What is forgiveness in the Bible?
Forgiveness is the first thing the Bible offers a guilty person, and it is also the hardest thing for that person to believe is really free. Scripture speaks of it as something God does once and for all through the death of His Son, and also as something He does for His own children day by day — and as something He then asks us to do for each other.
The Word Itself
The Bible's word for forgiveness is not mainly about feelings. It describes something being carried off and got rid of.
Greg QuailSend away, let go, give up, remit, forgive. These words give the true sense of what forgiveness is. It is not, as we sometimes think, a change of attitude. Forgiveness is not merely an abstract concept. It is definite and concrete. The finished work of Christ on the cross has put us in a forgiven position in the sight of God in which the eternal consequences of our sins have been sent away.
Why God Can Forgive
Sin is not a private matter between me and myself. It is an offence against the God who made me, and that is why forgiveness needs a foundation outside of me.
Leslie M. GrantBecause sin is an offence against God, an insult to His supreme power and authority, therefore we require forgiveness; and forgiveness is impossible without a basis of truth when we have offended the Creator of heaven and earth. This perfectly satisfactory basis is "the precious blood of Christ." … God forgives because He sees perfect virtue in the blood of Christ.
Not Mere Mercy
We tend to picture God waiving the charge because He is kind. Commentators press a stronger point: the charge was paid, so releasing us is the right thing for God to do.
William KellyFaith is sure of God as He reveals Himself; and He is not only willing, but He can afford righteously, to save. God saves on the ground of Christ's redemption. It is not mere mercy. Grace reigns through righteousness unto eternal life, for Christ was judged for our sins by God Himself on the cross. Hence He is righteous to forgive; for Christ has paid the penalty. God is not merely justified in forgiving, but glorified also.
How It Is Received
Forgiveness is not offered as a possibility to be earned. It is announced as a fact, and the hand that takes it is faith.
A. J. PollockLook at these three words from God's word, "Let it be known." When He says, "Let it be known to you that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you," He means it. If you come in simple faith to Christ, and don't receive the forgiveness of your sins, the very character of God would be disgraced. Tonight God offers you the forgiveness of your sins. Will you put out the hand of faith, and take it?
How Complete It Is
Human pardon usually keeps a record. God's does not.
The Christian's FriendThis is set forth in the letter to the Hebrews, in the entire putting away from God's memory of all the believer's sins. Whether past, present, or future is not the question; all are gone. "I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more." The judicial ground of this is the sacrifice of the cross, where all were expiated… Now Christians are apt to get a thought of forgiveness like this, and to run in their minds to the blood for fresh cleansing from fresh sins. The truth is, that the cross has already answered for that fresh sin.
Writers phrase the time question differently. One notes that speaking of future sins as already forgiven makes little sense, since they have not been committed — yet insists the sacrifice that dealt with our sins was offered when every one of them was still future.
Two Kinds, Not One
If all sin is settled, why does Scripture still tell believers to confess? Because a second kind of forgiveness is in view — not the pardon of a criminal, but the restoring of a family.
F. B. HoleWhen we confess, God is faithful and just to all that Christ is, and has done, and the sin is forgiven so that fellowship may be restored. This is what we may call paternal forgiveness, to distinguish it from the eternal forgiveness which reached us as sinners.
Forgiving Others
The Bible never leaves forgiveness as something only received. Jesus told a story about a man let off a huge debt who then squeezed a small one out of someone else.
Max BilleterWhen believers live and walk together there are sometimes difficulties, we may be deeply hurt in our heart by something a brother or a sister does and we say, "I cannot forgive this." Of ourselves we cannot do this, but we can when we realise how much God has forgiven us in Christ… We have been forgiven such a great debt in Christ, and yet we are sometimes unable to forgive our brother or sister.
Summary
- Sent away. Forgiveness is not God changing His mood; it is our sins removed and the consequences carried off.
- Bought. The removal cost something — God forgives because He sees the full worth of the blood of Christ.
- Righteous. He does not overlook the debt; Christ paid it, so pardon leaves God not just satisfied but glorified.
- Announced. It comes to you as a proclamation, not a prize; it is received by putting out the hand of faith.
- Passed on. The debt forgiven us is huge; that memory is what makes us able to forgive the small debts owed to us.