Sins can only be forgiven through the shedding of blood.
“And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”
(Heb 9:22 NAS)
Forgiveness and mercy, though often confused, are not the same. Forgiveness means that God has removed the penalty of sin and cleansed it completely; past, present, and future through the atoning work of Christ.
“If we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.”
(1John 1:7 NAS)
“And when you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us and which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.”
(Col 2:13-14 NAS)
Mercy, on the other hand, is God’s withholding of the judgment we deserve in our life before we die and are judged eternally. A person may receive both forgiveness and mercy. A person may receive mercy without forgiveness. Or, a person may receive no forgiveness or mercy. Forgiveness belongs only to those who are united to Christ by faith. Christ pardons the sins of His people solely on the basis of His finished work on the cross, not because of anything they have done. Forgiveness is an act of God’s free grace, secured entirely by the blood of Christ, and mercy is the compassionate expression of His patience toward sinners. Together, they display both the justice and the kindness of God.
God forgiving the sins of His people results in repentance and faith. Repentance and Faith are gifts from God. When God gives His people repentance, they see themselves as sinners. Because they see themselves as sinners, they will forgive others. Forgiveness is an indispensable and necessary part of the Christian life. Those who forgive are forgiven. Those who do not forgive, cannot claim to be forgiven. Acknowledging sin leads the believer to have faith in Christ’s atoning work on the cross.
God forgives sins or shows mercy, choosing not to destroy the sinner.
Sins can only be forgiven by God. Humanity continues to exist in God’s sight only because of His forgiveness and mercy, which prevents the complete destruction of the world.
“Thou art a God of forgiveness, Gracious and compassionate, Slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness; And Thou didst not forsake them.”
(Neh 9:17 NAS)
Only God can forgive sins. Christ Himself can forgive sins because He is God. The Pharisees called Jesus a blasphemer because He forgave peoples sins. They knew God was the only one who could forgive sins.
“And Jesus seeing their faith said to the paralytic, “My son, your sins are forgiven.” But there were some of the scribes sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, “Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming; who can forgive sins but God alone?” And immediately Jesus, aware in His spirit that they were reasoning that way within themselves, said to them, “Why are you reasoning about these things in your hearts? “Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven’; or to say, ‘Arise, and take up your pallet and walk ‘? “But in order that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins “– He said to the paralytic– “I say to you, rise, take up your pallet and go home.”
(Mark 2:5-11)
Forgiveness is not obtained through keeping the law.
Christ specifically taught that man could do nothing to save themselves. Forgiveness cannot be attained by keeping the Law, doing good works, or being successful in life.
“And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” And when the disciples heard this, they were very astonished and said, “Then who can be saved?” And looking upon them Jesus said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
(Matt 19:24-26)
Only because Christ died for our sins, can anyone have the forgiveness of sins. The death of Christ redeems the sinner and forgives the sinner fully and completely.
“For He delivered us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
(Col 1:13-14 NAS)
Only through Christ’s death for our sins can anyone receive forgiveness. His sacrifice fully and completely redeems and pardons the sinner. The penalty for sin is death. This death penalty was paid by Christ, dying on the cross. While we were dead in sin, Christ died for us, forgave us of our sin, and made us able to repent and believe in Him.
“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace.”
(Eph 1:7 NAS)
“And when you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us and which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.”
(Col 2:13-14 NAS)
Christ’s sacrifice was offered once for all, covering every sin; past, present, and future. Because His one-time offering fully absolves God’s people forever, no further sacrifices for sin are needed.
“Now where there is forgiveness of these things, there is no longer any offering for sin.”
(Heb 10:18 NAS)
“Blessed are those whose lawless deeds have been forgiven, And whose sins have been covered.”
(Rom 4:7 NAS)
Christ’s death on the cross did not merely make forgiveness a possibility, dependent on human acceptance or action. His sacrifice decisively “canceled the certificate of debt,” completely removing the penalty owed by the sinner.
“For this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory. It is a trustworthy statement: For if we died with Him, we shall also live with Him; If we endure, we shall also reign with Him; If we deny Him, He also will deny us; If we are faithless, He remains faithful; for He cannot deny Himself.”
(2Ti 2:10-13 NAS)
All those for whom Christ died are forgiven.
God applies salvation to us through Faith and Repentance.
Repentance is absolutely necessary to receive the forgiveness of sins. Repentance is the change of mind towards oneself. Sin is the lack of conformity to and the transgression of God’s Law.
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
(Rom 3:23 NAS)
Repentance is the change of mind about ourselves. It’s acknowledging that we cannot change ourselves, cannot remove our sin, or stop sinning. Repentance is a gift from God and cannot be faked or learned by studying. Repentance is “granted,” “given,” or “bestowed upon” God’s people.
“He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.”
(Acts 5:31 NAS)
“And when they heard this, they quieted down, and glorified God, saying, “Well then, God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life.”
(Acts 11:18 NAS)
“With gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth.”
(2Ti 2:25 NAS)
Only those who have Faith or believe in God can receive forgiveness from God.
“Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.”
(Acts 10:43 NAS)
Christ did not come to save righteous people but sinners.
Repentance is not an option. If you think you are not a sinner and you need no repentance, you have no forgiveness.
“I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.”
(Luke 15:7 NAS)
“It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all.”
(1Ti 1:15 NAS)
“I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”
(Luke 5:32 NAS)
And hearing this, Jesus said to them, “it is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
(Mark 2:17 NAS)
Only the one who recognizes their sin, acknowledges themselves as a sinner, and openly confesses it can receive forgiveness. Luke affirms this truth in his Gospel account.
“And He also told this parable to certain ones who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee, and the other a tax-gatherer. “The Pharisee stood and was praying thus to himself, ‘God, I thank Thee that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax-gatherer. ‘I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’ “But the tax-gatherer, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’ “I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled, but he who humbles himself shall be exalted.”
(Luke 18:9-14 NAS)
If someone thinks they never sinned or that they are righteous on their own account, they have no forgiveness from God. Righteous people have no need of Christ dying for their sin, because, they need no savior. Only a sinner needs a savior.
“If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.”
(1John 1:8-10 NAS)
This does not mean that confessing our sins will earn your forgiveness from God; rather, those who are forgiven will confess their sins. Genuine confession flows from a heart where God’s truth is present. Those who truly recognize their own sin and God’s forgiveness toward them will, in turn, extend forgiveness to others.
If you are forgiven you will forgive.
Christ specifically stated that if you do not forgive, you are not forgiven.
“But since he did not have the means to repay, his lord commanded him to be sold, along with his wife and children and all that he had, and repayment to be made. The slave therefore falling down, prostrated himself before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will repay you everything.’ “And the lord of that slave felt compassion and released him and forgave him the debt. “But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and he seized him and began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back what you owe.’ “So his fellow slave fell down and began to entreat him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you.’ “He was unwilling however, but went and threw him in prison until he should pay back what was owed. “So when his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were deeply grieved and came and reported to their lord all that had happened. “Then summoning him, his lord said to him, ‘You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you entreated me. ‘Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, even as I had mercy on you?’ And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him. “So shall My heavenly Father also do to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart.” (Matt 18:25-35 NAS)
A reason we must forgive others is out of gratitude toward God who forgave us. Though we did not deserve His forgiveness, He granted it according to the kind intention of His will. A person who refuses to forgive another is evidence that person is not forgiven. Refusing to forgive brings the judgment of God upon yourself until you repent.
“But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your transgressions.”
(Mark 11:26)
Holding on to unforgiveness in the heart only brings harm to ourselves.
Forgiveness is neither forgetting the offense nor removing all consequences.
God desires that we remember where we have failed, not only to guard ourselves from repeating the same mistake, but also to teach others how to avoid similar situations.
“Remember therefore from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you, and will remove your lampstand out of its place– unless you repent.”
(Rev 2:5 NAS)
The forgiveness of sins is the heart of the gospel and the foundation of the believer’s relationship with God. It is granted only through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, who by His one perfect sacrifice redeemed His people and removed their guilt forever. This forgiveness is inseparably linked to repentance and faith, both gifts from God, and is evidenced by a transformed heart that extends forgiveness to others. While forgiveness removes the eternal penalty of sin, it does not erase the temporal consequences of wrongdoing. True gratitude for God’s grace compels us to live in humility, remembering our own need for mercy, and to walk in love toward others as those who have been forgiven much.