) It procures heaven (Heb 10.19).  Our sins shut heaven; Christ’s blood is the key which opens the gate of paradise for us.

Watson also says, “Let us prize Christ’s blood in the sacrament.  It is drink indeed (John 6.55).”  These are great things to meditate on while looking forward to Holy Communion.
The Reformed Reader