The literal meaning of the Greek aphesis (G859), is “release, pardon, or cancellation.” Classical Greek defines it this was, “the voluntary release of a person or thing over which one has legal or actual control.”
[1] In legal language forgiveness is a legal discharge from the guilt and death penalty of sin. This means that forgiveness is mainly a legal contract. For us who were legally under the death sentence imposed by the Law, it is a significantly essential that we grasp that we are now forgiven by legal contract. Paul says; “for by the law is the knowledge of sin,”(Rom.3:20), meaning that all the Law can actually do is reveal our guilt and condemn us for it. It could never save us because “no man is justified by the law” (Gal. 3:11). In the first half of his epistle to the Romans, this was Paul’s driving force. First to give clear details man’s guilt and then explain God’s grace.
[2] Ethically, forgiveness is a discharge from the dreadfulness of sin that influences the conscience. The sinner is changed ethically by Salvation. This means that the things once much loved are no longer preferred by the Christian (2 Cor. 5:17).
[3] On an individual basis, forgiveness is the termination of God’s planned wrath for the sinner. Leviticus 16 dramatically illustrates this in the provision of the scapegoat. On Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement), one of two unblemished goats selected by the High Priest was killed and its blood sprinkled on the mercy seat by the High Priest. The live goat was released out into the wilderness after the High Priest laid his hands on it’s head and confessed the sins of the nation (Lev. 16:21-22).
As attractive as this amazing picture is, it was still nothing more than a symbol. It did nothing to take away sin. While it was a required and an acceptable sacrifice, it was not a perfect sacrifice. It was just a symbol of only what God alone could accomplish through the coming Messiah. Not only would He be the perfect sacrificial lamb, but Jesus would also be the perfect scapegoat. In addition to shedding His blood for the redemption of His people, He would also take their sin away for all eternity. That is sum total of forgiveness.
Review and Meditation: What observation in Matt. 26:26-28, portrays our forgiveness? What, according to Heb. 9:22 is the one thing that brings forgiveness of sins?
[1] In legal language forgiveness is a legal discharge from the guilt and death penalty of sin. This means that forgiveness is mainly a legal contract. For us who were legally under the death sentence imposed by the Law, it is a significantly essential that we grasp that we are now forgiven by legal contract. Paul says; “for by the law is the knowledge of sin,”(Rom.3:20), meaning that all the Law can actually do is reveal our guilt and condemn us for it. It could never save us because “no man is justified by the law” (Gal. 3:11). In the first half of his epistle to the Romans, this was Paul’s driving force. First to give clear details man’s guilt and then explain God’s grace.
[2] Ethically, forgiveness is a discharge from the dreadfulness of sin that influences the conscience. The sinner is changed ethically by Salvation. This means that the things once much loved are no longer preferred by the Christian (2 Cor. 5:17).
[3] On an individual basis, forgiveness is the termination of God’s planned wrath for the sinner. Leviticus 16 dramatically illustrates this in the provision of the scapegoat. On Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement), one of two unblemished goats selected by the High Priest was killed and its blood sprinkled on the mercy seat by the High Priest. The live goat was released out into the wilderness after the High Priest laid his hands on it’s head and confessed the sins of the nation (Lev. 16:21-22).
As attractive as this amazing picture is, it was still nothing more than a symbol. It did nothing to take away sin. While it was a required and an acceptable sacrifice, it was not a perfect sacrifice. It was just a symbol of only what God alone could accomplish through the coming Messiah. Not only would He be the perfect sacrificial lamb, but Jesus would also be the perfect scapegoat. In addition to shedding His blood for the redemption of His people, He would also take their sin away for all eternity. That is sum total of forgiveness.
Review and Meditation: What observation in Matt. 26:26-28, portrays our forgiveness? What, according to Heb. 9:22 is the one thing that brings forgiveness of sins?
Forgiveness - (Greek Aphesis )
Pronounced - af-es-is
Pronounced - af-es-is
ΑΒΓΔΕΖΗΘΙΚΛΜΝΞΟΠΡΣΤΥΦΧΨΩ
"It is written, "'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" - Jesus Matt. 4:4
Glorifying the Triune God by creatively declaring the relevancy and practicality of His timeless Word.