Am I truly forgiven?

First and foremost, let us delve into the question: How do we, as Christians, receive forgiveness?
We attain forgiveness through faith and repentance. Jesus Himself declares, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:15). As Christians, we receive forgiveness when we acknowledge our sins, sincerely turn away from them, and place our trust in Jesus. This truth is widely known among believers.

When we experience forgiveness, God, in His mercy, pays our debt and sets us free from the dire consequences of our sins  (Eph. 4:32; Col. 2:13, 3:13).

It’s important to understand that God’s forgiveness towards us is a gracious act where He chooses not to hold our sins against us. However, this doesn’t mean He ignores sin. God is perfectly just and righteous, so He cannot simply overlook sin, as it would compromise His character.
Indeed, God’s righteousness is an expression of His love. If He were to refrain from punishing sin, He would cease to be loving, as the opposite of wrath is not love, but apathy. God is not a distant figure showering kindness without regard for justice. He is the holy Creator of the universe. It’s crucial to understand that God cannot suspend justice any more than He can cease to be God.

This then compels us to ask a deeply moving question: How does God, with His unwavering justice, offer forgiveness to those who turn away from their wrongdoing? Am I truly forgiven? The Bible reveals that God achieves this through the sacrificial atonement of His Son (Rom. 3:24). In essence, Jesus, the Son of God, takes upon Himself the burden of our sins, appeases God’s wrath, and graciously pardons the repentant heart. As Luther passionately explains, “Christ stands in our place, carrying the weight of our sins…He is the eternal answer to our wrongdoing, bringing reconciliation between us and God the Father” (Luther, 1959).
Moreover, the forgiveness bestowed upon believers through Christ is all-encompassing. In Him, God no longer holds their transgressions against them (Rom. 4:8). Every trace of sin is addressed. Through Christ, their wrongdoings are completely covered (Ps. 32:1). Their trespasses are eradicated, cast far away to the utmost reaches of the earth (Ps. 103:12).

Through the embrace of Christ’s grace, God no longer recalls their past offenses; they fade into oblivion. Through Christ, the penalty is paid, and those who were once burdened with guilt and shame are declared innocent. This divine forgiveness liberates them from the heavy chains they once carried. It is vast and freely given, echoing the timeless words of Newton, “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound.”
Most importantly, God’s forgiveness extends to everyone, regardless of their identity or past actions. As Volf eloquently states, “No one is too wicked to be forgiven by God, and Christ’s sacrifice encompasses all” (Volf, 2005). This includes individuals from all walks of life – the drug dealer and the gentle elderly woman, the thief and the dedicated social worker, the devout believer and the skeptic, the oppressor and the oppressed.

The offer of divine forgiveness precedes our repentance. The concept of unconditional election reminds us that God chooses sinners before the world began, not based on their merits, worthiness, or even their willingness to repent, but solely by His boundless grace and sovereignty.
In truth, the audacity of the gospel lies in the fact that God loved us even when we were entrenched in our sinful state (Rom. 5:8). Therefore, the gospel is a joyous proclamation because it is freely offered to all, regardless of their identity or actions.
Through His death and resurrection, we are made righteous, saved and purified by the precious blood of Jesus.