Total Continual Forgiveness

I’m writing this in the Easter week but it applies all year long! The reason for Easter in simple terms was to make a legal way for God to forgive people’s sins so that they would be fit to join God’s family. The Bible says that we love God because He first loved us (I John 4:9). His unconditional love for us meant that He had to provide the solution to the sin problem.

And He did, by reconciling “us to Himself by Jesus Christ” (II Corinthians 5:18), “for he hath made him [to be] sin for us… that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (5:21). The words “to be” are not in the Greek and this is why some translate it “he hath made him who knew no sin a sin-offering for us,” reminding us of the Old Testament ritual for the forgiveness of sin.

The sin-offering had to provide a total forgiveness… that is, past and future sins. And this aspect worries some Christians because they think it implies a license to sin — we can do what we like and God will forgive us.

Of course God forgives future sins; if He didn’t you would not be saved. When Jesus died on the cross, you were not yet born and thus had not sinned, yet Jesus was a sin-offering for you. You accepted that when you confessed Jesus as Lord of your life. And if you respond to His unconditional love with your unconditional love, you will do what is pleasing in His sight. Yet if you do sin (I John 2:1), He’s got you covered.

In addition, the sin-offering has to be continual. “The blood of Jesus Christ his son cleanses us from all sin” (I John 1:7b). The verb “cleanses” is present tense, continuous. “… Cleanses (removes) us from all sin and guilt [keeps us cleansed from sin in all its forms and manifestations]” (Amplified); “… The blood of Jesus His Son keeps continually cleansing us from every sin” (Wuest); “… is cleansing us from every sin” (Concordant). God keeps us cleansed! “Your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake” (I John 2:12).

So God offers you total, continual forgiveness. Easter is a good time to quit trying to do it your way and count on His forgiveness.