Week 25 Question:

Does Christ’s death mean all our sins can be forgiven?

Week 25 Answer:

Yes, because Christ’s death on the cross fully paid the penalty for our sin, God graciously imputes Christ’s righteousness to us as if it were our own and will remember our sins no more.

Week 25 Verse: 2 Corinthians 5:21

Commentary

Though one sin was enough to bring condemnation, yet the free gift of grace in Christ is of many offences unto justification. And we have a sure ground for this, for the righteousness of Christ is God's righteousness, and God will thus glorify it, that it shall stand good to those that by faith apply it against their daily sins, even till at once we cease both to live and sin. For this very end was the Son of God willingly made sin, that we might be freed from the same. And if all our sins laid upon Christ could not take away God's love from him, shall they take away God's love from us, when by Christ's blood our souls are purged from them? O mercy of all mercies, that…he would vouchsafe to…make us his by such a way, as all the angels in heaven stand wondering at; even his Son not only taking our nature and miserable condition, but our sin upon him, that that being done away, we might through Christ have boldness with God as ours, who is now in heaven appearing there for us, until he bring us home to himself, and presents us to his Father for his for ever!

Richard Sibbes (1577–1635). An English Puritan theologian, Sibbes was known in London in the early 17th century as "the Heavenly Doctor Sibbes." Preacher at Gray's Inn, London and Master of Catherine Hall, Cambridge, his most famous work is The Bruised Reed and Smoking Flax.

From the sermon “Of Confirming this Trust in God” in The Soul's Conflict and Victory over Itself by Faith (London: Pickering, 1837), 325–326.

Video Commentary

NCC Q25: Does Christ’s death mean all our sins can be forgiven? from The Gospel Coalition on Vimeo.

Supporting Scriptures

Hebrews 9:26-28, Hebrews 10:12, Romans 5:10-11

Prayer

O Lord, I do not deserve a glimpse of heaven, and I am unable with my works to redeem myself from sin, death…and hell. Nevertheless, you have given me your Son, Jesus Christ, who is far more precious and dear than heaven, and much stronger than sin, death…and hell. For this I rejoice, praise, and thank you, O God. Without cost [to me] and out of pure grace you have given me this boundless blessing in your dear Son. Through whom you take sin, death…and hell from me, and do grant me all that belongs to him. Amen.

Martin Luther (1483–1546). A German Protestant pastor and professor of theology, Luther was the son of a mining family, intended to become a lawyer, and at first took monastic orders. On 31 October 1517 Luther nailed his Ninety-Five Theses to the door of a church in Wittenberg, sparking the Reformation. His refusal to retract his writings at the demand of Pope Leo X and Emperor Charles V resulted in his excommunication. Luther wrote many works, including his small and large catechisms, and preached hundreds of sermons in churches and universities.

From Luther’s Prayers, edited by Herbert F. Brokering, from the translation by Charles E. Kistler (Minneapolis: Augsburg Books, 1967), 15–16.