The Forgiveness of Sins

You may say, “Surely we can receive the forgiveness of sins without entering into the new covenant!” No, because praying for the forgiveness of your sins is the same as entering the new covenant, because it is Jesus’ blood that cleanses us from sin.

This is easy to understand in the natural realm; but in the spiritual realm, the harlot has corrupted our understanding—yet a little child can easily understand it. When a son comes to his father to ask for forgiveness, he will quite naturally say, “I won’t do it again!” This is the covenant. And if the child does not say it, the father will ask, “Will you promise never to do it again?” If the child answers “Yes,” his father forgives him. This is in complete agreement with Jesus’ parting words, “That repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” Luke 24:47. First repentance, then forgiveness of sins.

Let us look at how the apostles preached the forgiveness of sins on the day of Pentecost. When the people asked what they had to do to be saved, “Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’” Acts 2:38.

First repentance, then baptism. From Jesus’ parting words we understand that baptism is a consecration to discipleship—a covenant of a good conscience with God (1 Pet. 3:21)—that we may learn to observe all things which Jesus has commanded us. The apostle Peter says, “Lay hold of a different mind [Norw. Trans.] and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.” Acts 3:19.

This tells us clearly that our sins are not wiped out unless we undergo a change of heart and mind. Our former mind was to seek the world and the things of the world. Then we received a new mind and were baptized. The first world (the visible world)—my old man and my old life—are buried with Christ, and I am raised with Him. Now I seek those things which are above, where Christ is seated, and not the things of this earth. Col. 2:11-12 and 3:1-3.

“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” 1 John 2:15.

It is clear that our sins are not forgiven if the love of the Father is not in us. Many people are deceived on this point. The apostle Paul was chosen by God to preach the forgiveness of sins in the same way. He says, “I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, to open their eyes in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.” Acts 26:17-18.

In other words, to receive forgiveness of sins means to turn from darkness to light, from the power of Satan to God. So the blood of Jesus, God’s Son, only cleanses us from all sin if we walk in the light. 1 John 1:7. Paul received his apostleship “for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name.” Rom. 1:5. Therefore, when they were baptized—when they had entered into the new covenant—they were promised the gift of the Holy Spirit, that would give them everything they needed in order to keep the covenant.