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Redemption.
New Series.
#19.
The forgiveness of sins.
pp. 49 - 53
The immediate result of redemption is the forgiveness of sins:--
"In Whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according
to the riches of His grace; wherein He hath abounded toward us" (Eph. 1: 7, 8).
Forgiveness, however, is also the result of atonement (according to the O.T. usage of
the word):--
"Blessed is the man whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered" (Psa. 32: 1).
We find justification closely connected with both redemption and atonement in
Romans:--
"Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus;
Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation (the O.T. `atonement') through faith in His
blood" (Rom. 3: 24, 25).
Justification and forgiveness are closely allied as may be seen by reading Acts 13:
and Rom. 4::--
"Be it known unto you therefore . . . . . that through this Man is preached unto you the
forgiveness of sins, and by Him all that believe are justified" (Acts 13: 38, 39).
"Even as David described the blessedness of the man unto whom God imputeth
righteousness, without works, saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven"
(Rom. 4: 6, 7).
The true foundation for heart realization of this great blessing, is not only the
experience of it at the hand of the Lord, but the knowledge of it based upon the teaching
of His Word. When experience walks hand in hand with revelation we have a fellowship
that is real and fruitful.
There are three words used in the Hebrew Scriptures to describe three aspects of
forgiveness, viz., nasa, kaphar, and salach. Let us ponder them.
NASA.--"The Lord is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity . . . . . as
Thou hast forgiven this people from Egypt until now" (Numb. 14: 18, 19).
The Hebrew word means "to bear", and has a threefold force: (1) lifting up,
(2) carrying, (3) taking away. Nasa is used sacrificially for the bearing of sin, but it
will be well to see its use in non-doctrinal connections first. It is used frequently of
bearing the ark (Josh. 3: 8), and of bearing armour (I Sam. 14: 1). The first occurrence