Justification Means That God Credits Christs Righteousness To The Guilty Sinner And Forgives All His Sins Apart From Any Good Works
John Calvin summed up his understanding of justification, that it consists in the remission of sins and the imputation of Christs righteousness.
A. Justification means that God credits Christs righteousness to the guilty sinner.
As we saw in verse 3 , Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness. To justify is not to make righteous or to infuse righteousness into the sinner, but rather, to declare the sinner righteous. It is a judicial act of God, based on the satisfaction of Gods righteous penalty by the shed blood of Jesus Christ . Because Christ paid the penalty that our sin deserved, God can be both just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus .
B. Justification means that Gods forgives all of the guilty sinners sins.
Positively, God declares the sinner righteous by crediting to his account the very righteousness of Jesus Christ. Negatively, God does not credit the sinners sins to his account. Paul uses three somewhat synonymous phrases to describe this blessing of forgiveness:
Third , Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will not take into account. This is the accounting term, used 11 times in this chapter . God takes our debt of sin off the books. He wipes the slate clean. It means , Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
C. Justification means that God credits Christs righteousness to the guilty sinner and forgives all his sins apart from any good works.
What Is The Sin That God Will Not Forgive
Several passages in the New Testament are frequently interpreted as referring to the unforgivable sin: Matthew 12:30-32: Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. And so I tell you, any sin and blasphemy can be forgiven. But blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.
Bible Verses About Forgiveness
These are the Bible verses I turn to when struggling with the challenge of forgiveness. They remind me that Gods forgiveness is so powerful. If we turn to Jesus, we find full forgiveness of our sins, freedom and peace.
Psalm 103:12 “As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”
Ephesians 1:7 “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of Gods grace.”
1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
Daniel 9:9 “The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him.”
Isaiah 43:25 I, even I, am he who blots outyour transgressions, for my own sake,and remembers your sins no more …”
Isaiah 1: 18 Come now, let us settle the matter,says the Lord. ‘Though your sins are like scarlet,they shall be as white as snow though they are red as crimson,they shall be like wool.'”
Micah 7:18-19 “Who is a God like you,who pardons sin and forgives the transgressionof the remnant of his inheritance?You do not stay angry foreverbut delight to show mercy.19 You will again have compassion on us you will tread our sins underfootand hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.”
Hebrews 10:17 Then he adds: Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.
Jeremiah 31: 34 For I will forgive their wickednessand will remember their sins no more.”
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What Does Forgiveness Really Mean
The ultimate definition of forgiveness is deliberately deciding to let go of any resentment or vengeful feelings towards someone who harmed you. As you explore a new path of living a life without any resentment, here is a list of Bible verses about forgiving others who hurt you.
- Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Colossians 3:13 NIV.
- But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. Matthew 5:44 NIV.
- If anyone has caused grief, he has not so much grieved me as he has grieved all of you to some extent not to put it too severely. 6 The punishment inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient. 7 Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. 8 I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him. 2 Corinthians 2:5-8 NIV.
- Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Colossians 3:13 NIV.
- Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 1 Corinthians 13:4 6 NIV.
- On the contrary: If your enemy is hungry, feed him if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head. Romans 12:20 NIV.
Is It Ok To Never Forgive Someone
Though society pressures you to forgive the person who wronged you, the truth is that forgiving may be the worst thing you can do. Though many find a way to move forward in life, forgiveness truly eludes them. This does not make them bad people. This just means that it is not healing for them at this time.
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Top 20 Bible Verses About Forgiveness
It will be a heavy burden on your conscious if you keep track of every wrong deed that other people do to you. The same case applies for yourself when you knowingly or mistakenly make a wrong decision that plunges you into trouble. Although not easy, you should let go of all wrong-doings and start on a clean slate. For Christians, Bible verses about forgiveness can provide the necessary inspiration to move forward and forget about the past.
This piece answers several questions revolving around committing sin, and how to forgive and move forward. In addition to that, you will also read about the fascinating insights of how God forgives sinners. What if you sin or offend someone knowingly? Do you stand a chance to start anew and forget about you unimaginable past? The following sayings explain these questions.
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Understanding Gods Hope And Help For Forgiveness
Are you struggling to forgive someone who hurt you? Or are you struggling to forgive yourself? Maybe you are curious about Gods forgivenesswondering if he could forgive you for something you regret.
The good news is forgiveness on all these levels is possible! Both receiving forgiveness and forgiving others is one of the most important things you will ever do. The Bible is full of verses to help us understand how completely God forgives those who confess and believe in his son Jesus. There are also many wonderful scriptures about forgiving others.
Do not live with the burden of unforgiveness any longer. Find freedom through Gods word:
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Remembering Their Sin No More
“I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.”
God describes Himself as the One who removes our offenses from us. He tells us that He does it for His own sake, meaning that there is a mercy in the depths of His being that propels Him to be patient and forgiving.
Forgive Others Because You Will Find Peace
There is no peace when you are in a constant battle with anger and negative thoughts. You are a prisoner of the past and there is no peace there. Peace comes in Gods presence. It comes through obedience.
In the beginning, I said that God has commanded us to forgive. Why does He do this? He knows what is necessary for us to live a life of peace, contentment, and joy regardless of our circumstances. Forgiveness is one of those things.
Isaiah 26:3 The Voice, You will keep the peace, a perfect peace, for all who trust in You, for those who dedicate their hearts and minds to You.
There is no peace where bitterness and unforgiveness live.
If you are a Christian with the Holy Spirit living inside you, you know this:
- Romans 14:17 NLT, For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
- Galatians 5:13-15 The Voice, Brothers and sisters, God has called you to freedom! Hear the call, and do not spoil this gift by using your liberty to engage in what your flesh desires instead, use it to serve each other as Jesus taught through love. For the whole law comes down to this one instruction: Love your neighbor as yourself, so why all this vicious gnawing on each other? If you are not careful, you will find youve eaten each other alive!
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Forgiveness And Compassion: A Story From Rwanda
If youre finding it hard to forgive, you may be encouraged by Methodes testimony.
Methode was only 6-years-old when the Rwandan genocide occurred, during which, both of his parents were murdered.
Looking back, Methode says, The biggest thing that happened to me, that the government would not have managed to give me, is forgiving my parents killers.
“God convinced me that I would not be any different if I revenged. I thank Compassion, and my sponsor because they introduced me to knowing God bit by bit, until I got born again and my family followed on. My project helped me discover my singing and leadership talent. I am learning to accept Gods love for me and in the end, I know He is enough.
Because I was a sponsored child, I went to the church project every week. Through the regular project activities like singing, games, praying together and reading the Bible, I started to realise that I could get peace from God.
We invite you to consider sponsoring a child like Methode and giving them real hope for the future. Your sponsorship will enable them to go to a local church project every week where they can come to know the grace and peace of God for themselves.
You Should Forgive Others Even If They Dont Ask
Most of the time, we feel were entitled to an apology, after which we consider forgiving. While saying sorry might be the correct thing to do, its important to remember that the Bible doesnt require an apology for forgiveness. God encourages you to initiate it, no matter what the other person might do. Go to your friend or family and talk to them about whats bothering you.
If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother .
This will help you forgive them from your heart and carry on with your life without an ounce of hurt or guilt.
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Forgive Others Because Forgiveness Brings Life
Unforgiveness is judgment. I had judged my Mother. I was even willing to bring accusations against her before God! The Word has some pretty clear admonishment about that.
Matthew 7:2, For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
To me, this is a frightening Scripture. I was pouring out buckets of bitter judgment against my Mother and the amount I was pouring out was the amount that was going to come back on me.
Please, dear friend, dont allow yourself to fall into this trap of the enemy self-justification, judgment, and bitterness. If these are the seeds you are sowing into your life, you will reap a painful harvest.
The point is, this doesnt have to happen. We are meant to have life and have it more abundantly be filled with the fruit of the Holy Spirit and, live in the faith that overcomes the world. This is our heritage, but we must choose it.
Is It Okay To Feel Anger And Want Justice For The Person We Need To Forgive
This question presents another reason to pray for the person we need to forgive. We can pray and ask God to deal with the injustices. We can trust God to judge that person’s life, and then we ought to leave that prayer at the altar. We no longer have to carry the anger. Although it is normal for us to feel anger toward sin and injustice, it is not our job to judge the other person in their sin.
Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
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Be Kind And Compassionate
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Jesus says that our love for one another is a sign that we truly belong to Him . Walking with Jesus should transform us into people who are kind, gentle, and aggressively committed to maintaining our bond of love.
We desperately need to remember that the kingdom of God is more than kindness, but it is never less than kindness.
God Doesn’t Give Us What We Deserve
He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
Jesus instructs us to love our enemies so that we can be like our Father in heaven. He reminds us that God “causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous” .
In Psalm 103, David reminds us that God is incredibly patient with us. He doesn’t respond to us in the way we deserve but demonstrates His love for us through His graciousness.
When it comes to forgiveness, God doesn’t just withhold His anger when He forgives us. He separates us from our transgressions. He uses a beautiful image of removing our offense from us as far from the east is from the west. It’s a poetic way of saying that when God forgives, He places an infinite gulf between our wrongdoing and us.
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We Owe Forgiveness To Those Who Dont Deserve It
And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, Lord, do not hold this sin against them. And when he had said this, he fell asleep . There are numerous examples that charge us to forgive others, even when they dont deserve it. In addition to this example of Stephen, I think about Jesus on the cross in the midst of his executioners: Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do . Every time I find myself having trouble extending forgiveness to someone Ive deemed undeserving, I think about how unworthy I am of forgiveness. Yet, God saw fit to love me and forgive me. When considering the magnitude of that, every situation in my life where I was reluctant to forgive seems trivial.
What Is Forgiveness In Christianity
Ok, what is forgiveness in Christianity?
Mirriam-Webster defines forgive:
1: to cease to feel resentment against : PARDON forgive ones enemies
2a: to give up resentment of or claim to requital, for forgive an insult
b: to grant relief from payment of, forgive a debt
To pardon, to stop feeling resentment against, to grant relief from.
For us, as Christians, we have been forgiven of our debt of sin. We are born with a sinful nature and wrong God daily because of it. We need to find forgiveness and right ourselves with Him through repentance.
Who is a God like You, pardoning iniquityAnd passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage?
He does not retain His anger forever,Because He delights in mercy.He will again have compassion on us,And will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sinsInto the depths of the sea.
This forgiveness is a direct link to Gods love for His creation. When sin entered the world, we were separated from Him. He is a holy and righteous being, unable to be in the presence of sin. Immediately He tells us of his plan to send a redeemer to bring us back into communion with Him.
Enter His son, Jesus Christ.
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Forgiveness In A Relationship Example
An example of consequences in life even though one forgives or is forgiven is when a relationship is damaged because of one personâs unfaithfulness. Although the wronged person may forgive, it doesnât mean trust is immediately restored. Broken trust is a consequence and has to be rebuilt. If you are the one who committed the wrong you shouldnât think that being forgiven will immediately restore the relationship to how it was before. It has to be rebuilt.
Gods Forgiveness Is Free You Cannot Earn Or Deserve It
But people are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners.
Forgiveness is the key to a relationship with God. Righteousness means being made right with God.
As imperfect people who sin and rebel against God, we could never meet Gods perfect standard and make ourselves right with God. Because of this, no matter how good you are or how hard you work, you can never be good enough to have a relationship with God.
But Jesus paid the price for your sins. Gods forgiveness through Jesus makes you right with God so you can have a relationship with Him forever in heaven. All you need to do is trust in Jesus sacrifice to pay the price for your sins.
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