Grievous Sin After New Creation in Christ Forgiveness
Forgiveness of sin is a core component of justification, where God absolves a person from the condemnation of the law due to the work of Christ, thereby removing the guilt and liability to eternal wrath [1]. This act of grace frees the individual from the penalty of their sins [1]. The Bible states that God "made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our trespasses" (Colossians 2:13 BSB) [2]. Similarly, Ephesians 2:5 notes that God "hath quickened vs together in Christ, by whose grace ye are saued" [3].
Even after this "new creation" in Christ, individuals may still commit sins [11]. The concept of "sin" encompasses various acts, from "vanity" or sinful acts [9] to deliberate rebellion [10]. All humanity is born with a sinful nature, and while the godly strive against it, the wicked indulge it [8]. The New Testament uses several Greek words for repentance, with metanoeo and its cognate noun metanoia referring to a true change of mind, purpose, and life, which is linked to the remission of sin [5].
When a person commits sin after conversion, the forgiveness offered through Christ remains available. John Gill, commenting on 1 John 1:9, states that if sins are confessed, God is faithful and just to forgive them and cleanse from all unrighteousness [14]. This confession is primarily directed to God, against whom the sin was committed [14]. God's mercy is the origin of pardon, and He delights in pardoning freely and fully [12].
The forgiveness God extends is "in Christ" [13]. It is through Christ's death that reconciliation, or atonement, is brought about [4]. Expiation, the process by which guilt is punished in a substitute, means that sins are "covered" by Christ's vicarious satisfaction [6]. This means that God, "for Christ's sake," or more accurately, "in Christ," grants forgiveness [13]. The forgiveness is not merely a remission of penalty, but an act of a judge that includes pardon and a title to the blessings of the covenant of life [7].
The ongoing struggle with sin after new creation is acknowledged in scripture. For example, 1 John 1:10 addresses the idea of claiming "we have not sinned," distinguishing it from having "no sin" (1 John 1:8), which refers to the corrupt old nature [11]. To claim one has not sinned makes God a liar [11]. Therefore, the forgiveness offered in Christ is comprehensive, covering both past sins and those committed after conversion, provided there is confession and repentance [14, 11].
Sources
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Forgiveness of sin — One of the constituent parts of justification. In pardoning sin, God absolves the sinner from the condemnation of the law, and that on account of the work of Christ, i.e., he removes the guilt of sin, or the sinner's actual liability to eternal wrath on account of it. All sins are forgiven freely (Acts 5:31; 13:38; 1 John 1:6-9). The sinner is by this act of grace for ever freed from the guilt and penalty of his sins. This is the peculiar prerogative of God (Ps. 130:4; Mark 2:5). It is offered to all in the gospel. (See [219]JUSTIFICATION.)”
- Colossians “Colossians 2:13 (BSB) — When you were dead in your trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our trespasses,”
- Ephesians “Ephesians 2:5 (Geneva1599) — Euen when we were dead by sinnes, hath quickened vs together in Christ, by whose grace ye are saued,”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Atonement — This word does not occur in the Authorized Version of the New Testament except in Rom. 5:11, where in the Revised Version the word "reconciliation" is used. In the Old Testament it is of frequent occurrence. The meaning of the word is simply at-one-ment, i.e., the state of being at one or being reconciled, so that atonement is reconciliation. Thus it is used to denote the effect which flows from the death of Christ. But the word is also used to denote that by which this reconciliation is brought about, viz., the death of Christ itself; and when so used it”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Repentance — There are three Greek words used in the New Testament to denote repentance. (1.) The verb metamelomai is used of a change of mind, such as to produce regret or even remorse on account of sin, but not necessarily a change of heart. This word is used with reference to the repentance of Judas (Matt. 27:3). (2.) Metanoeo, meaning to change one's mind and purpose, as the result of after knowledge. This verb, with (3) the cognate noun metanoia, is used of true repentance, a change of mind and purpose and life, to which remission of sin is promised. Evangelical”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Expiation — Guilt is said to be expiated when it is visited with punishment falling on a substitute. Expiation is made for our sins when they are punished not in ourselves but in another who consents to stand in our room. It is that by which reconciliation is effected. Sin is thus said to be "covered" by vicarious satisfaction. The cover or lid of the ark is termed in the LXX. hilasterion, that which covered or shut out the claims and demands of the law against the sins of God's people, whereby he became "propitious" to them. The idea of vicarious expiation runs thro”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Pardon — The forgiveness of sins granted freely (Isa. 43:25), readily (Neh. 9:17; Ps. 86:5), abundantly (Isa. 55:7; Rom. 5:20). Pardon is an act of a sovereign, in pure sovereignty, granting simply a remission of the penalty due to sin, but securing neither honour nor reward to the pardoned. Justification (q.v.), on the other hand, is the act of a judge, and not of a sovereign, and includes pardon and, at the same time, a title to all the rewards and blessings promised in the covenant of life.”
- Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 58:3: 58:3 All human beings are born sinners (see 51:5); however, whereas the wicked indulge their sinful nature, the godly fight against it (Rom 7:19-23; Jas 4:1-10).”
- Proverbs (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Proverbs 30:8: vanity--all sorts of sinful acts (Job 11:11; Isa 5:18).”
- Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 19:13: 19:13 An individual who commits deliberate sins does so with an insolent (86:14) or arrogant (119:21, 69) attitude. • The great sin is rebellion (see 32:1).”
- 1 John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 John 1:10: Parallel to Jo1 1:8. we have not sinned--referring to the commission of actual sins, even after regeneration and conversion; whereas in Jo1 1:8, "we have no sin," refers to the present GUILT remaining (until cleansed) from the actual sins committed, and to the SIN of our corrupt old nature still adhering to us. The perfect "have . . . sinned" brings down the commission of sins to the present time, not merely sins committed before, but since, conversion. we make him a liar--a gradation; Jo1 1:6, "we lie"; Jo1 1:8, "we deceive ourselves"; worst of al”
- Hebrews (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Hebrews 8:12: For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness,.... That is, sin; for all unrighteousness is sin, being contrary to the justice of God, and his righteous law: and the phrase is expressive of God's forgiveness of it, which is a very considerable article of the covenant of grace; mercy is the spring and original of pardon; it is what God delights in, and therefore he pardons freely; it is large and abundant, and hence he pardons fully; and this lays a foundation for hope in sensible sinners: and the way and means, in and by which God pardons, is the propitiatory sacri”
- Ephesians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ephesians 4:32: (Luk 7:42; Col 3:12). even as--God hath shown Himself "kind, tender-hearted, and forgiving to you"; it is but just that you in turn shall be so to your fellow men, who have not erred against you in the degree that you have erred against God (Mat 18:33). God for Christ's sake--rather as Greek, "God in Christ" (Co2 5:19). It is in Christ that God vouchsafes forgiveness to us. It cost God the death of His Son, as man, to forgive us. It costs us nothing to forgive our fellow man. hath forgiven--rather as Greek, "forgave you." God has, once for all”
- 1 John (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 John 1:9: If we confess our sins,.... Not to one other; for though it is our duty to confess our faults to our fellow creatures and fellow Christians which are committed against them, yet are under no obligation to confess such as are more immediately against God, and which lie between him and ourselves; or at least it is sufficient to confess and acknowledge in general what sinful creatures we are, without entering into particulars; for confession of sin is to be made to God, against whom it is committed, and who only can pardon: and a man that truly confesses his sin is one th”