THE NECESSITY OF FORGIVENESS- BY PASTOR GREG ELKAN

_... and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin,_ – 1Jn 1:7.

There’s been much theological debate – on both sides – about the doctrine of forgiveness of sins. The argument against it revolves around its _implications,_ since it looks like an open invitation for a life of carnality and even sinfulness. Those positive about it base their arguments mostly on the graciousness and goodness of God and see God’s absolute forgiveness as yet another manifestation of the loving nature of God.

But something neither side seem to sufficiently address is the _necessity_ of forgiveness. Forgiveness of sins is more than an act of profligate grace and love, but a _practical_ element of our salvation. Without God’s unqualified forgiveness for sin, salvation will just be a theoretical construct.

The Greek word used for “sin” in the Bible is _“hamartia.”_ Which literally means “to miss the mark,” or to “miss the target”. As Rom 3:23 puts it, _“All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”_ Hamartia_ in Greek also means a _tragic, inherent flaw or defect._ So, strictly speaking, sin refers not merely to actions, but to a perpetual state of unqualification with respect to God’s perfect standard. 

God never lowered His standard but, in Christ, raised us to it. Our redemption (i.e. forgiveness, Col 1:14) is therefore a _gift_ given at salvation, not something that we perpetually entreat for. While Believers _do_ ask for forgiveness when they sin, if God were to base His forgiveness on that, then our salvation and eternal life would’ve shifted from the solid ground of Christ’s work on the Cross to the paper-thin foundation of our memories of _(what we consider to be)_ sin.

No man or woman would get to heaven under that paradigm. They may remain saved, but would still be under an immense cloud of transgression which they are not even aware need to be taken care of. 

But “Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift;”* we have *“redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;” (2Co 9:15; Eph 1:7).

PASTOR GREG ELKAN

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