Original words
Heb. Salach – (verb) to forgive
Gr. Charizomai – (verb) to bestow favor
Gr. Aphiemi – (verb) to send away or release
Gr. Aphesis – (noun) forgiveness, remission, pardon, release from bondage
Some Preliminary Affirmations
Like all things related to the kingdom, forgiveness originates from God. It describes Him and comes from Him. Due to sin, man is in need of forgiveness if he is to have fellowship with Him. Forgiveness happens when God is appeased and therefore withholds His wrath from the offender. The offender must call upon God, turn back to God and atonement must be made. Forgiveness is an act of kindness and compassion and the forgiven is released from his guilt or debt. In Christ forgiveness is realized. Jesus has the power to forgive and forgiveness is in Him. God shows His kindness and compassion by making atonement for us through the cross of Christ. Because forgiveness is shown to the believer, so it is expected of him.
As Used in the Old Covenant Scriptures
In the Old Covenant forgiveness is mainly seen in the doctrine of atonement. He will show how forgiveness will happen when His wrath is appeased or withheld. Ultimately He will prepare man for THE ATONEMENT which is realized in Christ (Rom. 5:11). It mostly consists of showing mercy and forbearance to Israel. God begins to reveal that He is “ready to forgive” but requires man’s initiative before He bestows forgiveness.
FORGIVENESS IS CHARACTERISTIC OF GOD
God is forgiving. He is “good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in lovingkindness to all who call upon [Him]” (Ps. 86:5). He is patient and kind. He is not looking for someone to condemn or for someone who has erred. He is looking for someone “whose heart is completely His” (2 Chron. 16:9). He desires to be known in this way. He is righteous and just and holy and therefore will not overlook sin. But it is more like Him to be forgiving – it is His desire to forgive.
God first described Himself this way to Moses, who he wanted to see His glory. “Then the Lord passed by in front of him and proclaimed, ‘The Lord, the Lord God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin” (Exod. 34:6-7). This is the divine autobiography – what God says about Himself. He goes on to say that “He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished” but this is due to their weakness not His desire. Indeed, of Him it is written, “If You, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with You, that You may be feared” (Ps. 130:4). His forgiveness is not to be mistaken for ignoring wrong or compromising His righteousness. For He is “a forgiving God” and yet “an avenger of their evil deeds” (Ps. 99:8). Rather, in the two fold nature of God, His “kindness” and “severity” (Rom. 11:22) we see the necessity and effectiveness of the sacrifice of Christ. “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Cor. 5:21). God is forgiving.
MAN MUST BE FORGIVEN BY GOD
In order for man to be forgiven by God, he must come to God. Forgiveness is with God (Ps. 130:4) and He is able to forgive sins. Man has not been able to acquit himself or show himself blameless before God on his own accord. No, God must do this for him. Under the Law, man had to obey what God had said in order to be acceptable to Him and man was too weak for this. Man’s falling short of God’s glory (Rom. 3:23) caused a separation between him and God. In order for fellowship with God to be possible, man’s sin must be forgiven.
Atonement. This is seen in the doctrine of atonement. Man could not simply dwell among and work with God because he desired to. He had offended God becoming defiled and guilty before Him. That sin had to be dealt with. It had to be erased and the wrath it brought about, placated. In the Old Covenant this was done through the ministry of the priests and the sacrificial system. If a man sinned he would bring the appropriate sacrificial animal with which the priest would “make atonement for him in regard to his sin, and he will be forgiven” (Lev. 4:26). While God desires to forgive man, it is not a light or small accomplishment. We see an example of this with the golden calf. The people had “committed a great sin” and Moses was going up to the Lord if “perhaps” he could “make atonement” for their sin (Exod. 32:30). Moses wasn’t certain they could come back from this grievous sin. But yet he came to God saying, “But now, if You will, forgive their sin” (32:32). When atonement is made then forgiveness is possible.
Prayer. The temple, and the tabernacle before it, was where men would come to be forgiven because that is where atonement was made. It was also considered “a house of prayer” (Matt. 21:13). At the dedication of the first temple when Solomon was praying to God he said, “Listen to the supplication of Your servant and of Your people Israel, when they pray toward this place; hear in heaven Your dwelling place; hear and forgive” (1 Kings 8:30). Forgiveness was not only going to come by giving up livestock to a priest but it involved prayer to God. Again Solomon says, “When Your people Israel are defeated before an enemy, because they have sinned against You, if they turn to You again and confess Your name and pray and make supplication to You in this house, then hear in heaven, and forgive the sin of Your people Israel, and bring them back to the land which You gave to their fathers” (1 Kings 8:33-34). Forgiveness was to be appropriated through not only prayer but turning to God and confessing His name.
Repentance. “Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Sam. 16:7). It is conceivable that a man could offer up sacrifices for atonement and even utter repetitious prayers without having the smallest desire for God. But “God is not mocked” (Gal. 6:7). He will not forgive those who do not “turn to [Him] again.”
God would often send His prophets to warn the people of their wickedness and the coming judgment upon them, in order to bring about repentance and in turn forgiveness. He said to Jeremiah “Perhaps the house of Judah will hear all the calamity which I plan to bring on them, in order that every man will turn from his evil way; then I will forgive their iniquity and their sin” (Jer. 36:3). He desired that they might turn from their evil ways that He would forgive them. The same was true for Ninevah. God sent Jonah to them saying, “Yet forty days and Ninevah will be overthrown” (Jon. 3:4). This caused the king and his nobles to issue a decree saying: “Do not let man, beast, herd, or flock taste a thing. Do not let them eat or drink water. But both man and beast must be covered with sackcloth; and let men call on God earnestly that each may turn from his wicked way and from the violence which is in his hands. Who knows, God may turn and relent and withdraw His burning anger so that we will not perish” (Jon. 3:7-9). And this He did because He had forgiven them. Had they not repented, they would have not been forgiven and would have been overthrown.
WHAT OF THOSE WHO ARE FORGIVEN
God withdrew “His burning anger” from those of Nineveh and those of Moses’ camp (Exod. 32:12). Those who were forgiven were shown mercy in both these situations. For those who prayed “toward” the temple and were forgiven, God would bring them back to their land in safety. In this case we see deliverance from enemies and a bestowed benefit. This is because they had been pardoned. They were no longer view as a guilty party. They were forgiven.
Compassion is shown to them. God’s forgiveness displays His nature. He is patient toward man. While Israel was consistently disobedient and unbelieving, God did not immediately destroy them. “But He, being compassionate, forgave their iniquity and did not destroy them” (Ps. 78:38). This involved them not being destroyed when it was deserved. It required God restraining His anger and not arousing His wrath. God showed them compassion by forgiving them.
Kindness is shown to them. Forgiveness displays God’s kindness. An example of this is seen through Joseph’s dealings with his brothers. His brothers despised him because of his dreams and being given the varicolored tunic by his father. This lead to them throwing him into a pit and later selling him to a caravan of Ishmaelites. He also became a servant in the household of Potiphar only to be falsely accused and thrown into prison. He then interprets Pharaoh’s dream and is placed second in command over all of Egypt. Due to his insight concerning the coming famine, Egypt is the only nation prepared with a surplus of food. In order to sustain life for their families, Joseph’s brothers must come to him to buy grain. Joseph feeds his brothers and permits them to live in his land. This is where we will pick up the story.
When Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, "What if Joseph bears a grudge against us and pays us back in full for all the wrong which we did to him!" So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, "Your father charged before he died, saying, 'Thus you shall say to Joseph, "Please forgive, I beg you, the transgression of your brothers and their sin, for they did you wrong."' And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father." And Joseph wept when they spoke to him. Then his brothers also came and fell down before him and said, "Behold, we are your servants." But Joseph said to them, "Do not be afraid, for am I in God's place? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive. So therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones." So he comforted them and spoke kindly to them. (Gen. 50:15-21)
Joseph forgave his brothers and “spoke kindly to them.” Forgiveness has to do with kindness. It has to do with not bearing a grudge for a wrong suffered. It does not repay evil for evil but overcomes “evil with good” (Rom. 12:21). The heart of Joseph is displayed in this text as he “wept when they spoke to him.” What a sight to behold. What kindness and compassion. This account may be second only to the very words of Christ, when He said of those crucifying him, “Father forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34KJV).
They are released from guilt. Those who are forgiven are released from the guilt of their sin. They no longer bear it. They now stand before their would-be accusers innocent because the offended had pardoned them. David pleaded for this after his adultery with Bathsheba and murder of Uriah.
How blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit! When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; my vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of summer. Selah. I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I did not hide; I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD"; and You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah. Therefore, let everyone who is godly pray to You in a time when You may be found; Surely in a flood of great waters they will not reach him. You are my hiding place; You preserve me from trouble; You surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah. (Ps. 32:1-7)
David had no joy, no hope, no peace when he hid his sin from God. But when he confessed them to God he was forgiven “the guilt” of his sin. When someone is forgiven by God he no longer stands before God in fear of condemnation but with confidence of his pardon. If God forgives, it does not matter who else condemns.
This release is illustrated through the celebration of the year of Jubilee. The year of Jubilee was the year, after “seven sabbaths of years” (Lev. 25:8). It was then that the Israelites were to “proclaim a release through the land (Lev. 25:10) by not planting or harvesting. Likewise, slaves were freed and every man returned to his original property “for the land is Mine; for you are aliens and sojourners with Me” (Lev. 25:23). Why mention these things? In forgiveness, release is proclaimed. Like the land is released from labor and the slaves are released from their bondage and property is released from the foreign owner, so the sinner is released from the guilt of sin. He is shown compassion and kindness.
THEIR SINS WERE LOOKED OVER
God was patient with Israel. They were under a system of law that never changed their nature. He was not pleased with their sacrifices. He would flood the whole earth and still they would offend Him. He would deliver them from bondage in Egypt and still they would worship a golden calf. He would feed them with quail and manna and water from a rock and yet still they would not believe or obey. They would hate each other and treat God with indifference. They would ask for a king like the other nations thus rejecting Him as king. He would provide them with a land and a temple set apart for Him and they erect idols to worship within it. He would destroy it and enslave them only to deliver them once more to see them right back in idolatry. And yet He did not completely destroy them. Why? He looked forward to a time when He would send them His Messiah. He was preparing them for a time when He would reveal His eternal purpose with clarity rather than visions and dreams.
He will no longer remember sin. He spoke of this time through Jeremiah the prophet. Among the promises given to the people was this, “for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more” (Jer. 31:34). What a promise. In the new covenant forgiveness would truly be realized. “In the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed” (Rom. 3:25) to demonstrate “His righteousness at the present time.” God promised His people that a new covenant was coming when He would forgive them and remember their sin no more. It would be blotted out and stricken from the record. While he set up a sacrificial system in temple worship it was still “impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins” (Heb. 10:4). But when Christ Jesus, “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29) appeared, He was offered as a “sacrifice for sins for all time” (Heb. 10:12). He then “sat down at the right hand of God” thus accomplishing the very purpose He was sent for. It was then that Jeremiah’s prophecy could be fulfilled. It was then that their sin would be remembered no more. “Now where there is forgiveness of these things, there is no longer any offering for sin” (Heb. 10:18).
Therefore those in Christ have been shown compassion and kindness. As it is written, “But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:4-5). Those in Christ have been released from their guilt and “have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus” (Heb. 10:19).
As Used in the New Covenant Scriptures
Forgiveness will now be opened up as God will be seen as the “blessed God” (1 Tim. 1:11). He is blessed because His wrath has been appeased. Payment for sin has been made in Christ. Therefore, forgiveness is offered to “everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord” (Acts 2:21).
AFFECTED IN SALVATION
Forgiveness is affected in “so great a salvation.” Like all things pertaining to salvation, forgiveness is in Christ Jesus. Those in Christ have repented and been baptized “in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of [their] sins” (Acts 2:38). They have believed in Him to receive “forgiveness of sins” (Acts 10:43). Through Jesus, “forgiveness of sins” was proclaimed to them (Acts 13:38). When a person is saved, their sins are forgiven. “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Forgiveness is in Christ Jesus.
Jesus has power to forgive sins. Forgiveness is only possible because of Christ. His blood is the “blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins” (Matt. 26:28). During His earthly ministry, Jesus had the ability to forgive sins. When the paralytic was lowered through the roof so that Jesus could heal him, He said, “Son, your sins are forgiven” (Mk. 2:7). The scribes perceived that He was blaspheming reasoned, “who can forgive sins but God alone?” This is precisely the case. Jesus is God enfleshed and therefore has the authority to forgive sins.
The cross. Forgiveness however is only possible because of what Jesus did. He was nailed to the cross along with “the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us” (Col. 2:13). As we have already said it was His blood “which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins” (Matt. 26:28). “And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” (Heb. 9:22). He was “put to death” by hanging on the cross but “the God of our fathers” raised Him up. “He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins” (Acts 5:30-31). It was His sacrifice on the cross that accomplished the means of forgiveness for man.
His name. Forgiveness then is in Jesus’ name. His is the only name “by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). “Through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins” (Acts 10:43). “Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem” (Lk. 24:47). Salvation is in His name, we believe through His name, forgiveness of sins is proclaimed in His name and “for His name’s sake” (1 Jn. 2:12). Salvation benefits man immeasurably but it is primarily for “His name’s sake.” That is, it brings glory to God through Christ.
Man’s need. Man has a need for forgiveness. His sin and God’s righteousness make it so. In order for divine fellowship to occur, sin must be forgiven. From God’s view man’s sin has to be atoned for. From man’s view God’s wrath has to be propitiated. Atonement through the cross made forgiveness possible. It is when sin was “condemned” in the flesh (Rom. 8:3). It is the work of God for us on the cross that makes forgiveness available. For man to appropriate it, faith is required. For salvation is by grace “through faith” (Eph. 2:8). He cannot be saved where he does not believe that Christ is the propitiation for his sins. Fellowship cannot occur where he does not believe that God has forgiven him. Salvation is through faith. God must be believed. Where God isn’t believed man is enslaved and in need of deliverance. He is residing in the devil’s arena and in need of repentance to God. He is blinded and in darkness and in need of light. He is dead in his trespasses and sins and in need of being made alive and born again. His sin has made him guilty and he needs to be justified. His sin has made him corrupt and he needs to be sanctified. He has built up a debt of offenses to God and he must be forgiven. Man has need of God. He has need of His grace and mercy. Man must call upon the name of the Lord to be saved. He must come to God for forgiveness and salvation.
Man has the need and God has the provision. “How will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard, God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will” (Heb. 2:3-4). God has gone to great lengths to make His provision known. For no one will call upon the name of the Lord if they don’t believe and “How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?” (Rom. 10:14). For this reason the preacher of God is sent to those individuals “to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith” in Jesus (Acts 26:18).
Being in Christ. Those in Christ have been forgiven, those outside of Christ are “condemned already” (John 3:18KJV). Believers experience the blessed benefits of salvation. In forgiveness they have been released from guilt and even the very law that brought about condemnation and death (2 Cor. 3:7-9). As it is written, “Through Him everyone who believes is freed from all things, from which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses” (Acts 13:39). The KJV substitutes the word “justified” for “freed” in this text because it has to do with being justified by grace apart from the law. Which is to say that everyone who believes is considered righteous in regard to all things that the Law of Moses failed to bring about. In quoting Psalm 32, Paul reminds those in Christ that they have been justified and God “credits righteousness” to them. “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds have been forgiven, and whose sins have been covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will not take into account” (Rom. 4:6-8). Those “in Him” have “redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses” (Eph. 1:7; cf. Col. 1:14). They are in a covenant with God Almighty through Christ. Their sins have been forgiven and if they do sin they have an “Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (1 Jn. 2:1). If they confess their sins, “He is faithful and righteous to forgive” their sins and cleanse them “from all unrighteousness” (1 Jn. 1:9). Being forgiven has to do with being cleansed and having a clear conscience. Their hearts have been “sprinkled clean from an evil conscience” and their bodies “washed with pure water” (Heb. 10:22). Those in Christ have been forgiven.
Conclusion. In salvation, sins are forgiven, among many other things. This provides for man’s basic need in order for Him to have fellowship with God. Forgiveness is accomplished through Christ; His name, His work and being in Him. Those who have been forgiven have a clear conscience to worship the Lord their God. Knowledge of this is all too rare among professed believers and is scarcely proclaimed across the pulpits. Nevertheless, those in Christ have been forgiven their sins and can come before God with confidence and boldness.
JESUS TAUGHT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF FORGIVENESS
Much of what Jesus said concerning forgiveness, He said by way of instruction. That is, He spoke of man’s responsibility to forgive those who offend him. This instruction of course was in direct parallel with the fact that in Him, God would forgive them. The basic teaching to embrace is this: “just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you” (Col. 3:13). This is the manner of the kingdom of God. Who God is and what He is like is to be embraced by the citizens of the kingdom. God is ready to forgive and therefore the “sons of the kingdom” are ready to forgive.
Taught in the parables. He taught the concept of forgiveness in the parable of the king settling accounts (Matt. 18:23-35). The king’s servant owed him 10,000 talents (close to $7.5 mil.) and could not pay it back. He wanted to but didn’t have the ability to. As a result he and his wife and children and possessions were to be sold and repayment to be made. But when the servant pleaded with him the lord “felt compassion and released him and forgave him the debt” (v. 27). That is the example of forgiveness but the one forgiven is to forgive in return. But this servant had a fellow servant who owed him 100 denarii (about $16 to $18) and “was unwilling” to forgive the debt even when the other servant pleaded with him. The lord then decided not to forgive his debt but to hand him over to the torturers. This parable teaches that the servant should have showed the same kindness that was shown to him. Jesus soberly concludes, “My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart” (v. 35).
In the parable of the two debtors we see that forgiveness produces love (Luke 7:40-50). The parable was simply this: “‘A money lender had two debtors: one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they were unable to repay, he graciously forgave them both. So which of them will love Him more?’ Simon answered and said, ‘I suppose the one whom he forgave more.’ And He said to him, ‘You have judged correctly.’” (v. 41-43) He then showed Simon the woman “who was a sinner” (Luke 7:37) and that she wet His feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair and didn’t cease to kiss His feet and anoint them with perfume. This was the result of being forgiven much and the reason for the contrary statement: “he who is forgiven little, loves little” (v. 47).
Expressed in plain teaching. Jesus taught His disciples to have an attitude of forgiveness. When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray, he answered:
“Pray, then, in this way: Our Father who is in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.” (Matt. 6:9-13)
He told them to ask for forgiveness of their debts, AS THEY HAD FORGIVEN OTHERS. He continues to explain this concept saying, “For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions” (Matt. 6:14-15). If we do not forgive other we will not be forgiven. In the same way, if we do forgive others, we will be forgiven.
The point is for us to be in the likeness of God who is “ready to forgive.” Jesus also said, “Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ forgive him” (Luke 17:3-4). Lest we fear He had gone too far with His teaching He clears it up in His dialogue with Peter. “‘Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.’” An attitude of forgiveness; being ready to show compassion and kindness toward others – that is what God is looking for. Jesus has said, “I desire compassion and not sacrifice” (Matt. 9:13).
FORGIVENESS IN THE CHURCH
As Christ has forgiven us. “Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you” (Eph. 4:32) and “bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you” (Col. 3:13). These are instructions to believers. They are expected to forgive one another because they have been forgiven. They are expected to show compassion because they have been shown compassion; to show kindness because they’ve been shown kindness. This is effective and necessary to maintain the “unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:3). When a brother sins he is to be rebuked, and when he repents, he is to be forgiven and comforted so that he might not be “overwhelmed by excessive sorrow” (2 Cor. 2:7). In this way the body is united and strengthened and “no advantage” is given to Satan (2 Cor. 2:10).
Those in Christ have been forgiven. Kindness and compassion has been shown them. They have been released from their guilt. Their sin is remembered by God no more!