Since Christ finished the work, do we still need to ask God for mercy?
Because Christ's work is a finished transaction, believers do not need to ask or beg God for mercy; it has already been accomplished. To pray, 'God be merciful to me, a sinner,' after all Christ has done is presented as being amiss, since mercy is already provided.
Les explains that the sinner’s prayer or publican’s prayer was “God be merciful to me, a sinner.” But after all Christ has done, the transaction is finished. He teaches that we do not have to ask or beg for mercy because it has already been done. In fact, he says we are amiss to say to God, “Be merciful to me,” since mercy is already provided in Christ’s finished work.