The Son of Man died on the Cross as an atonement for our sins. Yet (as He was found righteous) the consequence of sin, which is death, did not have its hold on Him, and He rose on the third day. Since that moment, the sins of mankind have been forgiven by God the Father, regardless of their caste, race, or religion. Some have come to understand this Good News, while others remain unaware. Only those who recognize and believe that Jesus came in the flesh, sacrificed Himself for their sins, and rose on the third day are referred to as the children of God.
Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God – John 1:12 (NIV)
While we may not realize that eternal death is ahead of us, and even though we haven’t asked God to send His Son to save us from sin, God acted out of His unconditional love (John 3:16). Without us asking, God knew our serious condition and offered us His mercy, forgiving all our sins. Therefore, forgiveness is available to everyone, regardless of whether they ask for it, but only those who understand this truth can truly accept it.
Receiving Our Forgiveness
Today, nearly every religion includes some form of ritual immersion in certain bodies of water deemed as holy, as a means of cleansing the soul. Sadly, this misunderstanding can also be found among those who profess Christ as their Saviour, when baptism by immersion is viewed as a means of removing sin.
If believers are taught that one cannot enter heaven without immersion baptism, we are no different than those who do not understand the Good News—that their sins have already been forgiven. Moreover, if we rely on baptism to remove sin, we undermine Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross. The following Scriptures help clarify this truth.
I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing! – Galatians 2:21 (NIV)
In gatherings, believers are often taught to continually seek forgiveness for their sins, causing them to forget that their sins were already forgiven through Jesus’ blood shed on the cross. Furthermore, this practice can give license to a cycle of sinning and then seeking pardon week after week. Instead of truly repenting and changing their ways, it may become a way of hiding sin, assuming it can later be atoned for through prayers and offerings. Rather than chasing after God’s forgiveness—which has already been given to us—we should come to Him with a heart that seeks to turn from our sinful ways, asking Him to transform us so that we may not continue in sin.
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. – 1 John 1:8-9 (NIV)
What Would Jesus Do?
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors – Matthew 6:12 (NIV)
People keep asking for forgiveness because they believe this is what Jesus wants, since He taught it in the Lord’s Prayer.
If God’s forgiveness is unconditional and freely given to everyone, why do we think it depends on us forgiving others? Rather, Jesus taught this prayer to His disciples to help them forgive those who have wronged or grieved them. In doing so, they would come to understand more deeply what God has done for us in forgiving all our transgressions against Him. So, what message is Jesus giving when He teaches us to pray this way? It is not a request for forgiveness—as it is already freely given—but an affirmation of who we are: forgiven children of God.
If we recognize that our sins are forgiven without us asking, therefore, we should not expect others to ask us for forgiveness when they have wronged us. As Jesus said from the cross, “they do not know what they are doing,” showing that even when people believe they are right, He intercedes for them in their ignorance rather than condemning them for their sins. We should learn not to turn the wrongs of others into sources of conflict. Instead, we should avoid conflict both outwardly and in our hearts by not holding their trespasses against them, just as our Father has not held our trespasses against us.
While we may not possess the authority to absolve others of their sins and guilt, we do have the ability to overlook their transgressions, recognizing their ignorance. Outward gestures like hugging or shaking hands with those who hurt us may make us appear as true children of God, but they can sometimes hide anger within. Keeping our distance can help us shift our focus away from their faults and instead develop a heart that prays for their peace and blessing. Job showed this in the way he responded to his friends. This attitude keeps us connected with God, frees us from trying to prove our own case, and helps us focus on His direction for our lives.
Furthermore, no sin is ultimately against a person alone; it is against God. When we wrong others, we are sinning against the God who created them and loves them just as He loves us. Failing to follow His commandments—to love God and to love one another—or doing what He has not asked of us is, at its core, sin against God.
Does God Delegate His Authority to Forgive the Sins of People?
The prayer Jesus taught us may seem to suggest that we also have the authority to forgive the sins of others. When Jesus told the paralysed man, that “Your sins are forgiven”, the pharisees claimed it as a blasphemy as they did not acknowledge Jesus, as the Son of God. They strongly believed that man did not have the authority to forgive the sins of others. Knowing their thoughts, Jesus replied them as follows:
But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home. – Mark 2:10-11 (NIV)
Jesus does agree here with the pharisees that man cannot forgive the sins of others, and as the Son of Man, the one who came to bear the sins of the world to fullfill the law that sentences death to the sinners. If we claim that we can also forgive the sins of others, what have we done to have that authority on us? Joseph knew this truth, and when his brother asked him for forgiveness.
But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? – Genesis 50:18 (NIV)
Helping our enemies and praying for their salvation and blessing shows that we are not holding their wrongs against them. Joseph showed this later in his life—he did not dwell on what his brothers had done, but let go of their wrongs and stayed close to God despite challenges and false accusations.
Joseph named his firstborn Manasseh and said, “It is because God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s household.” – Genesis 41:51 (NIV)
Joseph did not try to justify himself or blame his brothers, even when he became a powerful ruler and could have gone back to them. Instead, God brought his family to him so they would be provided for during the famine. Could God not have fed them wherever they were? He certainly could. But He allows such situations to help us know Him more deeply and to trust in His provision rather than the world’s (Deuteronomy 8:3).
Did Jesus Authorise His Disciples To Forgive Sins?
Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” – John 20:21-23 (NIV)
It may seem that Jesus’ followers were given authority to forgive sins on earth. But to understand this, we must look at the promise of the Holy Spirit. The disciples were afraid and confused, unable to fully understand what Jesus had told them about His suffering, crucifixion, and resurrection.
After His resurrection, they were still in shock and hiding from the Roman authorities. Jesus appeared to them, breathed on them, and told them to receive the Holy Spirit. However, if they had fully received the Spirit at that moment, there would have been no need for Him to later tell them to wait in Jerusalem to be empowered by the Holy Spirit.
Therefore, it is crucial to recognize that Jesus provided them with strength for their trembling bodies and minds, thus enabling them to understand God’s provision for the redemption of mankind. In the closed room, Jesus breathed upon them, revitalizing the faith imparted to them over three and a half years. At that moment when they lacked faith; the Holy Spirit did not come upon them. Hence, Jesus prepared them to receive the Holy Spirit, which is bestowed exclusively upon those who believe in Jesus and His redemptive acts.
This belief is the only way for anyone to receive the Holy Spirit; attending anointing services with fasting and prayer is not the way to be filled by His Spirit. Many people, not understanding this principle and try to anoint their congregants with insincere actions. However, Scripture rejects such false practices by stressing that belief in the redemptive work is essential to receive Holy Spirit.
And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory. – Ephesians 1:13-14 (NIV)
Then the question arises: once individuals receive the Holy Spirit, do they attain the capacity to forgive sins? Jesus neither instructed us to request forgiveness, as it is bestowed upon us without our asking, nor has He conferred upon us the authority to absolve others of their sins. Rather, Jesus promised to bestow the Holy Spirit upon those who believe in Him, so that they may comprehend God and His Word, ensuring that they do not misunderstand or misapply the provisions granted to them by God. As we commemorate the day of His resurrection, let us shift our focus away from our rituals and instead cultivate the faith necessary to welcome the resurrected Jesus into our hearts in the form of the Holy Spirit so that we may truly understand His will for our lives.
The Jordan Valley 
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