Just want to make sure that I understand the word of God.
Could you please help me to answer this question:

When we now ask God to forgive our sins, are we immediately forgiven? How about those before the cross, were their sins forgiven too the time they asked God forgiveness?

In His love

James S.

Yes, sins are forgiven the moment we experience the gift of repentance. However, they are not "blotted out" of our record and memory until Jesus determines our eternal destiny during the investigative judgment.

1 John
1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Acts
3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

Before the cross there was the sacrificial system, where the sinner could seek forgiveness.

Enoch and Elijah were translated and Moses was raised from the grave.

Based on these examples, I would think there was forgiveness before the cross.

How could sin's forgiveness happen before redemption take place? If God could forgive sins before redemption take place, the Moslem are right, we didn't need Christ!

In is love

James S

Do you believe that "redemption took place" at the cross, and not before? Trying to grasp your terminology here.

By what is our sins forgiven? By the blood of Christ or by the love of God?

In His love

James S

God's forgiveness is based on what Christ did on the cross. Before the cross it was prospective, after the cross it is retrospective.
Forgiveness is a Person and what He did. "And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins" (1 John 2:2, NKJV). Forgiveness is provisional until the final judgment. If you cease to have a living connection with Christ, your sins are credited back to you (see Matt. 18:23-35).

Perhaps debited back would be a better wording.

But shed blood is not all that is needed. In order for the blood to be available at all, and for it to be ministered to those who need it, the love of God plays a critical role.

1 Corinthian 15:17 – And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.

Until then, Christ resurrection, all before the cross are not forgiven yet, they are still in their sins, must wait till the blood is shed, before the shedding of the blood there is no remission of sins.

A different case for those after the cross, the blood has been shed for remission of sins, their sins are forgiven the time they repent and ask God forgiveness.

In His love

James S