forgiveness

Lately I have had more than one person ask me about Christ's forgiveness. It seems like some really struggle with whether or not they are forgiven for acts of sin committed after they believe in Jesus as their savior. What follows is the response I gave to one person recently.

At the core of Christ’s forgiveness is the issue of “identity”. In I Corinthians 6:9-11 the Apostle Paul is talking to the church at Corinth-the believers. As he describes those who “will not inherit the kingdom of God” he is reminding them that they are no longer these things. They are “new creatures” (II Corinthians 5:17) with new identities. They are no longer defined by their sin but rather are cleaned up and made right with God (vs.11). Then Paul spends the rest of the chapter encouraging them to “flee from sexual immorality” (vs. 18) and “honor God with your body” (vs. 20). In other words, act like who you are-let your actions/deeds fall in line with your identity in Christ.

Now you also mentioned Christ dying once for all sin (Romans 6:10; Hebrews 7:27). Hebrews 10:10 tells us that by His will “we have been made holy (pure, clean) through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” Once you are made clean that cleansing lasts. At the time of Christ’s sacrifice all of our sins were future sins. Yet His sacrifice was sufficient to cover even these. There is nothing that I can see in scripture that tells me that sin I commit after knowing Christ is not covered by that same sacrifice.
The Apostle Paul spends a great deal of time encouraging the believers to leave sinful acts and grasp their true identity in Christ. He does this with the knowledge that even he struggles against sinful desires (Romans 7:15). As Paul tries to do what is good and right he knows that he can not fix himself but can only find his freedom in Christ (Romans 7:24-8:2).

I know this is a lot all at once but there are a few more scriptures that come to mind.

If you feel there is something in your life to confess to God then as you do so He is faithful and just to forgive (I John 1:9).

What does God do with that sin when He forgives? He forgets it. (Isaiah 43:25; Jeremiah 31:34; Hebrews 8:12 and 10:17)

When does God forgive? Right now. (II Corinthians 6:2)

I do not see anywhere in scripture where someone successfully “cleansed” themselves. If this were possible then verses like Galatians 2:21 would not exist or at the very least mean nothing.

I know this is not an exhaustive statement on Christ's forgiveness but it is a starting point. My prayer is that more and more people will experience the freedom that is available in Christ Jesus...not to gain a "license to sin" but in order to live the abundant life Christ freely offers (John 10:10).