Forgiveness of Sin

Forgiveness of sin is in biblical theology one of the constituent elements of justification — the act by which God pardons the guilt and removes the legal penalty of a sinner's transgression. In forgiving sin, God does not merely overlook wrongdoing but acts consistently with his justice: in the Old Testament, forgiveness was grounded in the sacrificial system, where animal blood served as a covering (kipper) for sin pending the fuller revelation; in the New Testament, it is grounded in the atoning death of Christ, whose blood provides actual remission rather than anticipatory covering (Romans 3:25–26; Hebrews 10:1–14).

The New Testament vocabulary of forgiveness uses two primary words: aphiemi (to send away, release, cancel a debt) and charizomai (to bestow as a grace gift). Forgiveness is declared in the apostolic preaching as available through Christ's name (Acts 5:31; 13:38; Luke 24:47) and received by faith and repentance. Psalm 130:4 grounds the possibility of forgiveness in God's character: "But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared." The parable of the Unmerciful Servant (Matthew 18:23–35) teaches that those who receive divine forgiveness are obligated to extend it to others.