How Does God Forgive Sin?

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." I John 1:9

Once a man is convinced of his sin and made aware of God's justice, he longs to know one thing - How Does God Forgive Sin? Our text brings us the certain answer to this question. God freely forgives all our sins upon the merits of Christ's sacrifice as our Substitute: and we receive that forgiveness when we confess our sins, trusting Christ alone to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Here John tells us three things about the forgiveness of sin.

1. THERE MUST BE A CONFESSION OF SIN BEFORE WE CAN RECEIVE THE PARDON OF SIN.

Repentance, faith, and the confession of sin do not accomplish our pardon. That was done by Christ at Calvary. But no man will ever receive the pardon of sin by faith until he confesses his sin (Pro. 28:13; Jer. 3:13). We must confess our sins in humble sincerity before God. We cannot name them all. But we dare not hide one. If you would obtain mercy and forgiveness, you must acknowledge your guilt and sue for mercy (Ps. 51:3-4). God be merciful to me, I am the sinner.

2. GOD FORGIVES THE SINS OF HIS PEOPLE ACCORDING TO STRICT JUSTICE, UPON THE MERITS OF CHRIST'S FINISHED WORK.

Beloved, here is the foundation for our faith. God will never accept anything we do for the pardon of sin. But he will never reject the finished work of his Son. In faithfulness to his Covenant, his Word, his Name, his Son, and his Promise, God will forgive all the sins of every believer. And he does it in strict justice. The law being satisfied with Christ's atoning sacrifice demands the forgiveness of every soul for whom he died.

3. GOD'S FORGIVENESS OF OUR SINS IS FULL AND COMPLETE.

He cleanses us from all unrighteousness! For Christ's sake, God pardons us from all sin, never remembers our sins against us, and never charges us with sin. This is blessed forgiveness.

Don Fortner