Most humans find the idea of forgiveness to be quite appealing. It is comforting to know that wrongs that have been committed against God or one’s fellow man can be forgiven. Forgiveness cleanses and cures the guilty conscience, allowing one to focus his concerns upon productive matters of the present and future, not upon the failures of the past.
For many people, guilt can be psychologically and even physically debilitating. A guilty conscience can turn one to depression and even suicide. Many people turn to psychiatrists for help with their guilt-ridden consciences. And while therapy can be helpful, it cannot provide actual forgiveness. Some seem to think that relief is obtained by distancing themselves from those whom they have wronged. And while out-of-sight is sometimes out-of-mind, memories are still inevitably triggered and the guilt returns. It is better to seek forgiveness from those wronged, rather than just avoid them. Others turn to drugs and alcohol to “drown their sorrows.” Ironically, drugs and alcohol actually have the opposite effect. They cause additional problems, such as addiction and other health-related issues, loss of jobs and productivity, interpersonal difficulties, legal troubles…etc. These things may help one to forget his wrongs, at least temporarily, but forgiveness is the only effective way of actually repairing a guilty conscience.
While even non-religious forgiveness (even practiced by atheists) can have a cathartic affect upon human beings, the forgiveness that really matters is that which is given by God. Wrongs committed against others are also committed against God. According to James, to curse one’s fellow man is also to curse God, for man is made in the likeness of God (James 3:9). One might obtain forgiveness from a neighbor from whom he stole property, but stealing is also against the law of God (1 Corinthians 6:10). Forgiveness of sin is a divine act that is regulated by divine law, which means that we must turn to Scripture for a full appreciation of the blessing of forgiveness.
What Is Forgiveness?
In answering the disciples’ question about how to pray, Jesus taught that forgivingness was an integral component of prayer, and that forgiveness is conditional:
“And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors… For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you” (Matthew 6:12, 14).
The word “debt” is very helpful in defining forgiveness, for forgiveness is the canceling of a debt. In this case, the debt is that of trespassing God’s law. The Greek word for “forgive” is aphiemi, which is translated in various ways in the New Testament, but the basic meaning is to leave, or leave behind. When used of sin and guilt, forgiveness involves the canceling of the debt and consequences of sin. In Bible terms, once sin is forgiven it is forgotten. Sin that is forgiven has no more power to condemn the sinner.
In Jeremiah’s prophecy of the “new covenant,” God said, “…For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more” (Jeremiah 31:34). God’s “forgiveness” would be thorough and complete. He would “remember” the people’s sins against them no more. It would be as though their sins had never been committed in the first place. Other Bible passages emphasize the extent of God’s forgiveness:
“As far as the East is from the West, so far does He remove our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:12).
“He will again have compassion on us; He will tread our iniquities under foot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea” (Micah 7:19).
“I am He who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins” (Isaiah 43:25).
“Then Peter said unto them, ‘Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit’” (Acts 2:38).
“Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19).
“And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16).
The idea is that of complete pardon. Forgiveness removes both the guilt and spiritual consequences of sin. {Note – some types of sinful behavior do have physical consequences in addition to the spiritual consequences. Forgiveness will not always relieve a person of the physical consequences of sin. For example: the forgiven thief may still have to serve his time in jail.} The forgiveness of sin that is spoken of in Scripture has to do with the spiritual consequences do sin.
The Bible attributes forgiveness of sin to actions of both God and man:
According to Luke 24:47 and Acts 26:18, forgiveness of sins is made possible through the preaching of the gospel. The gospel reveals God’s scheme of redemption, including both God’s part (grace) and man’s part (faith) (Ephesians 2:8). Though there are many more particulars, the basic components of forgiveness are as follows:
The role of Christ in providing a perfect sin-sacrifice – “In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins” (Ephesians 1:7). The animal sacrifices under the Patriarchy and Law, though vital as acts of faith, did nothing to take away sin (Hebrews 9:13, 14; 10:1-4). The blood of the Son of God sufficed to remove sin.
The role of Christ in reentering Heaven in order to fulfill the types of Old Testament sacrifices and to serve as our indestructible High Priest and King (Hebrews 7:22-28; 9:11-28).
The role of man in complying with God’s terms of forgiveness: To the unsaved, Peter preached that “remission of sins” would be obtained by those who repented and were baptized (Acts 2:38). He would later cite “belief,” along with baptism, as a necessary requirement of forgiveness (Acts 10:43, 47-48). Acts 8:37-38 cites confession, along with baptism (see also Romans 10:9-10). For the child of God who sins, forgiveness is obtained through repentance and prayer (Acts 8:22). These are simple conditions, particularly in view of the tremendous benefits that are obtained through God’s grace.
Can I Forgive The Unrepentant?
In short, no! We are not authorized to do what even God won’t do. On the cross Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Lk. 23:34). However, God’s forgiveness would not come until the sinners met the conditions of salvation. Peter told the crucifiers of Christ that they must “repent and be baptized” in order for their sins to be remitted (Acts 2:38). God’s law requires that men repent in order for them to be forgiven. Jesus twice said, “No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3, 5). Jesus refuses to forgive (save) those who refuse to repent.
Though there has been a running debate over this question for years, Jesus is quite plain about the practice of forgiving the unrepentant. He said,
“Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, if he repents, forgive him, and if he sins against you seven times in a day, and turns to you seven times, saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.” (Luke 17:3, 4).
The word “if” is a term of conditionality. Forgiveness is to be granted upon the condition of repentance, and not before. We should be as God, and desire “that all men come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). We should then stand absolutely ready and willing to forgive those who meet God’s conditions of forgiveness.
Conclusion
Forgiveness means “having no more conscience of sins” (Hebrews 10:2). Being forgiven by a wronged family member or neighbor is comforting and nice, but obtaining a clean conscience is possible only through the precious blood of Christ, who like “a lamb without blemish and without spot,” gave His life “as a ransom for all” (1 Peter 1:19; Matthew 20:28). The significance of Christ’s sacrifice was in His death (Romans 5:6-10). This is where He shed His blood (John 19:34), and through baptism one is “buried into the death” of Christ (Romans 6:3-4). According to Hebrews 9:14, the conscience is cleansed by the blood of Christ, yet Peter said that baptism “is the answer of a good conscience towards God” (1 Peter 3:21). Thus, in baptism one reaches the blood of Christ and obtains a clean conscience. Forgiveness is possible, but it requires that we meet the conditions of divine grace.
Tim Haile