For the Christian, when does God forgive sins?

[Chester]

I am speaking here of those sins that a Christian commits after he has been born again. In relation to past sins, most Christians are completely agreed that past sins are forgiven at conversion (the new birth). But there are several different explanations of how sins are forgiven after the new birth.

Those different explanations fall broadly into three categories:
(1) Those who believe that at the new birth all of a person's sins already committed and those yet in the future are forgiven at the moment of being born again.
(2) Those who believe that a Christian must confess/repent to God after committing a sin, and then the sin is forgiven.
(3) Those who believe that a Christian who sins is immediately forgiven of the sin at the moment that it is forgiven because of the Christian's faith in the atoning of the blood of Christ

Those who teach Calvinism, eternal security, or the perseverance of saints fall mostly under #1.

Those who teach #2 tend to be of the Arminian camp in some form or other. There are many variances taught under #2 - that is - the question arises: If the sin is not forgiven yet, is this person still saved?

I believe #3. And I believe that this is the only approach of the three that offers a clear and straightforward daily assurance of salvation to the believer.

 

[Cameron143]

I am speaking here of those sins that a Christian commits after he has been born again. In relation to past sins, most Christians are completely agreed that past sins are forgiven at conversion (the new birth). But there are several different explanations of how sins are forgiven after the new birth.

Those different explanations fall broadly into three categories:
(1) Those who believe that at the new birth all of a person's sins already committed and those yet in the future are forgiven at the moment of being born again.
(2) Those who believe that a Christian must confess/repent to God after committing a sin, and then the sin is forgiven.
(3) Those who believe that a Christian who sins is immediately forgiven of the sin at the moment that it is forgiven because of the Christian's faith in the atoning of the blood of Christ

Those who teach Calvinism, eternal security, or the perseverance of saints fall mostly under #1.

Those who teach #2 tend to be of the Arminian camp in some form or other. There are many variances taught under #2 - that is - the question arises: If the sin is not forgiven yet, is this person still saved?

I believe #3. And I believe that this is the only approach of the three that offers a clear and straightforward daily assurance of salvation to the believer.

I don't really understand #3 where you say...it is forgiven immediately when it is forgiven. Can you explain this more fully?

 

[SpeakTruth101]

1 -

Isaiah 45:21-25, 21 “Declare and bring near, let them even take counsel together. Who has announced this from of old? Who has declared it from that time? Is it not I, יהוה? And there is no mighty one besides Me, a righteous Ěl and a Saviour, there is none besides Me. 22 “Turn to Me and be saved, all you ends of the earth! For I am Ěl, and there is none else. 23 “I have sworn by Myself, a word has gone out of My mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, so that to Me every knee shall bow, every tongue swear. 24 “One shall say, ‘Only in יהוה do I have righteousness and strength’ – he comes to Him. And all those displeased with Him shall be put to shame. 25 “In יהוה all the seed of Yisra’ĕl shall be declared right and boast.”

Isaiah 53:4-6, 4 Truly, He has borne our sicknesses and carried our pains. Yet we reckoned Him smitten·, stricken by Elohim, and afflicted. 5 But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our crookedness. The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. 6 We all, like sheep, went astray, each one of us has turned to his own way. And יהוה has laid on Him the crookedness of us all.

1 Peter 2:25, “For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your beings.”

Acts 3:19-23, “Repent therefore and turn back, for the blotting out of your sins, in order that times of refreshing might come from the presence of the Master, and that He sends יהושע Messiah, pre-appointed for you, whom heaven needs to receive until the times of restoration of all matters, of which the Mighty One spoke through the mouth of all His set-apart prophets since of old. For Mosheh truly said to the fathers, ‘יהוה your Mighty One shall raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brothers. Him you shall hear according to all matters, whatever He says to you. And it shall be that every being who does not hear that Prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.” (Deut 18:18-19)

2 -

John 9:31, "“And we know that YHWH does not hear sinners. But if anyone fears YHWH and does His desire, He hears him. “ (Pro 28:9)

1 John 3:4, "Whoever commits sin, transgresses also the Law; for sin is the transgression of the Law."

Proverbs 28:13 “He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.”

Hebrews 7:24-25, “but He, because He remains forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. Therefore He is also able to save completely those who draw near to YHWH through Him, ever living to make intercession for them.”

1 John 1:8-10, "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His Word is not in us."

Hebrews 4:1-15, "Seeing then that we have a great High Priest Who has ascended into the heavens: Yahshua the Son of YHWH, let us hold fast our profession. For we do not have a High Priest Who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all ways tempted as we are, yet was without sin."

Psalm 32:5, “I acknowledged my sin to You, And my crookedness I did not hide. I have said, “I confess my transgressions to יהוה,” And You forgave the crookedness of my sin. Selah.”

3 -

John 8:31-32, “So יהושע said to those Yehuḏim who believed Him, “If you stay in My Word, you are truly My disciples, and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

John 8:34-36, “יהושע answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone doing sin is a servant of sin. And the servant does not stay in the house forever – a son stays forever. If, then, the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.”

John 5:28-30, “Do not marvel at this, because the hour is coming in which all those in the tombs shall hear His voice, and shall come forth – those who have practiced righteousness, to the resurrection of life, and those who have practiced evil matters, to a resurrection of judgment. Of Myself I am unable to do any matter. As I hear, I judge, and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own desire, but the desire of the Father who sent Me.”

 

[Deuteronomy]

Hello @Chester, et al, the elder Apostle John (who, BTW, includes himself in the "we", "our" and "us" of the following verse) spoke of the Christian's ongoing need to confess our sins whenever we commit them (as ὁμολογέω/confess is in the present tense).

​

1 John 1​

9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ​

​

As far as choice #1 in the OP being that which is taught by Calvinists, I don't believe that's the case (or perhaps more accurately, it does not tell the entire story .. see below).

​

XI. Of Justification​

4. God did, from all eternity, decree to justify all the elect, (Gal. 3:8, 1 Pet. 1:2, 19–20, Rom. 8:30) and Christ did, in the fulness of time, die for their sins, and rise for their justification: (Gal. 4:4, 1 Tim. 2:6, Rom. 4:25) nevertheless, they are not justified, until the Holy Spirit doth, in due time, actually apply Christ unto them. (Col. 1:21–22, Gal. 2:16, Tit. 3:4–7)​

​

5. God doth continue to forgive the sins of those that are justified; (Matt. 6:12, 1 John 1:7, 9, 1 John 2:1–2) and, although they can never fall from the state of justification, (Luke 22:32, John 10:28, Heb. 10:14) yet they may, by their sins, fall under God’s fatherly displeasure, and not have the light of His countenance restored unto them, until they humble themselves, confess their sins, beg pardon, and renew their faith and repentance. (Ps. 89:31–33, Ps. 51:7–12, Ps. 32:5, Matt. 26:75, 1 Cor. 11:30, 32, Luke 1:20)​

​

~Westminster Confession of Faith​

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In the end, no matter which of the three OP choices (of "when" God forgives our sins) is actually true, "the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God" remains the sole basis for His forgiveness of ALL of our sins .. 1 Peter 1:19; Hebrews 9:22, 10:4.

God bless you!!

~Deuteronomy

 

[Deuteronomy]

5. God doth continue to forgive the sins of those that are justified; (Matt. 6:12, 1 John 1:7, 9, 1 John 2:1–2) and, although they can never fall from the state of justification, (Luke 22:32, John 10:28, Heb. 10:14) yet they may, by their sins, fall under God’s fatherly displeasure, and not have the light of His countenance restored unto them, until they humble themselves, confess their sins, beg pardon, and renew their faith and repentance. (Ps. 89:31–33, Ps. 51:7–12, Ps. 32:5, Matt. 26:75, 1 Cor. 11:30, 32, Luke 1:20)​

​

~Westminster Confession of Faith​

​

I meant to point out (in my last post) that in the above example, that while God continues to forgive the sins of Christians, that Christians need to continue to confess their sins to Him as well (as the above excerpt from the Westminster Confession of Faith points out). See the second phrase in bold above, the phrase that I meant to put in bold in my last post, but did not

~Deuteronomy

 

[Chester]

I don't really understand #3 where you say...it is forgiven immediately when it is forgiven. Can you explain this more fully?

The Christian who is believing in Jesus and His atoning work on Calvary may commit an act of sin - but when he does, that sin is forgiven because of the blood of Jesus. God does not wait to forgive the sin until the person can say some of prayer of confession. If this was the case, then between the time of committing the sin and saying the prayer, this person would go to hell if he died (because he had unforgiven sin).

 

[Chester]

I don't really understand #3 where you say...it is forgiven immediately when it is forgiven. Can you explain this more fully?

See also post # 6 - Bit part of your confusion is because I made a mistake in my wording on # 3 -- It should have said "it is forgiven immediately when it is committed"

 

[Aussie52]

I am speaking here of those sins that a Christian commits after he has been born again. In relation to past sins, most Christians are completely agreed that past sins are forgiven at conversion (the new birth). But there are several different explanations of how sins are forgiven after the new birth.

Those different explanations fall broadly into three categories:
(1) Those who believe that at the new birth all of a person's sins already committed and those yet in the future are forgiven at the moment of being born again.
(2) Those who believe that a Christian must confess/repent to God after committing a sin, and then the sin is forgiven.
(3) Those who believe that a Christian who sins is immediately forgiven of the sin at the moment that it is forgiven because of the Christian's faith in the atoning of the blood of Christ

Those who teach Calvinism, eternal security, or the perseverance of saints fall mostly under #1.

Those who teach #2 tend to be of the Arminian camp in some form or other. There are many variances taught under #2 - that is - the question arises: If the sin is not forgiven yet, is this person still saved?

I believe #3. And I believe that this is the only approach of the three that offers a clear and straightforward daily assurance of salvation to the believer.

As an Arminian, I would go with 1 John 1:9, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." I guess that makes me fall into number 2 category.

 

[Blain]

I am speaking here of those sins that a Christian commits after he has been born again. In relation to past sins, most Christians are completely agreed that past sins are forgiven at conversion (the new birth). But there are several different explanations of how sins are forgiven after the new birth.

Those different explanations fall broadly into three categories:
(1) Those who believe that at the new birth all of a person's sins already committed and those yet in the future are forgiven at the moment of being born again.
(2) Those who believe that a Christian must confess/repent to God after committing a sin, and then the sin is forgiven.
(3) Those who believe that a Christian who sins is immediately forgiven of the sin at the moment that it is forgiven because of the Christian's faith in the atoning of the blood of Christ

Those who teach Calvinism, eternal security, or the perseverance of saints fall mostly under #1.

Those who teach #2 tend to be of the Arminian camp in some form or other. There are many variances taught under #2 - that is - the question arises: If the sin is not forgiven yet, is this person still saved?

I believe #3. And I believe that this is the only approach of the three that offers a clear and straightforward daily assurance of salvation to the believer.

Love, that is the answer believe me I kniw firsthand the darkest depth the absolute worst you can say to him the moment when you know you more than deserve to deserve to be stuck down by him

his patience his willingnesss to deal with us in our worst state even to the point where we more than deserve yo be struck down by him yet he loves and keeps going for us sin weakness all our faults doesn't matter to him I know firsthand I have blasphemed so many times unspeakable things against him yet he contiues on he still is there when no one else will

Trust me I have been tp the deepest darkness even considering the help of the enemy it has gotten that bad but even so I say with confidence there is a reason for hope

Keep going dare to believe where others won't prove his word to be true

 

[Dino246]

I choose door #4: our sins were forgiven when Jesus died on the cross.

 

[John146]

I choose door #4: our sins were forgiven when Jesus died on the cross.

When is the blood applied? The moment of belief? Before believing? I agree, all sin was paid for at the cross, but when is the payment applied?

1 Timothy 4:10 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.

 

[ResidentAlien]

Being a disciple of Christ is organic; it's not some theological equation that renders the correct answer when you plug in all the relevant data. Honestly, I don't know the exact moment sins are forgiven. I do know Who forgives them though and that's enough for me.

 

[Cameron143]

Sins were paid for on the cross. Forgiveness comes as we are humble and contrite before the Lord.
Sins need only be paid for once. They need to be confessed often.

 

[BearerOfTheMorningStar]

In the name of Jesus I forgive everyone on this topic of your sins right now if you want it and want to PRAISE JESUS!

 

[BearerOfTheMorningStar]

PRAISE JESUS!

Luke 16:1-8

1 And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods.

2 And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward.

3 Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed.

4 I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.

5 So he called every one of his lord's debtors unto him, and said unto the first, How much owest thou unto my lord?

6 And he said, An hundred measures of oil. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty.

7 Then said he to another, And how much owest thou? And he said, An hundred measures of wheat. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and write fourscore.

8 And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.

 

[Aaron56]

1 John 1:9, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

James 5:15 "Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed."

The maturity of the believer (sometimes called growth) requires that we grow in reliance in Him and the Body. To be apart from the Body (as a lifestyle not as a season) is opposed to the standard of Christ and puts one in the position of the member who loses the protection of the herd (to use a natural explanation) by going it alone.

Confessing to Him and to one another is like renovating a house that was about to be condemned: in the hands of the new owner (Christ) the curse of condemnation is absolved and a promise of new life is ratified.

See, we are not only purchased with the blood to be saved, we are renovated (by obedience to Him) to become carriers of His grace in the earth. "As the Father has sent Me, so I am sending you."

 

[Adstar]

I am speaking here of those sins that a Christian commits after he has been born again. In relation to past sins, most Christians are completely agreed that past sins are forgiven at conversion (the new birth). But there are several different explanations of how sins are forgiven after the new birth.

Those different explanations fall broadly into three categories:
(1) Those who believe that at the new birth all of a person's sins already committed and those yet in the future are forgiven at the moment of being born again.
(2) Those who believe that a Christian must confess/repent to God after committing a sin, and then the sin is forgiven.
(3) Those who believe that a Christian who sins is immediately forgiven of the sin at the moment that it is forgiven because of the Christian's faith in the atoning of the blood of Christ

Those who teach Calvinism, eternal security, or the perseverance of saints fall mostly under #1.

Those who teach #2 tend to be of the Arminian camp in some form or other. There are many variances taught under #2 - that is - the question arises: If the sin is not forgiven yet, is this person still saved?

I believe #3. And I believe that this is the only approach of the three that offers a clear and straightforward daily assurance of salvation to the believer.

Well i don't believe in calvinism but i support option 1.. If one believes in the Word of God and one trusts in the atonement of the LORD Jesus and continues in that then one is forgiven all their sins that will ever sin in their lives.. I also support option 3.. From what i have heard about Arminian teachings i do not believe it preaches works salvation..

No 2 is a works salvation teaching.. If you have to consciously repent for every sin then your salvation is dependent on you never failing to confess tones sins.. So salvation is dependent on you achieving 100% confession of all sins.. Which is practically impossible.. Woe to anyone who believes this and dies having failed to confess on of their sins..

 

[SpeakTruth101]

1 -

Isaiah 45:21-25, 21 “Declare and bring near, let them even take counsel together. Who has announced this from of old? Who has declared it from that time? Is it not I, יהוה? And there is no mighty one besides Me, a righteous Ěl and a Saviour, there is none besides Me. 22 “Turn to Me and be saved, all you ends of the earth! For I am Ěl, and there is none else. 23 “I have sworn by Myself, a word has gone out of My mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, so that to Me every knee shall bow, every tongue swear. 24 “One shall say, ‘Only in יהוה do I have righteousness and strength’ – he comes to Him. And all those displeased with Him shall be put to shame. 25 “In יהוה all the seed of Yisra’ĕl shall be declared right and boast.”

Isaiah 53:4-6, 4 Truly, He has borne our sicknesses and carried our pains. Yet we reckoned Him smitten·, stricken by Elohim, and afflicted. 5 But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our crookedness. The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. 6 We all, like sheep, went astray, each one of us has turned to his own way. And יהוה has laid on Him the crookedness of us all.

1 Peter 2:25, “For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your beings.”

Acts 3:19-23, “Repent therefore and turn back, for the blotting out of your sins, in order that times of refreshing might come from the presence of the Master, and that He sends יהושע Messiah, pre-appointed for you, whom heaven needs to receive until the times of restoration of all matters, of which the Mighty One spoke through the mouth of all His set-apart prophets since of old. For Mosheh truly said to the fathers, ‘יהוה your Mighty One shall raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brothers. Him you shall hear according to all matters, whatever He says to you. And it shall be that every being who does not hear that Prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.” (Deut 18:18-19)

2 -

John 9:31, "“And we know that YHWH does not hear sinners. But if anyone fears YHWH and does His desire, He hears him. “ (Pro 28:9)

1 John 3:4, "Whoever commits sin, transgresses also the Law; for sin is the transgression of the Law."

Proverbs 28:13 “He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.”

Hebrews 7:24-25, “but He, because He remains forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. Therefore He is also able to save completely those who draw near to YHWH through Him, ever living to make intercession for them.”

1 John 1:8-10, "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His Word is not in us."

Hebrews 4:1-15, "Seeing then that we have a great High Priest Who has ascended into the heavens: Yahshua the Son of YHWH, let us hold fast our profession. For we do not have a High Priest Who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all ways tempted as we are, yet was without sin."

Psalm 32:5, “I acknowledged my sin to You, And my crookedness I did not hide. I have said, “I confess my transgressions to יהוה,” And You forgave the crookedness of my sin. Selah.”

3 -

John 8:31-32, “So יהושע said to those Yehuḏim who believed Him, “If you stay in My Word, you are truly My disciples, and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

John 8:34-36, “יהושע answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone doing sin is a servant of sin. And the servant does not stay in the house forever – a son stays forever. If, then, the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.”

John 5:28-30, “Do not marvel at this, because the hour is coming in which all those in the tombs shall hear His voice, and shall come forth – those who have practiced righteousness, to the resurrection of life, and those who have practiced evil matters, to a resurrection of judgment. Of Myself I am unable to do any matter. As I hear, I judge, and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own desire, but the desire of the Father who sent Me.”

Hebrews 10:26-31, “For if we sin purposely after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice offering for sins, but some fearsome anticipation of judgment, and a fierce fire which is about to consume the opponents. Anyone who has disregarded the Torah of Mosheh dies without compassion on the witness of two or three witnesses. How much worse punishment do you think shall he deserve who has trampled the Son of Elohim underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was set apart as common, and insulted the Spirit of favour? For we know Him who has said, “Vengeance is Mine, I shall repay, says יהוה.” And again, “יהוה shall judge His people.” It is fearsome to fall into the hands of the living Elohim.”

 

[notmyown]

I choose door #4: our sins were forgiven when Jesus died on the cross.

ah, you believe the writer to the Hebrews:

who (the Son), being the radiance of His glory and the exact expression of His substance, and upholding all things by the power of His word, through having made the purification of sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high (Heb 1:3 BLB)

 

[SpeakTruth101]

ah, you believe the writer to the Hebrews:

who (the Son), being the radiance of His glory and the exact expression of His substance, and upholding all things by the power of His word, through having made the purification of sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high (Heb 1:3 BLB)

He makes intercession, yet we still have to confess our sins to YHWH...

Hebrews 7:24-25, “but He, because He remains forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. Therefore He is also able to save completely those who draw near to YHWH through Him, ever living to make intercession for them.”

1 John 1:8-10, "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His Word is not in us."

Not confessing is sociopathic.