Someone told me our sins were forgiven two thousand years ago at the cross. I think Jesus made forgiveness possible two thousand years ago, but we're not actually forgiven until we are converted and have faith.

Who's right?

Thanks for allowing us to review the delightful subject of divine forgiveness for us sinners! The more we review the Bible message, the greater our appreciation for God's amazing grace.

God justified the world

We begin where we should—with a focus on pertinent Bible passages. We're told in 2 Corinthians 5:18,19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, "not counting men's sins against them." The forgiveness of the world's sins is a universal reality to be announced and believed individually. In Romans 4:25 we are informed that Christ "was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification." The resurrection of Christ two thousand years ago demonstrated the grand truth that our justification, or pardon, was already a reality. Romans 3:23,24 and 5:18,19 affirm that all are sinners and all are justified. Through Adam all are condemned, and through Christ all are justified. The astonishing reality is that God has forgiven the sins of the whole world, whether people believe it or not. He did more than "make forgiveness possible."

God justifies the believer

Repeatedly and consistently declared alongside universal (objective) justification is the parallel truth often called individual (subjective) justification, when through God-given faith a person grasps for himself the benefits of this reality. We are justified through faith, and God's gift of righteousness comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe (Romans 3:22,28). There is an intimate connection between universal and individual pardon. Because all have been reconciled to God, we invite and urge all to be reconciled to God. Neither truth is to be denied. Neither is to be stressed at the expense of the other.

Treasure both truths