Question 56

What believest thou concerning “the forgiveness of sins?”

That God, for the sake of Christ’s satisfaction,^a will no more remember my sins, neither my corrupt nature, against which I have to struggle all my life long;^b but will graciously impute to me the righteousness of Christ, that I may never be condemned before the tribunal of God.^c

1. a. 1 John 2:2; 2 Corinthians 5:19, 21

   1 John 2:2

   ^2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

   ^2:2 He Himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.

   2 Corinthians 5:19; 2 Corinthians 5:21

   ^5:19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. ^5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

   ^5:19 that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men's trespasses against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation. ^5:21 God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.

   King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

2. b. Jeremiah 31:34; Psalm 103:3–4, 10–11; Romans 8:1–3

   Jeremiah 31:34

   ^31:34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

   ^31:34 No longer will each man teach his neighbor or his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' because they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquities and will remember their sins no more."

   Psalm 103:3–4; Psalm 103:10–11

   ^103:3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; ^103:4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; ^103:10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. ^103:11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.

   ^103:3 He who forgives all your iniquities and heals all your diseases, ^103:4 who redeems your life from the Pit and crowns you with loving devotion and compassion, ^103:10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins or repaid us according to our iniquities. ^103:11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His loving devotion for those who fear Him.

   Romans 8:1–3

   ^8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. ^8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. ^8:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

   ^8:1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. ^8:2 For in Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set you free from the law of sin and death. ^8:3 For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful man, as an offering for sin. He thus condemned sin in the flesh,

   King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

3. c. John 3:18

   John 3:18

   ^3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

   ^3:18 Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.

   King James VersionBerean Standard Bible