Forgiveness of Sins

Sin separates God and man. Romans 3:23 states that all men have sinned. People are not born sinful but develop a sinful nature by choosing to sin when they are old enough to make that choice for themselves. All men and women, except Jesus, have chosen to sin but babies and children are innocent and pure before God. Matthew 19:14 

God is holy, and only a holy and perfect sacrifice could atone for the sins we have committed. This is why Jesus needed to be the atonement for man’s sin, no other sacrifice would do. Hebrews 9

Only through Jesus can one be forgiven, but how is that forgiveness achieved? Do we only believe that Jesus has forgiven us? Do we have to be baptized as a baby then confirm later that this is what we want? What does the Bible teach? The Bible is the authority on what is pleasing to God, not man’s teaching.

In Matthew 26:28, Jesus, before the day He died, instructed His apostles to remember Him and His death. It is often referred to as the “Last Supper”. In this verse, Jesus stated that His blood was of the new covenant and would be shed for many for the remission of sins. Here we learn that it is Jesus’ shed blood which will forgive us from our sins. How does one come into contact with His blood?

In Luke 24, the resurrected Jesus appeared to His apostles and explained the Scriptures to them, so that they could understand that His death and resurrection were all prophesied in the Old Testament. Jesus told them, in verse 47, that “repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” Notice that repentance was not given as the remission of sins, but an attitude and change of heart that coincides with the remission of sins.

In Acts 2:37-38, after Jesus’ ascension into Heaven, Peter preached this message to the people at Jerusalem, just like Jesus instructed them to. After Peter’s words convicted many in the crowd that they had sinned by putting Jesus to death, they asked, “What shall we do?” Peter responded, “Repent and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Here it is clearly stated that baptism is for the remission of sins. Baptism, an act of faith, is when the blood of Jesus cleanses a person from their sins.

Romans 10:9-10 teaches that one has to confess with their mouth that Jesus is the Son of God. Romans 10:15 also shows the necessity of being taught the gospel, while verse 16 states that gospel must be obeyed.

These verses, and many others, teach that it is not faith alone that saves. One has to hear the gospel and obey it by believing, repenting, confessing that Jesus is the Son of God, and be baptized for the remission of their sins.

Many have been baptized already, but was it the baptism that Jesus commanded? Baptism means to be immersed or dipped, not sprinkled as some denominations practice.

Babies cannot become Christians, as they can not make the choice for themselves. They cannot hear the gospel, believe in it, repent of any sins, confess with their mouth, and their “baptism” is usually only a sprinkling of water not an immersion. All of these facts make their conversion to Christianity invalid.

There is no teaching in the Bible of confirmation in order to become a Christian, it is a man made practice. To become a Christian, one must be born again by following the pure Words of God. 1 Peter 1:23-25

There are many denominations that baptize adults by immersion, but not for their remission of sins. It is sometimes referred to as an “outward sign of an inward grace” which means that they believed they were saved before being baptized. This baptism is not for the remission of sins that Jesus told His apostles to teach.

In Acts 19:1-5, Paul met twelve men that had been baptized only in the baptism of John the Baptist. They had not heard of Jesus, and Paul had them re-baptized for the remission of their sins in the name of Jesus Christ. Likewise, it is necessary for those today who have been baptized, but not according to the Bible instructions, to be re-baptized.

It is by hearing God’s Word, receiving it like a a child and obeying it that a person becomes a Christian and has that hope of salvation if they continue in it until death.

By baptism, you are added to His church, Acts 2: 41,47, and become a member of his body, the church of Christ, as taught in the New Testament.

God is near, now is the time to make that choice for eternity.