Forgiveness of Sins.
Colossians 1:13-14 (NKJV)
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.
The Bible is clear on this, we HAVE forgiveness of sin through His blood.
Jesus hinted at this earlier
Matthew 26:28 (NKJV)
28 For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
His blood speaks of His Life which He gave for us.
1 Timothy 2:5-6 (NKJV)
5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time,
The word “have” as used here (Col. 1:14) is translated from the Greek word “echo” which means “to possess.” It appears morphologically here in the present active indicative. That is, it is a present continuous fact. We received forgiveness of sins IN CHRIST & we’ve had that EVER SINCE! We don’t lose it at some point.
The word “forgiveness” is from the Greek word “aphesis” which means “a release or a letting go.” That is, in Christ, we are freed from our bondage to sin & the penalty of same, which is death.
Romans 5:12 (NKJV)
12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned—
Romans 6:23 (NKJV)
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Hebrews 2:14-15 (NKJV)
14 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
So, the believer is set free from the power of sin as well as its consequences. This happened once & for all by faith in the Gospel
Romans 6:17-18 (NKJV)
17 But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. 18 And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.
Acts 10:43 (NKJV)
43 To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.”
His “Name” refers to His authority which He obtained after His work in salvation (see Matt. 28:18-19, Phi. 2:5-11, Heb. 1:3-4)
Forgiveness of sins is found in that work.
Paul echoes this in Acts 13
Acts 13:38-39 (NKJV)
38 Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; 39 and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.
Everyone who believes.
Acts 26:18 (NKJV)
18 to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’
By faith in Me.
That whoever believes is forgiven of their sins is the very clause of the New Testament
Hebrews 8:12 (NKJV)
12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.”
The word “merciful” used here is from the Greek word “hileós.” It literally means “far be it from you,” used for an aversion of incoming ills, calamity or misfortune (as in Mathew 16:22, and in the Septuagint LXX, in 2 Samuel 20:20 & 23:17).
So, we can read it this way:
For I will avert the incoming consequence of their unrighteousness
“..and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.”
” To remember sins” was Old Testament terminology for punishment (see Jeremiah 14:10). That is, they will not receive ANY punishment for their sins & lawless deeds! This is our reality today, in the New Testament. We have escaped judgment & now have life in Christ.
John 5:24 (NKJV)
24 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.
Romans 8:1
8 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.
All sins have been forgiven.
Colossians 2:13 (NKJV)
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,
“All” is understood in context. Observe the succedent text (what came after)
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. 15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.
The “the handwriting of requirements that was against us” refers to the Law. It is the revelation of sin to humanity.
Romans 3:20 (NKJV)
20 Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
That is, there is NOTHING the Law can accuse a man of that we’ve not been forgiven of!
Remember what Paul said in Acts 13
Acts 13:38-39 (NKJV)
38 Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; 39 and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.
So, the believer is justified from ALL the accusations of the Law! The requirements of the Law have been fulfilled in him.
Romans 8:3-4 (NKJV)
3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
Hence, when a believer sins today, he is NOT to confess sins but his righteousness in Christ (2 Corin. 5:21). NOWHERE in the Bible are BELIEVERS instructed to confess their sins TO GOD (1 John 1:9, in context, was referring to Gnostic Jews who were present in the Church, not believers).
We have an advocacy in the work of Christ for sins
1 John 2:1-2 (NKJV)
1 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.
Observe, believers (“my little children”) are not asked to confess their sins, but are rather reminded of the advocacy of Christ for sins, His present-day ministry in us.
The believer, obviously, shouldn’t be living a lifestyle of sin. We are called unto a holy living. BUT he can be rest assured that the sin problem has been COMPLETELY taken care of, once for all, in Christ Jesus. When he stumbles into sin, he should be restored (Gal. 6:1). And he must continually remind himself of who he has become in Christ (James 1:22-25). But asking for forgiveness of sins is sin-consciousness. It does nothing but give a temporary sense of peace — this NEVER lasts & is bad for your heart, eventually. Itrust this helped? Let me know. Share with a friend too.
© Josh Banks. 2019.
