Positional vs experiential forgiveness

 

I believe the Bible teaches 4 types of forgiveness. 

First there is forgiveness at the Cross when Jesus died for the forgiveness of sins of the whole world. He is the propitiation for the sins of the whole world. At the Cross, He removed sin as a barrier between God and man. Sin is no longer the reason why man cannot be with God. Instead the issue is have you believed in Jesus. If you do, you have access directly to God. 

Then there is forgiveness at the point of faith just like Peter preach in Acts 10. When we believe in Christ, all of our sins are forgiven. All the benefits of the Cross were credited in our account. We start the spiritual life with zero sins. This enables God to fellowship with us and to credit righteousness in our account. This happens only once. Once justified, justified forever. 

Then there is familial forgiveness when believers confess their sins to God the Father. This happens as often as we recognize personal sins in our life and confess them before God (not a human priest). Sin disrupts our fellowship with God and confessing it return us back to fellowship. This is the forgiveness of 1 John 1:9. 

Then there is human forgiveness. This is when we forgive those who sins us on the basis of Christ's forgiveness. We forgave others because God forgave us in Christ. It can be impersonal where we forgive those who sinned against us even if they didn't ask for it. This means the offense will not come between you and the offender. It doesn't mean you become friends. Then there is personal forgiveness granted to those who asked for it. This can be the basis if restoration to fellowship because the other person recognize he is wrong and apologize for it. 

Distinguishing these forgivenesses harmonize the Scriptures. This ensures that positional forgiveness remains by faith and familial forgiveness remains by faith. This explains why those who don't forgive others (Category 4 forgiveness) are not forgiven by God (Category 2 forgiveness). Failure to forgive others is a sin which disrupts fellowship with God. 

Forgiveness isn't the same as justification or pardon. If you forgive others it doesn't mean they were right or the offenses will not be punished. It means you refused to be controlled by it. Forgiveness frees you from being poisoned by bitterness. 

Manatiling nakapokus sa biyaya. Huwag ninyong hayaang nakawin ng mga huwad na guro ang inyong karapatang mag-isip ng doktrina. 

(Kung gusto ninyo ng karagdagang impormasyon, bisitahin ninyo kami. May pagtitipon kami sa Dahat, kada Linggo, kada 1:00-3:00 pm. Sana manampalataya kayo at kita-kita tayo.

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