We must note the many verses that indicate that the effectual work of the cross on our behalf as “completed,” as having been accomplished once and for all time. As seen in Paul’s epistles, Christ’s shed blood is never seen as something that needs to be appropriated by repenting every time the believer sins, rather, Christ’s blood is seen as “having already” accomplished forgiveness once for all time. Paul writes to believers of God, “having (already) forgiven all your trespasses (sins)” (Col 2:13). Should we deny plain Scripture?

As with all aspects of Christ’s cross, we must view the blood of Christ Dispensationally, under the terms of the “dispensation of the grace of God,” versus being under “the Law,” in order to fully appreciate its benefits to us. Paul, having been the first to see the truth of the effectual blood of Christ in depth, never uses the phrase “if,” as in “if we confess our sins.” Rather, Paul shares his revelation of the cross as the “finished” work of God, as he writes to “the church, which is His (Christ’s) body” (Eph 1:22b-23a).

Paul saw the forgiveness of our sins as being solely by the grace of blood of Christ, PLUS NOTHING of our effort…except believing. Eph 1:6-7 reveals the continual means by which believers are washed of our their sins; and it's the only means that is effective once and for all time. It only requires that we believe.

Eph. 1:6-7 … wherein he (God) hath made us accepted in the beloved (Christ). ⁷In whom (Christ) we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins (see Strong’s below), according to the riches of his grace; (NOTE: Strong's Greek & Hebrew Dictionary – “sins” - Greek, “paraptoma” from <G3895> (parapipto); a side-slip (lapse or deviation)…)

Above, we may note the tenses involved. In the past tense we “have already” been redeemed by Christ’s blood, which “hath” made “accepted in the beloved. The past tense phrase is” hath made us.” It goes on in the present tense expressed as “we have redemption through His blood,” meaning we currently now have “redemption” as an ongoing, continuing, still present redemption by Christ’s blood. When we put this together with the “Stong’s” definition of “sin” (noted above), we see that any “side-slip” of sin is already dealt with by the ongoing effectual work of Christ’s shed blood. Later I will discuss the place of repentance.

Paul saw that forgiveness of sins is found only by believing ourselves to now be “in Christ.” We know that we were placed into Christ’s body by the Spirit (1Cor 12:13) the moment we receive Him – then being regenerated by His righteous life. It is in Him that we continually have remission of sins, by His blood.

Our “receiving Christ” placed us “in Him” (Col 2:6). We are in Him and He is in us forever (1Jn 5:21); thus, we are continually in the forgiveness and remission of sins that are “in Christ.” We might say that we effectually repented or changed our direction once and for all time when we turned our heart to God and received Christ. We’re those of whom it is said to have “a measure of faith,” (Rom 12:3). Turning to receive Christ that first day was our one effectual expression of faith in Christ. This was and is our everlasting repentance. Have you noticed Paul never admonishes us to have “faith in God,” but rather “faith in Christ” (Gal 3:26; Col 1:4, 2:5) – since Christ is our vital connection to all that is ours by His cross.

Now consider, Col. 2:13 you… hath he quickened (made alive) together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses (sins). Note here also that this is a past tense statement – “having forgiven you all your trespasses.” As believers, we’ve been forgiven of “all” sins. The term “all” in the Greek is “pas,” having the meaning of absolutely all; past, present, and future. Paul saw that absolutely all our sins have been forgiven in Christ’s one offering of His shed blood for the sin of the world. Paul is emphatic in using the term “once” in Hebrews when he refers to Jesus’ blood shed “once” for all time (Heb 9:12, 26-27; 10:10).

I know most of us may have been taught that we must list our sins and ask God to forgive them often, or daily, in order to be forgiven, but this is in conflict with the revealed truth of God that we have received by the Holy Spirit inspired revelation of the blood of Christ, as given by the ascended Christ directly to the Apostle Paul, for us in this day of “the dispensation of the grace of God.”  I’ll address this further in Part 8.