Lesson No. 16
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS OR
JUSTIFICATION ?
 
A Look At God's Word
by Oswald Riess

1. DO WE NEED FORGIVENESS OF SINS ?
 THE BIBLE SAYS -

 (a) Ps. 51:5. Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
*(b) Ps. 19:12. Who can understand his errors? Cleanse Thou me from secret faults.
 (c) Is. 59:2. Your iniquities have separated between you and your God.

FROM THIS WE LEARN -
 We need forgiveness of sins
 (A) Because we are conceived and born in sin;
 (B) Because we sin daily and more often than we know;
 (C) Because we cannot enter heaven without it.
 

2. DOES GOD FORGIVE SINS ?
 THE BIBLE SAYS -

 Ps. 130:4. There is forgiveness with Thee.
 Ps. 103:2, 3. Bless the Lord, O my soul, . . . who forgiveth all thine iniquities.

FROM THIS WE LEARN -
 God forgives us all our sins.
 

3. HOW DOES GOD FORGIVE SINS ?
 THE BIBLE SAYS -

 Rom. 8:33. Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.
  Rom. 4:5. To him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

FROM THIS WE LEARN -
 God no longer charges our sins to us, but declares us righteous, or just. (Justification.)
 

 4. HOW CAN GOD, WHO IS HOLY AND JUST, AND THEREFORE MUST PUNISH SIN, FORGIVE SIN ?
 THE BIBLE SAYS -

  2 Cor. 5:21. He (God) hath made Him (Christ) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.
  1 John 2:2. He is the Propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
  2 Cor. 5:19. God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them.

FROM THIS WE LEARN -
 (A) God charged the sins of the whole world to Christ, man's Substitute.
 (B) When Christ died He rendered full satisfaction to God for all sins. (atonement) Forgiveness is already there for us through the blood of Christ.
 

 5. WHERE DOES GOD OFFER US THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS WHICH WAS THUS EARNED BY CHRIST ?
 THE BIBLE SAYS -

 Luke 24:47 Remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations.
 2 Cor. 5:19. (God) hath committed unto us the Word of Reconciliation.

FROM THIS WE LEARN -
 God offers us the forgiveness of sins in the Gospel.
 

6. HOW DOES THE SINNER ACCEPT THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS ?
 THE BIBLE SAYS -

 *Rom. 3:28. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the Law.
 Gen. 15:6. (Abram) believed in the Lord; and He counted it to him for righteousness.

FROM THIS WE LEARN -
 The sinner accepts the forgiveness of sins and is justified when he believes the Gospel. (justification)
 

7. HOW DID JESUS TEACH US TO PRAY FOR FORGIVENESS OF SINS ?
 THE BIBLE SAYS -

 Luke 11:2, 4. When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, . . . forgive us our sins.

FROM THIS WE LEARN -
 We are daily to repent of, and pray for forgiveness of, our sins.
 

 8. WHAT, THEN, IN BRIEF, DO THE SCRIPTURES TEACH OF THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS, OR JUSTIFICATION ?
 THE BIBLE SAYS -

  *Rom. 3:22-24. There is no difference: for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
 *Rom. 5:1. Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

FROM THIS WE LEARN -
 We receive forgiveness of sins and are justified before God
 (A) Not by our works, but by grace,
 (B) For Christ's sake,
 (C) Through faith.
 

 9. WHY CAN AND SHOULD EVERY BELIEVER BE CERTAIN OF THE FORGIVENESS OF HIS SINS AND OF HIS SALVATION ?
 THE BIBLE SAYS -

 Tit. 1:2. God, that cannot lie, promised (eternal life).
 *2 Tim. 1:12. I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day.
 Rom. 8:38, 39. I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

FROM THIS WE LEARN -
 Every believer can and should be sure of the forgiveness of his sins and of his salvation because God's promise is sure.
 

 10. WHY MUST WE EVER FIRMLY MAINTAIN THE DOCTRINE OF JUSTIFICATION BY GRACE, FOR CHRIST'S SAKE, THROUGH FAITH ?
 THE BIBLE SAYS -

  (a) Acts. 10:43. To Him give all the prophets witness, that through His name whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins.
  (a) John 20:31. These are written, . . . that believing ye might have life through His (Christ's) name.
  (b) Gal. 5:4, 5. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the Law; ye are fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
 (c) Matt. 9:2. Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.
 (d) Rev. 1:5, 6. Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father; to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen

FROM THIS WE LEARN -
 We must ever firmly maintain the doctrine
 (A) Because it is the chief doctrine of the Christian religion;
 (B) Because it distinguishes the Christian religion from all false religions, which all teach justification by works;
 (C) Because it gives enduring comfort to poor sinners;
 (D) Because it gives all glory to God.

Before the Next Lesson
FILL OUT Work Sheet No. 16.
MEMORIZE the Bible passages marked with an asterisk (*).
READ Acts, chapters 12-18.


Work Sheet No. 16

 
ONE

(A) The worst thing in the world is....................................................................

(B) The greatest blessing is...............................................................................
(Complete these sentences.)
 
TWO

(A) Only God can forgive sins. True [_]  False [_]

(B) God forgives us our sins because His kindness moves Him to overlook them.
True [_] False [_]

(C) God forgives the sins of those who by their conduct show themselves worthy of forgiveness.  True [_]  False [_]

(D) We receive forgiveness and get to heaven by believing in Christ and doing good works.
  True [_]  False [_]

(Check whether true or false.)
 
THREE

The world is full of religions. Yet, upon close investigation, we find that in reality there are only two religions. Which are these two religions ?

(A) ..........................................................................................................................

(B) ..........................................................................................................................

 
FOUR

(A) Faith saves because it is a God-pleasing thing.  [_]
(B) Faith saves because it lays hold of forgiveness in Christ. [_]
(Check the correct statement.)
 
FIVE

(A) What is the, "atonement" ?

......................................................................................................................................

(B) When did it take place ?

......................................................................................................................................

(C) What is, "justification" ?

......................................................................................................................................

(D) When does it take place ?

......................................................................................................................................