The backslider who on account of his sin is full of sorrow and fear, returns to the throne of grace, where Jesus is an Advocate not before the Judge, but before the Father (1 John 2:1-2). This is the most wonderful feature of the new covenant. In the old covenant the sacrifices had to be repeated continually. The day of atonement came round every year, and the forgiveness of sins was given, as it were, only in installments. Not so is it now anymore; but being justified by faith, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, we always stand before God in the person of Jesus Christ our Lord. This glorious truth, which exalts Christ while it comforts the heart, is fully explained in the epistle to the Hebrews; but it is to be feared that many who have received the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity do not clearly see it, and are kept in bondage and continual suspense for many years. They stand altogether upon the Old Testament standpoint; for when after a number of weeks and months their sin have accumulated, and they are roused by the Spirit of God to see their condition, they come unto God and appeal unto the atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ as if they had never come to God before, seeking to be justified, and hoping that after this new acceptance they will go on the next few weeks and the next few months with greater devotedness and purity than they have done hitherto; and half trusting in Jesus, and half trusting in the amendment which they promise and sincerely purpose, they receive so to speak a new installment of the forgiveness of sins. And yet the conscience does not feel perfectly free; for the witness of the Holy Ghost is to them who believe, that by one offering He has perfected forever them that are set apart in Him. Their hope of improvement is also disappointed; for never does the time come when they are more satisfied with themselves, and God forbid that it should. Again in sorrow and fear they approach God through Jesus Christ, but as if still outside the holy of holies. Just as the Jews went on from year to year—from day of atonement to day of atonement—they go on from one communion season to another communion season, never having a conscience perfectly free from sins, and never understanding the blessed truth that Jesus is our righteousness, that He has entered into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us, and that even while we forget and forsake Him, the merciful and compassionate High Priest is praying for us, that our faith fail not. It is to a loving Father and to an all-sufficient Redeemer that we with all our sins and backslidings have continually to go. We have boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus. 

The Compassion of Jesus - Adolph Saphir