Identity: You are Completely Forgiven
If you have placed your faith in Jesus for salvation, you are a saint. This doesn't mean you'll be perfect. While we no longer have a sin nature and are no longer slaves to it, we will still occasionally step out of character and make mistakes in our flesh.
For many of us, when we do step out of character, we feel overwhelming guilt, condemnation, and shame. It can be crippling.
We were experiencing the freedom and joy of living in victory, and then we fall. We start thinking, "How could you do that? Here you go again, right back to your old ways. You call yourself a Christian? God must be so disappointed in you."
And just like that, the bondage and chains begin wrapping themselves right back around us.
Our Two Common Responses to Failure
When we fail, we tend to respond in one of two ways:
Running Away
Some of us say, "Well, I failed again. I thought I was made a saint, but I guess I'm really not. I'm just a sinner." Then we step into that sin again, and the cycle continues. We fall into a period of running from God because we believe He is absolutely ashamed that one of His so-called saints could act that way.
During this time, many of us find excuse after excuse not to come to church. We're running and trying to hide from God and the disappointment we feel when we think about being in His presence.
Trying to Make Up for It
Others try to make up for their sin through:
Begging for forgiveness - We try to show God how sorry we are by pleading for forgiveness, attempting to say it as heartfelt as we can, maybe even trying to produce tears. We promise Him we'll never do it again while we apologize and beg for His forgiveness.
Doing good works - We start doing things for Him. We read our Bible, go to church, listen only to Christian music, or try to share our faith with someone. We might even extend this to performing well in our jobs or other responsibilities, thinking that will show God we're giving our all for Him.
For a while, we might feel better about ourselves because of what we're doing. We think, "This time things will be different. I'm really going to follow Jesus and be obedient to Him." But eventually, we fail again, and the cycle continues.
The World's System vs. God's Economy
In the world, when you break the law, there is justice. You have to make up for what you did—pay the price—earn your way back into the good graces of society and those you've wronged.
But is this biblical? Is your identity as a saint revoked when you fall and only restored once you've apologized, paid the price, and earned it back?
The Truth About Condemnation
Romans 8:1 tells us: "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."
This is a well-known verse, yet why do most of us still act as though we're under condemnation when we sin?
Why do we say things like, "How could you do that? You call yourself a Christian? You are such a disappointment to God"?
Or why do we try to make up for our sins if there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ?
I believe it's because many of us don't truly understand what happened to our sin on the cross. We don't fully grasp the sacrifice that Jesus made for sin on our behalf.
Blood: The Only Payment for Sin
The author of Hebrews wrote extensively about sin and how it was dealt with in the Old Testament versus the New Testament. One thing this author makes clear is that in God's economy, only one thing could pay for sin—blood.
Hebrews 9:22 says: "...without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness."
In the Old Testament, after sin entered the world, God gave Moses a sacrificial system in which animals were sacrificed so that their blood could cover sins. But these sacrifices were insufficient to deal with sin permanently and had to be offered repeatedly.
The Old Testament System: Covering vs. Removing Sin
Hebrews 10:1-3 explains:
"The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. Otherwise, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins."
All year long, as an Israelite, God would keep a record of violations, and people would live in fear of punishment. Finally, the Day of Atonement arrives—the annual day of fasting, praying, and confessing sin when a perfect bull is sacrificed on behalf of the nation.
On this day, the high priest takes the sacrificial blood and enters the Holy of Holies to sprinkle the blood that covers the nation's sins for the previous year. Two goats are also sacrificed—one slain at the altar and the other designated as the scapegoat. The elders place their hands on the scapegoat, symbolizing the transfer of the nation's sins to the animal. Then, the scapegoat is driven from the city into the wilderness, symbolizing the removal of sins.
There's relief, but it's temporary. The next morning, people’s sins start adding up again, with more guilt and fear following. They must wait until next year for another Day of Atonement to cover their sins again. This cycle repeats year after year.
While this system provided relief from guilt, Hebrews says these sacrifices were "an annual reminder of sins." The Old Testament sacrifices could cover sins, but they could not take them away. As Hebrews 10:4 states: "It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins."
Jesus: The Lamb Who Takes Away Sin
Then Jesus arrived, and John the Baptist introduced Him by saying: "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29)
Not "here comes the lamb of God who would cover up your sins again just like the sacrifices in the Old Testament," but One who will TAKE THEM AWAY! This is exactly what Hebrews 9:28 confirms: "Christ was offered once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people."
Throughout Hebrews, Jesus is presented in total contrast to the Old Testament sacrifices—a better sacrifice, the sacrifice to end all sacrifices.
The Finished Work of Christ
Hebrews 10:10-12 tells us:
"And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God."
Sitting down indicates finished work. The work required not just to cover up sins but to take them away has been completed. Jesus sits in a position of rest knowing that all sin has been taken away.
So why is there "no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus"? Because there are no sins left for Him to condemn! The cross has obliterated them. Your sins have been blotted out. He doesn't even remember them, as Hebrews 10:17 promises: "Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more."
Living as a Completely Forgiven Saint
Think about this: Many of us put our faith in Jesus for salvation and then become totally preoccupied with the very thing God is finished dealing with in our lives—sin! He is done with it. Jesus has taken it all away, yet we place ourselves under condemnation for things He doesn't even remember.
Steve McVey, in his book "Grace Walk," shares his experience:
"In no way do I intend to convey the idea that understanding my identity caused me to live sinlessly. However, I have found that when I do sin now, I soon see it as foolish because I know that a sinful attitude or action contradicts my new nature. Before understanding my identity in Christ, I experienced condemnation when I sinned. Yet the Bible says there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. All the condemnation of God against our sin was poured out on Jesus. So now, I don't feel condemned, but am simply made aware by the Holy Spirit of the foolishness of what I have done. I am reminded of my identity in Christ and sense a desire to forsake the sin and get on with living who I really am – a totally forgiven, redeemed saint!"
Practical Application
What does this look like practically?
When tempted to run: If you sin and start to feel like God is disappointed in you, remember Hebrews 10:17: "Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more."
Instead of running, pray: "Oh, God doesn't even remember what I've just done. He is not disappointed in me. He loves me. Jesus has taken away this sin. Thank you, Jesus, for your complete forgiveness in my life. I stepped out of character with who I am—a saint. I set my heart and mind back on the life I find in Christ and how you want to work in and through me."
When tempted to make penance: If you sin and are tempted to start trying to make up for it, remember Hebrews 9:22: "Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness!"
Your penance will not make up for sin; only blood will do that. Then remember Hebrews 9:28: "Christ was offered once for all time as a sacrifice to take away sins."
Instead of doing penance, pray: "Thank you, Jesus, for the one-time sacrifice you made for my sin. Thank you for your forgiveness in my life and that I don't have to do anything to try and make up for what I just did. I make myself available to you to express Your Life in me and through me."
Conclusion
Knowing that we are completely forgiven saints IN CHRIST allows us to break free from the bondage of sin and the condemnation that comes when we temporarily step out of character.
It frees us to live who we really are—COMPLETELY FORGIVEN, REDEEMED SAINTS—which enables us to experience the life of Christ in us and through us every moment of every day.
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