- Table of content
- 12.1.8.1 God–the One who forgives
- 12.1.8.2 God's patience–the sacrificial service in the Old Testament
- 12.1.8.3 The sacrifice of Christ–foundation for the forgiveness of sins
- 12.1.8.4 Prerequisites for obtaining forgiveness of sins
- 12.1.8.5 Repentance and remorse
- 12.1.8.6 Sin that is not forgiven
- 12.1.8.7 Proclamation and authority
- 12.1.8.8 Effects of the forgiveness of sins
12.1.8.1 God–the One who forgives
It is the triune God who erases our sins. Human beings are incapable of doing this by their own power (Matthew 16: 26; Luke 5: 21-24; Romans 4: 8).
Even though the eternally valid sacrifice of Jesus Christ is the foundation for the forgiveness of sins, God in His omnipotence has always been able to forgive sins. Hence Jesus Christ had the authority to forgive sins even before having brought His sinless life as a sacrifice (Mark 2: 5, 10).