History Forum / General / British History / June 2008

Conditions of Forgiveness

    Now let's take a closer look at this first step marked Sins Forgiven.
How does one obtain the requisite pardon for those sins that have become
such a common lot for every human being We need to understand from the very
beginning that there are three conditions to having our sins
forgiven-repentance, confession, and restitution. Please do not let those
long theological terms confuse you. We shall break them into such simple
language that all will know what they mean and how to fulfill their
requirements.
    What about the first condition What is repentance, and what are we to
repent of The Bible says, "All have sinned and come short of the glory of
God" (Romans 3:23). The meaning of these inspired words is very clear.
Regardless of our wealth, sex, or station in life we have all made personal
choices to break God's law. The Bible calls it sin. No resolute human effort
has been sufficient to overcome the inherited tendencies to have our own
way. The results of that original sin by Adam and Eve have been passed along
to every succeeding generation, ours included. The inability to meet God's
standard is a part of the carnal nature that has marked every member of the
human family since the fall of our first parents.
    We can better understand how "all have sinned" when we look at the
beautiful, innocent little baby throwing a tantrum when its will is crossed.
There is no age when the fallen nature has power of itself to control the
life and modify the behavior. The Bible declares, "The carnal mind ... is
not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be" (Romans 8:7). Jeremiah
made the interesting observation: "Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the
leopard his spots then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil"
(Jeremiah 13:23).
    In other words, not one of us has the ability to change this lost and
dying condition into which we have been thrust. We cannot lift ourselves by
our own bootstraps. Not even education, culture, or any of the other
amenities of society are able to reverse the consequences of our sinful
heritage.
    After recognizing the fact that our yielding to the propensities of our
genetic natures has condemned us all, we are next confronted with the result
of our transgressions. Paul describes it very succinctly in these words:
"The wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23). With this shocking line, the full
horror of our situation appears before us. Not only are we all guilty, but
we also have been sentenced to die for our sins. Every member of the human
family is consigned to a death-row status as a consequence of our willful
disobedience.
    Is it not more than alarming to be confronted with our own death
sentence, realizing that there is not a court or judge in the universe that
will declare us "not guilty" The fact is, of course, that we are just as
guilty as sin. Furthermore, the penalty is absolutely irreversible, and God
Himself could not cancel it without contradicting His own character and law.
    Is there a solution to our dilemma Someone may suggest that our only
recourse is to go ahead and pay the penalty for what we have done wrong. By
dying for our sins, we can uphold the justice of God and satisfy the demands
of a broken law at the same time. We could do that all right, but where
would it leave us Since we have no power to raise ourselves from the dead,
we would be eternally cut off from life, with no hope of a resurrection.
Certainly that course does not seem to be a very satisfactory answer to our
problem.
    Finally, we have to face the truly disturbing fact that we owe
something we cannot pay. We owe our very lives for our sin-debt and have no
way to pay without forfeiting all future existence. It is as though a man
bought all of his month's groceries on credit and then had no way to settle
the $200.00 account at the end of the month. Out of embarrassment and shame,
the man avoided the store with his delinquent account. But then his best
friend heard about the poor man's financial problem. Immediately the friend
went to the store and counted out the full $200.00 to settle the account.
Wasn't that a wonderful act of friendship and love Now the man has no reason
for feeling shame or guilt. The debt has been paid. His record is clear.
What would you think of that reprieved man if he had refused the kindly act
of his friend Would it not be a gross insult to the one who made such a
magnanimous gesture
    Now let's apply that little story to our own case. We also owe
something we can't pay-our very lives. But a friend, in the person of Jesus,
says: "I will assume your debt, suffer death in your place, and put it all
to the credit of your personal account." That offer stands behind all three
of the steps we are considering in the salvation experience. It constitutes
the basis of our receiving forgiveness for our sins. How is the guilt,
condemnation, and death sentence transferred from you and me and placed upon
Jesus, our divine Substitute The answer to that question brings us back to
the three conditions for taking the big step of obtaining forgiveness. The
first condition is Repentance.