The Truth About Forgiveness Implications:
Forgiveness received from God happens once, for all sins, for all time.
Forgiveness shared with others happens offense by offense by offense.
Jesus’ sacrifice cleansed you once, not repeatedly. For Christ died for
sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He
was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit. (1 Peter 3:18)
Jesus Christ took away all your sins once. For Christ did not enter a
man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; He entered
heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence, nor did He enter
heaven to offer Himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the
Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. Then Christ
would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But
now He has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with
sin by the sacrifice of Himself. Just as man is destined to die once, and
after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the
sins of many people; and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but
to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him. (Hebrews 9:26-28. See
also: John 1:29; 1 John 3:5)
Jesus sat down after making you perfectly cleansed. Day after day
every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he
offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when this
Priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right
hand of God. Since that time He waits for His enemies to be made His
footstool. For by one sacrifice He has made perfect forever
(Insert your name here) who is being made holy. (Hebrews 10:11-14)
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Jesus’ one and only death on the cross is enough! Then He adds:
“Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.” And where these
have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin. (Heb. 10:17-18)
You have been forgiven, past tense. When you were dead in your sins
and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He
forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its
regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; He took it
away, nailing it to the cross. (Colossians 2:13-14)
Neither judgment nor condemnation remains for you. For God did not
send His Son into the world to judge the world, but to save the world
through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not judged, but whoever does not
believe stands judged already because he has not believed in the name of
God’s one and only Son. (John 3:17-18)
1. Repentance and faith are the conditions for receiving God’s “once for
all” forgiveness…and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be
proclaimed in Jesus’ name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem
(Luke 24:47). Of Him [Jesus] all the prophets bear witness that through
His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.
(Acts 10:43)
2. If I’m already forgiven, do I still need to confess my sins? Confession
[agreeing with God] about your sins is both a prerequisite and proof of
salvation. True Christians continue to share God’s perspective on sin.
Confession and repentance should include dealing with root causes of
sin and a desire to “turn” from fleshly behavior, not just saying, “Sorry”
with no regard to future offenses.
3. The truth that will most keep us from sinning is the promise that we are
forgiven by God even if we do. My little children, I am writing these
things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an
Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous (I John 2:1)
4. Giving away that which you have received. Be kind to one another,
tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has
forgiven you (Ephesians 4:32). You will never experience the fullness
of God’s forgiveness toward you unless you extend the same
forgiveness to those who have wronged you. Forgiving others is
consistent with your new nature, even though it may feel unnatural. In
Christ, we are a forgiving people!
5. Forgiveness is a choice, not a feeling. Forgiveness requires only one
person; reconciliation takes two. Forgiveness precedes reconciliation.
Reconciliation may not always be possible, but forgiveness is always
possible. Forgiveness is between you and God, not what the other
person chooses to do. Your offender may or may not change.
Surrender them to God. Your feelings also may not change quickly, but
God will heal your emotions (Psalm 23). When feelings of doubt attack,
stand on the truth that you have already forgiven.
6. Unforgiveness results in expressions of your sinful flesh. A vengeful
attitude puts you in bondage, makes you become a victim to your
persecutor and grieves the Holy Spirit. “When you release the
wrongdoer from the wrong, you cut a malignant tumor out of your inner
life. You set a prisoner free, but you discover that the real prisoner was
yourself.”—Lewis B. Smedes