"The basic message is that Jesus died for your sins, and what this usually means in the Protestant context is that you are going to be punished, and Jesus steps in to take your punishment instead. You'll hear various metaphors: the judge condemns you as guilty, but then takes off his robes and offers himself to take your punishment instead."
-- DR. NATHAN JACOBS
This is an incorrect statement. It's also biblically inaccurate.
Jesus has already taken the punishment. He does not step in over and over again.
It's very clear in the Old Testament over and over that a sin sacrifice was demanded by the law of God but after the crucification the veil between the temple holy place and the common world was no longer separated.
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Matthew 27:50-51 KJV Ҧ Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.
51. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;”
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Jesus Christ was the last sin offering. It's already be done. In the present Jesus is Acting on our behalf to say whether or not we know him or the he knows us. In prayer we maintain this relationship. We don't need a priest to facilitate this.
It's a matter of us accepting his work that has already been done. In the present his work is preparing and sorting the chaff from the wheat.