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[Announcer] (0:00 - 0:17) Think about the Bible like you never have before. You're listening to Christian Questions. Experience more episodes, videos, and Bible study resources at ChristianQuestions.com.

Our topic is: "Will God Forgive Me?" Here's Rick, Jonathan, and Julie.

[Rick] (0:19 - 0:30) Welcome, everyone. I'm Rick. I'm joined by Jonathan, my co-host for over twenty-five years. Julie, a longtime contributor, is also with us.

Jonathan, what's our theme scripture for this episode?

[Jonathan] (0:31 - 0:41) 1 John 2:1: "My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous."

[Rick] (0:42 - 1:35) The definition for "sin" in the Bible is "to miss the mark." To illustrate the point, let's think about shooting an arrow at a target. As you aim for the bullseye, you shoot.

You hit the target, but missed the bullseye. Because your shot didn't hit the mark, it fits the definition of sin. You can say, well, but wait a minute, wait a minute, I did hit the target.

You did, but you were aiming for the bullseye. Seeing sin through this all-or-nothing lens can be frustrating and even scary. What does God do with all of our "just missed" sins?

How about those bigger sins, where at times we may not even aim the arrow? Are we simply lost causes? Fortunately, the Bible explains all of this to us in great detail and the conclusions that the scriptures draw us to are both dramatic and inspiring.

[Jonathan] (1:35 - 1:39) Christians are often confused on the basics about being forgiven.

[Julie] (1:40 - 2:17) They are. I did a little searching from various Christian sources about the mechanics of how God forgives us. I found generally three answers. The first is we pray specific prayers, and the internet has no limit to the specific prayers they recommend;

asking with faith, so we make these prayers. Two, we confess to our clergy, and they absolve us through the power of the holy spirit.

Three, they say when Jesus died on the cross, all of the sins of humanity were transferred to him, so we're all forgiven because of this, and there's no sin that we can commit that is beyond the reach of God's forgiveness.

[Jonathan] (2:17 - 2:24) But does this apply to all of humanity, including those who lived before Jesus, or only Christians?

[Julie] (2:25 - 2:29) And do we have a clear scriptural explanation as to how exactly this works?

[Rick] (2:30 - 3:01) Okay, here's the thing. There is a lot written about sin and forgiveness, so it is likely not what we might think it would be because we are looking at something much bigger. Let's lay some groundwork here.

The Apostle John knew that we as Christians have our highest focus on walking in Jesus' footsteps. He also knew that even though we have God's spirit, we can easily fall in sin. Here is his fatherly advice for us.

We'll look at 1 John 2:1-2:

[Jonathan] (3:02 - 3:32) "My little children, I am writing these things to you that you may not sin (meaning miss the mark). And if anyone sins, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he himself is the propitiation (or satisfaction) for our sins (or offenses); and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world."

This last statement needs broader context. It can sound like whenever we sin, we simply go to God through Jesus, and then we're good.

[Rick] (3:33 - 3:52) That's what both of you were saying seems to be a lot of the thought process. You just kind of like put it out there, and then you walk away and you're all cleaned up. Well, there is much more to forgiveness than that.

Much more. Let's unpack what forgiveness really looks like in the New Testament specifically.

[Julie] (3:53 - 4:35) There are four primary New Testament words for "forgiveness' in the Greek. The first one is broadly used in the sense of having a big heart, and it's not used to describe the taking away of sin. The second word is broadly used in the sense of freeing yourself, letting go, releasing.

It's sometimes translated into English as "forgive," but you'll usually see it in the scriptures as to free, release, dismiss, pardon, divorce, let die. These words are similar, but they're used in different circumstances. There's third and fourth words for forgiveness.

That's where we're going to begin to understand how and when God's forgiveness works. We have the Greek word "aphiemi," meaning "to send forth, send away."

[Rick] (4:36 - 4:39) This is where we need to really pause and think now.

[Jonathan] (4:39 - 5:13) This word is very broadly used and covers godly and human forgiveness. This is the Greek word that most clearly reflects our forgiveness of one another, as in Matthew 18:21: "Then Peter came and said to him, Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive?

As many as seven times?" It's also often used regarding Jesus forgiving the sins of others. For example, 1 John 2:12:

"I am writing to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven you for his name's sake."

[Rick] (5:13 - 5:33) This word for "forgiven" in both of these verses, how often should I forgive my brother or sister, and then Jesus saying, "your sins have been forgiven you." This word literally means "to send forth or send away;"

send something away from your attention where it's not right in front of you. Remember that as we go a little bit further here.

[Julie] (5:33 - 5:40) Okay, the fourth and last Greek word we're going to talk about is the biggie. This is "aphesis." It means "freedom" or "pardon."

[Jonathan] (5:40 - 6:15) This is a very special word that it's never used regarding our forgiving one another. It is only related to the pardon granted through Jesus's sacrifice, which is the big picture of what we refer to as the ransom price paid by Jesus for Adam; a perfect man for a perfect man. Now listen to how it's used in Ephesians 1:7 in the King James version:

"In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins (this word for 'sins' means 'a sideslip or error'), according to the riches of his grace."

[Julie] (6:15 - 6:23) This last word "forgiveness" describes the highest form of forgiveness in the Bible. It's ONLY available from God through the blood of Jesus.

[Rick] (6:24 - 7:12) These two words ("aphiemi" and "aphesis")--there's a significant difference. The same word "forgive" comes into play, but when you look at the meaning, there are significant differences right away. These two different words are going to show us very different applications.

First, God can take individual sins and put them away from His attention. That's that send forth, send away. We can do that too, all right?

We can work the way God works in some ways by being able to put other sins away from us. That second word, Julie, that you just talked about, more deeply means that He has and He will remove every last scrap of Adamic sin away from each and every human being through Jesus dying for Adam.

[Julie] (7:13 - 7:19) You said remove every last scrap of "Adamic sin." What does that mean by "Adamic sin?" I don't recall a scripture that actually uses that phrase.

[Rick] (7:19 - 8:04) Well, there isn't one. What we're talking about is the fact that every human being, no matter who they are, is born into sin. There is none of us that escapes that.

I don't want to burst a bubble, but I'm going to do it anyway. A lot of times people look at this and they say, well, God made me this way. No, He didn't.

Being born in sin made us whatever way we are. What we need to do is understand that that's what Jesus takes away. (1 Corinthians 15:22) "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive."

It's the sin, the sin of Adam that brought everybody down. It's the sacrifice of Jesus that takes him (Adam) from being down and born in death to have the opportunity for life.

[Julie] (8:05 - 8:19) Does simply, sincerely believing with all our heart what you just said, that Jesus died for us to take away our sins, does that mean that God forgives us? I don't understand how his dying on the cross two thousand years ago takes away the sin I'm going to commit next Thursday.

[Rick] (8:19 - 8:19) It doesn't.

[Julie] (8:20 - 8:25) If his being on the cross already transferred my sins to him, why would I need individual forgiveness?

[Rick] (8:26 - 8:33) That's why it doesn't, because it takes away being born in sin. It doesn't take away what we do with that--

[Julie] (8:33 - 8:36) our personal sins that we actually are accountable for--

[Rick] (8:36 - 9:18) what I do with being born in sin. That's a whole other story. That's why there's two different words for forgiveness.

That's why we need to look at this subject with very clear, scriptural thinking. A lot of what we looked at at the very beginning when you brought up all of those examples, frankly, according to scripture, are somewhat careless, because they're not taking the details that the scriptures are giving us and saying, wow, there's a whole lot more to this. That's what we want to try to do with this episode.

Jesus described this removal, this removal of sin, when he read from Isaiah while he was in the synagogue in Nazareth. Let's look at Luke 4:16-21:

[Jonathan] (9:18 - 9:45) "And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up; and as was his custom, he entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read. And the book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. And he opened the book and found the place where it was written,

THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR. HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES, AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED."

[Julie] (9:45 - 9:57) Those words "release" and "set free" here are both that Greek word "aphesis," meaning freedom or pardon. Who are these "captives," and what are they being "set free" from?

[Rick] (9:57 - 10:32) Okay, when you have "release to the captives," remember he said we're all born in Adam. We're born into sin--destined for death. To "set free those who are oppressed"-- oppressed by what?

By the fact that you can't get away from Adamic sin, sin that's in Adam, that leads us to death. Jesus is essentially announcing, I'm here to cancel that. I'm here to take that overwhelming pressure off of each individual at the appropriate time so they can learn to live without that.

That's his gift, that's his sacrifice, that's his ransom for us.

[Jonathan] (10:32 - 10:54) An important point to understand is that Jesus died once for all. Yes, I did say ALL, every individual born in Adam.

His blood is applied ONCE for each individual. For his faithful followers, it's applied now in their lifetime. For the "everybody else," it will apply when they are resurrected in the kingdom.

[Rick] (10:55 - 11:14) Now remember, this is the word for "forgive" that means the canceling out, the taking away. Not the sending something away from you, but the actual taking it away so it never applies again. There is a difference.

As we go through this, we have to work on Finding and Applying God's Forgiveness:

[Jonathan] (11:15 - 11:33) God's forgiveness is broad in scope. He is willing and gracious to forgive us our sins as we struggle daily to serve Him. This brings RELIEF for our every day.

He has also put forgiveness in place for ALL sin under Adam. This brings RELIEF for eternity!

[Rick] (11:33 - 12:01) There're two kinds of forgiveness; the relief that comes for the things that we do every day, and then there's the relief from what we're born into. Both sides of those are handled different ways through the concept of different approaches, different kinds of forgiveness.

Really, when you think about it, this is the best news that we can ever hear! Now it comes down to us knowing what our part is and seeking to do it with our whole being.

[Jonathan] (12:02 - 12:09) How do we daily seek God's forgiveness? Are there things we are supposed to do, and are there things we are not supposed to do?

[Rick] (12:09 - 12:45) Yes, on both counts. When we are desiring to be clean before God, it's no small matter. Think about what we're requesting;

we're asking the Mighty Creator of all things, whose universal rule is founded upon justice, to look upon us with acceptance. Think about that. The amazing thing is that He is willing to grant this acceptance to us.

However--and here's where we need to pay attention--there is a specific process that we do need to go through for this to happen.

[Julie] (12:45 - 13:24) Before we go through this process, there is a spectrum of thoughts that I wanted to incorporate into our discussion. On one end, people might say, okay, don't judge me. This is the way I am.

God knows this. This is the way He made me. There's nothing to forgive.

Way on the other end are the people who feel that what they have thought or done is so bad it's to be unforgivable. They're so overwhelmed by the guilt, the shame, the regret, they can't move up from under it. Somewhere in the middle, people say, well, I asked for forgiveness.

I'm basically a good person, and I'm good. They live their lives doing what they want within reason. Can we speak to all of these people as we move forward?

[Rick] (13:24 - 14:04) Yes, and in every one of those circumstances, we need to be careful that our own interpretation doesn't override what the Scriptures tell us is actually happening. In every one of those cases, everyone needs to stop, needs to look, needs to listen, and also needs to bring your mirror, because this is one of those mirror lessons that we're going to be getting to in great depth in just a few minutes here. Let's go back to John's fatherly advice.

Now he's going to get to the core of who we are to be before God. Jonathan, let's go back to 1 John 2:3-6:

[Jonathan] (14:05 - 14:33) "By this we know that we have come to know Him IF (that's a big if) we keep His commandments. The one who says, I have come to know him, and does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him; But whoever keeps his word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected.

By this we know that we are in him; the one who says he abides in him ought himself to walk in the same manner as he walked."

[Rick] (14:33 - 14:48) What's John saying? John's focus is simple. Keep God's commandments.

The warning is against us claiming—claiming to be keepers of God's word while not living what we claim.

[Julie] (14:49 - 14:51) "It's just the way I am" part of the spectrum.

[Rick] (14:51 - 14:55) Exactly. Okay, I can't help it.

[Julie] (14:55 - 14:57) I'm a Christian, but this is what I do.

[Rick] (14:57 - 15:17) Right. What John is saying to us here is we need to be living higher, living better, living in a more forward way. What are we supposed to do then?

Well, we already alluded to it and we'll go deeper. Look into the mirror, be honest, and repent. Repent before God.

[Jonathan] (15:17 - 15:33) What exactly is repentance? Well, there are two primary words in the New Testament meaning "to repent" with slight distinctions in meanings. The first is a verb that is more of an emotional response, including regret and even remorse.

[Julie] (15:33 - 16:03) Here's an example of that. Matthew 27:3: "Then Judas, which had betrayed him (Jesus), when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders." In this case, emotionally, Judas felt regret and remorse, but he didn't change his path of selling out Jesus for money. The second word for "to repent" is a verb where you actually make a change.

You reconsider and change the way you act. You change your direction.

[Jonathan] (16:04 - 16:27) Let's look at two examples. Acts 17:30-31: "While God has overlooked the times of human ignorance, now He commands all people everywhere to repent, because He has fixed a day on which He will have the world judged in righteousness by a man whom He has appointed, and of this He has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead."

[Rick] (16:27 - 17:17) You've got those two words for repentance. The first one is to think about and feel bad about. I really shouldn't have done that.

Not good. I'm just, I'm having second thoughts. Not good.

That's the first word. The second word that, Jonathan, you just read in this text commands people everywhere to repent. This is not about saying, ah, maybe this is...this is about, I am changing the way I live, and I'm changing it here.

I'm changing it now, and I'm going the opposite direction. That's what this repentance is. There's a big, big difference between these two words, and we need to grasp that to really understand how God's forgiveness works in our lives.

Let's go to another example of repentance in Matthew 11:21:

[Jonathan] (17:18 - 17:28) "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles had occurred in Tyre and Sidon which occurred in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes."

[Rick] (17:28 - 18:17) Here you have that same word, and it's not like, ah, maybe I should have been thinking differently. This is saying, "woe to you" cities in which I am preaching. This is Jesus speaking.

You have the greatest gift that humanity has ever been given. You have me, Jesus, teaching you, showing you miracles, showing you God's word and God's will, and he's saying, if the miracles, if the things I'm doing here occurred in Tyre and Sidon--two very, very, very wicked cities--they would have changed directions long ago and meant it. Repentance is not just feeling bad.

Repentance is saying something is changing right here, right now.

[Julie] (18:18 - 18:24) There's a third word, too, that's a noun form of that second "changing of direction" word that you just said.

[Jonathan] (18:24 - 18:37) This word is used in Acts 5:31, reading from the King James Version: "Him hath God exalted with His right hand to be a prince and a saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins."

[Julie] (18:38 - 18:44) Meaning that the nation of Israel will have an actual new way of life, a different way to live. It'll be planted in their hearts.

[Rick] (18:44 - 20:26) The interesting thing about that verse--that's the repentance, that's the turning around, that's what the nation of Israel had to do--

but it talks about the forgiveness of sins. That's the forgiveness that comes through Jesus paying the price. It's not the forgiving of the little things.

It's the "you have a new life outside of sin and Adam." It's brand new. Repentance and that forgiveness together, bring entirely new opportunities;

entirely different. Folks, look, when we begin to study repentance and forgiveness, and we delve deeply into them in Scripture, what we're beginning to see is that the Scriptures are full of explanations that bring us to a level that most of us never consider. As we look at this, let's go further.

Let's understand repentance. Repentance is not regret. Now, let's not throw regret away because regret does play a role.

Here's what happens. Regret causes us to pause because something we thought or did doesn't sit well in our heart or mind. Time out.

That's good. We love that pause. We love that.

Maybe I shouldn't have done it. The key is what happens afterwards. That's where repentance can enter, if we allow it.

Repentance--while regret caused me to pause--repentance is going to cause me to stop, to observe, to process what's happening, to make conclusions, and then to fundamentally change the direction I'm going. When we talk about repentance for sins, that's what we're talking about. That's what God is looking for from us.

[Julie] (20:27 - 20:36) What about Christians who are battling addiction? That's probably a lot to do with Adamic sin. Do we look at this form of sin and repentance in a different way?

[Rick] (20:37 - 21:59) I don't think we need to look at it in a different way, but we need to apply it in a very, very strong way. With addictions, what ends up happening is you get sucked back into something in ways that you find almost impossible to control. You can say, well, but I can't control it.

All right. At this moment, you can't. What am I going to do though tomorrow to gain more control than today?

Well, I don't know what to do. Well, the first thing you do is you go to get help. See, that's what repentance is.

Repentance is: I am sick and tired of being sick and tired of falling into this. I will look at trying to find ways where I can change my direction. Even if I slip back again, I'm still working on a different path

if we still claw our way onto that different path to fight the addiction. Folks, get help. Get help if you have addictions,

please, please, please. When we work at it, God can bless us amazingly in the midst of that great big fight. Look, repentance is only accessible if we're willing to take the moral high road.

That's really what we were just talking about there. Sometimes we fight it until we have no choice.

King David ignored his sins regarding Bathsheba until they were forcibly revealed, and then he repented. Let's look at Psalm 51:1-4:

[Jonathan] (21:59 - 22:33) "Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.

For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against You, You only, I have sinned and done what is evil in Your sight, so that You are justified when You speak and blameless when You judge." He's definitely not saying, "Well, God, this is just the way I am."

He's also not blaming someone else.

[Julie] (22:34 - 22:58) This Psalm 51 is known to be one of the greatest scriptural examples of repentance. It's a wonderful thing to read through the entire Psalm. Notice that it says, "I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me."

He's keeping his sin in front of him. Not just the consequences, not ruminating over those. He's no longer trying to cover up what he did in committing adultery and having Bathsheba's husband killed.

[Rick] (22:58 - 23:20) By putting his sin ever before him, that's his repentance. It's saying, I'm not going to forget this because it was a motivator to work through it. See, when we keep it before us with God in mind, "wash me...from my iniquity."

It's saying, I'm keeping this in front of my eyes so I can be motivated and remember. I need to pass beyond it.

[Jonathan] (23:21 - 23:42) Here's commentary from the Life Application Study Bible: "All sin hurts us and others, but ultimately, it offends God because sin in any form is rebellion against His way of living. When you are tempted to do wrong, remember that you will be sinning against God.

That may help you avoid disaster."

[Julie] (23:42 - 23:59) One more Bible commentary from David Gusick on this phrase, "and done this evil in Your (God's) sight": "David realized that God was there and God was looking when he did his evil. He was not absent from the bedroom of adultery or the place where the command to kill Uriah was given."

[Rick] (23:59 - 24:17) It's important to recognize that God does see all, and we don't want to put ourselves in that position. Now, let's also notice in David's repentance that he's not asking to look good. He's asking, he's begging God to be good.

Let's go further in Psalm 51:10-13:

[Jonathan] (24:18 - 24:41) "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence and do not take Your holy spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and sustain me with a willing spirit.

Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners will be converted to You."

[Julie] (24:42 - 24:47) In other words, sustain me through this pain and suffering, and in this way, I'll be an example to others of You.

[Rick] (24:48 - 25:23) This is the work that's needed to execute inward change! This is what it looks like. Help me, "sustain me with a willing spirit."

Bring me back to "the joy of Your salvation." Help me find my footing again so I can walk towards You instead of wallowing in the mess that I've made on my own. That's what repentance is.

It's not just thinking it. It's not saying, God, please forgive me. Okay, I'm good.

It is acting differently! Make no mistake, that's what repentance in Scripture truly is.

[Julie] (25:23 - 25:50) But in most Bibles, at the top of this Psalm 51, the heading says: "For the director of music, a Psalm of David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba." That's the heading.

Think about your worst, most shameful, most disgusting sin. Now set it to music. Now have everyone who looks up to you sing about that sin and how sorry you were.

What a humbling experience!

[Rick] (25:51 - 26:06) That's why David said, I have known my transgressions and my sin is ever before me. I am not running away from it. I am looking at it because I needed to motivate me to get away from it and back to where I belong.

This is Finding and Applying God's Forgiveness:

[Jonathan] (26:06 - 26:30) It's one thing to regret a thought or action, and another thing entirely to repent, to turn away from that thought or action. If we don't turn away, if we don't change direction, then our hearts will still hold those thoughts and actions within them. Merely regretting means our hearts will not have the needed space to house God's forgiveness.

[Rick] (26:30 - 27:10) Do I want God's forgiveness in my life or not? Because if I want it, I need to make room for it. If there's no room because I'm just regretting and not repenting, then I need to clean house.

I don't have the space. I don't have the wherewithal. My heart is not big enough.

I need to push those things away. Regret is a great place to start, but don't end with regret.

End with true repentance so that God's forgiveness has a place to live and to grow. This is where being forgiven by God gets serious. We truly need to let go

so the work of living forgiven can take root and flourish.

[Jonathan] (27:10 - 27:19) Our need for true, heartfelt repentance is obvious, and it puts us in a position of being forgiven. What does this work look like?

[Rick] (27:20 - 27:46) The work of repentance resembles many other daunting and potentially overwhelming tasks. It can look like a long, narrow, and difficult road that has many twists and turns. Though scary, we can have great scriptural assurances of its destination being both fruitful and joyous.

It's off road, but the destination--fruitful and joyous.

[Julie] (27:47 - 28:05) Now, the Bible does speak of an "unforgivable" sin and "sinning against the holy spirit." We're not going to talk about those today, but we refer you to Episode 1265 called "What Sins Can Never Be Forgiven?" identifying what unforgivable sins are and their consequences. So #1265, please.

[Rick] (28:05 - 28:52) We're looking at this and we're understanding that, will God forgive me? That's the core question here. Will God forgive me?

When it comes to these sins that we choose to commit--or commit by accident, whatever it is--we need to have this concept of repentance clearly in front of us. Repentance is a necessary scriptural foundation. Now, I noticed in a lot of those descriptions that you guys gave earlier, there wasn't that kind of a foundation.

It was like, Oh, God will take care of me. God will take care of me. Sure He will, but build a foundation so you can stand up, so you can reach up.

That's the thing. We have to stand on this foundation. It's necessary.

Why is repentance the necessary foundation? Because God's justice requires it. Let's look at Galatians 6:7-8:

[Jonathan] (28:52 - 29:08) "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.

For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the spirit will from the spirit reap eternal life."

[Julie] (29:08 - 29:37) I think some people think that maybe God's grace overpowers God's justice and God's justice goes away, but that's not what happens. We looked at this "sowing and reaping" scripture in a previous episode. It's a great metaphor, but technically we reap more than we sow.

For example, in real life, planting a seed for one wheat plant will yield approximately 110 more seeds. Our actions, like literal seeds, can have exponential results--to our benefit or to our detriment.

[Jonathan] (29:37 - 29:52) Just feeling bad about what we've done isn't enough. We have to do what we can to change and transform, to do better. The question should be, "Does my life honor God despite my Adamic brokenness?"

[Rick] (29:52 - 30:41) The way to answer that question is to say, do I consciously repent for that brokenness as I see it and as I recognize it? Do I make a deal of it and say, Lord, this is what I have done. Please forgive me.

We always stop with, Please forgive me in Jesus' name, Amen. What's the next thing I do after that prayer? If I don't get up and change direction and do something different, then that prayer has just been empty words.

Because repentance is the foundation. "God is not mocked." That's what that Galatian scripture said.

Let's go further. Applying ourselves to this just requirement of repentance is what the gospel is actually built upon. Hebrews 6:1:

[Jonathan] (30:41 - 31:00) "Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God." What does "repentance from dead works" mean? Does this address the "this is just how I am" excuse?

[Rick] (31:00 - 32:42) Well, that's the point. It's just how we are. Okay, then change.

Then change! Notice it's the "foundation of repentance." We shouldn't have to be teaching you again the "foundation of repentance," the foundation of changing direction.

If we think that the changing direction happened once when we accepted Jesus as our personal Savior and now everything is good, when we think that, what we've done is we've ignored all of the work that has to follow later because we still sin and it's not as though I still sin, but God's got it because I've been taken care of. How are you changing? That's the question.

How are you changing? How are you not working to commit those sins again? The "dead works" that were there before, are the things that we are walking away from.

The whole point is to not be that person. "Dead works" versus faith in God; it's a whole different picture here when we look at it this way.

Let's go a little bit further. We just reviewed the Psalm 51 in the last segment where David spoke of needing God to put his sin away from him and to wash him and to cleanse him. Remember, he's looking to be changed.

He begged God for a clean heart. He begged God for a renewed and steadfast spirit, a steadfast spirit that he once had lost and he wanted to find it again.

He begged God for the restoration--when you restore something that means it was there before--of the joy of God's salvation and the willingness to move forward in his life. The next verses in this Psalm begin to reveal what living a life of repentance actually looks like. Let's go back to Psalm 51:14-17:

[Jonathan] (32:43 - 33:10) "Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation; then my tongue will joyfully sing of Your righteousness. O Lord, open my lips, that my mouth may declare Your praise.

For You do not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it; You are not pleased with burnt offering.

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise."

[Julie] (33:11 - 33:21) Here, David isn't downplaying the requirements of God's Law. He's acknowledging that God isn't looking for us to just go through the motions without an authentic, godly heart attitude.

[Jonathan] (33:21 - 33:37) The commentary from Life Application Study Bible states: "Brokenness here is about being open and responsive to God's correction, as opposed to being hardened or resentful. God is pleased by this kind of humble repentance."

[Rick] (33:38 - 34:36) Openness to God's correction; not God's acceptance of our plea, but His correction. That's the point of repentance.

Truly seeking God's forgiveness means truly working at living a godly life! Let's get up and change direction. That's what we need to do.

Folks, this is hard. It's unfortunate that a lot of Christianity doesn't seem to focus in on this, because we're missing out on so much depth of mature Christian character that we're leaving on the table if we're not seeking to change each and every day by repenting when we've gone wrong. Let's look at Israel.

At times, Israel had a hard time with the depth of what living a repentant life actually meant. The prophet Isaiah was told to call out their false dedication to God while they were living sinfully and should have been truly repenting. Here was their issue;

the people were not receiving God's blessings.

[Julie] (34:36 - 35:22) Let's look at Isaiah 58:1-3. This is God speaking, and at times this reads a little sarcastically: He says: "Shout with the voice of a trumpet blast. Shout aloud! Don’t be timid. Tell my people Israel of their sins! Yet they act so pious! They come to the temple every day and seem delighted to learn all about Me. They act like a righteous nation that would never abandon the laws of its God. They ask Me to take action on their behalf, pretending they want to be near Me. We have fasted before You! they say. Why aren’t

You impressed? We have been very hard on ourselves, and You don’t even notice it!"

[Rick] (35:22 - 35:49) The issue is they were not receiving God's blessings, and their complaint is, what do You mean, God? We're doing all the things You're asking us to do, and it's really hard, and You don't ...

JULIE:

Right, check, check, check...

RICK:

... and You don't even notice. There's this attitude that completely misses the point. We've got to understand that's the issue.

Here's their problem; probably pretty obvious. Their problem is they're only playing the part so they can look good.

Let's continue with Isaiah 58:3-5.

[Julie] (35:49 - 36:25) Remember, they just whined, You're not even noticing how hard we're being on ourselves. God continues and says: "I will tell you why! I respond. It is because you are fasting to please yourselves.

Even while you fast, you keep oppressing your workers. What good is fasting when you keep on fighting and quarreling? This kind of fasting will never get you anywhere with Me.

You humble yourselves by going through the motions of penance, bowing your heads like reeds bending in the wind. You dress in burlap and cover yourself with ashes.

Is this what you call fasting? Do you really think this will please the LORD?"

[Rick] (36:26 - 37:03) God's response is, Well, you're fasting so you can, Julie, like you said, check off the box and say, we did what we were supposed to. I don't know what the problem is. I did what I was supposed to.

That is not a repentant attitude. God doesn't look for mechanical reaction. He looks for heartfelt response.

That's what Israel was not giving there. Their solution to this issue was to live the repentance that they so plainly claimed to have. The solution was be better.

Let's go back to Isaiah 58:6-7:

[Jonathan] (37:04 - 37:27) "No, this is the kind of fasting I want: Free those who are wrongly imprisoned; lighten the burdens of those who work for you.

Let the oppressed go free, and remove the chains that bind people. Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help."

[Julie] (37:27 - 37:46) But we're fasting! We're doing what You told us to! God's calling out their lack of actual repentance.

But Rick, here it sounds like they're given a checklist, and I love checklists: Remove oppression, feed the hungry, help those in trouble...

is this saying that if I volunteer at a homeless shelter, I'll be forgiven? Can I work myself out of my sin?

[Rick] (37:47 - 38:53) Not exactly. Now, volunteering at a homeless shelter isn't a bad thing. I don't want to discourage that, all right?

But what this is saying is live the way I taught you to live originally. You've stopped that.

You're now play-acting and you're fasting so you'll look good. No! I am Almighty God,

you are My people. I've given you My Law. In My Law, it talks about not oppressing those that work for you.

It talks about removing the chains that bind people. It talks about being compassionate individuals. It talks about being somebody better who serves God.

That's the repentance. It's changing the way we live. Not necessarily just doing things, but being that person that God can look at and say, This is My child.

These are My people. That's what we're looking for. Their potential result in all of this is that God blesses the genuine actions of those who seek to serve Him.

Isaiah 58:8-10.

[Jonathan] (38:53 - 39:57) God gave them a list of things to do and here's His response: "Then (if you do them) your salvation will come like the dawn, and your wounds will quickly heal.

Your godliness will lead you forward, and the glory of the LORD will protect you from behind. Then when you call, the LORD will answer. Yes, I am here,

He will quickly reply. Remove the heavy yoke of oppression. Stop pointing your finger and spreading vicious rumors! Feed the hungry, and help those in trouble.

Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon." "Then" is used three times: "THEN your salvation will come."

"THEN when you call, the Lord will answer." "THEN your light will shine." In other words, when you have changed the way you live, THEN I, God, will change the way I treat you.

By not keeping His Laws, the nation of Israel was sitting outside of the blessings God wanted to give them. What does this mean for us, the Christian and God's forgiveness?

[Rick] (39:58 - 40:32) It's the same principle be the follower of Christ. You know what it means to be a follower of Christ? We always talk about it, walking in Jesus' footsteps.

It's a nice little phrase. Do you do it? Do you walk the way he walked, the places he walked, into the kinds of things he walked with the attitude that he walked and the wisdom and the grace that he walked?

Or do we say, Well, I'm a follower? You say it, or do we do it? A repentant life says, instead of that--what I was--I will walk this way.

That's what Christian repentance is all about.

[Julie] (40:32 - 40:49) Sometimes it's about walking away from things, like how Jesus walked away from temptation. We don't put ourselves in that place. I just keep remembering this, "Why aren't You impressed?

We have been very hard on ourselves, and You don't even notice it!" Think about that as we go through our week.

[Rick] (40:49 - 41:08) We want to live in a way that shows God, our Father, that we are serious about honoring Him, not just in our words, not just in our thoughts, not just in our sigh or in our regret, but in our actual actions of living. This is how we Find and Apply God's Forgiveness:

[Jonathan] (41:08 - 41:38) God plainly sees half-hearted efforts just as plainly as He sees truly sincere efforts. This doesn't mean that we are "kicked out" of His favor when we act in a half-hearted way, but it does mean that He will undoubtedly allow us to have more experiences so we can learn what our true repentance needs look like. Today is the best day to start.

It doesn't matter where you've been, and you don't have to wait to hit rock bottom to start.

[Rick] (41:38 - 42:02) To start, even if you don't know what to do, start by saying, Lord, I'm walking differently now. Please show me. Then follow through on that. Even if we don't have a great big plan, you still start by heading in that right direction.

The power of God's forgiveness cannot easily be attained by simply trying to look good before Him. He wants our hearts to drive our repentance.

[Jonathan] (42:03 - 42:11) It's obvious as we try and work through all of these challenges that we will have difficulties. What can we do to keep us moving forward?

[Rick] (42:12 - 42:52) This is a big question. Even though God's spirit dwells in those whom He has called, we still function in a broken, sinful, physical body. This creates a massive contradiction that we must live with every day.

To find success within this contradiction, there are a few simple truths that we need to constantly remind ourselves of, simple truths that help us put things in perspective; simply stated scriptural principles that walk us toward Him, that help us with repentance.

Julie, let's get started with that.

[Julie] (42:53 - 42:57) Here's the First Simple Truth: We WILL fall because we are sinners.

[Rick] (43:04 - 43:37) That's an important perspective. We will fall. Let's face the simple truth.

We already talked about how Jesus paid the ransom price and bought us back from the sin in Adam, but that didn't make it so our daily sins just walk away or leave us. It made it so that we can be dealt with by God because we're justified by faith, and now we have to deal with this contradiction and recognize, yes, we are going to fall here and there. We will fall.

That's the First Simple Truth that helps us get started.

[Julie] (43:37 - 43:44) Here's the Second Simple Truth: As true Christians, our lives HAVE ALREADY been delivered from Adamic sin.

[Jonathan] (43:45 - 44:07) We read Ephesians 1:7 already, but let's add the context by reading verses 6-8 (Ephesians 1:6-8): "To the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight."

[Rick] (44:07 - 44:39) This simple truth is our lives have been delivered. The forgiveness here, it says; "in him we have redemption through his blood." That's the buying back from the sin of Adam.

We've been put in a place where God can work with us. That's the beauty of it. Even though we will fall, we've already been delivered to a place where God can work with us.

This forgiveness through Jesus' blood is the gift that releases us from Adam's sin so we can truly live in Christ and so God can truly work with us. Let's look at Romans 5:18:

[Jonathan] (44:40 - 44:51) "So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification (acquittal) of life to all men."

[Rick] (44:51 - 45:08) You have that basic, simple truth. Jesus took care of the things that were beyond us. We need to face the things that we create in our sinful lives every day.

This brings us to our Third Simple Truth:

[Julie] (45:08 - 45:22) We benefit from CONTINUOUS forgiveness as we strive to do God's will. I just want to go back; we are actually made right before God from the standpoint of Adamic sin, but now we've got this continual forgiveness that we're doing.

[Jonathan] (45:23 - 45:38) 1 John 1:8-9: "If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

[Rick] (45:38 - 46:26) Now this talks about being "faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins," to send them away from us. It says "if we confess our sins"--remember the scriptures talk about repenting. Confession in scripture is not just saying the words;

it is living what those words mean. Words mean something in Scripture. We want to make sure we keep ourselves in the clarity of that.

This sending away of our sins--because that's what this forgiveness means--gives us a clear and regularly renewed path toward doing God's will. A regularly renewed path; we need that.

Jesus bought us to be on the path of justification, and now we need to renew our daily walk as we deal with ourselves.

[Julie] (46:27 - 47:07) I just wanted to bring up this idea of confession. We confess our sins. We talked about this at the very beginning.

The Catholic Church, for example, has some very technical explanations about confessing sins to a priest, how it works, when it should be done. In this case, they say the priest is acting in place of Christ and declares the sinner forgiven by the power of the holy spirit. They base this on John 20:19-23.

I'll just read 23 where Jesus told his Apostles: "If you forgive the sins of any, they're forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they're retained."

What power did Jesus give his Apostles that day? Did that mean that that power automatically flowed to priests or other believers?

[Rick] (47:08 - 48:09) Well, first of all, no. This absolutely did not mean that whatever Jesus gave to the Apostles, it flowed freely onto everyone else. We know that with the gifts of the spirit.

There's a lot that they were given. Whatever that power was, and there are different interpretations of what that level was, I see it as a very clear representation of God's spirit driving them to be able to make proclamations. It wasn't because they could do it,

it was because God's spirit was driving them in a way that's beyond us. I want to make that really clear. The idea--now some might not like this--but the idea that you can go to your pastor or someone else and they can proclaim your sins forgiven is not scriptural.

It simply does not belong, because it says we are to confess our sins to the Father (1 John 1:9). "He is faithful and righteous to forgive us." It doesn't say anybody else is.

Let's keep that in its appropriate perspective.

[Julie] (48:10 - 48:33) One more quote from the Life Application Study Bible that I thought gave some clarity: "The disciples did not have the power to forgive sins (only God can do that),

but Jesus gave them the privilege of telling new believers that their sins have been forgiven because they accepted Jesus' message. All believers have the same privilege. We can announce forgiveness of sins with certainty when we ourselves have come to repentance and faith."

[Rick] (48:34 - 49:00) That's a key point, to be able to announce forgiveness of sins with certainty once we have done the work of repentance and we have walked away. Yes, forgiveness. Dwell in that, bask in the wonderment and the goodness and the grace of that forgiveness.

That's the key. That's that continuous forgiveness as we strive to do God's will because we mess up every single day. Let's move on to the next one, Julie.

[Julie] (49:00 - 49:07) Sure. Our Fourth Simple Truth is: We are covered by Christ even when we're not aware of all we may do wrong.

[Jonathan] (49:07 - 49:55) Psalm 19 shows the length and breadth of what our dedication to God as Christians does for us. Let's read Psalm 19:7-11: "The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul;

The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.

The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the LORD are true; They are righteous altogether.

They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.

Moreover, by them Your servant is warned; In keeping them there is great reward."

[Rick] (49:56 - 50:38) In keeping them, you saw all the things that you just read through and all of the goodness that God pours upon us, makes available to us through His word. You have all of that to work with to help us in these challenges. With all that God's word and will does for us, we can have confidence in Him in every single experience;

every single one. Now, let's go to a few more verses in Psalm 19. Let's go to verses 12-14, because as good as those verses were, these next verses show our fallibility, our discrepancies within our humanness.

[Jonathan] (50:38 - 51:00) Psalm 19:12-14: "Who can discern his errors? Acquit me of my hidden faults. Also keep back Your servant from presumptuous sins;

Let them not rule over me; Then I will be blameless, and I shall be acquitted of great transgression. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer."

[Rick] (51:00 - 51:31) Sometimes we are acting in sinful ways and we may not even know it. This verse helps us understand that God gets it. If we can, by receiving all of these wonderful things from His word, say to Him, "cleanse me from secret faults,"

It doesn't mean that these are the ones I really don't want to pay attention to. It means the ones I don't understand. You know what sometimes happens is when we pray this prayer, things come out and we look at ourselves and say, where did that come from?

That's pretty disgusting.

[Julie] (51:31 - 51:34) That's because we're praying for Him to show it to us. Sometimes He shows it to us.

[Rick] (51:34 - 51:49) Right. so we can do what? We can repent and say, Lord, thank you.

Help me put that behind me. This Fourth Simple Truth is we're covered by Christ, even when we're not aware of all that we may do wrong. What's next?

[Julie] (51:49 - 51:55) The Fifth Simple Truth is: God's loving and just forgiveness is given to us because WE MATTER TO HIM!

[Jonathan] (51:55 - 52:16) Psalm 103:1-3, 10-14: "Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name.

Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget none of His benefits; Who pardons all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases. He has not dealt with us according to our sins..."

[Julie] (52:16 - 52:18) Why? Because we matter!

[Jonathan] (52:18 - 52:21) "... nor rewarded us according to our iniquities."

[Julie] (52:22 - 52:23) Why? Because we matter!

[Jonathan] (52:24 - 52:47) "For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far as He has removed our transgressions from us. Just as a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.

For He Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust."

[Rick] (52:47 - 53:30) The point here is as small as we are and as difficult as our life may be, we matter to our Heavenly Father. If He has called us in Christ and He has given that justification to us, our very lives matter. Notice it says these sins are not taken away and thrown away.

It says as far as the east is from the west, he puts them aside. They no longer are relevant because we are walking towards Him. That's true repentance.

Folks, that is what true forgiveness looks like and feels like. It is one of the most wonderful things you can ever experience. Last time Finding and Applying God's Forgiveness:

[Jonathan] (53:31 - 53:58) Inevitably, forgiveness is an expression of love. God is not only willing to forgive us when we sin; He waits for us to bring our sins before Him. Once we do so in humility and sincerity, He will lovingly guide us towards uprightness as a father guides his little child.

Let us, therefore, "go boldly to the throne of grace in every time of need!" He's waiting! He is waiting!

[Rick] (53:58 - 54:59) That's the beauty of the question, will God forgive me? The answer is absolutely!

Here's the key: What am I doing in relation to my recognition of the forgiveness that I need? If I just speak it and just leave it, folks, that's not going to bring the forgiveness.

What brings the forgiveness is my desire to show God that I want to honor Him with my life so badly that I am willing to put things aside to change and to go a different direction. That's what brings true forgiveness. With true forgiveness comes true strength.

With true strength comes true maturity in Christ. With true maturity in Christ comes faithfulness even unto death. God will forgive us if we walk that path.

Think about it. Folks, we love hearing from our listeners. We welcome your feedback and questions on this episode and other episodes at ChristianQuestions.com.

Coming up in our next episode: "Are Soul Ties Biblical?"

Final Notes: copyright @2025 Christian Questions. In addition to this transcript, we provide comprehensive CQ Rewind Show Notes for every episode. They include every scripture quoted during the podcast, as well as graphics, illustrations and bonus material. Click the "CQ Rewind Show Notes" button near the audio player or sign up to receive these weekly at ChristianQuestions.com. This transcript was created using artificial intelligence. While we believe it to be accurate, we apologize for any errors that may exist.