Notes on “We Believe: The Forgiveness of Sins”

This week we near the end of our Worship series on the Apostle’s Creed called “We Believe.” During this time, we have been exploring one of the most common affirmations of faith, originating from some of the earliest Christians.

This week we focus on a short and powerful statement in the Apostle’s Creed: the forgiveness of sins. The forgiveness of sins is a fundamental belief in the Christian faith. When we declare that we believe “in the forgiveness of sins” we affirm our belief in a divine grace that is available to everyone. Sometimes we need to ask God to forgive us of our sins. Sometimes we need to forgive others who have wronged us. Sometimes we humbly accept forgiveness from God and/or someone we have wronged. Forgiveness is part of God’s restorative work in our lives, families, churches, and communities.

Romans 5:12-19 (CEB)

¹² Just as through one human being sin came into the world, and death came through sin, so death has come to everyone, since everyone has sinned.¹³ Although sin was in the world, since there was no Law, it wasn’t taken into account until the Law came. ¹⁴ But death ruled from Adam until Moses, even over those who didn’t sin in the same way Adam did—Adam was a type of the one who was coming.

¹⁵ But the free gift of Christ isn’t like Adam’s failure. If many people died through what one person did wrong, God’s grace is multiplied even more for many people with the gift—of the one person Jesus Christ—that comes through grace. ¹⁶ The gift isn’t like the consequences of one person’s sin. The judgment that came from one person’s sin led to punishment, but the free gift that came out of many failures led to the verdict of acquittal. ¹⁷ If death ruled because of one person’s failure, those who receive the multiplied grace and the gift of righteousness will even more certainly rule in life through the one person Jesus Christ.

¹⁸ So now the righteous requirements necessary for life are met for everyone through the righteous act of one person, just as judgment fell on everyone through the failure of one person. ¹⁹ Many people were made righteous through the obedience of one person, just as many people were made sinners through the disobedience of one person.

Matthew 5:38-48 (CEB)

³⁸ “You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.³⁹ But I say to you that you must not oppose those who want to hurt you. If people slap you on your right cheek, you must turn the left cheek to them as well.⁴⁰ When they wish to haul you to court and take your shirt, let them have your coat too. ⁴¹ When they force you to go one mile, go with them two. ⁴² Give to those who ask, and don’t refuse those who wish to borrow from you.

⁴³ “You have heard that it was said, You must love your neighbor and hate your enemy. ⁴⁴ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who harass you⁴⁵ so that you will be acting as children of your Father who is in heaven. He makes the sun rise on both the evil and the good and sends rain on both the righteous and the unrighteous. ⁴⁶ If you love only those who love you, what reward do you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? ⁴⁷ And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing? Don’t even the Gentiles do the same? ⁴⁸ Therefore, just as your heavenly Father is complete in showing love to everyone, so also you must be complete.

Consider these questions:

1. What is forgiveness? (What does that word mean to me?)
2. What is sin? (What does that word mean to me?)
3. Is “sin” only committed by individuals, or is it also communal and structural? 
4. What does it mean to forgive sins? (What does that look like in my life?)
5. Why is the forgiveness of sins important? 
6. How is the forgiveness of sins practically applied in our modern world, by both individuals and communities?