The Sacrifice for Sins
—The promise of forgiveness
Long ago, God said, "I will forgive their iniquity, and their sins I will remember no more" (Jeremiah 31:34) —another of God’s magnificent promises. In this lesson we look at four important questions...
1 Why do we need forgiveness?
It is appointed for human beings to die once, then after that comes judgment (Hebrews 9:27). In a nutshell, that's your future...
- You are going to die
- Then you are going to be judged
- After that, you will enter heaven or hell.
If you stand before God with unforgiven sin, you will be sent away into the most terrifying punishment. That is your "certain expectation" if you have not received forgiveness of sins (Hebrews 10:27,31).
2 How was forgiveness made possible?
Having said that we die once and then comes judgment, the gospel then states that "Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many" so that through his offering up himself as a sacrifice, you can be forgiven. Your expectation of his second coming will then be one of eagerness and assurance rather than of terror (Hebrews 9:27-28)
Jesus Christ is Your High Priest
His new covenant has made forgiveness possible once and for all through the body and blood of Jesus Christ, which God accepted as the sacrifice to end all sacrifices for sin (Hebrews 10:10,14).
Therefore the Son of God is not only King of kings, not only Mediator of the new covenant, but also our High Priest who provides us the way of forgiveness through his blood (Hebrews 10:19-20).
3 How long does forgiveness last?
The blessing of forgiveness is not that your sins are forgiven for a day, or even for a year, but rather for ever. "Their sins I will remember no more" (Jeremiah 31:34) Our sins, as Peter put it, are "blotted out" (Acts 3:19).
4 Who will be forgiven?
Everyone can be forgiven of sins, but not everyone will be. It is those who "walk in the light" of God's promise, and follow his word, who are cleansed from sin (1John 1:7).
The promises of God are conditional. The "blood as of a lamb unblemished and spotless" atones for the sins of those who have purified their souls "in obedience to the truth" (1Peter 1:19,22).
Have you obeyed?
Have you obeyed the gospel so that your sins may be forgiven through the sacrifice Jesus made for you on the cross? Is your expectation of the judgment to come eager, or is it still fearful? Ensure that your sins are forgiven. Do it today.
Steps to Salvation
—The words of Jesus in the gospels, and Paul’s agreement in Romans, about what people should do to receive grace. Touch any yellow heading to go to a lesson on the subject.
1. Hearing Christ’s word
¶“7So then, everyone who hears these words of mine, and does them, will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” (Matthew 7:24).
¶“17Faith comes from hearing, and hearing [comes] by the word of Christ [being preached]” (Romans 10:17).
2. Believing —having faith
¶“16For God so loved the world, that he gave his one unique Son —so that whoever believes on him should not perish, but instead have eternal life” (John 3:16 ).
¶“16For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God for salvation to all who believe, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, as it is written, 'The righteous shall live by faith.'” (Romans 1:16-17).
3. Repentance from sin
¶“31And Jesus answered them, 'Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick need one. 32I came to call not the righteous but sinners to repentance.'” (Luke 5:31-32).
¶“4Do you take for granted the riches of God’s kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? 5But, because of your hard and impenitent heart, you are storing up wrath for yourself when the day of wrath comes, and God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.” (Romans 2:4-5).
4. Confessing Christ
¶“32Whoever acknowledges [or confesses] me in the presence of other people, I will also acknowledge in the presence of my Father in heaven” (Matthew 10:32).
¶“8What does scripture say? 'The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart'. That refers to the very word of faith that we preach: 9 if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.10For with your heart you believe to be made righteous, and with your mouth you confess to be saved.” (Romans 10:8-10).
5. Being baptised into Christ’s death
¶“15Jesus then said to his disciples, 'Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16Anyone who believes and is immersed shall be saved. Anyone who does not so believe will be condemned'” (Mark 16:15-16).
¶“3Aren't you aware that all of us who were immersed into Christ Jesus were immersed into his death? 4Thus we were buried with him by immersion into death. And consequently, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too are able to walk in newness of life.” (Romans 6:3-4).