Forgiven... completely ... forever!

Grace Life Articles

written by Grace Life Minnesota

Forgiven ... completely ... forever!

Taking the double talk out of a single event.

Have you ever wondered why you were taught to ask God for forgiveness every time you sin? Shortly after my conversion at age 19 (the Fall of 1983), I recall pondering this subject. Afterall, aren't born again children of God already forgiven? During a brief Bible discussion with my peers at the time, we concluded that it was more for us than it was for God. Bible teachers often claim that this paradox is a "position" vs. "condition" issue. While such reasoning is typical, does it square with the truth of Scripture? Please join me as we take a closer look at the the Believer's complete forgiveness in Christ. It's time for the church to take the double talk out of a single event!

The Believer's total forgiveness is a central issue of the new covenant which went into affect the moment Jesus died. In fact, if you are a new creature in Christ Jesus (2Cor.5:17), then you ARE a totally forgiven person. This forgiveness is based solely upon the finished work of Jesus Christ ... and, contrary to much popular theology, it is NOT based upon your ongoing confession of sin. While confession of sin is an important aspect of living responsibly in your relationship with the Lord Jesus, it is not meant to be a means of obtaining ongoing forgiveness. More to the point, are we walking by faith when we keep asking God to give us the forgiveness He has already provided at the cross? Is not such an obsession with confession a denial of the finished work of Christ? I'm convinced the only proper response of our faith is to walk humbly with a thankful heart for the full pardon that became our present and everlasting possession the moment we embraced Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior!

Maybe this perspective is a new notion which you've never heard before. Let's take a closer look at Scripture to see if the common notions people believe about the forgiveness issue are accurate:

Col 1:13-14
13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.
NKJV

Note the past tense ... Believers have the forgiveness of sins.

Col 2:13-15
13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, 14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.
NKJV

Note the word "all" implies past, present and future
Your sins have all been forgiven ... at the cross of Jesus Christ!

Col 3:12-14
Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.
NKJV

You are to forgive as Christ Jesus forgave you.
Note the past tense of your forgiveness in Christ!

Interestingly, the Apostle Paul never instructed a Believer on how obtain forgiveness from God. Rather, Paul always wrote his instruction from the perspective that Believers were already completely forgiven. Total forgiveness is the current possession of every child of God who is truly in Christ. As such, Believers don't need to get forgiven (by God), because they ARE already forgiven!

Dear friend, if you have put your complete trust in Jesus Christ to save you from the wages of your sin (i.e. spiritual death), you have every reason to rejoice. While the proper response is certainly not a license to sin, ask yourself this simple question: "If Jesus forgave all of my sins at the cross, does it make any sense for me to keep asking for what I already possess." Won't you agree that it makes more sense to spend your days walking by faith in the finality of the cross, thanking Him for such amazing grace?

The good news of the gospel is "it is finished"! You are forgiven ... completely ... forever!

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