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 which 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 which 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 can not 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 we have all been condemned by our yielding to the propensities of our genetic natures, 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 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 who 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.

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.

Finally, we have to face the truly disturbing fact that we owe something we cannot pay.