What Is Forgiveness in the Bible? Pt. 1

What Is Forgiveness in the Bible? Pt. 1

John 19:30 (ESV)

30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

Jesus said, "It is finished." What did He finish? He finished the Old Covenant law. When Jesus breathed His last breath on the cross, the veil of the temple was torn from the top to the bottom.

Typically, when a curtain is torn, it’s torn from the bottom up. But this veil was torn from top to the bottom. I believe an angel (who was big in size) tore the curtain.

When the veil was torn, God moved out of the earthly tabernacle for good. He now takes up residence in the heart of the New Covenant believer.

If you are born again, God now lives on the inside of you in the person of the Holy Spirit. You are a new creation, created in true righteousness and holiness.

This is the New Covenant. God is merciful to our unrighteousness, and our sins and lawless deeds, He remembers no more. God has no memory of your sins. When Jesus died on the cross, He took all of our sins (past, present, and future).

Some say that this only refers to past sins. Well, the Bible doesn’t say He took our past sins. It does say however, that by a single offering, He has perfected for all time... 

Hebrews 10:14 ESV

For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. 

Jesus’ single sacrifice for sins was good for all time!

Hebrews 10:12 (NLT)

12 But our High Priest offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then he sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand.

It also says that He perfected for all time. Think about it. All our sins were future, when Jesus was on the cross.

Praise God that our sins have been removed. Our sins are not covered as they were under the Old Covenant. No, our sins have been blotted out.

Hebrews 9:28 (ESV)

28 so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

When Jesus returns, He will not deal with our sins because He already dealt with them on the cross.