Aisha
The Bible teaches that all sins – past, present, and future – are forgiven when we accept Jesus as our saviour. This is reflected in the New Testament, where the word forgive is translated as to send away or dismiss in English, implying that God is no longer holding onto the offence or hurt. Jesus' sacrifice on the cross is proof of God's forgiveness, as he carried the sins of the whole world. This is further supported by John the Baptist's proclamation that Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Additionally, the apostles spread the message of God's unconditional forgiveness, with Peter stating that everyone who believes in Jesus receives forgiveness of sins.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| When sins are forgiven | Past, present, and future |
| What forgiveness means | To send away or dismiss |
| Verbs translated as forgive in the New Testament | aphiēmi (e.g., Matt. 6:12) and charizomai (e.g., Gal. 3:18) |
| Noun translated as forgiveness | aphesis, sometimes translated as remission (e.g., Luke 24:47) |
| What Jesus said about forgiveness | "All sins will be forgiven" (Mark 3:28) |
| What the apostles said about forgiveness | Peter: "everyone who believes in Jesus receives forgiveness of sins" (Acts 10:43); John: "your sins have been forgiven you for His name’s sake" (1 John 2:12); Paul: "may receive forgiveness of sins" (Acts 26:18) |
| What the Bible says about confession | "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9) |
What You'll Learn
Jesus' sacrifice on the cross forgives all sin
Jesus's sacrifice on the cross forgives all sin. When we accept Jesus as our saviour, God forgives all our sins: past, present and future. This is because Jesus died for the sins of the whole world, including those who lived after him. If our future sins were not forgiven, we would lose our salvation and Christ would have to die again to cover our new sins. But this is not the case, as Christ died "once for all" (Hebrews 10:10).
From the cross, Jesus said, "It is finished" (John 19:30). No other sacrifice would ever be needed. Sin—all sin—had been atoned for. This is reflected in Colossians 2:13-14: "And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath He quickened together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses; blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross".
The Bible also states that God forgives all sin in 1 John 2:2: "He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world". This is reiterated in 2 Corinthians 5:19: "God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them".
The Bible makes clear that forgiveness is God's business. For example, in Psalm 130:4, we read: "With you, there is forgiveness".
Jesus himself demonstrated his power to forgive sins before his death on the cross. For example, in Luke 5:20, he tells a paralysed man: "Friend, your sins are forgiven". In Luke 7:48, he says to a sinful woman: "Your sins are forgiven".
Jesus's death on the cross is like a superhydrophobic coating that repels all sin. It has nothing to do with the person being forgiven, but everything to do with the perfection of what they are coated with—the blood and righteousness of Jesus Christ.
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God forgives all sin – past, present and future
The Bible teaches that when we accept Jesus as our saviour, God forgives all our sins, including those from the past, those in the present, and those we have yet to commit in the future.
In the Bible, Jesus says, "It is finished" (John 19:30). This means that no other sacrifice would ever be needed, and all sin has been atoned for. God's purpose is to make his children perfect, and his declaration that we are righteous stands, even if we continue to sin.
The Bible also teaches that we are kept by God, and our salvation is secure (John 10:28-30). Christ died "once for all" (Hebrews 10:10; cf. Hebrews 7:25). If our future sins were not forgiven, we would lose our salvation every time we sinned and would need to be saved again and again. But this is not biblical.
The Bible reassures believers that they can know with certainty that they are saved and will not lose their salvation due to future sins. This is because all sins—past, present, and future—are forgiven through faith in Christ.
The Bible says:
> “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).
> “Neither the present nor the future... will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39).
> “We have been justified through faith” (Romans 5:1).
> "As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us" (Psalm 103:12).
> “I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins" (Isaiah 43:25).
> “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace” (Ephesians 1:7).
> “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
> “He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 2:2).
> “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness” (1 Peter 2:24).
> “If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).
God's forgiveness is not a reason to become flippant toward sin. We should still strive to live a life that is pleasing to God and confess our sins as we commit them. While our future sins are forgiven, we should not use this knowledge as an excuse to continue sinning. Instead, we should seek to walk in the light of God and maintain a healthy relationship with Him.
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God's persistent love forgives sins in the present
God's persistent love through the ages moves to redemption and forgiveness of sins in the present. In the Bible, Ephesians 1:7–9 reads:
> In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose.
God's love is not dependent on our vacillating allegiances but on choices he made long ago. We rest in Jesus and have a revitalized purpose now that we are in the royal family. God's love is persistent through the ages, and it moves towards redemption and forgiveness of sins in the present.
The Bible also states that:
> There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1)
Nothing, not even our future sins, will condemn us. The verdict of "forgiven in Christ" has already been handed down from the divine bench. God forgives all our sins: past, present, and future. Forgiveness comes as a total package; God does not forgive us partially but wholly.
Jesus died for the sins of the whole world, not just those who lived before him. If our future sins were not forgiven, then when we sin in the future, we would revert to an unforgiven state, meaning we lose our salvation. However, this is not biblical. We are kept by God, and thus our salvation is secure.
God's purpose is that his children be made perfect:
> Those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. (Romans 8:29–30)
Note that all of God's actions are in the past tense, as if they had already happened.
God forgives all sins, and his declaration of our righteousness stands. We may still sin, but we are forgiven. Nothing can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus.
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Jesus' blood cleanses us of all sin
The Bible teaches that Jesus' blood cleanses us of all sin—past, present, and future. When we accept Jesus as our saviour, God forgives all our sins, as stated in Colossians 2:13-14:
> "And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath He quickened together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses; blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross."
This means that our debt to God is paid in full through Jesus' sacrifice on the cross.
Hebrews 10:11-12,14 further highlights the perfection and infinite nature of Jesus' sacrifice:
> "Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again, he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God... For by one sacrifice, he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy."
Jesus' sacrifice is unlike the sacrifices made by Jewish priests, which were repeated indefinitely and could never truly take away sins. In contrast, Jesus' sacrifice was a one-time offering that permanently removed the stain of sin.
Additionally, 1 John 1:7 emphasizes the importance of walking in the light, just as God is in the light:
> "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin."
Walking in the light refers to living in accordance with God's truth and holiness, away from the darkness of sin and deception. By doing so, we maintain our fellowship with God and with one another, and the blood of Jesus continually cleanses us from all sin.
It is important to note that while our sins are forgiven, we should not become flippant or careless towards sin. Confession and repentance are still vital aspects of our relationship with God, as they restore our fellowship with Him and allow us to live a life that reflects His character.
In conclusion, Jesus' blood truly does cleanse us of all sin. When we place our faith in Him, we are forever justified before God, and our salvation is secure.
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Confession is how God cuts sin out of our lives
The Bible teaches that when we accept Jesus as our saviour, God forgives all our sins: past, present, and future. However, confession is still a necessary part of the Christian life.
Confession is the process that God uses to cut sin out of our lives and to refine the character of Jesus in us. Sin is like a bruise on an apple; if left unattended, it will spread and spoil more and more of the fruit. King David, who was called "a man after the LORD’s heart" (1 Samuel 13:14), was quick to acknowledge his sin before God, trusting God to deal with his sin and restore his relationship with Him.
Confession brings reconciliation between God and the penitent, between the penitent and others, and to the individual penitent. It is an acknowledgement of sin to oneself, to God, and to a trusted member of one's community. It is a recognition that we don't live up to God's standards, and an agreement with God that our actions are sinful.
When we sin, we move away from God's blessings and come under His discipline. However, this discipline does not include the loss of salvation. God does not abandon His children when they do wrong, but He does discipline them. Confession is a way to restore fellowship, blessings, and intimacy with God.
Confession is also a way to realign our attention to God and submit to His Spirit's guidance. Dr. Bill Bright referred to confession as "spiritual breathing": exhaling the guilt of our sin through confession and inhaling the power of the Spirit by depending on His leading.
While our salvation is secure, confession is still necessary to cut sin out of our lives and to maintain a healthy relationship with God.
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Frequently asked questions
The Bible teaches that all sins are forgiven in Colossians 2:13-14: "And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath He quickened together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross".
Yes, the Bible says that our future sins are forgiven in Romans 8:1: "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus".
Jesus' sacrifice on the cross is what makes our forgiveness possible. Through his death, Jesus took away the sins of the whole world, as described in John 1:29: "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!".
Old covenant forgiveness was conditional and based on the law. New covenant forgiveness is unconditional and based on grace.
While confession is important for maintaining a healthy relationship with God, it does not affect the forgiveness of sins. Our sins are forgiven through the sacrifice of Jesus, not through our own efforts or works.
