Video 3B: The Cross, Resurrection, and the Forgiveness of Sins

At the center of New Testament forgiveness stands Jesus Christ.

Christian forgiveness is not based on the idea that sin does not matter. It is not God ignoring evil, lowering his standards, or pretending that wrongdoing never occurred.

Forgiveness is possible because God acted decisively through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Jesus announced that the kingdom of God had come near. He called people to repent, believe the good news, and receive the mercy of God. He forgave sins, welcomed repentant sinners, confronted hypocrisy, restored excluded people, and revealed the gracious character of his Father.

But Jesus did more than teach about forgiveness. He made forgiveness possible through the cross.

On the cross, Jesus entered fully into the human condition of suffering, injustice, guilt, shame, hostility, and death. He bore sin and offered himself for us. Ephesians 1:7 declares that in Christ we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of God’s grace.

The cross tells us two truths at the same time.

First, sin is serious. Human rebellion, cruelty, betrayal, selfishness, and unbelief cannot simply be dismissed as though they have no consequence.

Second, God’s grace is greater than our sin. God did not abandon sinful humanity. In love, he provided the way of reconciliation through Jesus Christ.

The resurrection is also essential to forgiveness.

Jesus did not remain in the grave. God raised him from the dead. The resurrection announces Christ’s victory over sin and death. It confirms that his saving work is effective and opens the way to restored life with God.

After his resurrection, Jesus told his disciples that repentance and forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in his name to all nations. Forgiveness would no longer be announced only within one nation or community. The good news would go into the entire world.

This means Christian forgiveness begins with receiving.

We do not earn God’s forgiveness by punishing ourselves, hiding our failures, performing religious acts, or promising that we will never struggle again. We come to God through faith in Jesus Christ. We confess the truth, turn from sin, and receive the grace Christ has secured.

Receiving forgiveness does not eliminate responsibility. Grace teaches us to tell the truth, make appropriate repair, change direction, and pursue a new way of life.

But responsibility is no longer carried under hopeless condemnation. Romans 8:1 declares that there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

The cross frees us from denying sin.

The resurrection frees us from believing sin must define our future.

Because Christ died and rose again, forgiven people can become forgiving people. We can release personal vengeance, extend mercy, seek peace, and entrust final judgment to God.

Consider this question:

Where do you most need to believe that the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ are sufficient for forgiveness, freedom, and a faithful new beginning?