Tag Archives: forgiveness of sins

How to Avoid the Lake of Fire

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The term, lake of fire, itself appears in Revelation, where it is linked to the final judgment at the Great White Throne (Rev 20:11-15). The lake of fire is the final place of judgment for Satan, his demons, and all unbelievers. It is described as a place of eternal torment, separation from God, and unquenchable fire (Rev 20:10, 14-15). We are told, “And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire” (Rev 20:15). This judgment is irreversible and eternal, marking the complete and final separation from God.

Eternal suffering in the lake of fire is described as a state of eternal conscious torment (Matt 25:41, 46; Mark 9:43-48; Rev 14:10-11). Jesus spoke repeatedly of hell (Gehenna) as a place of “weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matt 13:42, 50), emphasizing its severity. The fire is “unquenchable,” and the worm “does not die” (Mark 9:48), indicating perpetual suffering. This judgment is not arbitrary but is the result of rejecting God’s free gift of eternal life through faith in Christ. Personal faith is the issue. Each person must believe in Jesus. The Scripture says, “the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom 6:23b).

Eternal life is described as a gift, meaning we don’t work for it, earn it, or deserve it. It’s not about morality, religious rituals, or any human effort. This gift wasn’t free to Christ—it was purchased at infinite cost. On the cross, He took the full brunt of God’s judgment, bearing our sin, paying our debt in full, and satisfying divine righteousness once and for all. The issue of sin has been settled. Now that the debt is paid, there’s nothing left for us to contribute. No penance, no promises, no emotional experiences. What does God require? Faith alone in Christ alone. To believe in Jesus as Savior means to trust Him at His Word—that He did all the work on our behalf. When we believe in Him, we receive eternal life instantly, irrevocably, and permanently. We don’t feel it, work it up, or negotiate for it. It’s grace, pure and simple. Christ did the work; we get the benefit. And possessing eternal life means we will never experience the lake of fire, for “there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom 8:1).

The way to avoid the lake of fire is to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Salvation is by grace alone (Eph 2:8-9), through faith alone (Rom 3:28), in Christ alone (John 14:6; Acts 4:12). Jesus bore the full penalty for sin on the cross (Mark 10:45; 2 Cor 5:21; 1 Pet 3:18; 2:24), so that anyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sin (Acts 10:43) and eternal life and will never come into condemnation (John 5:24; Rom 8:1). We’re old, “whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16), and “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not believe in the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him” (John 3:36).

I don’t want anyone to spend eternity in the lake of fire. It’s a real place of eternal suffering, and it saddens me that many will go there when they do not have to. Turn to Christ. Believe in Him. His offers forgiveness of sins and eternal life for all who want it. Scripture tells us, “everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins” (Acts 10:43), and “everyone who believes in Him will have eternal life” (John 3:15).

Dr. Steven R. Cook

If this article has enriched your understanding and walk with Christ, and you feel led to support my ministry, your generosity is greatly appreciated. Your gifts enable me to continue sharing the gospel of grace and providing in-depth biblical teachings. Thank you for partnering with me in this mission.

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The Price of Forgiveness

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Forgiveness comes at a price. Though it may be offered freely to the offender, it always costs the giver something. The word “forgive” translates the Greek verb aphiemi (ἀφίημι), which means to let go, cancel, send away, or pardon. Forgiveness refers to the act of releasing someone from a debt or offense without demanding payment or retribution. For example, in the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus told a parable about a king who had a servant who owed him a great debt of ten thousand talents (Matt 18:23-35). A talent was a unit of weight equal to 75 pounds, and the parable does not specify whether these were talents of silver or gold. If the debt were in silver, it would approximate 372 million dollars (at $31 an ounce); if in gold, it would be worth 32.4 billion dollars (at $2,700 an ounce). When the servant “did not have the means to repay” his debt (Matt 18:25), we are told, “the lord of that slave felt compassion and released him and forgave him the debt” (Matt 18:27). In Jesus’ parable, the king absorbed the loss, essentially forfeiting the massive amount of money owed to him and releasing the debtor from the obligation of repayment.

God Offers Forgiveness

God offers forgiveness to the entire human race who have sinned against Him. His forgiveness is possible because Jesus paid the overwhelming sin-debt we owed to God. Divine forgiveness is available to us because of the great price that Jesus paid when He was on the cross, when He died for the sins of the whole world (John 3:16; 1 John 2:2). Jesus’ death fully satisfied God’s righteous demands concerning our sin, for Jesus “Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world” (1 John 2:2; cd. Rom 3:24-26; 1 John 4:10). The word “propitiation” translates the Greek word hilasmos (ἱλασμός) means appeasement or satisfaction. What John is saying is that Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross atoned for our sins in such a way that God’s anger was appeased by His death. The death of Christ was the sacrifice that satisfied the Father’s righteous demands concerning our sins.

The Price of Divine Forgiveness

Jesus paid the price for our sins. Divine forgiveness of sins is made possible because Christ has already paid the penalty for sin through His substitutionary death on the cross (1 Pet 2:24; 2 Cor 5:21). The blood of Christ was the coin of the heavenly realm that paid our sin-debt, as Peter wrote, “you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold…but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ” (1 Pet 1:18-19). That was the price paid for our sins, and it was paid in full on the cross, where Jesus hung between heaven and earth. By believing in Christ, the sinner receives judicial forgiveness as a completed work, not as an ongoing process or conditional reward.

Christians who are already saved are instructed to confess their sins to God on a regular basis (1 John 1:9). This confession pertains to familial forgiveness, which restores fellowship with God as our Father after we have sinned. It is distinct from judicial forgiveness, which occurs as a single event when we trust in Christ and are declared righteous before God as Judge. Judicial forgiveness brings us into the family of God once and for all, while familial forgiveness is ongoing and restores our relational harmony with God (see my article: Two Kinds of Forgiveness with God).

God’s Forgiveness Must be Received

God’s forgiveness must be received by sinners, or the full benefits of the cross are not applied. Though Jesus died for everyone (John 3:16; 2 Cor 5:14-15; 1 Tim 2:5-6; 2 Pet 3:9; 1 John 2:2), the benefits of His work on the cross are applied only to those who believe in Him as Savior. We receive forgiveness of our sins at the moment we trust in Jesus as our Savior. Scripture states that “everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins” (Acts 10:43b; cf. Acts 13:38; 26:18; Col 1:14). The word “receives” translates the Greek verb lambanō (λαμβάνω), which means to receive, obtain, or take possession of something. The term often implies actively taking hold of something that is offered. In the context of Acts 10:43, the word indicates the reception of forgiveness is a gift from God, something made available through faith in Christ. God is satisfied with Jesus’ payment for our sins and He offers us total judicial forgiveness if we’ll accept His gracious terms and trust in Christ as our Savior.

Jesus is Our Example of Forgiveness

While on the cross, Jesus sought the forgiveness for those who crucified Him, praying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). Despite His suffering, Jesus displayed a forgiving attitude toward those who hated Him, lied about Him, mistreated Him, and crucified Him. His offenders were not seeking His forgiveness, yet He was willing to give it. By asking the Father to forgive those involved in His crucifixion—including the religious leaders, citizens, and soldiers—Jesus extended grace to His enemies and modeled His own teaching to love and pray for those who persecute us (Matt 5:44). His request for the Father to forgive functions as an imperative of request. Jesus was not demanding that the Father forgive but humbly and lovingly interceding on behalf of His persecutors. His prayer was not a declaration of forgiveness for His attackers, as forgiveness requires personal faith in Him. Only those who believe in Him receive forgiveness of sins, as Scripture states, “Everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins” (Acts 10:43). Instead, His prayer expressed a desire for their opportunity to receive forgiveness. If Jesus could pray for those who tortured and killed Him, how much more should we forgive others for their offenses against us (Col 3:13; Eph 4:32)? Through this prayer, Jesus emphasizes that God’s grace is greater than human sin.

We Should Forgive One Another

As Christians, we should be predisposed to forgive others. Scripture presents two kinds of forgiveness. The first is unconditional. This form of forgiveness is one-sided. It is extended by the one who has been offended, even when the offender does not seek forgiveness or turn from sinful behavior. Such forgiveness may still include wise boundaries to prevent further harm and to avoid the corrupting influence of an unrepentant offender. Unconditional forgiveness benefits the believer personally, because holding on to resentment is spiritually corrosive. Harboring unforgiveness is like drinking poison and hoping the other person dies. It damages the soul that carries it. The second kind is conditional forgiveness. This occurs when the offender seeks forgiveness and reconciliation. Here, agreement and restoration take place. Conditional forgiveness not only releases the offender from the offense, but also repairs and renews the broken relationship. These two forms of forgiveness parallel the two expressions of God’s grace in Scripture. Common grace is God’s kindness extended to all people regardless of their response to Him (Matt 5:45; Acts 14:17). Special grace refers to the blessings given to those who have trusted Christ as Savior and belong to His family (Gal 3:26; Eph 2:8–9).

The Price We Pay to Forgive Others

When we forgive someone who has wronged or hurt us, we release them from any debt they owe and we absorb the loss or pain into ourselves. They don’t deserve it, but neither did we deserve the forgiveness we received from God. He paid the price for our sin, and it was very costly to Him. And when we forgive, it can be costly to us as well. We forgive others as an act of obedience because God directs us to forgive as He has forgiven us (Eph 4:32). In doing so, we display His grace toward others who don’t deserve it. Forgiveness involves choosing to let go of resentment, anger, or the desire for personal vengeance against the offender, recognizing that God is the ultimate judge (Rom 12:19). Jesus taught that forgiveness should be extended repeatedly, reflecting God’s boundless mercy. When Peter asked Jesus, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” (Matt 18:21). To which Jesus replied, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven (Mat 18:22; cf. Luke 17:3-4).

Forgiveness can be especially difficult in situations where the offender is unrepentant or where forgiveness does not lead to reconciliation or restored trust. Forgiving another person is not a denial of the hurt caused, nor does it necessarily eliminate consequences for the offender (such as if he broke the law); however, it is an act of obedience and faith, trusting that God sees and will vindicate the wronged party according to His perfect justice (Psa 37:5-6), “after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you” (2 Th 1:6).

What Forgiveness is Not

Forgiveness does not mean forgetting the offense or erasing its memory. Rather, it involves choosing not to dwell on the wrong or allow it to dominate our thoughts and actions. Similarly, forgiveness does not eliminate all consequences of sin. Even when forgiveness is extended, the offender may still face legal, relational, or other repercussions as a result of their actions (Gal 6:7-8). Furthermore, forgiveness does not equate to enabling sinful behavior. It is not an invitation to tolerate or excuse ongoing wrongdoing, and it may require setting boundaries to ensure protection and accountability.

Forgive and Avoid

Though we are to have a forgiving spirit toward everyone, that does not mean we associate with everyone or allow them into our lives. The reality is that some people are dangerous and can cause us great harm if we befriend them. We can both forgive and avoid some people. There are people committed to a lifestyle of sin who will cause us harm and teach us bad ways if we associate with them. Scripture tells us, “Do not associate with a gossip” (Prov 20:19), and “do not associate with a man given to anger; or go with a hot-tempered man” (Prov 22:24), and “do not associate with rebels” (Prov 24:21). Paul said to Christians in Corinth, “I wrote to you not to associate with anyone who calls himself a Christian who is sexually immoral, or greedy, or an idolater, or verbally abusive, or a drunkard, or a swindler. Do not even eat with such a person” (1 Cor 5:11). And in his letter to the Christians in Thessalonica, Paul wrote, “If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of that person and do not associate with him, so that he will be put to shame” (2 Th 3:14). David wrote, “I do not associate with deceitful men, or consort with those who are dishonest. I hate the mob of evil men, and do not associate with the wicked” (Psa 26:4-5). The wicked are to be avoided, for they “are like the tossing sea, which cannot rest, and its waters toss up refuse and mud” (Isa 57:20).

Summary

In summary, forgiveness is a costly yet essential virtue for the believer, modeled perfectly by God and demonstrated supremely through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ. Divine forgiveness, freely offered to all humanity, was made possible through the payment of our immense sin-debt by Christ’s substitutionary death on the cross (Rom 3:24-26; 1 John 2:2; 1 Pet 1:18-19). God’s forgiveness is judicial and permanent for those who trust in Christ (Acts 10:43; Eph 1:7). Christians are called to forgive others as an act of grace and obedience, reflecting the character of God (Eph 4:32; Col 3:13). Forgiveness does not negate justice, excuse sin, or eliminate the need for boundaries, but it releases the offended from bitterness and entrusts judgment to God, who is sovereign and righteous (Rom 12:19; 2 Th 1:6). Ultimately, forgiveness demonstrates humility, faith, and trust in God’s perfect justice, allowing us to glorify Him and maintain a spirit of grace even in difficult circumstances. By forgiving others, we follow Christ’s example, embodying His love and offering a testimony of the transformative power of His grace (Matt 5:44-45; 1 Pet 2:23).

Dr. Steven R. Cook

If this article has enriched your understanding and walk with Christ, and you feel led to support my ministry, your generosity is greatly appreciated. Your gifts enable me to continue sharing the gospel of grace and providing in-depth biblical teachings. Thank you for partnering with me in this mission.

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The Importance of Christ’s Resurrection in the Gospel Message

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The subject of Jesus’ resurrection is an essential element of the Gospel (εὐαγγέλιον euaggelion). Paul set forth the gospel of grace in precise terms, saying, “Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you” (1 Cor 15:1). And the gospel message he preached is “that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Cor 15:3-4). Believing the gospel message concerning the Person and work of Christ is what saves. According to R.B. Thieme Jr., “First Corinthians 15:3-4 defines the boundaries of the Gospel, beginning with the work of Christ and ending with His resurrection. The good news is that ‘Christ died for our sins…and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day.’ Any Gospel message that strays from the cross or denies Jesus Christ’s resurrection from physical death is inaccurate and out of bounds.” (R.B. Thieme, Jr. Thieme’s Bible Doctrine Dictionary, p.113).

I am the resurrection and the life - squareAmazingly, there were some at the church in Corinth who taught “that there is no resurrection of the dead” (1 Cor 15:12). Paul addressed this issue head on, saying, “if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is useless…For if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins.” (1 Cor 15:13-14, 17). The clear teaching of Scripture is that “Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep” (1 Cor 15:20), and being “raised from the dead, is never to die again” (Rom 6:9). Praise God! By His resurrection, Jesus overcame sin and death.

The Gospel MessageBiblically, we understand that it is God who saves (John 3:16). The gospel is what we must believe to receive that salvation. Paul wrote, “How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?” (Rom 10:14). But now you’ve heard the good news. I’ve just preached it to you. And if you’ve not trusted Christ as your Savior, I beg you, don’t wait another moment. Place your faith in Him. That single decision will forever change the course of your life and eternal destiny in ways that are beyond your ability to fully calculate, for “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Cor 2:9). At the moment you trust Christ as your Savior, you will receive forgiveness of all your sins (Eph 1:7; Heb 10:10-14), the gift of righteousness (Rom 5:17; Phil 3:9), eternal life (John 10:28), become a child of God (John 1:12), be rescued from Satan’s “domain of darkness” and transferred “to the kingdom of His beloved Son” (Col 1:13), and become a member of the royal family of God, related to Jesus, Who is “the King of kings and Lord of lords” (1 Tim 6:15). These, and other wonderful blessings will become yours at the moment you trust in Christ as your Savior, for God will bless you with a portfolio of spiritual blessings that stagger the imagination (Eph 1:3). The gospel is simple, and the choice is yours. I pray you act wisely.

Dr. Steven R. Cook

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An Ambassador for Christ

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Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. (2 Cor. 5:18-20)

     An ambassador is an official dignitary who represents the country that sent him into a foreign land, and his message is derived from the sending ruler. The Christian ambassador represents the Lord Jesus Christ who has called and equipped him to speak on His behalf to those outside of Christ’s kingdom (John 18:36; Acts 26:17-18; Col 1:13-14). The Christian message is simple, that God reconciles us to Himself through the cross of Christ (2 Cor 5:18-21; Eph 2:13-16; Col 1:19-20; 1 Pet 3:18), providing us forgiveness for all our sins (Eph 1:7; Col 1:13-14), eternal life (John 10:28), and the gift of righteousness which makes us acceptable to Him (Isa 61:10; 2 Cor 5:21; Rom 5:17; Phil 3:9). 

God does not have to be reconciled to man, because that was accomplished by Christ on the cross. It is sinful man who must be reconciled to God. “Religion” is man’s feeble effort to be reconciled to God, efforts that are bound to fail. The Person who reconciles us to God is Jesus Christ, and the place where He reconciles us is His cross.[1]

paul-preaching     As Christian ambassadors, “we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus’ sake” (2 Cor 4:5). God always goes before us and providentially coordinates our meetings with others, working in their hearts to receive our message (John 16:7-11), and rescuing from Satan’s captivity those who believe the gospel (2 Cor 4:3-4; 2 Tim 2:26). God never forces Himself on anyone, but neither does He leave unpunished those who reject the Christian message (Rev 20:11-15). Those who disregard God’s gracious offer of salvation choose to continue in Satan’s world system (John 15:19; Rom 1:18-25; 1 John 2:15-17), selecting darkness rather than light (John 3:19-20), and choosing the path that leads to eternal destruction (Matt 7:13-14). As heavenly ambassadors we are responsible to present a clear biblical message, and though we may passionately seek to persuade, we are not accountable for how others respond to it.

     As an ambassador of Christ, we are to speak and act with dignity at all times. We are to be clear in speaking God’s truth to people who are made in His image (fallen as they are). We are to point them to Christ that they might turn to Him for salvation and be born again to a new spiritual life (1 Pet 1:3, 23). We are to “speak the truth in love” (Eph 4:15), “with grace” (Col 4:6), and “with gentleness and respect” (1 Pet 3:15-16). There’s no place for hostility in the Christian life, for “the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God” (Jam 1:20). Scripture tells us:

The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will. (2 Tim 2:24-26). 

     Our behavior should be consistent with the One we claim to represent. Our primary message is, be reconciled to God. Reconciliation occurs when a person turns to Jesus as Savior, believing in Him, and accepting that His death on the cross satisfied all of the Father’s demands for our sin, and that Jesus overcame sin and death by His resurrection (1 Cor 15:3-4). 

Dr. Steven R. Cook

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[1] Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 649.

Atonement for Sins

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For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood by reason of the life that makes atonement. (Lev 17:11)

And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. (Heb 9:22)

Sacrificial LambAtonement is a very important concept in the Old Testament. The word atonement translates the Hebrew verbכָּפַר  (kaphar) which means to “cover over, pacify, propitiate, [or] atone for sin.”[1] Theologically, it means “to bring together in mutual agreement, with the added idea, in theology, of reconciliation through the vicarious suffering of one on behalf of another.”[2] The animal sacrificial system—which was part of the Mosaic Law—taught that sin must be atoned for. The idea of substitution was clearly taught as the sinner laid his hands on the animal that died in his place (Lev 4:15, 24; 16:21). The innocent animal paid the price of death on behalf of the guilty sinner.  God established the Levitical animal sacrificial system as a way of teaching that human sin must be atoned for. The atoning animal sacrifices were performed daily by the Jewish temple priests on behalf of Israelites who committed sins in ignorance (Lev 4:1-4, 20, 26, 31). More serious sins—those deliberately committed—were atoned for once a year on the Day of Atonement—Yom Kippur—by the High Priest who would enter the Holy of Holies in the temple and sprinkle the blood of a sacrificed bull and goat on the mercy seat which was on the top of the Ark of the Covenant (Lev 16:14-15). There were two sacrifices on the Day of Atonement: a bull was sacrificed for the sins of the High Priest (Lev 16:6, 11), and two goats for the sins of the nation (Lev 16:7-10). The sacrifice of the goats were “to make atonement for the sons of Israel for all their sins once every year” (Lev 16:34). One goat shed its blood on the altar, and the other was sent away into the wilderness after the High Priest had laid his hands on it and confessed over it “all the iniquities of the sons of Israel and all their transgressions in regard to all their sins” (Lev 16:21). The innocent animals died in place of those who were guilty of sin.

The animal sacrificial system under the Mosaic Law taught that God is holy, man is sinful, and that God was willing to judge an innocent creature as a substitute in place of the sinner. The animal that shed its blood gave up its life in place of the one who had offended God, and it was only through the shed blood that atonement was made. A life for a life. The whole animal sacrificial system under the Mosaic Law was highly symbolic, temporary, and pointed forward to the work of Jesus Christ on the cross. The Levitical priests would regularly perform their temple sacrifices on behalf of the people to God, but being a symbolic system, the animal sacrifices could never “make perfect those who draw near” to Him, for the simple reason that “it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins” (Heb 10:1, 4). For nearly fourteen centuries the temple priests kept “offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins” (Heb 10:11), until finally Christ “offered one sacrifice for sins for all time” and through that one offering “perfected for all time those who are sanctified” by it (Heb 10:12, 14). What the Mosaic Law could never accomplish through the sacrifice of symbols, Christ did once and for all time through His substitutionary death on the cross when he died in the place of sinners.

The Lamb of GodJesus’ death on the cross was a satisfactory sacrifice to God which completely paid the price for our sin. We owed a debt to God that we could never pay, and Jesus paid that debt in full when He died on the cross and bore the punishment that rightfully belonged to us. In Romans 3:25 Paul used the Greek word ἱλαστήριον (hilasterion)—translated propitiation—to show that Jesus’ shed blood completely satisfied God’s righteous demands toward our sin, with the result that there is nothing more for the sinner to pay to God. Jesus paid our sin-debt in full. There’s nothing for us to pay. The Apostle John tells us “He Himself is the propitiation [ἱλασμός hilasmos – the satisfactory sacrifice] for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world” (1 John 2:2; cf., 4:10). Jesus’ death on the cross forever satisfied God’s righteous demands toward the sins of everyone for all time! God has “canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross” (Col. 2:14). Regarding Christ’s death, J. Dwight Pentecost states:

You can be adjusted to God’s standard, because God made Christ to become sin for us. The One who knew no sin, the One in whose lips had never been found guile, took upon Himself our sin in order that He might bear our sins to the cross and offer Himself as an acceptable substitute to God for us—on our behalf, in our place. And when Jesus Christ identified Himself with sinners and went to the cross on their behalf and in their place, He was making possible the doctrine of reconciliation. He was making it possible for God to conform the world to Himself, to adjust the world to His standard so that sinners in the world might find salvation because “Jesus paid it all.” You can be adjusted to God, to God’s standard, through Christ, by His death, by His cross, by His blood, and by His identification with sinners.[3]

Atonement for sins is the basis for reconciliation, because God has judged our sins in the Person of Christ who died on the cross in our place. The death of Christ has forever satisfied God’s righteous demands for our sin and it is on this basis that He can accept sinners before His throne of grace. The blood of Christ is the only coin in the heavenly realm that God accepts as payment for our sin-debt, and Christ paid our sin debt in full! That’s good news! Paul wrote, “Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation” (2 Cor 5:18-19). According to Charles Ryrie:

God’s provision of reconciliation is universal. Because of the death of Christ the position of the world was changed—people were now able to be saved. But that alone saves no one, for the ministry of reconciliation must be faithfully discharged by proclaiming the Gospel message. When an individual believes, then he receives the reconciliation God provided in Christ’s death (2 Cor 5:18–21). The world has been reconciled, but people need to be reconciled. The universal reconciliation changes the position of the world from an unsalvable condition to a salvable one. Individual reconciliation through faith actually brings that reconciliation in the individual’s life and changes the position of the individual from unsaved to saved. Then, and only then, are his sins forgiven, though they were paid for on the cross.[4]

Because Jesus’ death satisfies God’s righteousness demands for sin, the sinner can approach God who welcomes him in love. God has cleared the way for sinners to come to Him for a new relationship, and this is based completely on the substitutionary work of Christ. God has done everything to reconcile us to Himself.  The sin debt that we owed to God has been paid in full by the blood of Christ.

Dr. Steven R. Cook

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[1] Francis Brown, S.R. Driver and Charles A. Briggs, The New Brown-Driver-Briggs-Gesenius Hebrew-English Lexicon (Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson Publishers 1979), 497.

[2] G. W. Bromiley, “Atone; Atonement,” ed. Geoffrey W. Bromiley, The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Revised (Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1979–1988), 352.

[3] J. Dwight Pentecost, Things Which Become Sound Doctrine (Grand Rapids, Mi., Kregel Publications, 1965), 89.

[4] Charles Caldwell Ryrie, Basic Theology: A Popular Systematic Guide to Understanding Biblical Truth (Chicago, IL: Moody Press, 1999), 338.