Forgiveness of Sins is a Process of Salvation

2003-09-04 12:19

Forgiveness of Sins is the love of God, which is given to all people on earth without difference. The Bible says about it in John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." God set all people on earth free from the first sin and death by loving the world so and giving his one and only Son. He wants all men to be freed from the agony of death which came to them through sin.

For that reason, the gospel is good news. God accomplished His will through Christ Jesus, Abraham's offspring. It is the blessing given to all people on earth, for which God made his promise to Abraham, confirming it with an oath, and is the love of God who sets them free from sin and death free of charge. It is written, Genesis 22:18, "and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me."

The Bible says, Romans 10:15, "... How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" Colossians 1:23 also says, "This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant."

The gospel of redemption has been given for all people in the world, but not everyone has faith. It is surely written, 1 John 2:2, "He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world." John 1:29 says, "The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, 'Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!'" Romans 5:8 also says, "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." It is the first love of God, which has been given for all people.

God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son; He wants all men to be saved from death, the wages of sin. Therefore, God made his Son pay all the wages of sin by the sacrifice of his own precious blood and obtain eternal redemption once for all, through which no other sacrifices are needed anymore. It is the sacrifice of eternal redemption finished by Christ in the order of Melchizedek. There is now no other sacrifices to sin, and no condemnation. The Bible calls this good news the eternal gospel.

The Truth says about it, Hebrews 2:15, "and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death." 1 Corinthians 15:22 also testifies assuredly, "For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive." This news is the good news, and the Bible calls it the voice of the Son of God. John 5:25, "I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live."

If we ignore such a great salvation and do not obey the gospel, there is no way for us to escape from the second death. It is written, Jude 1:5, "Though you already know all this, I want to remind you that the Lord delivered his people out of Egypt, but later destroyed those who did not believe." On the way to salvation which is from faith to faith, without the last faith, we will be cursed as the fig tree without fruit was. The Bible calls it the second death, destruction, or the resurrection of damnation. It is written, John 5:29, "and come out--those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned."

All people on earth will rise through Christ. Those who have done good, God's righteousness, will rise to live, and those who have done evil, their own righteousness, will rise to be condemned. The Bible says about it, Philippians 3:9, "not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ--the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith."

God's righteousness is forgiveness and love. God's righteousness is only in the faith in Christ. The Bible testifies that God's righteousness is to keep the new command. The Lord called it 'my commandments'. It is written, John 13:34, "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." Also John 14:21 says, "Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him."

The Bible says, 1 John 4:16, "And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him." Hebrews 12:14 also says, "Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord." Therefore, forgiveness of sins is not salvation but a process of salvation.

The least brother, Kim Yun-gu.