He forgave us all our sins …
Summary: Through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, God forgives us all our sins. But how much is “all?” The answer to that question is worth thinking about.
How many sins is “all”?
When Paul writes that God “forgave us all our sins,” what comes to mind?
The Greek word Paul used for “sin” in today’s passage is “paráptōma.” Its meaning can include both unintentional errors and willful transgressions. So, are we back to counting errors and omissions, right?
Not so fast …
If you start thinking about things you “might have done” that are sins, you are missing the point. Everything we do on our own falls short of the mark.
In John’s Gospel, he quotes Jesus saying, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).
The last part of that quote is brutally honest: Without Jesus, we can do nothing.
Let’s review God’s standard for hitting the mark.
Jesus summarized all of the “Law and the Prophets” this way: Love the Lord your God with everything you have and love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:37-40). So the question becomes, “How much of what we do every day meets this standard?”
But wait (as they say on TV), there’s more!
Jesus equates being angry with someone to murdering them (Matthew 5:21-22). So if we have an angry thought about someone, we have failed God. A few verses later (verses 27-28), he goes on to make the point that as far as God is concerned, if a man has a lustful thought about a woman, he has already broken God’s law against adultery.
God’s standard of behavior includes our thoughts. The goal line for perfection is infinitely high. Without Jesus, we can do nothing good. As Isaiah points out, “our righteous acts are like filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6).
When Paul writes, “He forgave us all our sins,” he doesn’t mean that God sees us as “mostly good” needing only occasional forgiveness. He knows how God sees us. Everything we do, even trying to do what is right, falls short of the mark.
If we were a sponge, we’d be dripping with sin.
And that’s okay. God forgives us when we put our faith in Jesus and turn from putting ourselves first to putting God first.
Application: Think about sin as a condition rather than one thing.
Food for Thought: What do you call a “sin” that happens after we have been forgiven? Is it still a sin?
Please click ‘’Continue Reading” for comments.
Image by Grok
Thank you brother. I really enjoyed and relate to your devotion today.
“Think about sin as a condition rather than a thing.” I thought that was a great quote. While sin can be a thing, when taken as our human condition that needs remedy, it shows our desperate need for a Savior. So I thought that was excellent.
As to the question, a sin is still a sin after we have been forgiven. It still misses God’s standard. Confession and repentance are really a way of life until we see Jesus face to face.
1 John 1: 5 – 2: 2: This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. 7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all b sin.
8If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.
1My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
Rich,
Thank you for the encouraging words! Like so many words, “sin” can be used to refer to both a single event and a condition of our existence. The quote you provide gives examples of both.
In verse 8 John says, “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.” The “sin” in this case is the condition of sin.
In the 1 John 2:1 passage he writes, ” I write this to you so that you will not sin,” meaning that he wants us to choose to avoid doing things (single events) we know are sinful.
Good devotion and good response from R.
What do you call a “sin” that happens after we have been forgiven? Is it still a sin?
I think it is vital to remember that sin separates us from God’s Spirit. When we did not believe or follow Christ, we were spiritually dead, and living in separation. As believers and followers of Christ, we are spiritually awake, and although we have accepted the gift of forgiveness of sin amd we strive to remain in the Spirit, unrepented sin still serves to seperate us from His Spirit. So when the song says “I need thee every hour” it is a dual meaning. We feel the absence that unrepented sin brings, and long to remain in the Spirit, and only through Christ can we repent and once again be in His presence.
1 John 1:8-9 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
2 Corinthians 7:10 For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.
1 John 2:1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
Thanks, Chris!
Great point! We don’t need barriers between us and our God. We need his presence in our lives every minute of every day.
What do you call a “sin” that happens after we have been forgiven? Is it still a sin?
I believe sin remains sin, and we become imperfect beings, empowered by the Holy Spirit, who seek to serve our perfect God by turning from all sins as they are revealed by the Holy Spirit.
Romans 8:11, If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.
Acts 2:38, And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 8:11, If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.
Acts 3:19, Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,
2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”
1 Peter:23, For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.
Matthew 6:33, But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Thank you, Ron.
“Sin remains sin…” Yes. Absolutely true. We cannot escape that truth except by lying to ourselves about it.