Spiritual Maturity Step 3: Experience Forgiveness of Sins • DDCommunity

As we grow in spiritual maturity, we come to understand the profound impact of sin. It separates us from God and hinders our relationship with Him. Yet, in His great love, God provides the way to restoration when we experience the forgiveness of sins through Christ Jesus.

Defining Sin

The NASB 2020[1] Topical Index provides a concise elaboration on the issue of sin.

Various terms are used in Scripture to describe sin. The most common term in both the Old and New Testaments means to miss the mark, i.e., the righteous standard of God. That such failure is more than mere weakness is seen in other terms that signify rebellion and willful violation of the holy. The basic nature of sin is revealed in the first human sin (Gen 3). There its essence has been interpreted primarily as unbelief seen in the rejection of God’s word or pride in choosing to be as God. Both of these concepts (unbelief and pride) are central to the essence of all sin, which may thus be defined as the willful choosing to be autonomous rather than living by faith under God. Sin results in alienation and separation from God, who is the only source of true human life. The result is death, which is not only viewed as the natural result of sin, but even more as the judgment of God. The full awfulness of sin’s effect is revealed at the cross, where Jesus suffers the wrath of God in the abandonment of the Father for human sin.
The effect of Adam’s sin has come to all humans as his descendants, so that all humanity is burdened with sin from birth. The death of Christ for human sin and His sinless life of perfect fellowship with the Father are accounted to those who by faith are joined to Him thus overcoming the alienation of sin.

Jesus Paid the Price for Sin

By oppression and judgment He was taken away; and as for His generation, who considered that He was cut off from the land of the living for the wrongdoing of my people, to whom the blow was due? And His grave was assigned with wicked men, yet He was with a rich man in His death, because He had done no violence, nor was there any deceit in His mouth.

But the Lord desired to crush Him, causing Him grief; if He renders Himself as a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, and the good pleasure of the Lord will prosper in His hand. As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see it and be satisfied; by His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many, for He will bear their wrongdoings. Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great, and He will divide the plunder with the strong, because He poured out His life unto death, and was counted with wrongdoers; yet He Himself bore the sin of many, and interceded for the wrongdoers. (Isa. 53:8–12 NASB)

Benefits of Experiencing Forgiveness of Sins

You are all God’s children by believing in Christ Jesus (Gal. 3:26 GW).

How joyful is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered! How joyful is a person whom the Lord does not charge with iniquity and in whose spirit is no deceit! (Ps. 32:1–2 CSB)

I will walk among you; I will be your God, and you will be my people (Lev. 26:12 NLT). Because we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. And let us work toward complete holiness because we fear God (2 Cor. 7:1 NLT).

Only Jesus Can Forgive Sins

“Now, son of man, say to your people, ‘The righteousness of the righteous person will not save him on the day of his transgression; neither will the wickedness of the wicked person cause him to stumble on the day he turns from his wickedness. The righteous person won’t be able to survive by his righteousness on the day he sins. When I tell the righteous person that he will surely live, but he trusts in his righteousness and acts unjustly, then none of his righteousness will be remembered, and he will die because of the injustice he has committed.

“‘So when I tell the wicked person, “You will surely die,” but he repents of his sin and does what is just and right—he returns collateral, makes restitution for what he has stolen, and walks in the statutes of life without committing injustice—he will certainly live; he will not die. None of the sins he committed will be held against him. He has done what is just and right; he will certainly live.

“‘But your people say, “The Lord’s way isn’t fair,” even though it is their own way that isn’t fair. When a righteous person turns from his righteousness and commits injustice, he will die for it. But if a wicked person turns from his wickedness and does what is just and right, he will live because of it. Yet you say, “The Lord’s way isn’t fair.” I will judge each of you according to his ways, house of Israel.’” (Ezek. 33:12–20 CSB)

God Wants Everyone to Repent

So for one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, for him it is sin (James 4:17 NASB).

Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit (Rom. 8:5 NLT). The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent (2 Pet. 3:9 NLT).

I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to the point of repentance; for you were made sorrowful according to the will of God, so that you might not suffer loss in anything through us. For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death (2 Cor. 7:9–10 NASB).

Joyful Are Those Whose Sin Is Forgiven

We can live in a blessed, joyful, happy state when we take our sin burdens to the Lord and leave them there. Jesus paid the price so that our sins could be forgiven. Therefore, we stand righteously before the Father because of our relationship with His Son. Sin indeed causes pain and grief. But because of Christ, our sorrow can be turned into joy. Experience forgiveness of sins!

More Steps to Spiritual Maturity

Dive deeper into As a Little Child: Conversations with the Father 10 Steps to Spiritual Maturity with these posts:

As a Little Child: Conversations with the Father Cover

Discover the heart of childlike faith! As a Little Child: Conversations with the Father by Melanie D. Lewis is available as an ebook and course through DDCommunity Institute.

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[1] NASB 2020 Wide-Margin Reference Edition (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 2022).

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