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Nature of Forgiveness in Salvation and Redemption

Forgiveness of sins is a central aspect of salvation and redemption, understood as God's act of absolving a sinner from the condemnation of the law and removing the guilt of sin [1]. This divine prerogative is offered freely to all through the gospel [1].

The concept of forgiveness is deeply rooted in biblical texts. The Old Testament portrays God as compassionate and merciful, frequently forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin [2, 3, 6]. Psalm 78:38 states that God, "being full of pity, has forgiveness for sin, and does not put an end to man: frequently turning back his wrath, and not being violently angry" [3]. Similarly, Psalm 130:4 highlights that "there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared" [1]. The Lord's nature is to reconcile and forgive, though this often requires confession and repentance from humanity [16].

In the New Testament, forgiveness is intrinsically linked to the work of Christ. Ephesians 1:7 declares, "In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace" [5]. This forgiveness is a constituent part of justification, where God pardons sin on account of Christ's work, thereby freeing the sinner from the guilt and penalty of their sins [1]. The apostle Paul preached forgiveness of sins through Jesus Christ [19].

The Easton's Bible Dictionary distinguishes between pardon and justification. Pardon is described as an act of a sovereign, granting remission of penalty but not securing honor or reward. Justification, however, is the act of a judge, which includes pardon and also grants a title to the rewards and blessings promised in the covenant of life [4, 8]. Justification involves God pardoning all sins of those who believe in Christ and treating them as righteous, with all claims of the law satisfied through Christ [8].

Forgiveness is not earned by human actions but is a gift of God's grace and mercy [10]. Titus 3:5 emphasizes that salvation comes "not because . . . but because" of God’s grace, contrasting human merit with divine mercy [10]. Ephesians 2:5-9 further clarifies that believers are "saved by grace through faith," not by works, so that no one can boast [9]. Good works are understood as the result of salvation, not its cause, flowing from a transformed heart by God's Spirit [11, 15].

The forgiveness offered in salvation leads to a new identity and nature for believers [13, 15]. Through Christ, believers are united with him, sharing in his resurrection and experiencing a complete departure from a life of sin and death [9, 10, 14]. This new nature, created in Christ Jesus, enables believers to do the good works God planned for them [11, 15]. Gentiles who believe are no longer strangers but are fully accepted into God's family, becoming children of God [12].

The mercy of God is the spring and origin of pardon, which God delights in, leading to free and full forgiveness [17]. This divine mercy and truth are seen as effecting the atonement or covering of sin [18]. The goodness of God, a perfection of his character, is exercised towards his creatures, manifesting as mercy, pity, compassion, and grace, especially in communicating favor to the unworthy [7].

Sources

  1. 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.)”
  2. Sirach “Sirach 2:13 (DRC) — For God is compassionate and merciful, and will forgive sins in the day of tribulation: and he is a protector to all that seek him in truth.”
  3. Psalms “Psalms 78:38 (BBE) — But he, being full of pity, has forgiveness for sin, and does not put an end to man: frequently turning back his wrath, and not being violently angry.”
  4. 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.”
  5. King James Version “[KJV] Ephesians 1:7 — In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;”
  6. Exodus “Exodus 34:7 (Webster) — Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear [the guilty]; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, to the third and to the fourth [generation].”
  7. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Goodness of God — A perfection of his character which he exercises towards his creatures according to their various circumstances and relations (Ps. 145:8, 9; 103:8; 1 John 4:8). Viewed generally, it is benevolence; as exercised with respect to the miseries of his creatures it is mercy, pity, compassion, and in the case of impenitent sinners, long-suffering patience; as exercised in communicating favour on the unworthy it is grace. "Goodness and justice are the several aspects of one unchangeable, infinitely wise, and sovereign moral perfection. God is not sometimes ”
  8. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Justification — A forensic term, opposed to condemnation. As regards its nature, it is the judicial act of God, by which he pardons all the sins of those who believe in Christ, and accounts, accepts, and treats them as righteous in the eye of the law, i.e., as conformed to all its demands. In addition to the pardon (q.v.) of sin, justification declares that all the claims of the law are satisfied in respect of the justified. It is the act of a judge and not of a sovereign. The law is not relaxed or set aside, but is declared to be fulfilled in the strictest sense; an”
  9. Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 2:5: 2:5 gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead (literally made us alive together with Christ): Joined with Christ, believers share in his resurrection, now and in the future (see 2:6; Rom 6:4-14; Col 3:1-4). • It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved: See Eph 1:2; 2:8-9.”
  10. Titus (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Titus 3:5: 3:5 not because . . . but because: The contrast is between human actions that might be thought to merit salvation and God’s grace (see Gal 2:16). Salvation is through faith in God’s mercy alone (Eph 2:8). • He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth: See Ezek 16:9; John 3:1-15; Eph 5:26; Heb 10:22; 2 Pet 1:9. • and new life through the Holy Spirit: This signifies a complete departure from the life of sin and death and a transfer into the realm of life and purity (see also Rom 12:2; 2 Cor 5:17; Col 3:10).”
  11. Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 2:10: 2:10 He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us: Good works are the result, not the cause, of salvation. God’s Spirit, working through a transformed heart, produces a good life (Gal 5:22-23).”
  12. Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 2:19: 2:19 Gentiles who believe are no longer strangers and foreigners (2:11-12, 17). Through Christ, they are fully accepted into God’s family. They become children of God, just like believing Jews (see Rom 8:14-17).”
  13. Colossians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Colossians 3:9: 3:9-10 your old sinful nature . . . your new nature: Paul contrasts old and new identities (see also Rom 5:12-21; 6:6; Eph 4:22-24). Believers strip off their old life and put on Christ’s new life, allowing him to be Lord and to guide the way they live.”
  14. Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 2:6: 2:6 united with Christ Jesus: Because of this union, believers share God’s glory and blessings, and experience resurrection both now and in the future (see Rom 6:4-14; Col 2:12-13; 3:1-4).”
  15. Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 4:24: 4:24 A believer has a new nature: God’s Spirit expresses his life within the believer (see Col 3:10; cp. Gen 1:26; Rom 12:1-2; Gal 5:22-23). The transforming work of God’s Spirit is part of the gift of salvation (Eph 2:8-10).”
  16. Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 32:5: 32:5 God has forgiven the guilt and rebellion of 32:1. The Lord’s nature is to reconcile and forgive (78:38; 85:2; 130:4), but he requires confession and repentance.”
  17. 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”
  18. Proverbs (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Proverbs 16:6: By mercy and truth--that is, God's (Psa 85:10); He effects the atonement, or covering of sin; and the principles of true piety incline men to depart from evil; or, "mercy" and "truth" may be man's, indicative of the gracious tempers which work instrumentally in procuring pardon. purged--expiated (as in Lev 16:33; Isa 27:9, Hebrew).”
  19. Acts (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Acts 13:35: Be it known unto you, therefore, men and brethren,.... The apostle having discoursed concerning the incarnation of Christ, his death and resurrection, proceeds to take notice of some particular benefits and blessings of grace arising from thence, which are published and made known to the sons of men in the everlasting Gospel, as were now to the Jews by Paul and Barnabas; such as forgiveness of sins through the blood of Christ, and justification by his righteousness; the former of them is mentioned in this verse, the latter in the next: that through this man is preach”
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