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GraceBro -> RE: HYPER-FORGIVENESS; Real or imagined (4/9/2008 10:07:32 PM)
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Hi all,
"For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant. In the case of a will, it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it, because a will is in force only when somebody has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it is living." Hebrews 9: 15-17
I believe that the the New Covenant didn't start until after the Cross. That is why you have conditional forgiveness prior to that time. There is no way you can reconcile...
"For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." Matthew 6:14-15
with...
"Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." Ephesians 4:32
and...
"Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you." Colossians 3:13
...without knowing when the New Covenant began. Forgiveness was conditional before Jesus died. After that, it is part of our inheritance as believers. We forgive others because we have been forgiven already by God not to get forgiven by God. If you don't acknowledge the differences in forgiveness between the two covenants than you must be prepared to explain the contradictions that arise. You'll have Christians saying Christ died for all their sins and then asking Him to forgive them. What sins did He not die for? If He only died for your past sins, How many of your sins were in the past when He died? And on and on.
"If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives." 1 John 1:8-10
What Christian claims to be without sin? What Christian claims they have not sinned? If you've been purified of all unrighteousness is there unpurified unrighteousness left over? An unbeliever claims to be without sin not a believer. John is simply saying if the shoe fits, wear it!
"In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. It was necessary, then, for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God's presence. 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. Then Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him." Hebrews 9: 22-28
I believe scripture is clear that a believer stands forgiven of their sins. If they weren't Jesus would have to keep dying for them over and over again. I wonder if people ever contemplate why Scripture says when Jesus returns that He is not coming to deal with sins, but to gather His people. Perhaps, it is because He has already done away with sin once and for all! I am not trying to convince anybody, but share what has convinced me. I'll let the Holy Spirit do the convincing.
Take care RC and the rest of you. Perhaps we will meet again on another thread, but I don't wish to go in circles on this one.
Grace and Peace
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