One of the most profound gifts the Christian Faith provides is the forgiveness of our transgressions (sins). Jesus Christ made this gift possible through his sacrifice on the Cross, when he humbled himself in becoming man to atone for our sins through his painful, redemptive Passion and death. However, receiving God’s forgiveness requires our sincere repentance in acknowledging our sins and committing ourselves to avoid sin in the future.  One the other hand, if we culpably reject God, including by spurning Jesus as God’s divine Son and our Redeemer, we will render this gift null and void. Christians believe we all bear the guilt for our personal sins and so require atonement for those transgressions.  Whether a benevolent figure like Mother Teresa, or a notorious murderer like Jeffrey Dahmer, we all are in need of forgiveness. Do you need forgiveness? Do you crave forgiveness? Read on to learn more.

Background

Why Do We Need Forgiveness?

Some questions you have regarding forgiveness may include 1.) What is it? and 2.) Why do we need it? The answer lies within our personal sins.  What qualifies as sin requiring forgiveness? The biblical Ten Commandments provide excellent guidance, as do the teachings of Jesus in His Sermon on the Mount in the New Testament Bible (Gospel of Matthew, chapters 5—7).   In addition, Jesus summarized the moral law in two primary commands: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself” (Luke 10:27).   

To break down further the concepts of sin and forgiveness, let’s analyze two categories:1.) Sins of “commission,” which are willful violations of God’s commandments, such as stealing or committing murder; and 2.) Sins of “omission,” which include choosing not to fulfill our obligations to love God and neighbor in specific circumstances. 

Examples of “sins of commission” can also include rejecting God as Lord of our lives, as if we can pridefully determine what is right and wrong. The Christian story reveals that Satan and his fellow fallen angels irrevocably rebelled in rejecting God’s Lordship, while Adam and Eve, our first human parents, succumbed to the sin of pride by not trusting in God.  

Sins of “omission,” as noted, are different. These include choosing to refrain from doing what we know is right in specific circumstances, e.g., ignoring a poor person who requests our aid, or not defending someone in their time of need when they are treated unjustly, whether we encounter them on the street, at work or at home.

We encounter opportunities to do good and avoid evil on a daily basis.  Most of us, both Christian and non-Christians alike, would likely agree that even the most virtuous among us are periodically guilty of choosing to do something wrong, or failing to fulfill our duties to God and man in particular circumstances. 

Christians believe that God’s atonement for our sins of commission and omission is essential. And that’s why God the Father sent His divine Son Jesus to die on the Cross (John 3:16–17). In addition, we must never lose sight of God’s mercy, especially if we become stuck in particular serious sins. St. John Chrysostom noted that Jesus’s mercy has real depth when he said, "Let no one mourn that he has fallen again and again; for forgiveness has risen from the grave."

The Original Sin

Christians maintain that all humankind has inherited a tainted (or fallen) nature because of the prideful transgressions of Adam and Eve as described in the first book of the Old Testament Bible.  According to the book of Genesis, Satan deceived our first parents into breaking communion with God in their prideful attempt to “be like God” (Gen. 3:5). This “original sin” shattered our relationship with our Creator and doomed us to be separated from Him, unless the Lord mercifully intervened. However, as the Christian story proclaims, God did mercifully intervene in seeking to reconcile and save us.

Enter Jesus

Jesus holds a unique position in the annals of human history.  For Hindus, He is considered one of their many hundreds of deities, while Muslims revere Jesus as a prophet of God, but not God Himself. Meanwhile, atheists or non-religious people might regard Jesus as an inspiring moral philosopher, similar to those in ancient Greek history.  However, to Christians, Jesus is much more.  

Christians firmly believe that Jesus, as the divine Son of God, willingly humbled himself to become human, and, because of his sacrificial death on the Cross, now offers each of us a clean slate (forgiveness) and ultimately eternal happiness with Him in heaven. Jesus did more than “pay our fine” through his death.  He was able to “drop the charges”.   C. S. Lewis, a 20th-century writer, aptly noted that forgiveness is a two-way street: "To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you." Christians assert that Jesus’s one sacrifice atones not only for the original sin of our ancestors, but also for all of our personal sins, if only we seek and receive his merciful forgiveness. Tyler Perry, an American actor and director, wisely remarked that forgiving someone may not be easy, but there are benefits: "It's not an easy journey, to get to a place where you forgive people. But it is such a powerful place, because it frees you."  Does the prospect of such freedom appeal to you?

God’s merciful offer of forgiveness holds great value for each and every one of us, including realizing that no sin we’ve personally committed is too big for Jesus to forgive.  As C. S. Lewis noted well, “I think that if God forgives us, we must forgive ourselves. Otherwise, it is almost as if we are setting up ourselves as a higher tribunal than God.” 

Summary

In this segment focusing on Forgiveness, we have attempted to equip you with the tools to comprehend how Jesus, through his merciful sacrifice on the Cross, offers you the opportunity to have your sins forgiven. Attaining peace of mind from having your sins forgiven is a significant benefit of participating in the Christian story.  While God will ultimately be our judge, we have the opportunity to benefit from Jesus’s gift of forgiveness, with the ultimate opportunity to share eternity in heaven with Him.

Please refer to the attached links to videos, documents, quotes, and books regarding further insight into the importance of seeking forgiveness, and the means to attain it.  If you haven’t already, please consider making the Christian Decision and discovering your role in the Christian story.