When you ask for forgiveness or mercy, you acknowledge guilt; people only need forgiveness when they have done wrong. The believer approaches the tribunal of God freely acknowledging his guilt, pleading His mercy on the merit of Christ’s substitutionary death. God’s willingness to forgive the sinner by satisfying justice through the death of Christ is the ground of salvation. The Cross answers the question, “How can a just God forgive sin?”
Succinct. Clear.
