Forgiveness: What should we conclude about it from Scripture?
The apostle Paul assures us as believers that we have the forgiveness of sins.
Ephesians 1:7
7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; [Emphasis added]
Please note that it says it was “through his blood” that this was provided. He’s speaking of the time when Christ was on the cross bearing the sins of the world. It was then that the sins of the world were dealt with completely. Jesus Christ was judged for them and paid the complete penalty due. Paul also brings this subject of forgiveness up in his letter to the Colossians.
Colossians 1:13-14
13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated [METHISTEMI = stating a change] us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
This statement of us having been “translated” occurred when we put our faith in what He had then done for us on the cross of Calvary.
14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: [Emphasis added]
The “in whom” points out that it was on the basis of Christ’s redemptive work on the cross that this was provided. It was on the cross of Calvary that Christ died to pay the full penalty due not just for some, but for the sins of all mankind.
1 Timothy 2:5-6
5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. [Emphasis added]
This, of course, includes the unbelieving. Even the apostle John tells us this.
1 John 2:2
2 And he [Jesus Christ] is the propitiation [the One satisfying the justice of God] for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. [Emphasis added]
Now let’s look at some questions that need to be addressed by all of us if the truth of what Christ accomplished at the cross is to be correctly understood. We’ll then break each question down and look at the Scriptures to see what the Bible says about each one of these.
7 Important Questions:
1st Question: When was the penalty paid for our sins?
2nd Question: Was this price paid before or after one’s salvation?
3rd Question: Does one have to believe what He did for it to be true?
4th Question: If the penalty was paid, weren’t our sins then forgiven?
5th Question: Doesn’t the unbeliever have to believe this to get saved?
6th Question: What is our gospel message to the world?
7th Question: Why is our message to the world called “good news”?
We’ll now take each of these simple but important questions one at a time and I’ll provide the detailed information needed.
1st Question: When was the penalty paid for our sins?
As I suspect you already know, the penalty was paid in full at the cross.
2 Corinthians 5:21
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. [Emphasis added]
Please note that this verse doesn’t say that He was made to be sin so that we could be forgiven by faith at some future time, but that we might be justified by faith to be saved. Most people don’t even realize that nowhere in all Paul’s thirteen epistles is there even one word that says people are forgiven of their sins by faith. Instead, it says they’re justified by faith. Is that the same thing? It is not! For one thing, forgiveness is subtraction—our sin problem being taken away, whereas justification is addition—the righteousness of God being credited or added to the one believing the gospel message.
Romans 3:28
28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. [Emphasis added]
Right before this passage Paul tells us that what Christ accomplished on the cross made this possible.
Romans 3:24
24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: [Emphasis added]
It is when someone believes this wonderful news about what Christ did for them that they are justified and saved. Not before! Only then does salvation occur.
2nd Question: Was this price paid before or after one’s salvation?
The answer to this should be obvious to all.
John 19:30
30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. [Emphasis added]
This tells us that when Christ was on the cross, He cried out with the words, “It is finished.” In the Greek text from which this is translated it is just one word—TETELESTAI! This word is in what is called the perfect tense, the passive voice, and the indicative mood of the Greek word TELEO. The perfect tense tells us that Christ’s death happened in the past with results that continue [in this case, forever]. The passive voice tells us the subject received the action of the verb. He completed His work of redemption. The price was paid for our sins on that occasion. Then the indicative mood stresses the reality of [in this case] what Christ accomplished on the cross. Altogether this is telling us that the result of what Christ accomplished on the cross [Him paying the full penalty for our sins] stands forever. The complete penalty for the sins of the world was then paid and stands good for all time. We are told that this which Christ then accomplished is at the heart of the gospel message we have to share with the world.
1 Corinthians 15:1-4
1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel [the good news] which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain [as false teachers were saying].
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: [Emphasis added]
3rd Question: Does one have to believe what He did for it to be true?
Of course not! But if a person believes this important message, they are then saved. Believe it or not, what Christ accomplished stands good as true. This is not only true about what He accomplished on the cross, but also His burial and resurrection. What people think about it has no effect on it at all. Even if no one believes it, what He accomplished stands true. Such will clearly affect their standing with God, but not what Christ accomplished.
When Christ was crucified the people, including the apostles, had no idea what He was accomplishing. His followers were all in a state of shock and confusion. They didn’t know what to make of it all. But later the accomplishments of His cross, burial, and resurrection would be made known through the revelation given to the apostle Paul.
2 Corinthians 5:19 & 21
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
Instead of our sins being charged to us they were all charged to Christ.
21 For he [God the Father] hath made him [Jesus Christ] to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. [Emphasis added]
Then in the verse between verses nineteen and twenty-one we have that which truly is our commission. For more information about this, please see my article that addresses it—
Commission: Which one is ours?
2 Corinthians 5:20
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. [Emphasis added]
4th Question: If the penalty was paid, weren’t our sins then forgiven?
If you pay a loan off, isn’t it rightly said that the debt is then forgiven? It was at the cross of Christ that our greatest debt was forgiven. The logical and rational thing to do is to believe it and be thankful for it.
1 Corinthians 15:56-57
56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. [Emphasis added]
As believers, we need not ever be concerned or worried about death and what awaits us beyond the grave. We all have a lot to look forward to enjoying forever.
5th Question: Doesn’t the unbeliever have to believe this to get saved?
Of course, he does! Just because Christ paid for his sins does not mean he is then saved. Apart from accepting by faith what Christ did for him, the unbeliever stands condemned forever. If he doesn’t accept the gospel message before he dies, the Great White Throne judgment and the Lake of Fire await him. A passage I’ve referred to nearly all my adult life on this is this one—
John 3:18
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. [Emphasis added]
In our time it isn’t about believing in “His name,” that is, His identity as the Messiah. It is about believing in Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection as the sole basis for one’s salvation. The apostle Paul tells us much the same as John about the unbeliever’s state of condemnation.
Romans 2:5
5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; [Emphasis added]
This is what every unbeliever gets who refuses to accept [or receive] the forgiveness God has provided for him.
Acts 26:17-18
17 Delivering thee [Paul] from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,
18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins [accepting what Christ did about their sins at the cross], and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me [Jesus Christ]. [Emphasis added]
For more information about verse eighteen please see my article about it—
Forgiveness: What is the “gotcha” passage?
Every unbeliever will stand to be judged by the Lord Jesus Christ at the Great White Throne judgment. It will there be shown to him that his own works of righteousness were insufficient for his salvation.
Revelation 20:12
12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. [Emphasis added]
From there he is cast into the Lake of Fire.
Revelation 20:15
15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. [Emphasis added]
However, no one has to end up there. The best news anyone has ever heard is that God has provided a way of salvation for all. There is good news for all.
6th Question: What is our “gospel” message to the world?
Although numerous passages could be quoted here, this is one of my two favorites.
Again, 1 Corinthians 15:1-4
1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel [the good news] which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: [Emphasis added]
It is faith in this which He did for us that provides everlasting salvation. Nothing else is acceptable. Scripture is clear that man has nothing to offer God in exchange for such a wonderful gift. It is not provided because of any work we’ve done or that we might do. It comes to us by God’s grace through faith alone.
Ephesians 2:8-9
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. [Emphasis added]
7th Question: Why is our message to the world called “good news”?
The word gospel comes from the Greek compound noun EUANGELION which mean good message or good news. That is because what Jesus Christ accomplished through His death, burial, and resurrection is good news for all mankind. In fact, again, it is the best news anyone has ever heard.
Romans 4:4-5
4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. [Emphasis added]
The very idea that something as wonderful as everlasting life in such a place as Heaven could be provided for us by grace through faith alone is truly amazing. It is no wonder that people sing about it with hymns like “Amazing Grace.” Amazing it surely is! Just look at the words of this man who wrote this beautiful and wonderful hymn.
Amazing Grace by John Newton
Amazing grace how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now I’m found
Was blind but now I see.
‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed.
Through many dangers, toils, and snares
I have already come
This grace that brought me safe thus far
And grace will lead me home.
When we’ve been here ten thousand years
Bright, shining as the sun
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we first begun.
Amazing grace how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now I’m found
Was blind but now I see.
It has always amazed me how so many people think they have something to contribute to their salvation. As I’ve said before, the only thing anyone ever contributes to their salvation is the sin that made it necessary. Have you personally accepted this wonderful gift of salvation God offers to you? If you haven’t, don’t you think it is time that you did? Will there be people in hell and the Lake of Fire for whom Christ died? Yes! Millions of them! Will there be people there who were forgiven at that cross of Christ? Yes! But there won’t be anyone there who accepted His work by faith alone. Why not be one of them? You can accept that work He did in your behalf right now and be saved, delivered from God’s condemnation forever. Why not do that right now! Because He knows your every thought that matter can be settled the moment you do that.
