God doesn't forgive you just because you ask him to.

• 
  
  
  "I'm not a bad person. I try to do the right things. When I mess up, I ask God to forgive me and He does."
  
  
  If I have heard it once, I've heard it a thousand times and it bugs me because many believe that God's forgiveness is granted upon request. No! We are not forgiven because we ask God to forgive us. We are forgiven because our sins (past, present and future) are covered by the blood of Christ.
  
  
  

   for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. Matthew 26:28

   In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, Ephesians 1:7

  Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. Hebrews 9:2 

  
  Some agree and say "yes, our sins are covered by the blood of Jesus but we still have to ask for forgiveness in order to receive it". Again I say, NO! We are not forgiven because we ask for forgiveness. Our sins are forgiven only because we believe that Christ's blood covers our sins (assuming we agree with God that we have sinned, confession IS necessary).
  
  

   To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”Acts 10:43

   to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’ Acts 26:18

  
  Should we ask for forgiveness? Yes. Jesus taught us to pray "forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us." But our forgiveness does not come because we ask. We are forgiven because Christ paid for our sin. The blood is for God to see. When God looks at those who have placed our faith in Christ, He sees blood. He no longer sees our sin.
  
  

  He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, Hebrews 1:3

   But when Christ1 had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, Hebrews 10:12

  
  When we hear a person say that they have asked God to forgive them we must let them know that God does not forgive on the grounds of our asking. He forgives not because of what we do or what we say or what we ask. He forgives because Jesus' blood was spilled for our sin.
  

•  in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:14

• 
  It is only on these truths that we can move out of the bondage that sin holds us in. It's is like a never-ending cycle. We sin, we ask, we sin, we ask, we sin, we ask, we sin, we ask, we sin, we ask. It does not have to continue. Instead of we sin, we ask we have Christ died, IT IS FINISHED! It is finished and so we are free. No longer should we worry about whether we have asked to be forgiven for every sin. It is finished. All of our sins are covered by the blood of Christ. He finished the job. He left nothing undone where we have to pick up his slack. Believe it.
  
  

   And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38

   Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin. Hebrews 10:18

  If you are struggling with some past or present sin, let me assure you of something;  if you are in Christ then your sins have already been forgiven.  If you believe that the same one who created everything by the divine power of the words from his mouth has declared you to be innocent on his account then nothing can change that.  The key is to be in Christ.  To walk by faith in Him.  To believe and trust Him.  Day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute in fellowship and conversation with your King.  If ever we lose sight of the beauty of the good news that God has come to dwell within man then our sights are set on ourselves again.  We see our failures, our shortcomings, our sins, our inadequacies.  Christ doesn't want you looking to yourself, He wants you to look to Him.  So right here, right now, pray to your brother, your Lord, and your savior and ask Him to reveal Himself to you as never before.  Open your Bible and look for Christ.  When you see Him more fully you will be so overwhelmed by His majesty that your struggles will be overcome by His worth.
•