That's a question I have. I mean if everything is allready forgiven on the cross, why do I need to ask for forgiveness when I have sinned?
Substitutionary Atonement Verses:
1. And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all (Isaiah 53:6).
2. Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed (1 Peter 2:24).
3. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20).
4. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8).
5. Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. (John 1:29).
6. And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2).
7. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us (1 Corinthians 5:7).
8. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13).
9. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep (John 10:11).
10. Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, confess over it all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions, concerning all their sins, putting them on the head of the goat, and shall send
it away into the wilderness by the hand of a suitable man. The goat shall bear on itself all their iniquities to an uninhabited land; and he shall release the goat in the wilderness. (Leviticus 16:21-22).
A Chronology of What Christ Did For Us As A Part of Redemption:
#1. Christ takes on mankind's sin in the garden:
Jesus was taking on our sin in the Garden of Gethsemane when He took the cup from the Father. For in that cup had all our sins within it. That is why Jesus recoiled in not wanting to take the cup and to let it pass from Him. That cup had all of the world's sins. Jesus sweat great drops of blood because he was under great strain over taking on such a burden all at once. A parallel of Christ's cup in the Garden can be found with the cup that Joseph put in Benjamin's sack (Back in Genesis). Both were cups of guilt and both cups were taken as a means to pay the price for guilt.
#2. Christ is punished for our sins:
Jesus is wounded for our transgressions, and by his stripes (whip marks) we are healed. Jesus took on the consequences of the punishment for sin by his enduring suffering on our behalf. He was tortured brutally. But it was a part of God's plan to heal us of our sin condition.
#3. Christ pays the penalty for our sins:
Jesus dies on the cross (satisfying the requirements for payment for sin in our place; For the wages of sin is death - Romans 6:23). Blood was also required to be spilled to make for an atonement for sin. For without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin (Hebrews 9:22).
#4. Christ overcomes the penalty of sin (Which is death) for us:
Jesus rises from the grave three days later and conquers the penalty of death and He is the first fruits of the resurrection. Jesus is our everlasting Father because one day the saints will be resurrected after the power of His resurrection and likeness (i.e. by His DNA). Jesus will one day give His servants or followers eternal life through His resurrection.
#5. Jesus ascends to the Father and secures His position as High Priest for us:
Jesus tells Mary not to touch Him, and that He needs to ascend to the Father. I believe this was a part of God's plan in completing redemption for us. Jesus entered the holy temple up in Heaven by His blood and is now able to intercede on our behalf as a Heavenly High Priest between God the Father and mankind now. Jesus is now our mediator between God and man.
"For Christ did not enter into a holy place made with human hands, which was only a copy of the true one in heaven. He entered into heaven itself to appear now before God on our behalf." (Hebrews 9:24) (NLT).
"Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus," (Hebrews 10:19) (BSB).
14 "Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast
our profession.
15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as
we are, yet without sin.
16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:14-16).
Conclusion:
Jesus was making a way or provision for salvation as a gift for mankind. A gift that they would have to receive and be responsible with.