With the cross behind us, how are we forgiven today? The Gospel of John Forgiveness and the Cross This question provides the New Testament with fuel for constant John 8:13-29 discussion and, quite frankly, relentless celebration. Addressing Christians, NT writers are typically heard describing the cross in terms of what it Last week we witnessed one of the greatest stories in the life of guaranteed those who had come to believe in Jesus’ identity as Lord of Jesus, if not the whole Bible. A woman was forgiven, on the spot, by heaven and earth. Tables were turned! Jesus’ death is now our victory! Jesus (“Neither do I condemn you,” John 8:11) and was sent away with the news that she had a new relationship toward sin (“go from now no “And we are witnesses of all things which Jesus did both in the land of the Jews longer to sin”). In theological terms we could say she was justified, or and in Jerusalem, whom they killed by hanging on a tree. Him God raised up on the third day, and showed him openly, not to all the people, but to witnesses pronounced to be proper in relation to God. This was all due to the chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with him after he arose gracious love of God extended to someone who did not, in herself, from the dead. And he commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify deserve to be treated so kindly. that it is he who was ordained by God to be judge of the living and the dead. To What is important to realize is how consistent this story is with the him all the prophets witness that, through his name, whoever believes in him person of God as taught in the Old Testament. For it is there, deep in the will receive remission of sins!” Acts 10:39–43 heart of such books as the Psalms, and experienced by such people as David, that we learn that grace and forgiveness is consistent with the eternal character of our Creator. We can say that God is righteous, or 1. For the Christian, right, in the sense that he keeps his promises—even if those promises include being gracious to those he so chooses (Exodus 33:19). In this way the adulteress was treated justly in the sense that she was forgiven.
It is tempting to think that our sins as Christians are being tallied, one by one, in a record book in heaven, waiting to be forgiven as we confess them indiv- “Neither do I condemn you” idually to God. But notice the promise of 1 John: “Whoever abides in [Jesus] does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen him nor known him. He who sins is So is everyone so easily, so justly, forgiven? The story of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the of the forgiven adulteress is immediately followed by Jesus Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. saying to his opponents “you will die in your sins” (8:24). Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for [God’s] seed remains in him; We are hearing the mirrored opposite, in other words, of and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God” (1 John 3:6, 8–9). what Jesus had just said to the woman. She would go never to sin again—be free from sin and its effects—while these others would go to sin again and again and die in this state. 2. For the non-Christian,
The fact that Jesus has not yet returned to judge the world for its sinfulness, or spiritual adultery to God, is evidence that God’s offer of forgiveness is still very real:
“Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because he has appointed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness [consistency to covenantal promise] by the man whom he has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising him from the dead.” Acts 17:30–31
How do you know which one you are?
How does forgiveness “work” in the Bible? How does the cross “work” in the Bible? The story of the woman in John 8 was caused, in large part, by the The fact that Jesus had yet to die did not affect the reality of what previous occasions in which Jesus was heard to forgive a person’s sins God did for the adulteress. She experienced the real, family-oriented, (Matthew 9:2; Luke 5:21). Those who heard Jesus say “Your sins are merciful forgiveness of God. She would not “die in her sin” as Jesus’ forgiven” knew that this was the privilege of God alone. As we all know, opponents would (8:21, 24), but would have the light of life (8:12) and humans can forgive each other for human-to-human sins, but not the sins of be free from sin (8:32, 36). Yet Jesus’ death is certain to come (“When humans toward God! you lift up the Son of Man,” 8:28), which brings certain realities:
1. Forgiveness means 1. Jesus’ death
There is no specific word in Hebrew or Greek for our “forgive.” Depending on Today’s text records the first discussion in John where Jesus makes his death one’s translation, there are about 94 verses in the Bible that contain the English a coming certainty. It is hard for us, the modern reader, to not interpret every- words forgive or forgiveness. If there is a concept that threads its way through thing in Jesus’ life and ministry in light of his death. But the person who Scripture having to do with forgiveness, it would be the Hebrew nasa (to lift lived alongside Jesus, whether friend or foe, did not see the cross on the up, as in Cain’s plea “My punishment is greater than I can bear!” Gen 4:13) horizon, and will constantly be curious how such an event could satisfy the and the Greek aphiemi (to let go, as in “Permit it to be,” Matthew 3:15). God of Israel. There was no place in Jewish thinking for a dying Messiah.
2. Forgiveness was 2. Jesus’ death
The privilege of forgiveness in the Old Testament was just that—a privilege. It was not dependent upon a person doing something, or asking for something There was an edge to the coming death of Jesus which our Savior needed to that God had made available. Rather, the promise coming from God was that a explain to his enemies. When they killed the Messiah (8:28), a series of person would be in a right relation to him, even in spite of behavioral sin, when events would be put into motion which included the fulfillment of prophecy he loved God and devoted himself to him. Notice Micah’s plea to God: “You in two opposite directions. For the believer, or the covenantally faithful will again have compassion on us, and will subdue our iniquities. You will cast family member, forgiveness of sin (“atonement” in OT terminology) would all our sins into the depths of the sea. You will give truth to Jacob and mercy to be finalized; yet for the non-believer, his condemnation would be finalized. Abraham, which you have sworn to our fathers from days of old” (7:19–20). “You will die in your sins” (8:24) signals the promised end of those who “do not believe in the name of the only begotten Son of God,” those Jesus earlier described as “condemned already” (3:18). 3. Forgiveness is 3. Jesus’ death
The grand theme of God’s forgiveness is tied directly and consistently to his righteousness or justice. God does not forgive because he is forced, or pleased by some kind of external transaction. He forgives—lets go or bears up our sins Everyone who witnesses Jesus’ crucifixion is forced to make their call: So —because he has promised to treat his faithful family in just this way. “Pardon just who is this Jesus who voluntarily lays down his life? “My kingdom is not the iniquity of this people,” Moses asked God, “according to the greatness of of this world,” Jesus will later tell Pilate, inviting his decision. “If my your mercy, just as you have forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now” kingdom were of this world, my servants would fight, so that I should not be (Numbers 14:19). delivered to the Jews; but now my kingdom is not from here” (John 18:36).