Forgiveness Under Grace Today

Some three thousand years ago, and about one thousand years before Christ, the Psalmist said:

³ If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? ⁴ But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared. Psalm 130:3-4 (KJV)

The Psalmist did not explain, however, upon what basis a just and holy God could forgive a guilty sinner and yet be just. The explanation was to be proclaimed one thousand years later by the Apostle Paul, himself once “a blasphemer, and a persecutor and injurious”; the “chief” of sinners, but forgiven and saved by the infinite grace of God (Tim. 1:13-15).

Preaching Christ at Antioch, in the province of Pisidia, Paul declared:

³⁸ Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man [Jesus] is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: ³⁹ And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. Acts 13:38-39 (KJV)

But even this does not fully answer our question, for we must still ask: On what basis does God forgive sins through “this Man”?

The answer is: on the basis of His payment for our sins on Calvary’s cross.

Thus, the Apostle Paul wrote to the Romans, explaining how we may be…

²⁴ Being justified [declared righteous] freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Romans 3:24 (KJV)

Now, thank God, through Christ’s finished work, there is not a sinner who needs to remain unforgiven, for:

⁷ In whom [in Christ] we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; Ephesians 1:7 (KJV)

Today there are no works-based performance requirements for one to be forgiven by God and justified before God un Paul’s pure grace gospel.

⁶ And if by grace, then is it [salvation] no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work. Romans 11:6 (KJV)

Now peace and rest are our daily portion… in Christ.

¹ Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: Romans 5:1 (KJV)