As we are coming off Easter weekend, it seems like the perfect time to continue our reflection on forgiveness. Forgiveness plays an essential role in Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. It is His forgiveness, along with His sacrifice, that allows us to be right with Him.
Last week, we discussed what it means to forgive and why it is so essential that we come to forgiveness with our fellow human beings. Before we can truly do this, however, we must learn to receive the forgiveness of Christ and live in reconciliation with Him.
Why do we need Christ’s forgiveness?
To be condemned means to be sentenced to receive a deserved punishment. The recipient of this judgment stands guilty and is thus condemned. As sinful beings, we stand guilty before God and deserving of His wrath.
Romans 3:23
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God
We all deserve condemnation. We have sinned against God and against one another and we deserve the punishment for our actions. God is perfect—both in righteousness and love—and he cannot let sin reign free. It is against His nature. We, as sinful beings who have departed from God to pursue our own ways, are caught up in this condemnation. We are not perfect, and so we must face the punishment for our actions. What is this punishment?
Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
We deserve death. Not just physical death, but spiritual death. We deserve to be separated from God and all His goodness for the rest of time. Yet, God, in His love, chose to send His son to take on our punishment for us. He released us from our deserved punishment at the cross. In this moment, on Good Friday, Christ released all people from their deserved punishment. He took it on Himself instead—He forgave them. He forgave us. We no longer need to stand under condemnation, but can be free of any and all guilt.
Does this apply to everyone? Yes! At the cross, Jesus declared “It is finished,” (John 19:30) and sat down at the right hand of the Father, never to repeat this again. It is finished once and for all eternity.
Christ’s forgiveness vs. Christ’s reconciliation
Right, but not everyone is saved through Christ’s sacrifice. The Bible is clear that some people—in fact, many people—will choose not to follow God and will live in eternal separation from Him as a result. How, then, can you say that all people are forgiven?
Forgiveness is not to be confused with reconciliation. While Christ has forgiven all, not everyone will be reconciled with Him. Why? Reconciliation requires two parties. Christ has forgiven us and taken on our debt, but we have to receive that forgiveness in order to be reconciled to Him and become saved.
Hebrews 9:24-28
24 For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence. 25 Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. 26 Otherwise Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But he has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, 28 so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.
Everyone has been forgiven, but not everyone experiences his forgiveness. Why do they not experience it? They have chosen not to receive it. In order to be reconciled with Christ, we must believe that God so loved the world that He gave His only beloved son, and that whoever believes that Christ died for him and was resurrected shall be reconciled and receive eternal life in forgiveness (John 3:16-18). We must also believe that Christ alone is the way, the truth, and the life. No one can be reconciled with the Father apart from Him (John 14:6). If a person does not believe this, he stands condemned and passes into eternity still separated from God. God will not alter the truth for the sake of reconciliation.
So, even though Christ has opened the door for all to be reconciled by His forgiveness, we must choose to be reconciled with Him in order for the restoration to take place.
Abiding: walking in reconciliation with Christ
What does this reconciliation look like?
It looks like a restored relationship with Christ, found through first repentance, then through abiding with Him. As we abide with Him, He works in us to restore us and guide us into His will. To learn more about what an abiding life looks like, check out our online course, Abiding in the Vine.
As we do this, we learn to forgive ourselves and others, and enter into the abundant life Christ has to offer us. For those who are in Christ, there is no condemnation, only forgiveness and new life. This life of forgiveness is the fruit of living with Him and experiencing His exceptional life. We often tend to remain living in guilt because of our past mistakes. Christ frees us from this burden and releases us from these mistakes, if we choose to accept His sacrifice and walk with Him.
If you would like to learn more about what it means to walk with Christ, consider our taking our online courses. These courses are more than just a Bible study; they are an opportunity to encounter Christ and learn how to enter into an abiding relationship with Him. Additionally, if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us through our Contact page. We are here to help you on your journey to reconciliation with Christ!
