The Power To Forgive Sin

This is the Eighth post from Chapter 4 of Friends With God: Living The Life Of Jesus In Us. Throughout this chapter and the previous chapter we have been exploring the doctrine of the “Penalty For Sin”- which claims that:

“Christ came to pay a death penalty on our behalf because his death is worth more than all people who have ever lived on Earth, and therefore God the Father is happy to accept his death in substitution payment for the death penalty for all people”.

However, as explained in this previous post, this concept is only able to be seen in scripture if you take the verses out of context and twist the words. This idea was developed in the 11th Century by Anselm of Canterbury, but was not part of the original Gospel of Christ.

The doctrine of a “Penalty for sin” has significantly influenced Christian ideology and perverted the simplicity of the Gospel of Christ. There is therefore much to addressed on this issue to clarify the confusion and distortions falsely presented as the way that God is dealing with sin and forgiveness. This therefore a longer post than usual to address some of the complex confusion caused by this false doctrine.

In the previous post from this chapter we saw that in both the Old and New Covenant God forgave sin on repentance alone, without any requirement for any “penalty” such as an animal sacrifice.

The Power To Forgive Sin

Another issue arising from the concept of “Christ’s paying a penalty for the payment of sin so that we can inherit the free gift of eternal life” is the claim that God cannot freely forgive sin unless an appropriate payment is made.

Such legalistic thinking attempts to put God and his wisdom and mercy below the letter of the law that God made. However, the proponents of the penalty for sin doctrine don’t understand that forgiveness and mercy are the most important parts of God’s law, they are not opposed to it. (Mat 23:23-24) As has been explained in detail in this previous post.

The idea of a “penalty for sin” also states that “Christ could not forgive sin until after he had died” in order to first pay this supposed penalty. Yet there are plenty of examples of Jesus’ forgiving sin, both in the New and Old Covenants. The legalists address this problem by saying:

“God the Father and Christ were able to forgive sin before he died, as they were looking forward to when he was going to die and pay the penalty later”.

However, this post-payment-spiritual-mathematics concept is also not mentioned anywhere in scripture. What we actually do see clearly in scripture is that Christ specifically did miracles to demonstrate that he had the power, right then and there, to forgive sin: ‘that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins’. (Matt 9:2-8 & Mark 2:1-12) It doesn’t say that he will have power once he has died to do so.

Take just a few minutes to read these verses and you will see that Jesus performed these miracles specifically to prove that he could forgive sin at that time.

First, he forgave the sin, then to prove that he had the power to forgive sin (for we can’t see a forgiven sin) he then healed the person.

The healing was provided as proof that he was able to forgive sin.

Yet, if he had to first die to “pay the penalty for sin” then he could not forgive sin until after he had died. And if this were the case then these two instances would have been appropriate times for teaching about a supposed “post-payment-spiritual-mathematics” concept- which of course there is no mention of.

There are many examples of Christ’s forgiving sin before his crucifixion. Forgiveness of sin was also an integral element of the Old Testament, as discussed in this previous post. In all scripture there is never a mention of the need for a payment in the future for these sins to be forgiven.

Those who teach the ‘penalty for sin’, constantly need to make up more contrivances to cover their unscriptural notions. The truth, as we are told in Matthew 9:2-8 and Mark 2:1-12, is that Christ had the power to forgive sin years before he died.

Christ constantly used his power to forgive sin, and in doing so he showed mercy and compassion in response to people’s faith in and love for God.

This is the power of God- to show justice and mercy in healing people physically, and to then provide forgiveness in response to genuine love toward him. God wants to forgive people who have, through sincere repentance, shown their desire to change the way they are living.

Christ and God the Father are willing to forgive sin on repentance and faith, because that’s all it takes.

The concept of a ‘penalty needing to be paid’ was added by people who didn’t understand the intent of the scriptures, nor the mercy and compassion of God. They were stuck in a legalistic mindset that could not understand mercy, repentance, faith and love.

All they understood was “a law is broken therefore a penalty must be paid, or God will be unhappy’. Yet such a simplistic approach to God’s law serves only to create a minefield of logical contradictions.

Then to counter these logical problem, the legalists need to invent ever more elaborate concepts to add to the simplicity of scripture. Yet trying to follow such ‘legalistic logic’ just ties your brain in a knot, and provides no biblical foundation whatsoever to stand on.

“Himself Bore Our Sins”

Another scripture often used to support the idea that it was necessary for Christ to pay a penalty for sin, is the very often quoted verse which states:

Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree (wooden cross), that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness. (1Peter 2:24)

This verse is generally taken as meaning that Christ paid some kind of penalty for us, as he ‘bore our sins’. Yet there is no mention of any such penalty being the reason he suffered.

The reason given for his suffering in this scripture is that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness.

To help us to turn from sin and live a righteous life is why he suffered.

He set us the example that we need to follow, which is exactly what the rest of the surrounding verses talk about.

Please read 1Peter 2:18-25 to get the context. Peter is admonishing Christian slaves to be submissive to their masters. He urges these slaves that they should not be rebellious to their masters, even to those masters who beat them when they have done nothing wrong!

He advises these poor slaves to suffer in silence. To bear the results of the sins of their masters upon them. In so doing they will follow the example of Christ who bore the results of the sins inflicted upon Him.

Jesus trusted God to deliver him, and did not threaten his oppressors: ‘He did not threaten, but committed himself to him who judges righteously’. (1Peter 2:23) He who judges righteously is of course God.

The subject being discussed by Peter is one of slaves bearing up under completely unjust punishment, and that they should trust God to deliver a righteous outcome from their terrible situation. There is nothing in these scriptures about paying a penalty for someone else.

What we see in Christ’s case is that God the Father actually allowed him to be afflicted by the sins (or bear the sins) that were inflicted upon him, until he ultimately died. Peter was advising these poor slaves that if such was to be the final outcome of their evil masters upon them, then they, too, should follow the example of Christ- to this ultimate end.

Trust God To Provide

Such advice would not be popular today, as everyone is seen to have ‘human rights’, but back then a slave under the Romans had no more rights than a piece of furniture! The owner could legally do what they wanted to them.

Some owners treated their slaves well; others treated them very badly. The point being made by Peter is that people in a horrible situation must trust the righteous judgement of God to deliver them from their affliction, or to be able to suffer it patiently till death, if need be.

This is the same lesson that we learn from three Israelite slaves in Babylon- Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, as discussed in this previous post.

In Daniel chapter 3 we see that the king of Babylon had put up an idol and required everyone to bow down to it, or be thrown into a fiery furnace. These three faithful men answered the king:

… our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, …. But if not, (but even if he does not deliver us) let it be known to you, O king, that we will not serve your Gods, nor worship the golden image which you have set up. (Dan 3:16-18)

They did not threaten the king. They simply told him that God could deliver them, but if he didn’t choose to do so, then they still would not bow down to the King’s pagan gods.

The story ends with their actually being thrown into the furnace, yet miraculously being unscathed by it, and walking out again! It’s one of the greatest examples in scripture of practical and pragmatic living faith. They trusted God to be able to deliver them, if it was his will to do so. But no matter what happened, they trusted that God’s will was being done. 

When you read the context of when Peter said “Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree (wooden cross),” you will see that he is talking about the same example of righteous suffering that we are to emulate in our lives.

We are to follow the example of Christ in our lives and should walk as he walked:

• But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin. (1John 1:7)

• He that says he abides in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. (1John 2:6)

• And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it. (2John 1:6)

• And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. (1John 3:22)

The Example Of Christ’s Suffering

Going back again to the letter from Peter, we see that the example of Christ’s suffering is one of patient endurance:

For what glory is it if you patiently endure while sinning and being buffeted? (what great thing is it, if you are patient when you are punished for doing unrighteousness) But if you suffer while doing good, and patiently endure, this is acceptable with God. (if you are patient, having been punished for doing good works, then this is acceptable to God) for to this (purpose) you were called, (to be patient) For Christ also suffered on our behalf, leaving us an example, that we should follow in His steps, (1Peter 2:20-21)

To leave us an example that we are to emulate, is the only reason given here for the suffering of Christ.

There is no mention of any penalty paid on our behalf.

While it says he suffered on our behalf, the reason for his suffering was as an example, that we should follow in His steps, suffering while doing good, and patiently enduring. Such patient suffering is acceptable with God.

A penalty is not something that will make God accept you, what he wants from you is to demonstrate genuine patient suffering, which demonstrates your faith in him.

This example of Jesus is clear:

He who did no sin, nor was guile (deceit) found in His mouth (he did not try to deceive his oppressors), who when He was reviled (criticized angrily by them) did not revile in return. (He did not verbally attack those who reviled him) When He suffered, He did not threaten, but gave Himself up to Him who judges righteously. (1Peter 2:22-23)

Jesus gave himself up to follow the will of God, who is the only one who judges righteously. 

Peter then comes to verse 24:

In the context it’s clear what is being said. Just like the slave who should silently bear the unjust beating of an evil master, Christ bore the unjust death on the cross, caused by the evil people who killed him.

The reason for this is: that we dying to sins, we might live to righteousness. Christ left us the example to also die to sins: because he suffered on our behalf, leaving us an example, that we should follow in His steps.

We are to live to righteousness by following His example of suffering for doing good in a patient way, trusting that God’s will is being done. 

The next verse is also confusing, if taken out of context;

by whose stripes you were healed. For you were as sheep going astray, but now you are turned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. (1Peter 2:24-25)

In the context we see that Christ’s example, of being unjustly killed, sets us the example of how to live under unjust persecution. Christ’s “stripes” were his unjust punishment.

If we use his Spirit to follow his example, and also suffer unjustly in the manner he did, we will be living the way of eternal life- which subsequently heals us of death.

Because we at one stage were just like sheep, wandering astray doing our own thing, but now you are turned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. By repenting of going astray, we now follow Jesus’ voice as the good shepherd. (John 10:3-27)

We have now turned from our old sinful way of responding to unjust persecution, to following his way, which leads us to our gaining eternal life.

Jesus did not want to die, particularly not in this way, but it was God’s will to allow him to go through this unjust death. The reason was to leave us an example, that we should follow in His steps.

His suffering was to demonstrate to us that we also may need to suffer at the hands of evil men. Christ’s ultimate example demonstrated his willingness to follow God, no matter what God wanted him to do.

While God did not inflict these stripes on him, he did however allow it to happen when he could have stopped it. It was therefore God’s will that he died in this way, in order to show us how to also live and die in a righteous way.

Christ is our example that we should follow, and to read the silly legalistic notion of “payment for sin” into this context is to simply lift one sentence out of this letter and build an entire doctrine around it.

That is not how to study the Word of God honestly. However, that is how many ignorant legalistic people manipulate the truth, and particularly this scripture.

In the next post in this series we will examine the often used scripture of Isaiah 53:6 ‘and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all’. Again, if you read the context of the surrounding verses, you will see it has nothing to do with the unscriptural doctrine of “Paying The Penalty For Sin”.